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
Tag: research
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
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.
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
Music for Girls Online Symposium
I'll be participating in the 'Music for Girls' online symposium on Wednesday 18 May 2022. I'm planning to present material from my ongoing Songs and Objects project, specifically looking at how song lyrics foreground evocative objects and how these reflect the importance of such objects in everyday life, memory and life-writing, as well as considering… Continue reading Music for Girls Online Symposium
Video of 33 1/3 Europe book launch
I took part in an online book launch for my new book DJs do Guetto and two other titles in the 33 1/3 Europe series on Thursday 2 March 2022. A video of the event is available below. It starts with an introduction by the series editor Fabian Holt, followed by presentations on Czeslaw Niemen’s… Continue reading Video of 33 1/3 Europe book launch
Book launch for DJs do Guetto
I'll be participating in an online launch for my new book DJs do Guetto and two other titles in the 33 1/3 Europe series on Thursday 2 March at 4pm CET (3pm GMT). The Zoom link for the event is available via Eventbrite, along with promotional codes for all three books. DJs do Guetto is… Continue reading Book launch for DJs do Guetto
New book – DJs do Guetto
My book DJs do Guetto has now been published by Bloomsbury Academic as part of the 33 1/3 Europe series. The book uses the 2006 compilation DJs do Guetto as a prism for exploring the aesthetics of the Lisbon-based electronic dance music (EDM) known as batida from its roots in Lusophone Africa, through its evolution… Continue reading New book – DJs do Guetto
New pubication on Aneka’s ‘Japanese Boy’
I've contributed a chapter to the book One-Hit Wonders: An Oblique History of Popular Music, edited by Sarah Hill and newly published by Bloomsbury Academic. My chapter is on Aneka's 1981 chart-topper 'Japanese Boy'. I discuss the song's chart history, give a little bit of biographical detail about the Scottish singer Mary Sandeman and her… Continue reading New pubication on Aneka’s ‘Japanese Boy’
Late Voice 