Meet Courtney Spivak | Filmmaker, Educator & Musician

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

Hi Courtney, how has your background shaped the person you are today?

I am from the suburbs of Detroit – my upbringing and background reinforced my interest in the arts from an early age. My parents were both creative and they encouraged me in my artistic pursuits and and introduced me to the the cultural attractions in nearby Detroit.
My mother was very involved in the arts, and would take me to the DIA frequently as a child. The modern art section of the DIA had a big impact. I was very influenced by one piece in particular, “Video Flag x ” , (1985) by Nam June Paik, a larger than life video installation piece- the abstract visual impact of the piece would be an inspiration for my video and photography work ( as well as the visuals for my music) for years to come.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a musician and filmmaker/photographer. I perform my music under the name Cadriane , my songs are 80s synth/new wave inspired an I perform the vocals and compose/record the music myself.

My video and photography work is very diverse, I take photos for musicians and shoot/edit their visuals and music videos. I also create my own experimental film and video work, and recently I have been working as a sound recordist on other filmmaker’s video shoots as well.

My work is distinctive because I draw from a variety of disciplines and influences – I combine art, music, photography and technology creatively to put my own stamp on each project. My music , photography and film projects all have a distinct retro futuristic 80s inspired vibe . I am very inspired by 1980s visuals , early MTV and the look of early video technology.

One recent project I was quite proud of was a mix of installation art and video work- I made promotion images for the recent Rottinghouse album release, which include projected video shown at the venue, and a ‘Pepper’s Ghost” ( 3D hologram illusion) featuring the artists’ floating head which was really fun to create!

I have gotten where I am today through a mix of creativity, luck and hard work- I have been working on video and music projects since I was quite young, so I have had years to develop my style. I approach my pursuit of music and visual arts very much in the same way- just get started, do something, keep working at it, and others will notice!

My career teaching film and audio at the college level ( I teach audio production, video editing and new media at Wayne State University and Henry Ford College) has also contributed to my success, because I have constant motivation to learn new technologies and techniques and pass that knowledge onto my students.
I am also inspired by the energy and excitement of my students- seeing things through their eyes really reignites my enthusiasm!

In the last few years I have had the value of my work recognized more, which is wonderful. One lesson I have learned is that improvising can solve a lot of problems- over the years I have made so many DIY rigs to solve audio and video problems- the lesson here is to think outside the box-and work with what you have.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely start in Midtown- a trip to the Detroit Institute of the Arts to look at their amazing collections, and then a quick coffee or snack at Kresge Court. Then some shopping at Nest and City Bird, and we could browse records at Third Man Records. I have sweet tooth, so maybe we would check out BonBonBon for some treats! At some point during their visit we would also have to check out Mocad ( I love art!) – I would take them to SuperCrisp at least once for lunch or diner – so good! Even in winter, I feel like everyone needs to see Belle Isle , and maybe check out the Aquarium . At least one day would need to be spent downtown checking out Campus Martius , ride the People Mover and maybe take a quick tour of the Guardian Building. We would have to visit Corktown too, to check out the great bars and restaurants- UFO Factory is one of my favorites! A day trip to Southwest would have to happen too, to get lunch at Taqueria El Rey and then some dessert at Ice Cream La Michoacana.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to shout out to my significant other, Mike Burridge, graphic designer , comic artist and audio engineer. We have collaborated frequently on audio projects, and he is always supportive of all my efforts.

Website: https://courtneyspivak.wixsite.com/courtneyspivak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cadriane_nothing/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneyspivak/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CadrianeNothing

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@xrt123

Other: https://cadriane.bandcamp.com/

Image Credits
photo of me performing live as Cadriane by Christina Spivak