Hey Kat Wnek! Where are you based?
Now in Toronto, Ontario
Where do you work? What do you do?
I work for an artist management company called Future 5th.
What are you listening to?
I’ve been listening to 70’s & 80’s music a lot lately. Also Michael Jackson (tremendous fan) ABBA and CCR are definitely part of my most recent playlist but I do listen to anything from rap to folk as well, big fan of Ray Lamontagne. My playlist is very much all over the place these days. Depends on how I feel in the moment really.
How do you discover new music?
I like to read music blogs for my own personal pleasure, however, if I like a song by an artist that isn’t necessarily popular I made sure to keep an eye out and follow their journey through their socials. My go-to blog is Pitchfork, though I do cave into the occasional algorithm playlist on streaming platforms. I’m also fortunate enough to have people in the music industry send me music that they are working on. I’ve discovered a lot of really cool artists and songs through SoundCloud as well. I love that platform
Pre-covid I would go to bars and smaller venues where they had live music, I enjoyed just sitting there and listening to the bands play, also when attending concerts I would go early to see the opening act!
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?
We live in a digital world right now, I listen to music on streaming platforms. I still have my (now scratched, LOL) CD collection though
I really miss cassettes!
Where do you do most of your music listening?
I spend most of my day listening to music, mostly while working from home and I don’t leave the house without my earphones, I don’t have a state-of-the-art stereo setup but my wonderful BlueTooth speaker does a great job
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?
I find pre-release music on blogs that I like and also have friends who trust me enough to send me music before its released, of course for my ears only 😛
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?
I really miss the physical booklets, and the pleasure of sitting down and appreciating the artwork and reading lyrics that were part of the whole experience of buying a CD, cassette or vinyl
The benefits of digital music are how quickly files can be exchanged, and changes and tweaks can be made by being anywhere in the world. I get a lot of links to music, especially when in the middle of working on new projects so I think there’s a benefit in digital and file exchanges when it comes to deadlines.
“I get a lot of links to music, especially when in the middle of working on new projects so I think there’s a benefit in digital and file exchanges when it comes to deadlines.”
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?
I create my own playlist and add my new discoveries to my “new yummy music” playlist. I tend to save music to my music library right away
Do you tip other people off to new music? How?
I love to share my discoveries via social media, by posting stories or just sending a link to an artist profile, or simply telling my friends about a certain artist.
Anything you want to “promote”?
One band that I loved and discovered at a conference was Bang Bang Romeo from the UK, been a fan ever since! I also listen to artists I work with and appreciate and admire their craft, Valdii and Words Like Wildfire both from Toronto, Ontario
