On the evening of March 2nd, a medley of people shuffled into Brotherwell Brewing. The diverse assortment of people was representative of Waco itself, and they all came to confess and tell stories about the times they were “Quitters”.
This is Analog.
Analog is a series of Confessional storytelling events throughout Waco. Adam Moore, founder of Analog, saw a unique opportunity to connect with people through storytelling. There have been four Analog events already, in a new spot every time, with different speakers. Each Analog event has a different theme, from “The Darkest Day of the Year” to the most recent, “Quitters”. Some people play songs, some tell stories, but there remains a common thread throughout the whole event: authenticity and vulnerability.
But the story of Analog starts further back, about twenty years ago, when Moore first stepped foot on Baylor’s campus. Moore, a Religion major, had always felt called to a higher purpose.
“Faith, and how we make meaning of the world collectively, is a thread that has been important to me for the past twenty years.” Moore said. “A sense of calling to ministry, I would have thought it would have been expressed by working in a church. I realized that that wasn’t what I was supposed to do, but I felt compelled to be a part of spaces where faith and making meaning are central, in community with each other.”
Once he had completed his undergraduate degree, Moore entered into graduate studies first in the School of Education, then Truett, earning two Master’s degrees by 2012 while working all around Baylor’s campus in a variety of roles.
In 2008, Moore started a group called “Void Collective”.
“Void was a space of exploration” Moore explained. “Faith and doubt. We didn’t proclaim one particular religious confession, it was open to various perspectives.”
The first meetings for Void Collective found their home in a bar, and the group almost immediately took on a sort of performing arts culture. With poetry readings, music, and other spoken word orations, Void was starting to look closer and closer to Analog. They even hosted some events centered on true, personal storytelling, the crux of what Analog has now become.
“It was unlike anything else going on in Waco” Moore recalled.
After a few years, the Void Collective ended, but the idea of confessional storytelling still bounced back and forth in Moore’s head.
Seven years later, Analog has become just that.
“It’s not about who can tell the best story” Moore said, “But authenticity and vulnerability. It’s sharing real experiences in a way that hopefully connects with others.”
The name Analog comes in opposition to the screen-oriented lives we currently live within. Sitting down and listening to people tell stories in person holds value, according to Moore.
“A couple of people have talked about starting a podcast… but there’s something special to me about it being a one-time event that you have to be there, in person, to experience” Moore said. “If you were there, you got to experience that moment, and you got to experience something special. It won’t be replicated.”
In addition to his work with Analog, Moore also hopes to continue to explore the thread of how we make meaning through another medium: A print publication.
This is Waco is set to launch in the fall and is Moore’s latest attempt to bring community together. The publication, for Moore, follows the thread that he has been chasing for twenty years now: how communities make meaning. He hopes that exploring the theme of meaning will shine through with the publication.
Moore describes the vision of the publication as “A collaborative art project and an expression of Waco culture.” He hopes it can inspire its readers to indulge in their own creative endeavors too. From local musicians to historic cultural hubs, the publication hopes to view the entire city of Waco with broad lens. Moore envisions a publication that is able to encapsulate all of Waco’s cultural influence, not just focusing on downtown, but extending to every corner of the city.
“Working on these kinds of initiatives give me life,” Moore said, “they connect me to the larger community. They are a creative outlet for me that I hope to contribute to the community around me.”
With the growth of Waco’s art scene, This is Waco and Analog seem to be coming at just the right time. A vibrant and creative Waco is knocking on the door, and Moore hopes to help usher the city into its next stage of cultural flourishing.
