It's Been a While.....
Lost Classics, The Modern Memoir and Life Lessons.
Hello Everyone
Welcome to the updated Newsletter! After taking an eight to nine-month break, I'm excited to be back and ready to share my thoughts, ideas, and inspirations with you. While I did write a heartfelt explanation of my absence, I've decided to focus on the future.
Moving forward, I'm committed to sending out one email each week, every Tuesday, as a personal promise to myself and to you, my readers. As always, I'll be sharing my passion for music and my ongoing journey of musical discovery, which I approach with both eagerness and humility. My goal is to introduce you to new bands, artists, and genres, while also sharing the ideas and books that inspire me, with the hope that they will inspire you too.
Above all, I aim to create a unique newsletter that reflects my personality and values, while also providing value to my readers. I want this to be a place where I can express my thoughts and ideas freely, much like a modern memoir, and where you can join me on this exciting journey. Let’s dive in!
MUSIC: The Soul of Seattle
Seattle was a perfect storm of talent, creativity, and ambition. It was the right place at the right time, and the world was ready for it." - Jonathan Poneman, co-founder of Sub Pop Records
In the realms of music, art, literature, or ideas, particular groups or individuals often rise to prominence and come to represent the entire movement or scene over time. As someone who developed their musical preferences in the 90s, I was profoundly influenced by the Seattle grunge scene, which still impacts me today. While Nirvana, Pearl Jam , and Soundgarden are well-known to many music fans, there are deeper layers to explore, beginning with Alice in Chains and Mudhoney. However, for those who enjoy delving into music history like an archeologist (like me!), there are hidden treasures waiting to be discovered.
By tracing the family trees and following the revolving door of band members that didn't quite make it to the level of fame enjoyed by others, you can uncover the foundations and indeed the soul of the Seattle grunge scene in the late 80s and early 90s. These bands and records are still new to me, even after 30 years.
For instance, Love Battery whose sound blends indie rock with fuzzy swirling guitars and catchy melodies - debut EP “Between the Eyes” released in 1992 comes swaggering in like “Monster” era R.E.M.
Truly, a band consisting of former members of both Soundgarden and Screaming Trees, embraced an experimental approach that blended edgy, distorted guitars, trippy psychedelic elements, and a 60s vibe, resulting in a unique sound that's difficult to categorize.
While many consider their debut album, “ Fast Stories...From Kid Coma” as the quintessential "lost classic" album, I am personally drawn to their second album, "Feeling You Up," which reminds me of Stone Temple Pilots' shift away from the grunge genre to showcase their appreciation for the musical styles of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and David Bowie.
Exploring the music history of this era can reveal overlooked and underappreciated works that are just as deserving of recognition as those produced by well-known artists. It's like embarking on a sub-journey that begins with a Gruntruck song and leads to discovering hidden gems, such as the band Skin Yard. This journey within a journey seems to be a recurring pattern.
Moreover, there's still a vast creative territory to discover and explore on the fringes of this highly influential music scene. I feel like I am only just beginning!
MIND MONOLOGUE: The Modern Memoir?
For the past 3 to 4 years, I have been pondering an idea about how the concept of memoir has evolved. Traditionally, a memoir was a public figure's account of a particular aspect of their life, distinct from a comprehensive "biography" that covers their entire life story.
However, in the present day, the notion of a "modern" memoir is ingrained in the minds and emotions of every individual connected to the internet. Through various mediums such as audio, podcasts, playlists, pictures on Instagram, and words in blogs and newsletters, people share glimpses of their lives online. This represents a form of permission-less leverage, where individuals can share their stories without requiring the validation or approval of a traditional publisher - then use that leverage to build a career.
LIFE LESSON:
While listening to the Modern Wisdom Podcast where Alex Hormozi was being interviewed, a particular statement caught my attention and struck a chord within me. The phrase was "This is what hard feels like". The concept behind this idea is that when one is attempting to accomplish a challenging task such as building a business, creating a popular newsletter, or raising a family, it is common to berate oneself and face struggles.
However, this is to be expected, as if it were effortless and pleasant, everyone would already be doing it and we would not be discussing it in the first place. So remember when the process feels like a struggle and you want to (for example) give up and throw the laptop across the room…“This is what Hard Feels like”! Listen to the whole episode here
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it” - Albert Einstein
3 R’s: My 3 Random Recommendations for the week ahead.
Album - At Home Alone With Lions by Snakes of Russia - Dark as fuck dance music that rattled my senses. Bandcamp
Podcast Episode - Naval Podcast - How to get Rich: Every Episode - I get it I am asking you to give 3 hours to listen to this (although you can listen to in broken down to much more digestible 4 min episodes on Spotify) on a subject that sounds like the sort of thing that most people demonize these days - but much of it is about the philosophy of life and work. Spotify I have done the whole thing twice, so far…
Read - The Three Body Problem by Cixin Liu - I am a 100 pages in and this is blowing my mind. Buy Here
Until next week, thanks - please tell your music, idea loving friends about this Newsletter. I am always open to feedback, music, book or podcast recommendations - so send them this way!
Take Care
Andy