Jonny Fuller is familiar to diners at Colossal Cafe on Como Avenue in St. Anthony Park.
Working as front of the house manager for four years, Fuller’s friendly and easy-going demeanor helps make the neighborhood cafe feel like home.
“The best part of working here is the people,” Fuller told the Bugle. “I love my coworkers, the owners and our customers. We have tons of regulars and they’re my faves.”
When Fuller isn’t taking orders or conducting quality control of the cafe’s signature yeast-based pancakes (called ‘flappers’) at Colossal, he is making music.
Fuller is deeply involved in the Twin Cities local music scene both as a musician (Jonny Darko) and recently as a producer and co-organizer of a wildly successful mutual aid music project.
A collaborative music project
On Feb. 12, Fuller’s collaborative project titled “Melt ICE: Minnesota Artists United Against ICE,” an epic 110 track compilation album, was released on Bandcamp. The album exclusively features local artists; including Bad Bad Hats, WHY NOT, Ber and Kiss the Tiger.
At Bugle press deadline for our April issue, Fuller’s album had raised more than $16,000 for local mutual aid efforts in the aftermath of Operation Metro Surge. “Melt ICE” was organized by Fuller and his friends Anna Devine and Ryan Kemp, all local musicians.
“We believe in the collective power of songwriters, producers, and performers to use our voices as best we know how,” according to the three record producers of Melt ICE on Bandcamp. “We are excited and honored to present ‘Melt ICE,’ a collection of music from our rich, diverse and talented music scene here in Minnesota.”
Said Lindsay Kimball, program director at Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current: “The Current plays many, if not most, of the artists on the compilation. It’s impressive and a great example of the power of our music community to come together. Music brings us together and 110 local bands and musicians coming together in this way is the epitome of this sentiment.”
A musician since his teenage years, Fuller plays guitar and piano, sings, and electronically produces his own work. He described his solo project, Jonny Darko, as having an electronic indie pop sound.
“I would say that Jonny Darko sounds like a mix between Frank Ocean, Bon Iver and Post Malone,” Fuller said. “It’s a weird mix, but that’s my goal.”
Jonny Darko most recently performed at PILLAR Forum last October and at Zhora Darling in November. He has released five full-length albums, including his latest, the 14-track-long “NOT AGAIN!,” which came out last July.
“I think it’s the best thing I’ve made yet,” he quietly offered. “It’s kind of dark but also kind of sweet at times.”
Similarly, in the dark times Minnesota has recently faced, Fuller’s “Melt ICE” compilation has provided real sweetness. The giant, 6+ hour-long album is available on Bandcamp for a $10 (or more) donation. All profits are donated to MNTogether, a mutual aid fund organized by the Lyndale Congregational United Church of Christ.
Fuller said the idea for “Melt ICE” started when he felt compelled to release a single on Bandcamp to raise funds for mutual aid.
But first, Fuller called some friends (Devine and Kemp) and his idea grew into a community compilation. That very same day, the three musicians began texting their networks of local artists. Devine organized and managed the project’s spreadsheet, Kemp coordinated the album’s artwork and Fuller adjusted sound levels for each individual song to create a cohesive feel.
“I’m so impressed that we asked 130 people to be involved and we ended up with 110 songs!” Fuller admitted. “Artists are notoriously bad at having a deadline, especially when it comes to releasing their music. But everyone was so on board and responded immediately. And the songs people contributed were really good stuff.”
Local musician anni xo contributed a recording of their song “Daydream” to the project.
“I participated in the ‘Melt ICE’ project because it felt like a great way to tangibly support our community through music,” they said. “It has been hard to figure out, as a musician, what the best path to raise funds or do anything tangible is.”
Anni xo said that when Devine reached out to them, “it was a no brainer for me to accept.”
“Melt ICE” has received coverage in the San Francisco Chronicle, MSP Magazine, the Star Tribune, The Line of Best Fit (the UK’s biggest independent online music magazine) and on Minnesota Public Radio’s The Current.
Sarah CR Clark lives in St. Anthony Park and is a regular freelance writer for the Bugle.
