There is as much good music writing now as there has ever been. There are gross inequalities in the system still, in who gets heard and who is silent. But more than ever, people are able to let their experiences and expressions be heard.
Thinkpieces, essays, reviews and features: the internet has overwhelmed us with writing. There's so much of it out there, and it's all so easy to lose perspective. The more our Facebook feeds tell us what's worth reading, the less likely we are to stumble across something outside of our worldview.
In an attempt to get a handle on all of the music writing out there, we've decided to put everyone up on the music writing we've enjoyed reading during the course of the week. If you've read something that we've missed, feel free to put it in the comments.
Written by Foster Kamer (@weareyourfek), Claire Lobenfeld (@clairevlo), Jacob Moore (@pigsandplans), David Drake (@somanyshrimp), Alex Gardner (@TheConstant_G), and Jason Parham (@nonlinearnotes).
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Super Heroine: An Interview With Lorde at Rookie Mag
[Although technically from the week before last, teenage music writer and founder of Rookie Mag Tavi interviewed fellow teenager Lorde, and we felt it needed to be included. —ed.] Smart, funny, demystifying in all the right ways, with a lot of brilliant media critiques about music journalism and the boring questions asked of musicians ad infinitum. —Foster Kamer
Hard Knock Life: The Ballad of Damon Dash at Details
While the article largely focuses on Dash's work with Jim Jones and his Vampire Life brand, as well as Dash's Lower East Side art gallery Poppington, Dusko brand whiskey and other ventures, Jay still looms over his head. The article's author Kevin Gray writes, "If Dash has regrets—about giving up the power and the money and the influence he once possessed at Roc-A-Fella—he won't show it. As for Jay Z's vast empire—estimated to be worth $475 million—and cultural currency, Dash makes no claims to them." But, perhaps, it's because Dash sees his own value reflected in Jay. —Claire Lobenfeld
From Macklecore to Biggiewave, the Surreal World of Weird Soundcloud at The Daily Dot
We've all heard about Weird Twitter, but the oddballs of the Internet refuse to be contained. This investigation into the musically inclined "SoundClowns" of SoundCloud is interesting because it sheds some light on the always evolving subculture that the stranger side of the Internet spawns. —Jacob Moore
Beyonce Review at Pitchfork
Carrie Battan's Beyonce review for Pitchfork makes the argument that "at a time when when young people are gripped by an ideological fear of monogamy’s advertised doldrums, Beyoncé boldly proposes the idea that a woman’s prime—personal, professional, and especially sexual—can occur within a stable romantic partnership." It's an argument for monogamy as an exciting context, rather than the boring and stereotypical "The Lockhorns"-type situation. This feels especially relevant in the era of pop music's endless EDM party. A perfect complement to Tim Finney's excellent review of Beyonce for Complex. —David Drake
Trends of 2013: Neo-Eski, Alien Shapes and the New Wave of Grime at Dummy Mag
Not many people outside the UK probably care right now, but this is a great look at the present/near-future of underground UK dance music. This new wave of instrumental grime is set to be the "big thing" in UK dance music in 2014, something that will start being picked up more and more by mainstream outlets, and—without being too much of a Euro snob—will probably be hitting the US in a bigger way at the end of year. —Alex Gardner
Alchemist and Evidence Team Up as The Step Brothers at LA Weekly
The story chronicles the long-standing relationship between Alchemist and Evidence. To casual hip-hop fans, Al is known for his steely production and Ev is known for his acrobatic rhymes. Few people know them as best friends (who went to school with Nicole Richie and Mike Einziger from Incubus, no less), which Jeff Weiss does a great job of piecing together. I mean, who wouldn't want to read about old friends collaborating on a passion project and smoking hella weed? I'm excited for Lord Steppington, to say the least. —Jason Parham
Amiri Baraka: Poet Laureate at The Fader
This profile was originally published in 2004, but was republished after Baraka's passing earlier this week. Rest in Peace.
