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Ed Says. . . dream jobs are hard work!
Our super assistant Ed is back with another weekly blog post.:
Well, we have been busy over the last few months. So much so that I've been a tad neglectful of my weekly blog post. But, all that is to change! Don't get me wrong, ABoF HQ is still packed to the gills with new artists, campaigns and exciting developments (all of which will be revealed in time), it's just that I'm getting better at managing my time (and Claire threatened to drown my iPhone if I didn't start blogging regularly again).This week I'll be casting my eye on dream jobs. Luckily, I've always had my head screwed on pretty tightly. There are industries I've always wanted to work in, but I've never had any illusions that work is, as the name suggests, work. I've come into contact with quite a few people in their late teens and early twenties who think that a media job (working in music, video games or film) is the ultimate in dream jobs - and it is. What they fail to realise is that, just like any job, once you've been doing it for a certain length of time and the initial "ooh, I get to talk to musicians/actors or play video games all day" buzz wears off, all you're left is your own solid work ethic. And if you don't have that, you're stuffed!
I've got some sad news for some of these people desperate to break into their dream industry - if you can't motivate yourself to do a job you're indifferent to, you're probably not going to be able to cut it in any other industry. Once you've listened to over a hundred promos, watched your thousandth indie film from some student director desperate to be discovered, and spent the best part of 6 months designing a level for some video game that might ultimately be shelved at the last minute - you need to start depending on yourself for motivation.
I used to test toys and gadgets for a living, then write about them for a website. It was amazing! The 7 year old trapped inside of me got up every morning, and laughed gaily at the sky while I skipped to work. This lasted about three months. After that, the sight of another remote control helicopter was enough to send me reaching for the cunningly hidden bottle of Jack Daniels the creative team kept hidden under the desk. Did this mean I hated my job? No! The honeymoon was just over and, as anyone in a long term relationship will tell you, that's where the hard work starts.
You need to take pride in your work, strive to be the best that you can be. It doesn't matter if you wash dishes for a living, or look after an internationally renowned band on their world tour (I've done the former - working towards the latter) - you need to be on you’re A game all the time. If you're not, the only person you're cheating is yourself.
Blogger of the Week: Sourmash Music
Our very first Blogger of the Week has to be Sourmash Music. He's a very big supporter of what we do and embodies, what we think, everything a music blogger should be - approachable, friendly and open to all sorts of new music.
Here's Sourmash Music a.k.a Peter Cornish-Barlow in his own words:
Sourmash Music in some form or another, has been around for just over 2 years. It started out as me just writing about albums that I had bought, but gradually became much more over time. Getting my first promo to review, which was the Apple and Engines EP by Roses Kings Castles, was where it all begin and since then I have never looked back. From declaring Young Guns to have made my favourite album last year to my interview with the living legend Alan McGee. Each post is me and only me, my opinion, my say and my passion on every page published.
Why did you decide to start Sourmash?
Sourmash came about from my interest in writing commentary and reviewing music. I have always been a fan of new music from a young age and to be able to talk about it endlessly is just perfect for me. That makes me sound like someone that is just non-stop talking shit about music, but it is true its all I do. So it seemed sensible then to actually transfer that energy and enthusiasm into something solid, so Sourmash Music was born.
To date, what has been your biggest achievement for the blog?
For me it has been one of my more recent posts and that was interviewing Alan McGee. The guy is an absolute legend in the music industry and signed one of my favourite bands. Such an interesting guy and straight to the point, so to be able to just have a few words with him was an honour. In terms of biggest posts that has to go to my Noel Gallagher Solo Album Tracklisting Leak! I hold my hands up now and looking back maybe should have thought it through before posting. When you get something like that in your inbox (proven to be a fake now though unfortunately) you can't sit on that, so I took a chance and posted it.
What are your thoughts on music blogging culture, specifically in the UK?
I think it is fantastic! We live in such a wired and plugged in society that everyone has access to everything. It is an open forum for people to have their say or comment on something we love. It is great that bloggers opinions are taking seriously now too, they are seen as important and that's great because we are the fans at the end of the day.
Which bands, who've been in touch via Sourmash, do you still listen to avidly as a fan?
Spring Offensive come to mind straight away, I have gone nuts for those Oxford boys, an incredible band. Also Roxanne De Bastion, a singer/songwriter from Berlin but resides in London. Sweet, melodic folk pop with such innocence and lightness she just melts your heart. Sweet Jane are another band who I still listen to, an Irish Rock n Roll band who have such magnetism and elegance, I get shivers still when I listen to their album.
Any new music recommendation?
Oh yes everyone must hear Glass Child A.K.A. Charlotte Erikkson. Charlotte does amazing things with her voice and has such a huge range. Her songs are just moments of pure emotion and at such a young age I think she is outstanding at what she does. Also Adam Barnes who is a singer/songwriter from Oxford who writes the most tender and powerful songs you will hear. Stemming from that Americana Nu-Folk sound, Adam has the potential to deliver something as great as For Emma, Forever Ago, he's that good!
Which blogs would you recommend?
We Plug Good Music - Ayo knows what he is talking about, I always get his advice when I can.
My Band Is Better Than Your Band - I don't think Ollie can do no wrong can he? Ha ha... Seriously though someone else who has an ear for great music.
Plans for Sourmash in the future?
If I'm honest, I don't know. I had plans to turn it into a full review site, get some more writers in and create something bigger. But I like what I am doing now and not sure I want to change that quite yet. Would love to have my own label imprint and get a release out this year though. Just a 7" single release would be great, something small but really special. I am on the lookout for the right single and band/artist, once I hear it I'll know. Also a Sourmash Night has been a dream of mine, so we'll shall see on that one!
Sonisphere fun!
This weekend, ABoF were at Sonisphere. We caught a little bit of Weezer's set and watched our friends Biffy Clyro tear the stage apart. A fun time was had by all. I usually publish my comics on my personal blog but since this is music related, we thought it'd be cool to publish this one here. A friend of mine suggested I perhaps do regular ABoF related webcomics and publish them on our website... sounds like a good idea and something we may start doing soon!Big love to one and all,
Claire ABoF x
Ed Says… Should We Really Be Applauding Charlie Sheen?
PR is a funny old business. It can destroy people in one swoop of a pen, and elevate others to the heights of the Gods in another.
The unstoppable train wreck that is Charlie Sheen has been dominating the blogosphere for the last few weeks and I, among millions of others, have been laughing along with it, wondering what warlock incorporated nonsense old tiger blood will come up with next.
But, something has started eating away at my conscience: as entertainingly bonkers as Messr. "Blink and I cure my brain" is, he's still quite a dark and troubled character. This is a man who's managed to shoot Kelly Preston (albeit accidentally), terrorised a porn starlet who sought refuge in a motel closet from his insane temper, and held a knife to his ex wife's throat over the Christmas Holidays. If he was your average man on the street, he'd have been locked up long ago, and paraded through the press as an example of the basest form of human life.
Celebrity can be funny like that. Take Bill Murray and Sean Connery - both heroes of cinema, but not above giving their other halves a bit of a slap when they step out of line. And who can forget the exploits of Led Zeppelin and Motley Crue - two bands who'd have to sign a register if they got up to their on-tour shenanigans in this bright and glittering new millenium. Hell, Phil Spector had to actually shoot somebody dead in cold blood before somebody had a word with him about his gun brandishing antics (and charge him with murder, naturally). Yet, still we worship them.
After all, they're famous. They must be doing something right.
You can follow ABoF super assistant Ed on Twitter.
Ed Says… Don’t Watch It Then!
First, let's get this straight: I don't watch The Brit Awards. I don't watch the Oscars, the Bafta's, or even Farming Implement of The Year (may, or may not exist).
Personally, I don't bother because I know it's probably going to bore me, or upset me slightly when somebody like canadian anti-christ Justin Bieber walks away with an award, and I can just read about it all the next day anyway. But then, I don't see anything wrong with these awards shows.
These awards are not for die hard music fans, though it's perfectly possible for die hard muso's watch them and enjoy them. They're awards for pop music for people who like pop music. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Bearing that in mind, please stop coming online, every year, without fail, to complain that the Brit's don't showcase real music anymore. That's not what it's for. It's clearly catering for a demographic you don't belong to, so your complaint is akin to an old person writing a letter to the Editor complaining they just don't make Lego that appeals to seniors.
You have your music, let them have theirs. There was no golden age of pop. For every amazing band we remember from an era, there are over a thousand who did well in the charts, but have been written out of history for being a little bit rubbish.
That is all.
You can follow ABoF super assistant Ed on Twitter