Writer, Dabbler In Things
When I was still in public school, my dad — a guitar player for as long as I can remember — offered to teach me guitar. I was years into my life-long love affair with drums, however, so I didn’t have much interest in learning something else. Drums were my calling, thought I. Trying to … Read more
Just heard about Sinead O’Connor’s untimely death. She stood up for black musicians before they were officially recognized at award ceremonies. When told by her record label that she shouldn’t leak that she had a baby because it didn’t make for good optics, she looped her child’s onesie through her belt for her next public … Read more
As with my lists of favourite books I read year to year, I’ve also recently been doing an annual list of favourite songs I added to various playlists. Rather than do a separate top ten for every playlist I added to — top ten drumming songs, top ten songs for quick-paced walks, top ten songs … Read more
Shortly before the pandemic, I started tracking what songs I added to my various streaming service playlists every year. For anyone who’s interested in the chronological order of what I split and duplicated among playlists (including songs I listen to in the shower; drum to; write, walk, commute, drive and do yard work to, and … Read more
I realized about a decade ago that everything happens in phases. This may come across as old news to some — “the only constant is that everything changes”, as the saying goes — but that fact seems to hit me at particular times that stand out as a clear shift in something. I was at … Read more
As I’ve become more aware over the decades of not just art but the artists who make the art, I’ve noticed that there’s inherent baggage that comes with that knowledge that I can’t ignore. But what I find interesting is that I can separate the two with music more easily with than any other art. … Read more
I’ve been mulling over what to do for a (more) ethical music streaming service for a while, largely writing about it here after already noodling on it for some time. Sadly, that shot didn’t work out too well. This week Spotify was cast into poor light yet again when podcast powerhouse Joe Rogan, who is … Read more
Despite the craziness of this year–hey, don’t tell anyone, but planning a reno and then moving out while purging a ton of belongings that was long overdue, storing half of the kept stuff and taking half of it with you once you finally find a place to live, then having one third of the household … Read more
A few months ago I posted about giving the Tidal music streaming service another shot. Well… I did, and I’m disappointed to say that it didn’t make the cut. Here’s the thing: If it was just subtle differences, maybe just little things I didn’t like as much as Spotify’s user interface, I still would’ve stuck … Read more
To say I enjoy music is a huge understatement. There is no other art that speaks to me so deeply in such a breadth of emotion. It’s more than just being greater than the sum of its parts: Whether instrumental or combined with lyrics, well done, music creates a whole other magnitude of impact. Music … Read more