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Get to know Atwood Journal‘s writers in our particular column the place they turn out to be the interviewees, sharing their private playlists and speaking about their experiences overlaying music!
Minna Abdel-Gawad has all the time felt deeply passionate towards the music that composes the soundtrack to her life. Whether or not this was her finest buddy taking part in Troye Sivan day-after-day on the way in which to high school or her dad taking part in Arctic Monkeys on lengthy drives she has all the time been fascinated by individuals’s deep connections with music. Discovering the proper intersection between her love of music and her love of writing opened the floodgates to her ardour and drive in sharing the artists she loves most on this planet. There may be an artist on the market for everybody, and Minna believes everybody deserves to seek out theirs; generally extra is alleged by way of a melody or lyric than might be articulated in chapters price or writing. Music speaks to individuals; let it communicate to you.
Stream: Atwood Author’s Playlist: Minna Abdel-Gawad
Meet Our Writers: Minna Abdel-Gawad!
The place are you from and the place are you based mostly?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: I’m from a beautiful mixture of locations! I grew up within the UK in a city referred to as York so should you ever meet me don’t be startled by my British twang. However my household is Egyptian so I had the prospect to develop up consuming probably the most delicious meals and listening to icons like Umm Kulthum and Sherine. I like my little slice of the world! I’m presently based mostly in Boston, Massachusetts as I’m presently attending faculty there and I completely love town.
How did you get into music writing?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: I’ve a barely long-winded reply. As a child every time I used to be requested, ‘what do you wanna be if you develop up’ I all the time mentioned ‘music trainer.’ The idea of being round devices all day, instructing children my similar love for music was all I needed on this planet. Nonetheless, after I realized that I used to be oh so horrible at music idea, I noticed that wasn’t a dream I may pursue. So I moved onto my second love: writing. I joined my highschool paper and I began to note a development concerning the articles I beloved writing probably the most… they have been all about leisure. So I reached out to a buddy of mine I had met at a pre-college writing workshop and requested them in the event that they wanted any writers for his or her hyperpop-centric music publication. Weekly roundups and critiques shortly grew to become my favourite factor to jot down. Throughout each class I’d be scouring the web for brand spanking new artists to cowl or simply making an attempt to immerse myself within the house.
That have is what pushed me into this area of interest I used to be so obsessed with. So after I moved to school, I used to be in a position to be part of a music publication on my faculty campus, and I fell in love with writing about what I used to be most obsessed with: the soundtrack to our lives. I used to be so nervous to dive head first into music writing however final summer time, I took a leap of religion and began chilly emailing publications and asking them if I may cowl music releases on their website as a contributing author. 9 instances out of ten it didn’t work, however I used to be so decided that I simply saved sending out emails till one thing caught. And it did! As soon as I bought one electronic mail again it felt just like the floodgates opened. I had the respect of contributing to a ton of various websites that each one operated utterly in another way and I began to essentially perceive what music writing regarded like.
Then, in December, I used to be given the chance to affix Atwood’s fantastic and extremely proficient staff of writers. I had recognized about Atwood for some time, I keep in mind I had found the superb protection Atwood does after I was in search of an interview with Orla Gartland, as I used to be obsessed along with her album final summer time and wanted to listen to extra of her ideas. And I keep in mind telling my household, earlier that 12 months, that writing for this website was an aspiration of mine as a result of I knew I used to be nonetheless such a novice within the music writing house. However I had the braveness to use for a writing place right here and I really feel so fortunate to have been accepted onto this extremely proficient, pushed and passionate staff. Particular because of Mitch Mosk for consistently encouraging his writers to problem themselves and keep the fervour they’ve for this house, thanks Mitch for taking an opportunity on me!
Who was your very first live performance, and who have you ever seen most not too long ago?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: My first live performance was for the band R5. For these unfamiliar, they have been a band that included the then Disney Channel star Ross Lynch and his 4 siblings Riker, Rydell and Rocky they usually carried out on the Wolf Entice venue in Northern Virginia. As you may think about I used to be as excited as any pre-teen who loves Disney Channel can be, squeals and all.
My dad was the one who took me and he has turn out to be my life-long live performance buddy. Every time I’ve a present I wish to attend he’s my go-to. He surrounded me with music rising up, consistently taking part in The Beatles or John Coltrain or Arctic Monkeys for me within the automobile and I credit score him with my lack of ability to go anyplace with out music blaring in my ears. He has sat by way of live shows like Conan Grey, Billie EIlish, The Joyful Matches, and a number of Shawn Mendes live shows with me all through our time as live performance buddies.
Nonetheless, most not too long ago I attended a Billie Marten live performance in Washington D.C. as she was touring her album Drop Cherries. I had interviewed Marten earlier this 12 months and was completely ecstatic to listen to this breathtaking album reside. She is simply as ethereal sounding in particular person and he or she made the night time completely unforgettable, particularly when she performed each considered one of my favourite tracks on her discography.
Who’re two or three of your favourite up-and-coming artists proper now?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: That is such a troublesome query but when I have to select, I’ve been loving Nashville based mostly indie rock band, Bluphoria. The band does an outstanding job mixing their retro influences with a singular, recent Bluphoria flare. Exterior of their distinctive sound, watching the band discuss their music is an absolute pleasure. They’re passionate, pushed, excited to be creating and the band has a seamless vitality that’s so enjoyable to look at.
Apart from Bluphoria, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out Orla Gartland. The Irish singer-songwriter is within the midst of writing her sophomore album and I couldn’t be extra excited. Each lyric that pours out of Gartland is a poignant commentary on the lived expertise and the depth of feelings.
What’s one thing you’ve realized from working as a music journalist?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: By my time as a music journalist I’ve realized to be open minded towards all music. After I started music writing in my senior 12 months of highschool I completely wrote concerning the hyperpop style, transferring into faculty I centered on indie pop and rock. I’ve realized within the final 12 months that I like a wide range of genres and actually the arbitrary labels we placed on them imply nothing. Hear, be taught, be affected person, discover new music, there’s a lot of it!
What’re your favourite moments overlaying music? Could be from interviews, critiques, in-person occasions/reveals, something.
Minna Abdel-Gawad: I’ve an excellent handful of moments that all the time stick out to me. The side that hooked me after I first started music protection was reside reveals. Stay efficiency is solely distinctive, very not often do artists play a tune the identical manner twice. That lightning in a bottle uniqueness is what makes the reveals so memorable and capturing that’s an artwork in itself and having the chance to try to take action is actually a pleasure.
As of late I’ve been conducting a variety of interviews, and I believe my favourite second in each interview is when the dialog turns into a dialog. Sitting with an artist and connecting on a human stage is as important to the interview because the questions themselves. The very best interviews are the second when it appears to click on on each side that we’re each simply individuals who love this one frequent issue: Music.
In case you may ask one query to any artist or band, who wouldn’t it be and what would you ask?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: This looks as if a really odd query, nonetheless I’d like to ask Fiona Apple if she is a fan of Sondheim musicals.
I really feel like a lot of her fourth album The Loafer Wheel… may be very harking back to Sondheim composition type and rhythm. I’d love to listen to if that’s in any respect a degree of inspiration for her as a result of if not, oh do I’ve some tune suggestions for her! I’d additionally simply love to listen to her discuss her artistry and her experiences. I’ve discovered such solace in her lyrics and I’d love to simply take heed to her dissect and elaborate on sure songs, their inspirations, her lived expertise. I believe she is such a powerhouse within the music business and we’re so fortunate to have been graced along with her expertise, radical openness and heavenly melodies.
What are you most trying ahead to this 12 months, music-wise?
Minna Abdel-Gawad: I’m completely buzzing to take heed to the brand new Olivia Rodrigo album! I believe sophomore albums are actually difficult, and I’m ecstatic to listen to what route her music might be taking.
Are you able to please clarify why you selected the highest 5 songs in your playlist?
Minna Abdel-Gawad:
- “Pretending” – Orla Gartland: I wrote about this tune for our 2023 Artists To Watch function, however I’ll sing its praises right here once more! Gartland’s vampy, electrical, indie rock manufacturing of this tune accompanied by the earnest, pleading, self conscious lyrics is actually charming to take heed to. Her debut album Girl On The Web looks like a journey of self exploration and this observe particularly has all the time caught with me.
- “Shameika” – Fiona Apple: “Shameika” is considered one of my favourite tracks from her Grammy Award profitable album Fetch The Bolt Cutters. All through this album, Apple’s purpose was to create a wealthy and transferring soundscape based mostly on her house. The album is technically stunning however each tune is layered with the sounds of her house: her canine barking, plates clinking and trash cans slamming. Fiona, Apple takes us by way of a journey of her thoughts and of her house, Shameika revisits her reference to ladies and public notion in her youthful years. The tune itself is poignant with repeated mantras, comparable to “He described me as pissed off, humorous, and heat.” and “Shameka mentioned I had potential.“ however what makes the observe even higher is Apple was in a position to reconnect with Shameika later in her life they usually made a collaborative observe that ties the free ends of this tune so fantastically. I not solely love this observe, however I like the story behind this observe!
- “Getaway” – Pearl Jam: After I first began turning into obsessive with music, I used to be about 15-years-old. I used to be a theater child and was doing a musical that was solely composed of Queen songs, it had been my first publicity to the band and the style. Due to my new discovered love for 80’s music I requested my dad for an inventory of who he thought I ought to take heed to. To at the present time I nonetheless have that checklist of 40-or-so artists held on my mirror. One in every of them was Pearl Jam and Getaway was completely thoughts boggling for my younger thoughts. It was the primary time I had actually listened to a traditional rock band and felt the electrical energy and angst and simply pure pleasure that comes with rock music. So this was my introduction to not solely a brand new style but in addition the start of my obsessiveness round music.
- “Outdated-Common (Stay)” – Bruno Main: As a very long time Bruno Main fan his music was an absolute should for this playlist. “Outdated-Common” is a tune from Main’s sophomore album To Let A Good Factor Die nonetheless I all the time return to this reside recording, it’s completely heavenly! It’s uncooked, unadulterated and transcendent. You’re feeling each emotion and phrase that Main is singing, the recording is so intimate and highly effective, it would actually knock the wind out of your lungs the primary time you hear it. There may be such grit and fervour, and groovy improvisation that exudes from this observe and this recording particularly, should you get pleasure from twangy guitars and breathtaking vocals you’ll love this observe.
- “LOST BOY” – Troye Sivan: Blue Neighborhood is without doubt one of the first albums that I take heed to entrance to again and it had such an enduring influence on my notion of the world and of who I believed I used to be at that cut-off date. Sivan launched this album when he was 20 and documented his exploration of his queer id, love, loss and coming-of-age on this hyper particular 2015 digital pop. LOST BOY is earnest, pleading and painful as we watch Sivan inform the story of a misplaced love and the way it impacted his personal id and notion. Blue Neighborhood is a type of albums I’d pay cash to take heed to for the primary time once more. Sivan is a really trustworthy songwriter that has a really juxtaposing sound and he walks that line with such poise and understanding of his artwork, I imagine everybody ought to take heed to his music.
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