MEZZO

Call for Pitches

Hushpuppy’s first issue, Mezzo, explores food and music under the guise that both are vessels of culture, and instruments of nourishment. On a plate you can see and smell something lifechanging, but until it hits your tongue, the impact is merely imagined and informed by prior meals. With a song, notes elicit an emotion that sometimes can only be described through their carefully crafted composition.

Do you think about music and food in the same way? Can’t have one without the other? Is a musician superstitious about a preshow meal that nourishes their soul before their performance nourishes the audience? What did William Shakespeare mean when he said “if music be the food of love sing on?” Could he have meant it literally?

Narratives can be direct or metaphorical, fiction or non-fiction. Most of all, we look for pitches that are thoughtfully considered, anchored to the theme, and spark curiosity. Feel free to include references that inspire your pitch if you feel that they provide valuable context for our evaluation.

• Literary review

• Album analysis and menu curation

• Personal essays

• Research report

• Profiles (restauranteurs, musicians, etc.)

Applicable forms of writing (non-exhaustive):

Please send all pitch emails to pitches@hushpuppypress.com with the subject line: “LAST NAME_WRITING PITCH_DATE” (date written as ddmmyyyy)

Written pitches are due by 7 PM EDT, August 6, 2026. Please tell us who you are and a few writing samples that you feel best showcase your style and voice (Note: your writing sample should be similar to the type of piece you are looking to write). Your pitch should be written in the body of the email, and if you are pitching more than one piece, delineate them in the same email.

Instruction for Submission

We are looking for all writer profiles, whether beginner or more experienced. We look forward to hearing from you!

Confirmed pitches will be contacted by mid August.

Mezzo is scheduled to release winter 2026.