internet medium by trial and error. His collection of video equipment grew with his skills, and soon Kenan had better-produced videos for the dedicated social media pages he’ d set up for the studio that had taken shape in the garage. He began to follow an ambitious formula: think big; find the weak points in your process and overcome them; build relationships; and always, always persist.
He hasn’ t looked back since. These days, there’ s no more car repair in the garage( Sorry, brothers!): it’ s a beautiful studio space now, complete with a sound stage and pro lighting. There, along with his partner Mandi Rogier, Kenan produces and hosts The Stream, Rainwater Studios’ live-in-studio streaming show featuring performances by three area artists a week. The studio also offers a full-service experience to clients looking to launch or sustain careers as performers.
Kenan being Kenan, though, that’ s too few links in his chain. His master plan goes something like this: cultivate local talent through the studio’ s services and booking on The Stream; put the best performances on regular compilation albums, released by the studio; assemble the artists from the albums into live showcase performances; record the showcases for future use; re-invest revenues into new studio gear, marketin, promotion, and the local music scene. Enjoy the Brown County culture you’ ve helped create.
It’ s worked out well so far, Kenan says.“ We’ re making good progress. The Playhouse show was a big encouragement, after a year of having no shows at all anywhere [ because of the global pandemic ].” After many months of doing what he could to keep the studio’ s staff and guests safe on The Stream, Kenan was able to follow through to the next step. On March 20 of this year, the Brown County Playhouse hosted the Best of Stream Showcase Winter 2021, where Kenan was joined onstage by Matthew Marcelle, Steve Plessinger, Eric Hamblen, Michael Moulder, Jason Blankenship, Lexi Len, Wes Eberhardt, and Tay Bronson.
The show, a welcome evening out for a restriction-weary community where the arts are its lifeblood, was a hit for audience and performers alike. After two“ writers in the round” sets, all the artists got together to play a cover of“ Black Wind,” a song by local favorites the
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Taylor Hernly, Harley Day, and Kristopher Garner jam at a Rainwater Studios The Stream session. photo by Cindy Steele
May / June 2021 • Our Brown County 31