Where are you based?
Sydney, Australia.
Where do you work? What do you do?
I run BLUNT (bluntmag.com.au), a website dedicated to alternative culture.
What are you listening to?
A lot of Taylor Swift in the lead up to the new album, really enjoying the new Norma Jean record which I think slipped off a lot of people’s radar, Willow’s new album because I think that’s a glimpse into the future of alternative music and I’ve basically burnt a hole in my copy of Zulu’s My People… Hold On.
How do you discover new music?
It’s a healthy mix between simply keeping a finger to the pulse of what’s happening, and also many a nighttime hour spent falling into rabbit holes exploring scenes from all over the world. We want our coverage to be extremely diverse, the unfortunate reality is some of the best, and most important, music being made in 2022 won’t come in a press release.
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?
For me, CDs are gone. Thx fr th mmrs but they’re gone. I love discovering digitally, and then supporting physically by grabbing the record on wax.
“It’s a healthy mix between simply keeping a finger to the pulse of what’s happening, and also many a nighttime hour spent falling into rabbit holes exploring scenes from all over the world.”
Where do you do most of your music listening?
I know a lot of people who prefer listening to music while they do something else like work and let it wash over them but I find I get more from intentful listening. Tasks, where I can give the music my full focus like walking or taking public transport and really fall into the music, is how I like it, you never know what threads you’ll find.
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?
In my experience, I’ve found that exclusive premieres via a media partner can really take a lot of the bite out of a release. It can also alienate the artist with other media outlets. There’s nothing like the original source for pre-release music – the artist’s channels – unless there’s something really unique and otherwise unobtainable about a media partner premiere.
“There’s nothing like the original source for pre-release music – the artist’s channels – unless there’s something really unique and otherwise unobtainable about a media partner premiere.”
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?
It’s incredibly convenient and there’s just so much you can find with a few clicks, I also don’t mind ads, they’re a part of life now. However, the fact the artists are getting totally gronked by royalties sucks. I also find that streaming services, like all other digital platforms, suffer from ‘Peak Internet’, with so many covers, bootlegs and remixes it can be tough to find a specific track, and heaven forbid you find something and accidentally refresh the page before you save it.
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?
It can get tricky when you’re hopping between different platforms, and no technique I’ve tried has been perfect but so far the best way to keep track of everything is to share it with friends! If I find something I dig, I’ll share it and know where to come back if I lose track of the…track.
Do you tip other people off to new music? How?
Absolutely. There are a lot of gatekeepers in this space, I’m a gate opener. A rising tide lifts all boats and the more people who like weird, niche things, the better.
Anything you want to “promote”?
There are a lot of really important messages being discussed in the alternative music space at the moment, but if I were to pick one to amplify right now it would be the work of Ukrainian based label Neformat Family, who released a compilation series featuring all sorts of punk, rock, metal and heavy Ukrainian bands, МАПА. Частина I, I and III. All proceeds of the sales via Bandcamp are donated to funding the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
But also shout out to our comrades at PUNK BLACK and Unite Asia.
