Sans Terre: How to Write Music Journalism
What in the name of God is music journalism? Drawing insightful associations between whatever music is in question and art, literature, religion, etc.? Offering arcane factoids about the artists? Tracing possible influences from one band to another? Relating subjective experiences? God forbid. If this was the case I would have retired long ago (or at least I tell myself I would have). Music journalism is… well before I say that I should say that music journalism often employs all of these possible avenues, sometimes in the same article. But there is something more to the craft too.
What is that you ask? I will tell you. Ok. Ready?
The sacred art of music journalism hinges on two things. The first concerns being able to finish the phrase “this song reminds me of” in a manner that is not unforgivably boring or absolutely trite. This of course necessitates actually knowing something that is not unforgivably boring or absolutely trite. Personally, I go out of my way to saturate my articles with hyperlinks like this one and this one so as to enrich the reader’s experience with often dangerous and exciting information. You know that feeling you just got when you went to those sites? Well, that feeling is the essence of the second aspect of music journalism. Let’s call it vitality. An overabundance of vitality is the key to great music journalism even though it usually ends in suicide or accidental death. Vitality expresses itself in music journalism when the music journalist is where they are supposed to be for the simply reason that they wanted to be there, for better or worse.
With all that said, how weird is this song?
Ove-naxx – “Ovekeyashiki”
