A summary of essays on my Songs and Objects Substack that appeared in March 2024, plus one planned for March but posted in early April because having time off is nice. 1. Epiphany and What Came After: Remembering Townes Van Zandt. This was the first of two posts to remember Townes Van Zandt in the… Continue reading Songs and Objects: A March Summary
Author: Richard
Richard Elliott is a cultural musicologist with a particular interest in popular musics of the world.
He is the author of the books Fado and the Place of Longing: Loss, Memory and the City (2010), Nina Simone (2013), The Late Voice: Time, Age and Experience in Popular Music (2015), The Sound of Nonsense (2018) and DJs do Guetto (2022). He has also published articles and reviews on popular music, literature, consciousness, memory, nostalgia, place and space, affect, language and technology.
Richard is Senior Lecturer in Music at the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University, where he specialises in courses related to popular music. Prior to this he taught courses on popular music, contextual music studies, and music and media at the University of Sussex. He has also worked as a teacher of English for Academic Purposes, a journal editor and a reviewer of books and music. Find out more about his work at https://latevoice.com/
Recent posts on Songs and Objects
I've been continuing to publish weekly posts to the Songs and Objects Substack. Posts since the start of this year cover topics such as seasonal songs (with a focus on January and the turning of the year), a three-parter on the songs of Mary Chapin Carpenter, a piece of life writing that maps songs on… Continue reading Recent posts on Songs and Objects
2023 end of year playlist
My 2023 playlist as it stands at the end of the year. As usual, compiled thoughout the year, with a few tweaks and substitutions at the last minute. 100 songs. 7 hours 47 minutes. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1YSwHCclz935H6Nw6ncDFP
Recent posts on Songs and Objects
There are new posts available on my Songs and Objects Substack, including reflections on Grandaddy's classic Sophtware Slump album, a set of observations prompted by the recent release of Richard Dawson's The Ruby Cord Live film and a three-part analysis of the musicality of lists which previously appeared as a podcast episode, now been revised… Continue reading Recent posts on Songs and Objects
Songs and Objects now on Substack
I've recently launched a Substack newslwetter and website to share work in progress on my 'Songs and Objects' project. Posts so far have covered the song 'These Foolish Things', Cat Power's recreation of a classic Bob Dylan concert and thoughts about the afterlives of Dolly Parton's classic 'Jolene'. Some of the material (for example, the… Continue reading Songs and Objects now on Substack
In conversation with Vicki Bennett (People Like Us) for TUSK North 2023
TUSK North returns to Newcastle Lit & Phil in March 2023 following the previous year's well-received inaugural edition. I'll be talking with Vicki Bennett (People Like Us) on Friday 3 March at 4pm, ahead of PLU's performance of The Mirror on Saturday 4 March. the full line-up, along with timings, can be found at the… Continue reading In conversation with Vicki Bennett (People Like Us) for TUSK North 2023
New publications on Nina Simone and clipping.
I've had two articles published recently. One is a text I've wanted to work up for some time, connecting Nina Simone to narratives of Afrofuturism. It's a topic I first considered over a decade ago when writing my book about Simone. The material didn't really fit the shape the book ended up taking (and would… Continue reading New publications on Nina Simone and clipping.
End-of-year playlist 2022
My 2022 playlist as it stands at the end of the year. As usual, compiled thoughout the year, with a few tweaks and substitutions at the last minute. 100 songs. 7 1/2 hours. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cOJV7GhhqCGOoZ3iKDsRA?si=b6cf40195ba04849
Video of my recent conversation with Richard Dawson
The video of my recent conversation with Richard Dawson at TUSK North has now been streamed on Tusk TV and archived on YouTube. Thanks to Mariam Rezaei, Lee Etherington and Will Edmondes for setting this up, and to Fred Hollingsworth, Rob Blazey and Tom Waterworth for tech suppport during and following the event. Check out… Continue reading Video of my recent conversation with Richard Dawson
Upcoming Presentation – From Quinta do Mocho to the World: Lisbon DJs and Border-Crossing Beats
I'll be giving a presentation based on my new book DJs do Guetto as part of the Music Research Forum series hosted by the International Centre for Music Studies (ICMuS) at Newcastle University. The talk is at 4pm (UK time) on 23 March and is a hybrid event, in-person at Newcastle University's Culture Lab and… Continue reading Upcoming Presentation – From Quinta do Mocho to the World: Lisbon DJs and Border-Crossing Beats
Late Voice 