FEATURE:
On This Day in 2011…
Music Musings & Such at Ten
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I am going to keep this relatively short…
PHOTO CREDIT: Max Herridge
because there are some playlists and an audio piece/podcast that I want to focus on (especially the latter). On 15th November, 2011, I tentatively launched my blog, Music Musings & Such (I am not too precious whether it is written with an ‘and’ or an ampersand), into the world. At the time, I was not sure where it would go and what it would consist of. After the introduction post, it was a little while before I followed it up with more content. In those days, the posts were quite primitive and basic (sort of like how The Simpsons looked when they appeared on The Tracy Ulman Show in the late-1980s!). There were a couple of reasons behind setting it up. The first was that I knew musicians who were either struggling to get their work heard, or they were looking for someone to review/interview them. In 2011, there were some music blogs around (though that number has grown significantly in the past decade). I did not have an audience or any plan when I began. I thought that, if I posted some articles and featured some artists, that would get people following me. That did happen after a while. It took a few years before I was truly getting into my stride. I would say that, actually, the past couple of years have been the busiest and most productive. The other reason why I wanted to start a blog was, from childhood, sharing music has been a passion. That is thanks to my parents and the sort of range and weight of music they introduced me to as young as I can remember. The first thing I am going to include in terms of anything audio are playlists I compiled a while back. They are sort of ‘electronic mix-tapes’ of songs that I discovered and loved as a child.
As a growing and curious music fan during childhood, I listened to what my parents were playing. They had - and they still do! - a vinyl cupboard containing albums from The Beatles, Steely Dan and many others. Among my friends, there was this bonding experience that came from sharing music. I would listen to cassettes through a boombox/cassette player that, though simple, opened my mind to the power of music! In my childhood and teenage years, I became more and more passionate about sharing music and ensuring that those knew were turned onto the songs, albums and artists that were delighting my ears. Starting my own blog, in a sense, was a way of my being able to continue this practice and passion – albeit it in a very different form and medium. Music journalism was essential during my childhood. Pre-Internet, this was the way me and so many others discovered which singles and albums to get. I got a real thrill buying magazines like NME, Q and Melody Maker and reading the reviews. I would get the bus – on the strength of a single or album recommendations alone – into town and gleefully snap up a single, just because I heard it on the radio or it featured in a music magazine. All of these experiences stayed with me. Even though the Internet age has changed the way we discover and share music, a blog allowed me to talk about the crop of promising new artists emerging…in addition to dissecting and exposing all the great music that I grew up listening to. The audio below is me recorded at BBC’s Wogan House, London last month. With thanks to broadcasting legend Matt Everitt for showing me up there and helping me record the piece. I am not particularly au fait with audio editing or adding music in. So what you hear is me chatting about the blog and Kate Bush’s 50 Words for Snow without songs clips. I have imbedded the album too - so that one can listen along to that at the same time. I know that it is a long thing but, when listening back and editing, I wanted to keep as much in as possible. I have not done any audio stuff for my blog…so I figured it was a chance to make up for lost time!
The reason for talking about 50 Words for Snow is the fact that, for one, Bush is an artist that means an awful lot to me. I have written about her more than anyone else (in terms of living journalists; I’ll make that bold claim!). I cannot remember how many posts I have produced about her in the past decade…though it is in triple figures. The other reason for talking about 50 Words for Snow is that it turns ten on 21st November. There are so few podcasts about Bush and her albums. I am planning on doing one with guests from next year. In a way, the recording was a bit of a prototype or demo. I am not sure whether anyone will discuss 50 Words for Snow or go into depth on the day. Apologies for any factual slips (they were all correct on paper but, when recording, you read stuff wrong or slip now and then trying to get all the information out) or a lack of…slickness. I am pleased I got to thank people for following the blog, in addition to paying tribute to my favourite artist and a remarkable album that was released six days after my blog started its life! It was important to do something a little different for the tenth anniversary of Music Musings & Such. I hope, when I can find a place to record that is quiet, private and affordable, I can do it a lot more audio/podcast stuff through next year.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in a promotional photo for 2011’s 50 Words for Snow
I love posting features about all areas of music. The most rewarding – apart from Kate Bush features! – are when I get to spotlight an artist; bring their music to people that might otherwise have missed them. Through my blog, I have been able to chart the way music has changed, evolved and grown the past decade. It makes me think of those artists that awakened the senses when I was young. The Beatles, obviously, were huge. Listening to their albums was almost a religious experience! They are my favourite band and, to me, beyond comparison or any criticism. Madonna was the most important Pop artist when I was a child. Watching her video for Material Girl in the 1980s was another eye-opening moment. She is someone whose music, style changes and different personas amaze me. A true icon! There are too many artists to name in terms of those who soundtracked important moments of my life. Even though I am older now, I still get the same sort of excitement happening upon an artist or sound that is very different to anything else. Being able to share that fascination on Music Musings & Such is a real thrill! Alongside music websites and magazines, radio is a big help for me. BBC Radio 6 Music is the station that provides the most leads and tips regarding new artists. I listen to Mary Anne Hobbs, Chris Hawkins and Lauren Laverne (I miss the great Shaun Keaveny so much, as he was hugely influential regarding new music!). Laverne is, perhaps, the biggest source of new music discovery influence. She has her ears to the ground and is always excellent when it comes to offering up artists that are right up my street! Matt Everitt (who has given me so much invaluable advice through the years) is a huge influence in terms of his broadcasting, podcast knowledge and general passion for music. His interviews are always so wonderful to listen to. His BBC Radio 6 Music colleague, Georgie Rogers, is another one of my favourite broadcasters and sources of influences (let’s hope that she is back on BBC Radio 6 Music soon). I love her work on Soho Radio.
IN THIS PHOTO: The Beatles in 1967/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
I shall leave it there. I forgot to count how many posts I have published in ten years. It is in the hundreds. Perhaps the high-hundreds! The word count might be closing in on seven figures too! In terms of where the blog goes next…I am not too sure really. As I said in the audio feature above, I hope to wind down in terms of the frequency of posts, and diversify in terms of video and audio. YouTube is a platform I have not used; doing a podcast or two has been on my list for a while. I am not sure whether I can sustain another ten years! That being noted, I will keep going for as long as I can. The written side of things might dwindle in the coming years, although I think that the podcast/audio side is one that could be more sustainable. Regardless, a huge thanks to everyone who has supported the blog and posted nice comments! A big salute to all the artists I have featured over the past decade, in addition to anyone who has stumbled upon the blog and followed it! I think I have posted something from the blog every day for nearly six years. I am due a break at some point! It is the sheer wealth and weight of eclectic music, both old and new, that keeps me active, engaged and typing furiously! It leaves me to say thanks once more. Here is to…
PHOTO CREDIT: Florian Klauer/Unsplash
THE next decade (or slightly less!).