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Matt Cullinan, doing what comes naturally.
Courtesy of Matt Cullinan
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Some of the most creative minds have toiled in day jobs, e.g. Charlotte Bronte was a governess and William Faulkner was postmaster at the University of Mississippi. But what of those who find a day job that just may contribute—even in a small way—to the greater good? This question brings me to my cousin, Matt Cullinan.
While I was in the DC area to give a talk this March, I had a chance to chat with Matt about his new band Whiskey Smoke Rocket and his day job as a software developer at SunEdison, a company that develops, finances, operates, and monitors solar plants across the globe (SunEdison was fully acquired by MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. in December 2009).
Pre-Whiskey Smoke Rocket Matt Cullinan in Action
Matt began playing guitar at the age of 12 and after college, he settled in Baltimore City, playing solo acoustic shows in the Maryland-DC-Virginia area. However, he said, "playing with a group of people" was always what he loved best and in the "grizzly Maryland winter of 2010, some old college friends and bandmates decided to regroup." With a mixture of Matt's original music as well as some tastefully nuanced covers of R&B and rock classics, his new group "Whiskey Smoke Rocket" was born and will be debuting Saturday May 8, 2010 (details at end of post).
WATCH VIDEO: Focus Earth: Greening The Music Industry
My Conversation with Matt Cullinan
Planet Green: Obviously, your interest in music came long before you knew about solar energy (or any such green issue) but I'm wondering if you see now recognize some kind of karmic connection, e.g. both music and solar being a kind of "renewable" energy, if you will. Your thoughts?
Matt Cullinan: Well, being a Roman Catholic I feel that "karmic connection" may be the wrong phrase. However, what I have noticed is that, because its a relatively young field (solar, that is), there is a lot of room for creativity, growth, and trying new things. It is definitely similar to music in that area. In addition, there is a concrete feeling of creation (i.e. installing solar panels on a rooftop). One might find this similar to composing a song or painting. As with anything, building it with your own hands is very rewarding.
PG: Tell us more about your day job.
MC: I've worked on developing a trading desk for Renewable Energy Credits, which are either traded voluntarily for offset purposes or used to meet a particular state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). I've also worked on energy tracking and monitoring for sites in the US, Canada, and Spain, all in an effort to make solar energy more accessible and understood by the customer hosting the power plant.
PG: Now, let's get to the "night job," so to speak. What can we expect from Whiskey Smoke Rocket?
MC: They can expect an unyielding cacophony of funk with a classic rock twist on top, and the not so soft underbelly of most modern four piece bands, the blues!
PG: Any words of wisdom for Planet Green readers who want to pursue their artistic passions but need to pay the bills, too?
MC: There is an ever-increasing market for burgeoning renewable energy companies. Governments are spending a good deal of money to stimulate the growth of the industry, so the opportunities are ample. I went into my company without much "business" experience at all, spending much of my early twenties in local bands and teaching guitar. I've learned tons about the green-business world while at SunEdison, and it is my belief that many green companies, in order to navigate the difficult world we live in, have an appetite for creative models of business which may be developed by people who just so happen to be artists, musicians, and writers. There's room for everybody when new technologies are being developed, and implemented, so rapidly.
Connect with Whiskey Smoke Rocket
- Become a friend on Facebook
- Check out their debut gig on May 8 at Frazier's on the Avenue in the Hampden section of Baltimore
Related in a Non-Musical Way
Mother Knows Best: My Mom Was DIY Before it Was "Green"
Green Glossary: Solar Energy
