NEW FOR SUMMER 2021: Drawing her inspiration from the zine culture of her youth and a love of independent radio, Allyson McCabe (NPR, Rumpus, SF Chronicle) is about to launch Vanishing Ink, an innovative cross-media production studio! Want to find out more? Pitch her an idea? Send her fan mail (just kidding)? Drop her a line.
In its original incarnation, Vanishing Ink was a fanzine, a podcast, and a DIY culture riff. Allyson was backed by a merry band of mad scribblers, navigating contemporary music culture in the wider context of their shared history. From one bartender's no-holds-barred take on your last Tinder date to the new bands you just had to hear, each Vanishing Ink issue/episode was filled with stories and sounds that you couldn't find anywhere else. Stripped and taped together like the music fanzines of a bygone era, its content was raw, edgy, and most of all, fun. In a tribute to punk culture, it was also available for free (by word of mouth subscription of course).
Volume I featured Portia Sabin (Kill Rock Stars), John S. Hall (King Missile, Unusual Squirrel), Tony DuShane (NY Times Best Seller, San Francisco Chronicle), Liz Wood (The Rumpus), Dave Robinson (Stiff Records), Michelle Mae (The Make-Up), Death (from Detroit!), Kevin Wortis (Girlie Action Media), Mark Alan Stamaty (Village Voice, "MacDoodle Street"), and Rick Moody (Author of The Ice Storm, Garden State, and On Celestial Music: And Other Adventures in Listening, among others). Feeling a little K-Tel here, but the list goes on and on. Check out the archive for more!
Allyson McCabe reports and produces music stories for NPR, other public radio stations and programs, and podcasts. She is also a long-time music columnist at The Rumpus.
Allyson's photo was taken by Ebru Yildiz & our logo was designed by Esme Blegvad