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Music that celebrates fandom has been
around for decades, if not centuries.
While these days the words “nerd
rock” might immediately bring to mind artists like Kirby
Krackle, Jonathan Coulton, and the Doubleclicks, there
are other names you might know better that fall into that
same category: They Might Be Giants, Weird Al Yankovic,
and even Ben Folds Five. What really defines nerd rock,
according to Kyle Stevens of Kirby Krackle in a 2013 Wired
article, is “anything we are really passionate about, whether
that be traditionally geeky subject matter or a song about
how we’re really into tacos. In essence, they’re love songs
directed to whatever we’re really passionate about.”*
Santana Maynard, AKA Santana Cosplay, has now joined
those ranks of musicians singing about their passion with
her new album, Hero in Me. A long-time musician who has
been performing since she was a child and has opened in
Nashville for country music artists like Brad Paisley, Santana
admits to always having had a nerdy side. “I love a lot of
things. I love traveling, I love conventions, I love cosplay and
anime and video games. I’m passionate about all of it,” she
says. “This album is just the first time I’ve had a chance to
make music about it.” Hero in Me features several songs
about nerdy staples, including the titular song about finding
the heroic traits in yourself and the rocking “Gamer Boy” as
well as our favorite track, “Cosplaying Just For Me.”
“[Cosplaying Just For Me] is all about just doing what you
love and not letting anyone tell you that you can’t do it
because you’re the wrong size or color or gender or
whatever,” she says. “I’ve had friends who have been the
target of hurtful comments like that, and it’s so toxic, I just
wanted to write a song that gives people who have
experienced that the boost they need to keep doing the
things they love.” Apparently that point of view is a popular
one; when Santana and Flashbang Cosplay Capture decided
to film the music video for the song at Katsucon 2017,
everyone wanted in on the action, including well-known
cosplayers like Yaya Han and Canvas Cosplay. We can’t
blame them; it’s a great message of positivity. All lyrics in
the album were written by Santana herself, and the music
was put together by Ridgeline Productions (with special
shoutouts to Jeff!) and recorded at Ocean Way studio in
Nashville, TN. Check out Santana on YouTube at
, or pick up a copy
of Hero in Me at
*Selinker, Mike (2013-01-08). “Geek Love: Kirby Krackle,
The Doubleclicks, and the soul of nerd rock”. Wired.
TEXT BY TIFFANY PEGRAM
HERO IN MESantana Cosplay and Cosplay ’ s New Nerd Anthem
Image by: PhotosNXS
COSPLAYCULTURE 11