I believe in the underground, the underdog, and the avant-garde. For 15 years, that belief has shaped my work as a journalist covering the intersection of music, art, race, and identity — first as a staff writer at MTV and WBEZ, then as an editor at Vice's THUMP, and currently as a weekly music columnist at the Chicago Tribune. My writing has also appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Esquire, Harper's Bazaar, and The Cut.

In 2019, I received the Studs Terkel Award in journalism for my reporting on underserved communities. In 2023, I was named an inaugural fellow of the University of Chicago's Critic's Table. My debut book, Queens of Soul, is forthcoming from Gemini Books in 2027.

Beyond writing, I work with cultural institutions, organizations, festivals, and brands as a speaker, moderator, and content strategist — helping organizations like MCA Chicago, Soho House, and Adidas think clearly about culture, storytelling, and audience. I've moderated panels for the Chicago Humanities Festival and Pitchfork Music Festival, and advised brands on content strategy and editorial direction.

I'm available for speaking engagements, workshops, editorial consulting, and major assignments.