I just opened a fortune cookie that said “Excellence is the difference between what I do and what I am capable of.”

I have no idea what that means, so I opened another, which I like much better: “Don’t let the past and useless details choke you existence.” This might be because it is very similar to the Kylo Ren quote, “Let the past die. Kill it, if you have to,” which without context is pretty badass.

Been really busy recently! If you read to the end you’ll know why! Anyways, I heard the Grammy’s happened recently? I didn’t watch, but having a Twitter is just as good if not better because in this case I don’t even have to actually watch the Grammys.

Joe Coscarelli @joecoscarelli

the Grammys are, if nothing else, intent on catching us up on white music that gets no play online

January 27th 2020

147 Retweets765 Likes

Anyways what I was most interested in what Tyler the Creator said after he won:

“I’m half and half on it,” he said. “On the one side I am very grateful that what I made can be acknowledged in a world like this… but it sucks that whenever we, and I mean guys that look like me, do anything that’s genre-bending or anything, they always put it in a rap or urban category.”

“And I don’t like that ‘urban’ word,” he added. “It’s just a politically correct way to say the n-word, to me. So when I hear that, I’m just like, why can’t we just be in pop? So I felt like — half of me feels like the rap nomination was a backhanded compliment.” - via Variety

Not for nothing, Tyler the Creator isn’t the first artist who has had their music categorized as “urban” and “rap” when their sound fits more inside the pop/alternative camp than anything. Lizzo has also been categorized as r&b and hip hop when really she’s a pop star. Brooklyn White wrote a great article on this for Bitch Media.

upcoming shows 🎟️

2/13 | Max Pain and the Groovies w/ The Silk War and Cathedral Bells @ Baby’s All Right ~ 21+

2/13 | Oedipus Race Book Launch Photo Show @ Black and White Bar ~ not a gig

2/14 | Nastie Band / Valentinus Ritual with Lilith / Sähd Wyte Guyz @ The Broadway ~ 21+

2/15 | Deer Scout / Soft Idiot / Teenage Halloween / JW Francis @ Kirby’s Castle

2/16 | Pazzi Prom II: Secret Headliner w/ Yaasss, Kahiem Rivera, and GIFT @ Baby’s All Right ~ 21+

3/2 | ShitKid @ Elsewhere Zone One ~ 16+

3/23 | Porridge Radio @ Elsewhere Zone One ~ 16+

4/4 | Balkans Reunion in NYC w/ Patio, Hypolyxo, Navy Gangs @ Market Hotel ~ all ages

5/8 | Peach Pit w/ Haley Blais @ Music Hall of Williamsburg ~ 16+

5/12 | Peach Pit w/ Haley Blais @ Bowery Ballroom ~ second show, 16+

5/30 | Show Me The Body @ Warsaw ~ all ages

in my queue🎶

Besides the actual instrumentation, the reason I really like these songs is because of the lyrics and just how catching they are to sing. I mean added bonus that they are interesting lyrically but honestly that wouldn’t really matter to me if it also didn’t sound like something I would catch myself mouthing the words to on the subway. Anyways, very catchy and I dare you not to play it on repeat just so you can shout these lyrics again:

All the blood goes to my stomach
I might stumble
I might vomit

And sometimes, I am just a child, writing letters to myself
Wishing out loud you were dead, and then taking it back

And!

And my mum gave me this pen, she said it lights up when you press it
And you are still so depressed, and I like that you need me

what i’ve written📝

It’s my first article of the new year and my first article for AdHoc! It’s about a report by The Creative Independent and René Kladzyk (aka ZIEMBA) about the state of the music industry. They surveyed nearly 300 musicians and industry professionals and synthesized their results into ten key findings. I got to speak with René about some of the statistics from the report and what the industry has to do to build a better future, for everyone. Read more about the report below!

AdHoc @adhocfm

The Music Industry Investigative report, co-authored by @thecreativeindp and @ziembavision, reveals how far the music industry has come—and how far it has to go—when it comes to being fair, equitable, and inclusive. This Report Surveyed 300 People About Their Experiences Working In the Music Industry—and the Results Are GrimMusicians and professionals cited low wages, poor protections against harassment and discrimination, and lacking institutional support. But co-author René Kladzyk says there is hope. The start of a new decade offers an opportunity to reflect on how much has changed in the past ten years—and to imagi…bit.ly

January 28th 2020

6 Retweets11 Likes

Also! I wrote an article about Youbet’s debut album ‘Compare & Despair’. It’s a little bittersweet, mostly because I think it grapples with the question of how you can look back on your childhood fondly knowing what you know now. A bit like thinking about how happy you used to get waiting for Santa Claus while knowing that eventually younger you is gonna find out the horrible truth.

That or, do you remember learning that the person who played Barney runs a tantric massage practice? Or that the song “I Love You” was used to torture prisoners? It’s like seeing the hand behind a Muppet, once you catch a glimpse you can never look at these quaint, childhood memories the same again. Anyways, read the article below and please do check out Youbet! My favorite songs off of ‘Compare & Despair’ right now are “Nice Try” and “Alligator Talk”.

AdHoc @adhocfm

Youbet’s debut manages to capture the complexities of youth while arguing that, although we all grow up eventually, life can still hold some magic. Stream 'Compare & Despair' below. Youbet’s Charming Debut Is Made For Your Inner ChildFrontman Nick Llobet’s lyrics remind us that we have to weather the rain for a rainbow. It’s easy to assume that because Youbet’s cover art for their debut album features cartoonish figures in a technicolor wonderland that the music might be similarly bright and starry-eyed. While children singing a…bit.ly

January 29th 2020

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questions🤔

What’s the most New York thing that has ever happened to you?

I haven’t been here that long so I don’t know if I can tell if my own wacky stories are New York enough to qualify, and I’m probably gonna spend a while thinking on my answer to this question. But if this has prompted something immediately from your brain, then send it my way!

field report🚏

Doing something different this week! Remember how I told you that I’m taking an audio reporting and podcasting course? Well, every week we have to do an audio exercise and this week the theme was Environment. It was a broad mandate, so I interpreted it how I wanted to and came up with two different 1-minute long recordings. One was from a night out in Bushwick, and the other is from a night out in the Bronx. Enjoy!

If the other themes make sense to put here, I will! Also, bonus points to whoever can guess where I was both times.

concluding remarks⌛

I hope everyone’s first month of January went well! Personally, 50/50 on that front. But honestly, I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool work in the past few months. Looking forward to sharing it! Gonna disclaim though: all the views shared here are my own and my own only.

I’ve been trying to open myself up to other genres recently. I started listening to industrial techno, but I’m also interested in exploring other sounds! If you have any suggestions on things like jazz, electronic music, house music, etc send them my way!

Okay one last thing. Make sure that at least one time this week, do something that makes you happy! The wintertime can be such a hard time for everyone, and it doesn’t hurt to remember you aren’t alone. Also, unrelated! Read more, your eyes will thank you for the screen break.