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The Seattle-Puget Sound based neon bender on how music and story are inextricably linked to her queer, feminist and progressive political expression as an artist, her devotion to Karen Carpenter, and toxic obsession with musicals. By Jonathan Bristow  Alleson Buchanan is a luminary.
A giver of light - Both literally and in the very essence of her being. Owner of Radiant Neon, the quirky queer Seattle and Puget Sound area neon bender and activist is a beacon of hope and truth in a world desperately in need of light: A creator operating at the intersection of art and collective liberation. Recently we sat down with our favorite witchy, intersectional feminist neon maker to discuss the role of music in her life and work. “I don’t know a world without music,” she says plainly. In homage to her late relative and outlaw-country legend Waylon Jennings, Alleson showed up to our convo in one of her favorite graphic t-shirts of Waylon and outlaw-bestie Willie Nelson that reads: “Where there’s a Willie, there’s a Waylon.” “The rogue music-ness lives on in me forever,” she explains. For Alleson, music and story are inextricably tied to everything she embodies as a creator. From her earliest childhood memories of refuge from trauma in singing and musicals, to crafting truly brilliant protest art today, music has been the constant: her source of emotional regulation and creative inspiration.
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By Jonathan Bristow The New York Time’s best selling author and gay dad of three on Pride, coming out, and the role music has played in his remarkable journey.  Matthew Paul Turner is living every day as his whole self.
A gift that even just a few short years ago he simply could not have fathomed. Each day, when his feet touch the ground, he finds himself overwhelmed with immense gratitude. Because the journey to arrive here has been nothing short of extraordinary. And truly inspiring. We were recently gifted with the opportunity to sit down with the celebrated New York Time’s best-selling author and gay dad of three to unpack his bru-tiful journey into liberation and inner-alignment - from his childhood days spent in the grips of fundamentalist religion, to becoming the celebrated writer and activist he is today - And how music has been salvation throughout. By Jonathan Bristow From the groundbreaking riffs of Sister Rosetta Tharpe to the electrifying Janis Joplin, these nine fearless women were true pioneers of Rock n’ Roll, and heroes in the fight for equality and women’s rights everywhere.
As a continuation of our Queens of Music series celebrating Women’s History Month here at Ascent, we’ve compiled the following nine influential early rock n’ roll jams by gorgeous and inspiring women from the 50s and 60s:
The ladies who birthed and pioneered the revolution. Socially conscious music has been changing the world for decades. And it all started with women.
Socially-conscious music is our thing ‘round here, so we know this to be the truthiest truth:
Women are at the forefront of cultural change. Always. So it should come as no surprise that when it comes to the impact of music on social change, yet again, women have led the way. With anthems covering topics from racial injustice and inequality to women’s rights, contraception, war protest and the environment, we’re kicking off Women’s History Month celebrating these 13 legendary women, who were some of the first to give voice to the most critical social issues of our time. |
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AuthorJonathan Bristow - Ascent Founder & Director. 
Jonathan is a queer, former pastor, creator, mystic and amplifier, dedicated to decolonization and recovering sovereignty. Stepping into a lifelong dream in 2021, he created Ascent Radio to offer music enthusiasts a handcrafted radio platform at the intersection of great music and collective liberation. Jonathan lives and breathes music, and believes fiercely in the power of music to draw us together and inspire us toward a better world.
Alongside his work as the Founder and Director of Ascent, he is a freelance writer, and author of the Substack blog, Finding Jonathan, reflecting on the journey of simultaneously losing and finding himself all at once, recovering from childhood trauma, faith deconstuction, and learning to love and embrace all of who he is. An inspiring wordsmith, Jonathan writes content for conscious brands, artists and industry professionals. To connect with him about writing on a project that needs beautiful words, connect with him over on his LinkedIn profile, or email at: [email protected]! Archives
May 2026
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