‘The old world is dying and the new world struggles to be born. Now is the time of monsters.’ — Antonio Gramsci It is nearly a year since the world premiere of my debut EP, ‘Born’. Since then, I have released across streaming platforms the debut single from that EP, ‘First Time’, and uploaded all … Continue reading Update: Born
Tag: Artistry
Yonder Yecialism? A constructive critique of Ye’s Clubhouse Interview
‘[T]he run in 24, if I can word it like that, will not be based on division and diversity but on unification. In America we will augment policy to align with the Bible to serve all Americans — no matter what their class, what their race, what their background. It’s about Jesus, love, happiness, and … Continue reading Yonder Yecialism? A constructive critique of Ye’s Clubhouse Interview
Tchaikovsky, Drake, and how music dies
One of the most popular moves in popular music is to make everything about love. This is sweet, and there’s nothing wrong with it. But the problem is when music fails to recognise what this move entails: the death of music. Let me explain. Art to an extreme. Music in the modern age begun with … Continue reading Tchaikovsky, Drake, and how music dies
DJ Khaled’s remix of Use This Gospel, featuring Eminem: A musical review
Jesus Is King by Kanye West is a remarkable album. ‘Closed On Sunday’ stands out as a striking statement for a music artist: ‘Stand up for my home / Even if I take this walk alone.’ — Kanye, Closed On Sunday Echoing the JIK follow-up Donda, which drew on the urban rock sounds of Yeezus, … Continue reading DJ Khaled’s remix of Use This Gospel, featuring Eminem: A musical review
Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and the 2010s moment of artistic transcendence in popular music
The headlines about Kanye West and Taylor Swift are deceptive. We learn about them through their controversy, which, when it finally fades from view, reveals two musicians locked in artistic combat and collaboration. Country music and Chicago hip hop are contrasting locations for the artistic birthplace of these two popular musicians. Kanye is older and … Continue reading Kanye West, Taylor Swift, and the 2010s moment of artistic transcendence in popular music
The vocal artistry of Rihanna
Rihanna is known as a singer on a colossal range of popular music tracks. She has collaborated with so many producers and fellow artists that it would seem almost offensive to try to mention them all by name. But for the purposes of this piece, I must try, if only to illustrate the artistic significance … Continue reading The vocal artistry of Rihanna
From Bach to Born: A philosophy of music
Recently I’ve been writing about music. The study of music from a philosophical perspective is often ridiculed, as it is traced to the work of critical theorist Theodor Adorno, who preferred Bach and Beethoven to Mozart and jazz music (preferring not to comment on the decrepit condition of popular music). Adorno played the piano, but … Continue reading From Bach to Born: A philosophy of music
Jacob Collier Concert Review: From Thriller to Filler
Jacob Collier is very clever. An inspiration to many (myself included), the proto-pop prodigy is on the edges of something great. At least, that’s what reviews have been saying for years now. But nothing seems to change. From Collier’s world tour, which I attended and enjoyed. I once defined music as a fusion of technique … Continue reading Jacob Collier Concert Review: From Thriller to Filler
Edmund Wilson 