Writer's Brain April Round Up
These are some of my recent articles, music recommendations, shoutouts, and smaller musings. This month I've included new music from Beyoncé alongside new articles and events from my close friends.
Writer’s Writing:
These are all the articles I published last month:
Why Sacred Society use spatial audio to enhance relaxing ambient music - MusicTech
In the last few years since I’ve been working from home, I’ve become an avid listener of different kinds of ambient and environmental music. I use singing bowls, the Skyrim soundtrack, and forest sounds, among many others to help me concentrate while I write.
My writing starts with the words in my head, so I unfortunately can’t listen to standard music with lyrics. I can’t simultaneously hear Beyonce’s lyrics and the words I’m putting on the page (especially from her premier new album).
Sacred Society Music Group is making the kind of music I use for working using the most advanced technology available today.
Artist of the Month: Carlita - Beatportal
I love writing Beatport Artist of the Month features. I’ve been lucky to contribute seven since May 2020.
Beatportal is so good about letting me explore an artist’s career, history, intentions, and process in a way that aligns with my own connection to music.
For this one, I wrote about how Carlita is one of the most globally cultured people I’ve ever had the pleasure of interviewing.
REZZ Is Ready To Be Seen On New Album: "It Just Feels More Evolved" - GRAMMY
REZZ was a super cool chat. She is so utterly stoked about her new album, CAN YOU SEE ME. You can hear the rekindled passion she poured into it. Perk #1726178236 of my job is talking to people about what they love doing.
Their passion gives me faith that humanity will be OK. Because if people are this passionate about making music, there are people equally passionate about saving the environment and curing cancer.
A slight bummer for her fans is that she had to majorly downsize her touring to get into the headspace to make the album. As such, there will be very few opportunities to see her live while these tracks are fresh. I highly recommend flexing some travel plans to see her. I’m blessed that I get to see her at Red Rocks.
Is the California Exodus Creating More Music Cities? - Chartmetric
I love California with all my heart. It has El Farolito burritos. Coachella. My dad. The Hollywood Bowl. But I left for a reason. So did millions of other people, and we took our love of music with us.
It was cool to use data to see how the CA exodus is affecting the music industry around the country. Short answer, you don’t need to be in LA to make it anymore.
Writer’s Picks
These are some recent albums/artists that I’m thrilled to share. You can keep track of the new music I’m loving by following my 2024 Albums playlist on Spotify:
Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER
The queen queened so hard on this album. My god. It’s phenomenal. This will surely have such a profound and positive effect on the state of country music moving into the future. But the effect will also go beyond that.
There are some country songs on here, sure, but it’s so much more. “Blackbird” isn’t a country song, and her cover brought me to tears. The songs are diverse and emotional.
I’m so glad she linked them together without any space between them. It’s like she’s welcoming you into her world—a world where you can be anything you want. That’s really what she’s saying throughout these 78 minutes. If she can make country music, then you can make your life into whatever your authentic soul desires.
Arushi Jain - Delight
Over the last three albums, Arushi Jain went from making spiraling, epic, and cacophonous modular synthesizer compositions to making concise, intriguing, and beautiful modular synthesizer compositions.
Where her first album, With & Without, featured tracks that were 11 minutes long, Delight cuts them in half. She maintains her mastery of sound design and her affinity for sonic exploration but presents them in a neater, more refined package.
Soft Loft - The Party And The Mess
This album comes from a German label called Radicalis Music. I’ve been hip to them for a few years now. They are without restriction when it comes to sound. It’s just very honest music. I’d describe this album as particularly pleasant.
The Wandering Hearts - Mother
My friends Chess, Tara, and A.J. just released their fourth album, Mother last month. They were supposed to perform in Denver a few months back, but the gig got canceled at the last minute.
Instead, they invited me to their Airbnb and they played a private acoustic set just for me. It was beautiful and wholesome, and you can really hear their loving dynamic throughout the record.
Writer’s Friends
I know tons of people doing tons of cool stuff.
Introducing: Mary Droppinz
This one is a double whammy because my dear friend Ana Monroy Yglesias, wrote about my other dear friend, Mary Droppinz. Two awesome people coming together to tell an awesome story. What’s not to love?
Heads Know Makes Their LA Debut
Straight from NYC, my friend Arielle Lana LeJarde is bringing her Heads Know party to LA. Since launching the event she’s booked awesome artists like Daedelus, Nikki Nair, and Daddy Kev. Her mission is to create more inclusive spaces in dance music and hip-hop, and she’s doing a bang-up job. Get tickets for the LA show here.
Volume 3 of MP3 Mag is available now!
On top of running his own PR company, my friend Franz also owns MP3 Mag, and they just shared their third print edition! It’s a beautifully designed survey of electronic music, jam bands, and more. Get your copy today to read some first-rate journalism and support independent creators!
Ty for the inclusion of my Mary Droppinz article! <3 i need to read your Carlita one