audio

As a teenager, I used to have a really easy time answering this question. I understood who my peers were, what their answers were, and what I could say to differentiate myself from them: James Murphy's prattled list in Losing My Edge

Basically, interpreting the question as a signaling exercise - the grown up version of "what's your favourite colour?" from when I was three years old and responding "red" meant that I was a bit of a hotshot 😎

I did sincerely love math rock and BEAK> and wanted to express this passion with people, but given how often those responses lead to unsatisfying nonparticipatory conversations, the fact that I continued to respond with namedrops for so long suggests I remained motivated by ego.

Now, instead of trying to demonstrate my superior taste like a shotputter, I try to respond in a way that invites connection and good conversation.

The trouble is that these days the answer is "Everything", which is boring.

But really: I will listen to country music. I will listen to rap music. I will listen to someone rubbing their dick on a piezo microphone. It's not out of some striving patrician insecurity — I just like sounds and culture and thinking about how and why any kind of music was made.

Omnivorous musician curiosity is maybe just the next step in this game: who can be more sensitive? More open? More gracious?

I don't fucken know, man. I've been listening to Hannah Frances a lot these days.

Comments