Rian Nickels
Apr 11, 2025
The Journey of Making Dreams Come True
This may end up being too long, and who knows if anyone will read it, but if my story inspires even one person to pursue what they want to do in life, then I suppose I should share it, so here goes nothing.
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Around this time last year (2024), I found myself craving more out of music photography. I got a few paid gigs for local Louisiana alternative bands in my inner circle of friends. Still, I knew I wasn't spending enough time doing what I was passionate about – taking photos of live music performances. I wondered if my work was good or interesting enough for me to join a music publication. I live in a small Louisiana town, so I never really considered that there might be something I could contribute to locally, so I looked around the good old World Wide Web to find some publications that could take me on. I sent out a lot of cold emails with my portfolio (which was really lacking, if I'm being honest) to different alternative music pubs, and unsurprisingly, I didn't get a single reply because most of them required you to also be a writer, which I had no confidence. Eventually, the idea faded from the forefront of my mind. Still, one day, as I was scrolling through the socials, I saw that my friends from Jean Claude Seagal had interviewed with an online magazine, Mixed Alternative Magazine, and decided to read it. After looking over the site, I couldn't believe what I found out! Mixed Alternative Magazine was run by a woman based in Louisiana, not only in my state but in a small town near Walker! Knowing someone in my town cared about the local music scene brought me joy, so I decided to reach out and try my shot at being a contributing photographer.
To my surprise, Nicole Brice, editor-in-chief and founder of Mixed Alternative Magazine, reached out to me, loved my work, and graciously took me in with open arms! Unlike other publications, I loved working with Nicole because she didn't require or force me to write. However, she did encourage me to try it out and see how I felt about it. I didn't know what to expect, but I was excited to step deeper into the Louisiana music scene and be a part of a group of talented people passionate about capturing and documenting the growth of our local alternative community.
For my first assignment as a contributing photographer, I captured Feel Alive Media and Events' first step back into the scene after a five-year hiatus. It was JAYD3D! 's release for their debut album Outstanding Gentlemen, at The Howlin' Wolf in New Orleans in April 2024. This was a perfect place to start for me because not only is JAYD3D! my fiancé, but I am also co-founder of Feel Alive Media, so this was right in my comfort zone.  Around this time, I had been dealing with a lot of social anxiety after being away from the scene for so long, and it was my first time back in New Orleans in years, but I was excited to embark on a new adventure. I went on to have a great night, make core memories, meet new friends like Kris Russ, and reinforce a connection with Coma Nights, whom I photographed a few months back at Phil Brady's in Baton Rouge. Since the gig turned out so well, I decided to try my hand at writing a show review, and it turns out people seemed to like my writing. The article had good traction, and people were kind enough to let me know they were excited to see what would come from me.
Southern Happenings: Kriss Russ, JAYD3D!, and Coma Nights at the Howlin Wolf
In May 2024, I followed my good friend Michael Spoon's band, The Gosh Darn Dangs, around for a night of Busking in Hammond, Louisiana. Documenting this meant a lot to me because I was able to work with people with whom I've had long-standing friendships and grow new ones. I loved strolling through my old stomping grounds. The best part was giving a glimpse of what a night in the quaint little downtown of Hammond was like.
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Southern Happenings: Meet The Gosh Darn Dangs
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By June 2024, I got to take pictures at a well-loved venue in Baton Rouge, Chelsea's Live, for the first time. My friends at Goodbye Academy were releasing their new EP Last Minute Homework that they were set to perform at the local music showcase 'Harmonic Stew' and asked me if I'd want to capture it for them. I mean, how could I refuse? Goodbye Academy is one of my favorite local bands, and just the thought of taking photos in Chelsea's Live stoked me. That night, I got to photograph GBA, Dale Harris Band, and a popular Louisiana band Hey Thanks! I'd have to say that this was one of my favorite gigs; it was so cool to see my friends perform on a proper stage, I loved the Louisiana-esque sound that Dale Harris brought to the stage, getting to photograph Hey Thanks! was a neat opportunity. Chelsea's Live was the perfect place to test the waters of bigger production concerts.
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On the Scene: Harmonic Stew at Chelsea's Live June 6th, 2024
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In July 2024, I got to cover another Feel Alive Media event, this time at another place I once frequented: The Green Room in Covington. On the line-up for that night were JAYD3D!, The Gosh Darn Dangs, and Jean Claude Seagal. This night was one for the books because, between the performers and the attendees, all my friends in my innermost circle were there to make memories and listen to good tunes.
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Hammond's Hottest Musicians Unite for a Showstopping Night, Powered by Feel Alive Media
September 2024 was super busy, but you don't achieve goals without being somewhat busy. Two of my main goals were photographing a gig in a Theatre and covering a festival. I was hired on to photograph an event that was being put on by the Southeastern Louisiana University Theatre Department, 50 Years Of CBGB, at The Colombia Theatre in Hammond, LA. This would be my first time photographing from a stage and working around multiple photographers and a bigger crowd. I also got to photograph and reconnect with music friends from before my photography hiatus and, overall, was blessed to see that Hammond's music scene was still breathing. Â I believe this night set some foundations for my growth in the professionalism side of music photography and gave me the confidence and experience I needed to attempt more significant events. By this point in my journey, my anxieties around crowds, my skills, and just life in general started to ease. I no longer felt on the edge of panic when on the way to events, but instead felt excitement. Â
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Next up on the agenda for September (literally the day after CBGB) was my first time capturing a music festival. I got to attend Rock Around Downtown Fest, RAD Fest for short, with our very own Mixed Alternative founder, Nicole Brice. This was the first time Nicole, and I got to know each other. I even met Justin Hammer, a photographer I had looked up to for at least a decade. Justin had been doing concert photography for a while, but before that, he was taking photos of my friends at Dreamland Skatepark in Hammond, and I was excited to be on the same team as him! I was excited to be allowed back on the stage again but was even more eager to see what I could do when poor lighting wasn't an issue. Most of the shows before this one were all indoors at night, but RAD Fest was outside during the day on a beautiful afternoon in Lafayette, Louisiana. I got to take photos of many alternative bands from the South; every single one brought rockstar energy to the stage. This day was so inspiring and exhilarating that it showed me that I could really thrive in the Music Festival setting.
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RAD FEST 2024 Video by Sixto6 Productions
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October 2024 was the busiest month by far, but launched me so much farther into the life of a Music Photographer. To Nicole and me, it was a complete surprise that Mixed Alternative Magazine and I were approved for our first press pass with a bigger venue and artist this month! After months of hard work and dedication, we were about to see some of those tireless nights pay off, and we were in disbelief that we were approved to cover Sleeping With Sirens at The House Of Blues in New Orleans. This was huge!! The last time I saw Sleeping With Sirens perform, I remember thinking, "I'm gonna do whatever it takes to photograph them one day," that day was here! It meant the absolute world to capture one of my favorite bands, and I've honestly never felt cooler in my life.  This event was a real test of my progress with my anxiety; the show was sold out, so that meant I couldn't bring anyone along. I can't begin to tell you how incredibly nervous I was to take the journey to and through New Orleans alone, but I knew I couldn't dare miss the opportunity. Luckily, I met up with another one of my photographer role models, Whitney from WhitnessThis Photography, and even ended up running into an old friend. This reminded me that it's important to pursue things that, at the surface, scare the crap out of you; because the universe might just be looking out for you sometimes.
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Rian's Den: A Night to Remember with Sleeping with Sirens
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Only two days later, I found myself back in New Orleans at The House of Blues – with my best friend, I might add – to cover The Used and Plain White T's! This show showed me what a photographer can pull off when given the right lights, stage presence, and opportunities.
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Weekend Rock: The Used Ignites House of Blues with an Explosive Night of Nostalgia and New Energy
After that, I spent the rest of October photographing weddings, Halloween shoots, and spooky parties, and the holidays started to ramp up. I also did various music events for friends and gigs, but unfortunately, I didn't get the time to write any articles, or review shows from late October until late February.
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Now that most of the holidays were survived, Louisiana was looking forward to Mardi Gras, but I was ready for concert season to ramp up again. To kick off the season in February of 2025, I got to photograph Johnnie Guilbert's first tour with a full band on the Death and Glory tour with Palaye Royale, artists who quickly made it to my top artists on Spotify. This show was just what I needed to get back into the groove of things after a long holiday season.
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Death and Glory Tour: Palaye Royale & Johnnie Guilbert at The Joy Theater in New Orleans
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It's April of 2025 now, and I've only done that one show, but I'm excited for what awaits this year with Mixed Alternative Magazine. I eagerly await my Her Riot Femme Voices Showcase on April 18th in Baton Rouge at Mid-City Ballroom and Eclipse Fest on May 10th at Feed' N' Seed in Lafayette. As far as goals for this year go, I'm hoping to get more involved in interviewing and photographing more local bands that I haven't had the chance to see, and I'd love to write more articles about past shows I've been to that deserve some recognition.
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My point with this article is to tell you to go for that thing you've been wanting to do because, to your surprise, it may turn out exactly how it should. You might be good at it, and others might also think so. You could meet some new friends who are into the same things you are and have similar goals as you, and y'all might help each other to be able to do the things you love. You might end up exactly where you need to be.
Mixed Alternative Magazine has offered a space for a community to grow and thrive. They are bringing attention to talent hiding in Louisiana's nooks and crannies and bringing it to the forefront. They offer something different from your average music publications, allowing space for creativity, emotions, and passion to flow. A place where you can reject the mainstream, forge your own path, and make your own rules. (Jk Nicole makes the rules) :P
Questions for comments? Reach out to us at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com.