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Get to know Atwood Journal‘s writers in our particular column the place they turn into the interviewees, sharing their private playlists and speaking about their experiences protecting music!
Main with inventive curiosity and an ardent love for music, Rachel Min Leong blends expertise and feeling in her writing. Perpetually honing methods of seeing and receiving, music journalism has been an outlet of expressive escapism – one venturing deeper into the musical cosmos.
Stream: Atwood Author’s Playlist: Rachel Min Leong
Meet Our Writers: Rachel Min Leong!
The place are you from and the place are you based mostly?
Rachel Min Leong: I’m initially from Singapore, and I’m now based mostly between Bordeaux and London.
How did you get into music writing?
Rachel Min Leong: I’ve at all times beloved to put in writing, and I like being round music in any approach I presumably can. I used to gig and do open mics fairly usually again once I was in college. I write my very own songs too! So music journalism simply at all times appeared like the right synergy of all this stuff that I like – I believe that my expertise in that additionally does give an edge to the best way I obtain music, and I hope that comes via in my writing.
On how I formally obtained began with music journalism, I simply cold-pitched publications that I beloved and requested if I may write for them! I at all times beloved studying Atwood approach earlier than I ever wrote for them so getting to do that has been a extremely large milestone in my writing journey and general such a deal with.
Who was your very first live performance, and who have you ever seen most just lately?
Rachel Min Leong: My very first live performance was Weapons N Roses. I believe that’s a reasonably cool first live performance! My dad introduced my brother and I to their Not In This Lifetime tour, so it was the unique lineup and the whole lot. It was actually particular.
Most just lately I obtained to see Adam Melchor at Moth Membership in London. It was a extremely intimate gig (these are positively the very best) and it was so so good. The songs on his final album hit near dwelling – and I obtained to interview him for Atwood a few months prior too, so getting to listen to all of them reside was a extremely emotional and significant expertise. Adam’s such performer and he carried the entire thing simply him and his guitar. I additionally met a bunch of the opposite followers and everybody was so good – it was simply good vibes throughout. It’s actually magical when an artist creates a neighborhood like that.
Who’re two or three of your favourite up-and-coming artists proper now?
Rachel Min Leong: I actually love the London music scene proper now, and I’m actually loving Pleasure Crookes and Olivia Dean for the time being. I love how authentically they carry themselves of their music. Pleasure Crookes, particularly, embeds lots of her heritage into the sonic and visible facets of her music, and I like that. Olivia Dean is only a actual, girl powerhouse. On high of all that, they’re doing a lot for me by way of what it means to be a lady of coloration in in the present day’s day and age – which I actually relate to, and it’s one thing I worth in my very own life as effectively.
What’s one thing you’ve discovered from working as a music journalist?
Rachel Min Leong: I believe it’s given me lots of confidence in my writing, which has been the whole lot to me. I’ve just lately obtained to interview a few of my favourite artists too, and that’s actually allowed me to simply take pleasure in curiosity. To strip the whole lot again, and simply take pleasure in connecting with different humans- easy as that. And I believe that’s one thing that’s bled into the best way I see creativity as a complete too. To not take something too significantly and letting your self flow, as a result of that’s when creativity flows the very best.
However music journalism usually has added immensely to the best way that I take pleasure in music in my very own time, and it’s breathed new life into the music I like – new and outdated – it’s simply enhanced my love for music as a complete, for positive.
What’re your favourite moments protecting music? May be from interviews, evaluations, in-person occasions/exhibits, something.
Rachel Min Leong: There are such a lot of! I like interviewing artists, it’s so rewarding and fulfilling usually, getting to talk with them about music and listen to about what conjures up them, their inventive processes, and their philosophies on creativity. I’m a fan of all of the artists I’ve spoken to, and I’m so grateful to have this platform to have the ability to join with them and dive deeper into among the layers behind their work.
It’s rewarding as a result of each interview is so different- it’s enjoyable to simply see the place dialog can take you. I had probably the most empowering dialog with Ella Vos about ladies in music, and she or he shared her Animal Spirit Playing cards! One other spotlight was talking to Matt Corby – I used to be truly so starstruck throughout that interview as a result of I’d been a fan for years, haha! However he was so pretty and we ended up speaking about social media and the function it performs in how we eat music these days. It was so fascinating to select his mind concerning the subject. I’d additionally been a longtime fan of Corey Harper once I chatted with him, and it was about his debut album of all things- in order that was large for me. We simply gushed over his influences and the London music scene, it was nice haha. It’s stuff like that that’s actually fulfilling for me as a journalist, and I hope it is- not only for the readers however for the artists too in a roundabout way!
It’s additionally actually humbling for me to get to obtain these little snippets of moments of their musical journey. By way of what they share and discuss, it’s so inspiring and so particular.
For those who may ask one query to any artist or band, who wouldn’t it be and what would you ask?
Rachel Min Leong: I’d actually simply wish to ask Jeff Buckley about life, I really feel like he had probably the most fascinating thoughts and methods of seeing and creating.
What are you most wanting ahead to this yr, music-wise?
Rachel Min Leong: I’ve obtained a few gigs I’ve lined as much as go to this yr, I’m actually excited for these! I’ve obtained my tickets for Matt Corby within the fall, and I’ll be going to John Mayer’s acoustic solo present. I couldn’t be extra ecstatic about that. He’s the explanation I obtained into guitar, so I already know that is going to be the very best evening of my life. I obtained the tissues prepared, haha!
Are you able to please clarify why you selected the highest 5 songs in your playlist?
Rachel Min Leong:
- “Fringe of Want” – This was the primary music I ever heard that really simply blew my thoughts. One thing concerning the guitar riff and the particular really feel that it has, it’s positively the explanation I obtained into guitar the best way that I did.
- “Compromises” – Not-so-subtle plug however that is my little ardour challenge that I wrote and launched with my buddy Ryan! We’re presently engaged on others however this was the primary and a extremely particular expertise for me on my musical journey.
- “Cussed Love” – For me, this music is about taking dangers and leaping in on the deep finish, which I like. It additionally has that high quality within the recording that feels very uncooked and susceptible, it captures what I like a lot about listening to reside music.
- “Angel” – I wish to say I grew up on ’80s rock, so there’s one thing actually comforting about this to me. They by no means get outdated!
- “Landslide” – A basic! Completely love Stevie Nicks’ songwriting, and this music has seen me via plenty of milestones in my life, it takes on a brand new which means each time.
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