ABOUT IOWA PIONEERS
iowa pioneers is a visual archive and media platform documenting the growth of iowa’s music scene.
built through collaboration, consistency, and connection, we highlight the artists shaping what the state sounds like in real time.
since 2020, the goal has been simple:
to make sure the scene is seen.
with 100+ music videos and ongoing coverage, we focus on creating high-quality visuals, live moments, and cultural documentation across iowa’s emerging artists.
this is not just content.
it’s documentation of a growing scene.
About Me.
FOUNDER
Trae (Traevfx)
I started Iowa Pioneers because I didn’t see anyone consistently documenting and pushing the artists around me the way they deserved.
I was already in it- shooting early music videos, building with artists before there was real attention on them, and seeing how much talent was here with no structure behind it. Over time, that turned into creating 100+ music videos, covering artists across the state, and building a platform that connects everything in one place.
But for me, it’s always been deeper than just content.
Working closely with artists, real relationships started forming. Not just on set, but in conversations about life, direction, purpose—and even faith. I’m open about what I believe, and because of that, artists have felt comfortable opening up too. It’s something I’ve been able to grow in alongside them, not force onto them.
That space has shaped how I move, how I create, and how I build with people.
Iowa Pioneers isn’t just a media platform to me—it’s something I’ve poured real time, energy, and belief into. It’s built for the artists who actually want to build something here, and who believe in what this scene can become when it’s documented, connected, and taken seriously
