Mississippi Native: Lishman Heathcock
"Every time I'm away from home, people are just kind of in shock that people like me can be from this state."
What does it mean to call Mississippi home? Why do people choose to leave or live in this weird, wonderful, and sometimes infuriating place? Lishman Heathcock believes that “weird, fun, and independent music is alive and well in [Mississippi].” Lishman is a promoter, videographer, and musician whose enthusiasm for the DIY music scene in Starkville has contributed to the college town having one of the most interesting and vibrant independent music scenes in the Southeast. Lishman believes moving away from Mississippi is inevitable, but for now, he shares how he’s making the most of the community he’s fostered here.
Where are you from?
I'm originally from Waynesboro, Mississippi, but currently live in Starkville.
How long have you lived in Mississippi?
I've spent nearly all my life in Mississippi in one town or another.
What does “home” mean to you? How does Mississippi fit into that definition?
Home to me is community. I don't feel at home whenever I walk into my apartment; I feel at home whenever I go out into town, and spend time with my family and friends. Home is one hundred percent the people I know and care about, and those people live in Mississippi.
I’ve learned that if it can be done in Mississippi, it can be done anywhere.
How have you cultivated community in Mississippi? Who are the people who have made you feel rooted here?
I think the biggest impact I've had is the work I've put into fostering the DIY music scene over here in Starkville. Every band and musician that has ever played here, whether they’re locals or were on tour, has helped me to feel more connected to this city and this state. Through the years of organizing shows, playing music, making flyers, and everything in-between, I’ve made friends and memories that I’ll hold onto for as long as I can.
What’s the weirdest question or assumption you’ve encountered about Mississippi (or about you as a Mississippian) by someone who’s never been here?
Honestly, I think the weirdest assumption about Mississippi and how it relates to me is that people just kind of refuse to believe I'm actually from here. Every time I'm away from home, people are just kind of in shock that people like me can be from this state.
How has living in Mississippi affected your identity and your life’s path?
“I love that I’m from Mississippi, but I hate that I’m in Mississippi,” is a phrase that I’ve been saying a lot more recently. In all honesty, I don't hate that I’m living in Mississippi because it’s a place filled with wonderful people, art, music, and communities, but there are definitely downsides to living in this state. I didn’t have the best primary education, there’s not a lot of economic opportunity, and I’ve definitely faced my fair share of discrimination, but I feel like that has all made my accomplishments more meaningful.
Home to me is community. I don't feel at home whenever I walk into my apartment; I feel at home whenever I go out into town, and spend time with my family and friends.
What is something that you’ve learned about Mississippi only by living here? In what ways has Mississippi lived up to your expectations?
I’ve learned that if it can be done in Mississippi, it can be done anywhere.
Do you ever consider moving away someday? Does a sense of duty keep you rooted here? Do you have a “tipping point”?
Unfortunately, I do see myself moving away at some point. I don't know when that would be, but I think it’ll happen, and I hate it. I would absolutely love to stay here because I firmly believe the grass is greener where you water it, but I'm just so tired. I've worked so hard to build a community where I feel like I belong, and I may be naïve, but I want to know what it's like to not have to work for it.
What do you wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi?
Something I wish the rest of the country understood about Mississippi is that there is no reason to look down on us. If anything, the people here should be looked up to. If people really think that Mississippi is as backwards as they make it out to be, then they should be commending us for being able to find happiness here instead of the condemnation and judgment we often receive. There's a difference in acknowledging the shortcomings of the state and casting the whole state in a negative light.
Unfortunately, I do see myself moving away at some point. I don't know when that would be, but I think it’ll happen, and I hate it. I would absolutely love to stay here because I firmly believe the grass is greener where you water it, but I'm just so tired.
Do you have a favorite Mississippi writer, artist, or musician who you think everyone needs to know about?
There are so many people from this state who inspire me daily, but I’ll at least try to keep it to who's most responsible for inspiring me to do what I do now. Hampton Martin from Hattiesburg is probably my biggest inspiration for what I do. I found out about his label, Earth Girl Tapes, when I was in high school and I’ve meticulously been collecting them ever since because they showcase that weird, fun, and independent music is alive and well in the state. Outside of his label, his YouTube channel, LICEHEAD, also has a ton of videos of bands and artists who are either from Hattiesburg or travel all the way down purely because they knew it was a worthwhile stop. I’ve taken so many notes from his example that if someone were to call me a cheap clone, I wouldn’t be surprised.
If you had one billion dollars to invest in Mississippi, how would you spend your money?
If I had one billion dollars to invest into Mississippi, there are three things I'd want to fix: infrastructure, education, and employment. It’s just been accepted as fact that Mississippi is one of the worst states to get an education in, but we have some of the best performing schools in the country, so there’s clearly plenty of work that needs to be done. Another issue we face in this state is the fact that the small percentage of people that manage to get a decent education are most likely going to leave the state to pursue job opportunities and a living standard that can’t be found here, which is why I believe that money should be invested into bringing a lot of these jobs here while also investing into raising the standard of living throughout the state by upgrading and repairing a lot of our crumbling infrastructure and communities.
There's a difference in acknowledging the shortcomings of the state and casting the whole state in a negative light.
What or who do you want to shamelessly promote? (It can absolutely be a project you’re working on, or something you are involved in.)
There's so many things that I'd like to promote, but I feel like the thing that's most true to me is Trash Pile Media, trash pile tapes and trashpileTV, because it shows that independent music and art can exist in a city like Starkville.
Lishman Heathcock is a show promoter, videographer, and musician in Starkville, Mississippi. Originally raised in Waynesboro, Lishman moved to Starkville to pursue degrees in electrical engineering and computer science. After an internship in Hattiesburg, Lishman brought the DIY mindset prevalent in the hub city to Starkville which now hosts one of the most interesting and vibrant independent music scenes in the Southeast.
One year ago:
Mississippi Native: Malcolm White
"Ms. Welty casts a daily shadow over me and my life. I live where she lived. I walk and shop and trudge the same paths she trudged. I once caroled to her at Christmas at her home."
Two years ago:
Mississippi Native: Denise Powell
"There are so many unfortunate assumptions about the southern United States and specifically about Mississippi, which further stigmatize and inhibit the support and resources our community could use because of the presumed understanding of complacency. Since beginning my journey into healthcare, I have always come from the lens that global health starts at home, and that comes from a place of knowing that if we don’t help ourselves and each other, who will?"
"I would absolutely love to stay here because I firmly believe the grass is greener where you water it, but I'm just so tired. I've worked so hard to build a community where I feel like I belong, and I may be naïve, but I want to know what it's like to not have to work for it." - I do hope you stay!!