Tag: alternative

How to Fleece Fans and Win a Vanity Trophy

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The KLF once released a book about it: The Manual (How to Have a Number One the Easy Way). It was a step-by-step guide on how to hijack the charts with no money and no musical skills. It worked. Now, it seems our favorite new bands—the ones who have scaled the uppermost positions in the … Continue reading How to Fleece Fans and Win a Vanity Trophy →

The Crossroads: What are you prepared to do for your art?

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I’ve been sitting on a draft for two years. I called it Privilege. I wrote it because I was tired of the 'Shortcut' culture—the bands with the label connections and the backgrounds that get 'glossed over' to create a fake grit. Looking at the landscape in 2026, I realize that privilege was just the entry … Continue reading The Crossroads: What are you prepared to do for your art? →

Why Average is just Small Talk (And the Death of the Parka pantomime)

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I once called a band called Small Talk 'average.' The sky fell in. I got piled on by fans who had cosied up to celebrity endorsements rather than actual songwriting. I told them they’d regret charging £15 a pop to see them with no real fanbase, and I was right. Where are they now? We’ve … Continue reading Why Average is just Small Talk (And the Death of the Parka pantomime) →

The Rebirth of Cool: Five Years Later

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​The Voice is Far From Strangled. ​I’ve been silent for a while. Real life—the kind with clocks to punch, bills to pay, and the daily grind—has a habit of taking over. But while I’ve been away, I’ve been watching. ​I’ve seen great artists, truly talented people who have given everything to their craft, finally chuck … Continue reading The Rebirth of Cool: Five Years Later →