I\u2019m in Melbourne, Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I write on music and film. For the past six years I\u2019ve been working on my new book, You\u2019re History: The 12 Strangest Women in Music<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I keep coming back to Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson, Neneh Cherry, Azealia Banks and the inexhaustible works of Prince.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I follow up on recommendations by writers I admire, such as Anwen Crawford, Craig Mathieson, Marcello Carlin and Mike Powell. I also love scouring YouTube for music that\u2019s new to me, such as Japanese city pop, or finding some theme from a Hong Kong 80s sitcom that\u2019s totally irresistible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “I also love scouring YouTube for music that\u2019s new to me, such as Japanese city pop, or finding some theme from a Hong Kong 80s sitcom that\u2019s totally irresistible.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s mostly streaming these days \u2013 it\u2019s much easier to find, and when I crave a song I want to hear it straight away!<\/p>\n\n\n\n At home I listen to music on the computer every morning before I start writing. It helps me to get immersed and shuck off my surroundings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a constant flow of promotion from labels and publicists, mostly streaming and occasionally videos and downloads – streaming is probably the most convenient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes I get approached by the artists themselves. But there\u2019s such an overwhelming amount of new music these days that I don\u2019t get to listen to as much as I\u2019d like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s quick, easy and portable, but obviously there is the concern over whether artists are being paid sufficiently for their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I keep a running series of playlists with tracks that I\u2019m excited about or have been recommended to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n I\u2019ve only recently joined Twitter, which is like getting your ears pierced as an adult. I\u2019ve been linking to some of my playlists there, under the themes of \u201cthe greatest oohs of all time\u201d or \u201cpioneering Black women in UK music\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My new book, You\u2019re History: The 12 Strangest Women in Music<\/a>, has just been published by Repeater<\/a>. It\u2019s about women who have changed the game of popular music, from innovators like Neneh Cherry and Azealia Banks to undervalued stars such as Chaka Khan, Sade and Janet Jackson. I try to dive deep into the songs, rather than rehashing biographical stuff that might already be out there. It\u2019s a chance to pay tribute to some of the music that has shaped my life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"template":"","tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat are you listening to?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do you discover new music?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What formats do you usually listen to? LP, CD, Cassette, Digital, Streaming Services? Why?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Where do you do most of your music listening?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do you find and listen to pre-release music?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are your frustrations with listening to music digitally? Any benefits?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How do you keep track of everything you are listening to?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do you tip other people off to new music? How?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Anything you want to \u201cpromote\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n