Where have all the tastemakers gone? As our options for seeking out and consuming content have increased with the internet, the trust and familiarity that came from platforms like golden-era FM radio and early MTV has dwindled. A new website from local creatives Andrew Vincent, Salvatore Canamella, and Chris Tilson manages to harness much of the lost charm of music curation and modernize it in a way that both circumvents and capitalizes on the joys and anxieties of getting lost in the infinity of the internet.
"Think low-fi public access TV meets the golden years of MTV2."
tweet this
In its present form, Watch More Things exists as a video stream curated to encompass a visual and sonic aesthetic drawing from all eras and vibes, but it represents only the most intriguing, outlandish, or otherwise unique content its creators deem fit for consumption. And the buzz the project has generated in South Florida is difficult to ignore.
With the recent release of Watch More Things' first original film production — a surreal musical Christmas special featuring some of South Florida's most exciting artists (including Miami's crown prince of electro-bass freaks, Otto von Schirach), WatchMoreThings.com has begun ramping up toward its next evolution. We spoke with WMT linchpin and cocreator Andrew Vincent to get the story on how the project began, what he and his cohorts hope to see the site become, and how it helps represent the wild individuality of South Florida.
New Times: For the uninitiated, what is Watch More Things?
Andrew Vincent: Watch More Things is a bit of a cultural labyrinth embodied in the form of a curated video stream in its current form. The internet is this vast archive that is constantly gaining content at an incredibly rapid rate, and we're sort of harnessing that flux in a specific way. So right now, we are a video channel: Think low-fi public access TV meets the golden years of MTV2, with some cultural oddities sprinkled in for good measure. We also include new music videos from emerging artists that we appreciate, along with some random funny bits.
We also include new music videos from emerging artists that we appreciate, along with some random funny bits. We're a distinct entity from sites like dangerousminds.net, nowness.com, everythingisterrible.com, but we fall in line with what they do in a lot of ways. We really love indie labels and truly independent artists/projects — people who are putting their blood, sweat, and tears into their art. For WMT, you're never too small to be noticed, and we really like looking into those undiscovered corners. We are community-powered and use our forum to gather the majority of our content — so there’s something of a shared consciousness to what you see on WMT. At present, our video stream is about 10 days of unrepeated material in length and growing; you won't see the same thing twice within that time period.
How did WMT come to be?
The abbreviated version is that I was going through a very stressful time a few years back, and two of my most creative and closest friends — Salvatore Canamella and Chris Tilson — helped to revive an old idea we had had in 2006 for something like WMT. We were hanging out one night back in 2013 and channelled the stress of that time in my life into motivation to create what became WMT.
We built the platform for the site that night. Sal made our website and built our stream, and Chris is a force of creativity and is great with programs like After Effects and various other 3D programs. As for myself, I'm a big contributor to the content of the stream, and I also moderate the forum, and I'm probably the biggest cheerleader for WMT, which is something I believe in deeply.
How did you guys go about curating all of the site's incredible content?
The initial few hundred video submissions came directly from myself, Chris, and Sal, and sort of our library of go-to clips and songs that we love. Shortly after that, the forum was created, and I reached out to friends who might be inclined to sign up and post videos, which added a lot to the stream. Submissions are watched by us and added if they help balance the stream.
How can people get involved with the site?
It’s very easy! We respond to emails, the forum is an active avenue, and we are getting better with the grueling upkeep of social media. We’re up on social media and we're looking for writers and video content providers!
What's the plan for the future of WMT?
Letting it grow naturally. We're planning to add a lot of new elements to WMT, including more original productions, editorials, and interviews and another stream with other featured content with a less-random format.
How does South Florida come into play with this project?
South Florida, to me, is something of an anagram for strange shit. [It's] such a hodgepodge of cultures that keeps its various art scenes diverse and challenging. Watch More Things is a result of being immersed in that. If WMT means anything for South Florida, it means we'll keep marching to that beat and stay true to the strange shit that makes this place so great!