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Well 2020 sucked, and 2021 is already well underway, so here's a typically timely reflection a good two days behind the rest of the pack... the world's still hurting, and more immediately the music scene, which has left me more grateful than ever to still be able to do what I do.
So a massive thank you to editors who commissioned me, artists who spoke to me, friends who gave me opportunities or bounced around ideas, and the people who reached out when remote social interaction was often the best we could hope for...
It was genuinely enlightening to go in on the UK free party scene in 2020 thanks to Laurence Ellis' great idea, and the excellent editorial steering from @pseudo__nymph and @hannahongley for @DocumentJournal https://www.documentjournal.com/2020/12/saved-by-the-rave-british-youth-are-reclaiming-public-land-to-party-even-during-a-pandemic/
@DDDrewDaniel and @lordmcess (aka Matmos) were a joy to speak to about pioneering Polish composer Bogulslaw Schaeffer and their awesome FREE sample pack for @Ableton https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/matmos-making-their-free-sample-pack/
It was really fulfilling to help launch @inter_orange with a deep dive into an important but overlooked part of UK music culture - Britcore. I'm excited for where the site heads next year https://internationalorange.io/systems-overload-britcore-and-the-uk/
Way back in Jan I had a lot of fun dipping my face into the story of 90s megarave phenomenon Fantazia for @DJmag https://djmag.com/longreads/let-us-be-your-fantasy-how-fantazia-brought-uk-rave-masses
I had two amazing conversations with @djbone313 - the first about his evolution as a producer from the 90s to now for @Ableton https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/evolutionary-techno-dj-bones-journey-through-production/
And the other examining his perspective as a Black man in the dance music scene and his history with protest music, which we finally ran at the end of the year on @inter_orange https://internationalorange.io/dj-bones-protest-music/
It was actually an interview done in 2019, but I'm very happy I got to do something with the amazing chat I had with the one and only Leila https://internationalorange.io/a-perfect-storm-leilas-like-weather-reissued/
It was a treat to go in on craft and collaborations with the mighty @JshizzleD - one of my favourite present day rappers - for @looselipsevents
http://loose-lips.co.uk/blog/manonmars-2
http://loose-lips.co.uk/blog/manonmars-2
It was great to examine some of the ideas and processes behind Grand River's beautiful album Blink A Few Times To Clear Your Eyes for @DocumentJournal https://www.documentjournal.com/2020/11/grand-river-plays-with-limitations-and-freedom-in-her-expansive-ambient-sound/
I loved the honest and joyful approach @yuyuyvr takes to her music (and other people's / life in general) when we linked up for a chat on @Ableton https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/inspiration-information-channeling-influences-yu-su/
Going in deep on @SchatraxMusic for @residentadvisor was illuminating, and it will forever be synonymous for me with the time when the world seemed to freefall around March 2020. We talked as much about all that as the music. Respect to Josh. https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/3669
Clara Y Maoupa were both absolute sweethearts to chat to and their music is just sooooo fresh https://www.ableton.com/en/blog/clara-y-maoupa-reimagining-reggaeton/
It feels like a lifetime ago I went to meet the incredible @dillonwork on a frosty morning in London, but what a pleasure that whole piece was to work on. Someone so interesting you could write a book with the offcuts of the interview. https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/beatrice-dillon-playing-opposites/
I contributed to the @OrganicAnalogue show on @MutantRadioTBS - a proper lockdown project that nearly broke me. 2 hours/65 tracks. Here's to more high jinks on the freelance plain in 2021. Love to all, take care of each other and the world around us. X<3X https://soundcloud.com/mutantradio/organic-analogue-transmission-3-guest-mix-by-bmo-aka-oli-warwick-24082020
