Meet Cody Rashkow | Crash Kountry, a DIY Emo band

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody Rashkow and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Art is all around us if you’re willing to seek it out. I discovered early on in my life that I am overly appreciative of art forms that are underrepresented. I am empathetic to all passionate creators that put their heart into something that wasn’t imagined or tangible before the creator breathed life into it. In that mindset, I have taken my time trying to find the right outlets for my own expression. Nothing makes me feel more alive than playing a song that might remind me of better and worse times and experiences that could only be processed by writing a song about it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I make DIY emo music where I play every instrument. I always wanted to find a band that I could be a part of but many projects broke up and fell apart. It was the way of things and I started Crash Kountry mostly as a substitute to pass the times and not forget all the songs I was writing for other bands. Eventually I started to get into production and shaping songs around a certain riff or sound I liked or discovered. What really changed my whole life was when real life happened to me in the sense that I lost true love, my job, and my dog all about a week apart. I started to write songs to make sense of where my life should go next or how anything I was experiencing was very insignificant in the grand scheme of the world’s problems. Music made my life have meaning when I felt myself spiraling towards bad outcomes. I originally thought no one would listen to anything I created because it seemed impossible to break through anyone’s limited attention. People have actively sought out my weird DIY music and I’m absolutely amazed that anyone appreciated stuff I have created. I don’t think about the listener when I write music but I hope that my music can be for people in struggle town. If you want to just hear cool guitar riffs and rock out to deep lyrics about the changing of dollar tree to dollar one twenty-five, I got you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We’re going to the Nile for a show; Late night food at Welcome Diner downtown; Drinks at Luckys indoor/outdoor. Probably have to take them Silver Mine or Cheba Hut on the way out of town.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family members have been overly supportive of all my efforts in the music adventures and I owe them a lot of thanks for continuing to push me to find ways to reach more listeners.
I especially want to shout out for my brother Jake who has always encouraged my music making and has always found time to introduce me to new music and rock out together at shows.
Shout outs also are due to a few of my students over the years at my real job, that were blown away that their teacher could make music and weren’t shy to tell me that they thought it was sick. That meant the world to me.
Special shout out to Trunkspace, ValleyBar, and Crescent Ballroom for continuing to put on shows for alt, emo and indie kids.

Website: https://bandcamp.com/crash-kountry

Instagram: @crashkow

Facebook: https://facebook.com/crashkountry