Queer Music Scholar | Writer | Singer of Sad, Silly Little Songs
Becks is a queer scholar and musician, focusing their work on community engagement and placemaking through music and agriculture. As a musician, Becks works to create events that bridge the divisions in communities. Their scholarship focuses on the inherent queerness of Appalachian music and the importance that music traditions hold, both in Appalachian communities and the queer community. They also work hands-on in local food systems, working on farm projects and learning about small-scale farming in mountain communities.
Becks is also the Project Manager at Plaid Dog Recording Studios in Boston, MA managing crowdfunding and marketing for artists who record at the Studio. Plaid Dog’s crowdfunding model allows artists who are typically unable to access studio spaces to record quality music without accruing any out-of-pocket costs. Becks uses this platform to empower artists from all backgrounds to record and release music while simultaneously pursuing their Master’s Degree in Appalachian Studies at Appalachian State University, focusing their thesis on Queer Music Traditions in Appalachia.