Spotlighting Local Musicians; The Experienced, The Eager and The In Between 

Nashville, Seattle, L.A.: all major cities within the US where aspiring musicians dream of making it big. Daytona Beach likely won’t be found on that list, as over the years, the area’s music scene has burned out. But, as the population of local artists has proved, there is still great potential in the area to establish a career in music. From those with just a vision and those who have been putting that vision into action for the past couple decades, there is hope for our local musicians.

The Veteran 

Having been a part of the local scene for the last 20 years, drummer Jim Sinex has witnessed its evolution. Sinex has been in many lineups over his career, from ska and punk to country and church bands, and his current group, The Click, has been going steady for six years. Since the late 20^th century, the standards for live music have been far from steady, however. 

“We’re in a secondary transitional phase,” Sinex says about Daytona’s scene. “I’ve seen what was here in the 80s: it was all heavy rock bands and blues and a lot of Southern rock-based bands.” After a while, it became obvious that covers of bands such as The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd were being overplayed. Still, groups that played punk or metal, for instance, were welcomed by a limited number of venues. “If it’s not a huge draw to a broader spectrum of people,” he says, “you’re not going to be entertaining the whole crowd, and you’re not going to have very many places you can play.”

While Daytona’s venues have seemed to dwindle, other surrounding areas have flourishing music scenes. “At this stage, there’s another resurgence where New Smyrna has a better than ever music scene,” Sinex says. From Beachside Tavern to Crimson House, Sinex and The Click have found success gigging at restaurants passionate about promoting local music, and hopefully, that spirit will make its way north.

When not drumming regularly for the band, Sinex owns and gives lessons at the Elite Academy of Music and Motion. Taking lessons and playing with others, as he advises, is a crucial way for aspiring artists to enhance their musicality. But the Academy hopes to become much more than a lessons facility, having an already established rehearsal space and an up-and-coming recording studio. Both of these features can be advantageous to local musicians. “Everybody has something that they can share with another musician,” Sinex says. “Always be advancing.”

The Up and Coming 

Already making her mark on Ormond Beach’s music scene at 18-years-old, high schooler Sadie Martini has been gigging across town for under a year. Starting at her family friends-owned beach + vine wine bar, Martini has hit the ground running, and has been featured at restaurants from Fugu Sushi to Dalmare Italian Chophouse. 

Though Martini has belonged to several groups, including a thrash metal lineup in which she played bass, her calling was the spotlight. “I knew that I wanted to be a frontwoman,” she says. As lead, Martini feels more in control, and being a solo artist has been much more profitable.

Covering mostly slow alternative music, around half of what the young musician performs is of her own creation. “I started getting recommended by people to play in paying restaurants,” Martini says. “It kind of just snowballed, and now I’m playing shows with all my original songs.” Sadly, as Sinex points out, venues solely dedicated to original performers are few and far between, but just last month, Martini was the first featured artist of 2024 Mad Cafe. Put on by Daytona State’s very own Music Industry Club, Mad Cafe spotlights musicians and their entirely original setlist, with a fully attentive audience. Despite being a nerve-wracking leap forward for Martini, the gig, comprised of some of her never before heard tunes, “felt so natural.”

“Everybody here is so supportive,” she says regarding the community. “I feel like everybody’s really come around me and supported by music.” Martini’s hometown has given her the much-needed boost to further her musical pursuits. She plans to start the recording process soon and hopes she will meet like-minded musicians when she begins at Florida State University in the summer. 

The Prospective 

Former bandmate of Martini, rhythm guitarist Madison Allen is hopeful that her own group will reach musical fruition. Allen and a few friends formed Grandma Homicide five months ago and are in the preliminary band stage, and are beginning to toggle with the idea of gigging.

“We decided that we’re going to do more of covers,” Allen says, “because it’s kind of hard to jump in with original songs that no one knows.” After all, Martini mentioned that for less established artists just starting out, original music won’t get the tips or the attention in a restaurant setting. 

Primarily a punk/surf rock group, Grandma Homicide is searching hard for a drummer, but still plans to start gigging at small venues such as Ormond’s Jimmy Hula’s and build up a name in a similar manner to Martini. When the two played together, Allen noted that much of Martini’s musicality is sure to influence the guitarist and her band as they get the ball rolling.

Though Daytona Beach is far from the musical hub of America, well-established musicians such as Sinex have shown how our local musicians can flourish. For teens Martini and Allen, the town has given the musicians an imperative starting point in their careers, and hopefully, will make way for Daytona’s musical resurgence.