October's Very Own Newsletter

Do newsletters really need subtitles?

What’s up grown people!

It’s been a month I tell you what. This month was definitely one where I felt the effects of having built an audience, while wrestling with the desire to maintain and grow it. A natural feeling I’m sure, but one I didn’t particularly enjoy. Perhaps this was due to the fact that my work was busy, so the added frazzle was less than enjoyable. But never mind, we always have the music!

A few revelations off top:

• On my livestream a couple weeks back (Sundays 7pm ET) I played some TWICE (I was hesitant but people enjoyed it). As we were going back to back, someone suggested Dua Lipa’s Pretty Please. I’ll be honest, I’ve never spent time with Dua - the ultra pop pond is not somewhere I often dip. And I was pleasantly surprised. Tbh, I think it was the fact that it transitioned from a song I knew, to a song that had similar connective tissue. Is it a song I’ll listen to often? No. Did I thoroughly enjoy it? Hell yeah!

• I didn’t really realise just how important Grimes’ sound has been to the future of pop until this week. I spent some time with some of her earlier work, and…you hear a lot about Charli XCX in the mainstream (and her hyperpop influence), but rarely Grimes. Perhaps it’s her public persona, perhaps it’s her Musk musk. But I look forward to reading about her influence in 20 years. I think she’ll be important. (Fun fact, I opened the door for her in LA, I was leaving a place she was entering. It was one of those surreal “umm that’s GRIMES?” internal monologue/scream moments.

• I am truly blessed to have people care about what I have to say. All I want to do is share and celebrate music, and I hope I can do more of it as the months and years go on. I think getting over imposter syndrome is an important step tbh. I think we all have it to an extent, but I think it’s now become an overblown “chip on your shoulder” trait that becomes a crux. I’m honestly learning to be proud of what I’m doing, and confident in my skills (without being arrogant). The Dunning Kruger effect is the opposite to imposter syndrome right? Let’s not get there shall we.

A few songs for your month:

Derrick Gee FM

Let’s treat this more like a changelog this month.

• Updated: Starts with some bright Euro club sounds. These songs lifted me up this month

• Korean substitution: Balming Tiger is back (and I admit, I proclaimed they fell off) and this song is sooo goood.

• Retro: If you have nice speakers, try the Todd Rundgren track up loud. It sounds so wide and lush.

• Emotion: I had some friends over, and they played the Debussy track on my La Scala’s and they had their eyes closed and hand conducting. This sounds wanky but mind you THEY ARE 24 YEAR OLD KOREAN RAPPERS. Lovely stuff.

• Badass: Barbara Dane

• Dad music: I can try and be as cool as I like, but my favourite song on this playlist is Summer in New York by Michael Franks, the CHEESIEST song on the list.

Ok, love you lots, see you later.

Ps. Currently I’m staring at the Contact page on Smokey Robinson’s website. I’m going to send a “fuck it” message cos I want to interview him, but I am fairly confident he won’t see the message, let alone care about it. HAAA.