In Stay Home, we’re re-highlighting some original editorial Adafruit blog content that might help to keep you entertained and inspired while working remotely or otherwise staying home. Last week we shared some highlights from our MusicMakers Q&A with some of our favourite artists and explored the influence of the sciences on the Presidency (and the Presidency’s influence on the sciences) in Political Science.
TasteMakers was a regular Q&A feature from the Adafruit Music team. In this sister series to MusicMakers, we spoke to music writers, bloggers, record labels and brands about creative spaces, technology and DIY, as well as what motivates them to support and amplify the creators in their communities.
With so many of us seeking new projects and other ways to be inspired and creative, I thought this might be a good time to re-share some of the wisdom of these largely home based taste makers who pour their passions and talents into telling the stories of artists that they love. If nothing else, you might find something new for your stay-at-home playlist and your reading list too.
The Grey Estates (Read: TasteMakers001)
“I started The Grey Estates because I noticed a distinct lack of non-male voices writing about music. I also had experienced working with other publications and felt really inspired to pursue something of my own. DIY music is what inspires me, what gets me through bad days, what keeps me smiling on sunny days, and it’s been such a part of my life that it seemed like a natural fit. I also love pop music and stuff you’ll hear on the radio, but I wanted to give bands that don’t have those resources or who are waiting to be discovered a platform.”
Stories About Music (Read: TasteMakers002)
“In the fall of 2014, I’d been out of college for a year and hadn’t found a way into producing radio professionally. I’d produced two documentaries, one of which was an early versions of “Art of Noise.” Around that time, podcasts like Mystery Show, Serial, and Start Up were coming out, all made by journalists I’d admired since I was a teenager. They were groundbreaking to me for the reported-documentary format, focused on minutiae of daily life, allowing the hosts to explore where journalistic objectivity met the subjective experience of being human. That was what I wanted to make.”
Various Small Flames (Read: TasteMakers003)
“At least in theory, we want to provide a space outside of targets and thresholds and expectations. Outside of Spotify streams and Facebook fans and Twitter followers. Outside of comparisons and genres, of If You Liked That You LOVE This. Outside of numbers, full stop.”
phluff (Read: TasteMakers004)
“I’d really like to see progress made towards a more diverse and inclusive music industry. I want to see more marginalized identities represented and supported. I want to see more emphasis being but on the mixing of community with industry, because when your friends/community can sustain themselves financially – that’s where passion can live and flourish.”
The Alternative (Read: TasteMakers006)
“I also have a very strong belief that you have to try to do what you believe you were meant to do no matter how hard it is. I have no idea how long I’m going to live but I’d like to try to spend every minute of it making the world better through art and music if I can. I’m in a privileged position that I even have a chance to do that, and to pass that up would be a waste. That’s what keeps me motivated day after day.”
Tapetown (Read: TasteMakers007)
“There were always people telling me things like “you have to do it this way if you want to be successful” or “that’s not the right way to do it if you want to make it”. That stuff always pissed me off and made me want to prove to all of them that it doesn’t have to be that way. What feels right to you should be the way to go.”
Plus there’s great Q&As with Alcopop! Records, Swell Tone and more in the archive!
Signing off with a couple of lovely new independent releases that I’m enjoying home alone this morning:
