Your On Repeat Questions Answered
Today in the mailbag: everything from the state of music journalism to Milwaukee Brewers walk up songs. Let's get into it!
Good morning!
Today we’re digging into the mailbag and answering your questions.
Thank you all for the thoughtful, fun questions! If you have more, please hit me up. I want to make these Q&As a regular(ish) feature.
Let’s get jump in!
Q: Nobody noticed on Twitter when I pointed out the interesting coincidence of the demise/downsizing of Pitchfork happening just when greater notice is being taken of the independent music journalism ecosystem, which is burgeoning on Substack and elsewhere. Did I make a point worth acknowledging or was the Twit-gorithm right to serve my tweet directly to the dustbin of history?
A: In my opinion, you are/were dead on. I’ve talked a lot about this in recent weeks and will continue to do so. The short version: Independent writing/music journalism on platforms like Substack matters now more than ever. I also have some thoughts on how best to leverage/scale #Musicstack’s collective talent (coalitions, E-publishing, etc.), and I will be fleshing these out more over the next few weeks as well.
Q: You're the leadoff hitter for the Brewers in 2024. What's your walk-up song?
A: The opening riff to Rammstein’s ‘Asche Zu Asche’ (which, given the Brewers, is probably fitting) or ‘Gasolina’ by Daddy Yankee.
This is our year! I can feel it!1
Q: Have you seen a decrease in interest in people reading about album reviews over the years? I ask because I remember in the old days, you would get a magazine to read the review of an album and then decide whether you'd buy it. But now everything is available everywhere, and people might not rely so much on experts to listen to or buy music (if they do buy it, that is).
A: I think it’s cyclical. From this observer’s perch, there was a drop-off that coincided with the rise of streaming & accessibility of music. Why read what someone has to say when we can get a taste of the record for free? Over the last few years, I’ve seen the pendulum swing back the other way; people still test out records on Spotify, but the appetite for record reviews has, especially ones that don’t feel like gatekeeping or someone trying to arbitrate taste. This might just be me, but I think COVID and subsequent lockdowns spurred a lot of this desire to return to discourse and connection.
Q: I wonder how you are able to line up so many interviews for your Substack and what tips you may have for me as I look to perhaps a touch of that to my work here.
A: The easy answer is to ask people before I can overthink it and talk myself out of it. I’m always a little nervous when asking, and I almost cover my eyes when a response lands in my inbox. I will say that, by and large, artists are very kind and open to talking about their work. Yes, it’s in their best interest, but I genuinely think there’s more to it than that. Even those who have declined have been gracious when doing so.
As for specific tips: I follow a standard format when reaching out, right down to typing “Interview Request” in the subject line. I then explain who I am, a bit about the newsletter (and link), and briefly overview what I’d like to discuss with them. I also offer to send questions via email or set up a time to speak via Zoom. Email is almost always preferable as it is a lower lift ask (they can respond on their own time, etc.).
Q: Has your taste in music changed over the years?
A: Yes! I didn't know rock and roll existed before I started elementary school. Before that, I'd only heard jazz and music from the early 60s (Beach Boys, early Beatles, etc.). In my teens, I was infected by the same cynicism as everyone else, and the list of what I refused to listen to was far longer than what I would. These days, I will listen to anything at least once. If it makes me move or moves me, I’m in. I don’t care for NuMetal, Hyperpop, or some EDM, but those artists aren't making those records with me in mind.
Q: What is or are your main source(s) of information? Particularly the news you share in your For the Record newsletters.
A: I use Feedly as an RSS reader and have all kinds of publications funneled into it. There are the usual suspects like Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, and NPR, but also ones like Northern Transmissions, The Quietus, and a whole host of blogs I like to read. Sometimes, I’ll find something good on Twitter as well. There are not a whole lot of reasons for me to stay on there, but #musicTwitter is one of ‘em. Not for nothing, putting For The Record together every week is one of the most fun things I get to do.
Q: What are your five favorite lyrics (a line or a song, it doesn't matter)? Why?
A:
I went home with the waitress/the way I always do.
She asked me if I had a name
Told her I was glued up on some chick
We sat and smoked against the wall
Drank a beer, felt the chill of fall, of fall
Home is where I want to be, but I guess I’m already there.
Nothing ever happens here, I said. I just wait.
With color in your life, there's a reason to explode/ To set the world on fire.
Q: Spotify seems to be the default for listening to music. I believe it can import my existing file library, but before I go down that road, are there other apps I should consider?
A: This is a great question and one I’ve been pondering myself. I know many people prefer Apple and some SoundCloud, but neither seems to have the same number of tracks as Spotify. I’d be curious to hear more from everyone. What say you, readers? What’s your go-to platform, and why?
Q: If Gizmo could attend a music festival with you, which one do you think he would enjoy the most, and why? And have you ever caught Gizmo dancing or responding to music listened by you?
A: He’s never said, but he strikes me as a Darker Waves Fest kind of guy, or maybe even Riot Fest. It's too hot in the desert for Coachella or all those in places like Tulum. The closest I’ve ever come to seeing him respond is when he occasionally noses right up to the speaker as if trying to find out where the sound (or voices) are coming from. He also once mistook an album cover for an actual person but just barked a lot. Lol.
Lightning round:
Q: Have you accepted King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard as your lord and savior?
A: Still a heathen, but closer than I was just a few weeks ago.
Q: Top five punk bands from Southern California.
A: The Adolescents, Bad Religion, Black Flag, Face To Face, and Insted. I’ll also stretch the definition of “punk” and add Fishbone to the list as a 6th man.
Q: I always loved not only music reviews but album liner notes as well. Have they returned?
A: I have started seeing them more lately. I hope it becomes common again. Doubly so for ones that include song lyrics, as I love to be able to follow along.
Q: I’d like to revisit the question the Who posed in 1979’s “Long Live Rock”: Rock is dead. Is it? Have you seen it on the streets lately? Has it seen better days?
A: Rock and Roll will never die.
Q: Does anyone here have experience licensing music and/or putting together a compilation for release?
A: I’m afraid I’m no help here. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Q: I don't care for The Pretenders all that much. Does this make me a bad person?
A: Nope! We like what we like.
Thank you again for submitting your questions and for being here!
Kevin—
This is not our year, and I will have my heart broken yet again.
This was great Kev, love it especially the Social D, Black Flag, and Fishbone mentions. You can take the girl out of Cali but you can't take Cali out of the girl!
My question is I am trying to find the article that you had your Spotify streaming history data analyzed but the search functionality is not so good here on Substack - could you please post a link to it?
I finally downloaded mine and am eager to nerd out on it, so I wanted to see again the kind of analysis that was performed on yours!
Thanks for answering my question...I knew I was right, LOL. Musicstackers ( and other independent music journos) UNITE!