brettworks

thinking through music

writing about music

  • Notes On Writing Musical Bios

    When I listen to new music on Spotify, I sometimes check out the artist’s bio to see what else they’ve done, and more importantly, to see how they, or someone writing on their behalf, represent their work. Writing about musical sound and musical experience is difficult, because the writer is tasked with translating listening to, Continue reading

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  • Writing About Music

    Write about what is happening in the music in real-time. Write about what the music reminds you of. Write about how the music relates to other similar and dissimilar musics. Write about what the music signifies. Write about how the music was made. Write about historical precedents for the music. Write about the music as Continue reading

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  • On Writing About Music and Making Music

    I spend about equal time writing about music and making music and these experiences are quite different from one another. When I’m writing about music I’m on the outside of it, listening in. It feels like the music is far away—as if it’s a foreign craft practiced by a different kind of person than me Continue reading

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