Palpable Stories and Invisible Lines
(3 min read)
Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase “Milwaukee is the most segregated city in America.” Whether you believe it or not, it isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement of a city’s status regarding racial inequality. Being based in Milwaukee, members of The License Lab have heard and read those words countless times, but experiencing it is something else entirely.
So what does segregation feel like?
In 2018, independent radio station and NPR Member station 88Nine Radio Milwaukee created a feature-length documentary called Invisible Lines to try and answer that question. Gathering 10 Milwaukee residents of color, the film features conversations between people as they describe their personal experiences with segregation, racism, and prejudice. It’s an opportunity for us to listen and learn about the struggles that so many members of the Milwaukee community endure every day and have endured all their lives.
We’ve been partnered with 88Nine for several years as their primary source of music for their wide variety of programming. From regular community segments and podcast themes to creating their own sonic logo, The License Lab has supported the mission of Radio Milwaukee in all its forms. But making the jump from on-air imaging to a feature film is no small feat.
“It was really the first time we’ve ever done anything on that scale,” says 88Nine’s Director of Content Nate Imig. “So we knew we needed some help from some professionals in Milwaukee and we turned to The License Lab to score the film.”
Scoring such raw, heartbreaking interviews was not a task we took lightly. Working closely with Imig, who is also one of the creators of the film, we assembled a cohesive score while supporting these emotional moments. Included were tracks pulled directly from our diverse catalog, as well as customizations and edits built from our deep well of available stems.
“Working with The License Lab, we were able to find a track for every mood and every story in our film. The film was about race and racism in the city... so it was very important to find the right music and to strike the right tone to match these intricate and nuanced stories,” says Imig.
We’ve been incredibly proud and humbled to be a part of this project. It’s more relevant than ever to amplify the voices of the unheard, and those who experience the evils of racism and segregation every day. The film has been mostly utilized for local screenings in the Milwaukee community, but we’re hoping to see it reach a larger audience and spread these stories.
Here’s the trailer for Invisible Lines:
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