Now in its second year, Local Current’s DJ in Residence program is an opportunity for The Current to invite local musicians to take over our all-Minnesota music stream and share their favorite stories and music from the local music scene. So far, Local Current’s DJ in Residence roster has included Eric Mayson, Reina del Cid, Gabe Douglas, Kerry Alexander, and many others. Taking the reins in July is a young and multitalented musician, Danielle Cusack.

Turning just 20 years old smack dab in the middle of her residency (July 22, to be exact), Cusack is already a seasoned veteran of the Minnesota music scene. She is the drummer and vocalist in the harmonic grunge punk band Bruise Violet, whose debut album Survival of the Prettiest quickly gained traction and garnered the band a #2 slot in 2015’s City Pages Picked to Click. Cusack also plays bass in Tony Peachka, an alt-pop group that has seen success in rooms from the Triple Rock to First Avenue’s Mainroom.

Offstage, Cusack spreads her musical knowledge as a drum teacher at School of Rock, an after-school program for kids aged 6-18; and She Rock She Rock, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that uses music to empower girls, women, and female-identified individuals. She also studies anthropology at Hamline University.

“I love the Minnesota music scene an am very passionate about all the music that has been made here throughout the years,” says Cusack. “The variety of music made is astonishing and I’m so excited to be able to showcase it all and learn about artists I haven’t heard about yet!”

Spend your July afternoons diving deep into the Minnesota music scene with Danielle Cusack: every Friday in July from noon to 6 p.m. on Local Current!

Local Current’s DJ in Residence project is supported by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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