Archive
10/10/26 by holden
We’ve come on a long journey since the first heart-stopping crackles on shellac acetate to the numb solid state of the iPod generation. For every change in technology, a sea of change opens up in the possibilities for the format to shape the product. From squeezing twelve tracks onto a 12-inch disc on to vinyl [...]
Archive
10/10/26 by holden
It’s almost cliche that such a vast body of iconic imagery and design has become wedded to the commodification of music. Design has always served so many different roles, from expressing and artist’s identity to articulating another layer of engagement, pushing triggers that visually signified the artist intent, adding cultural context, value and intrigue in [...]
Archive
10/10/25 by holden
Once upon a time people created and performed music with the sole purpose of expressing themselves, raising a smile, gaining attention, hearing applause and telling a good story in the most poetic and entertaining way possible. Financial income would be an added bonus. If we’re seeing a return to that philosophy and monetary gain becomes [...]
Archive
10/10/25 by holden
Formats and delivery methods may change but however music enters my ears and invades my heart the effect is the same. As romantically attached as I am to rituals connected with the traditional listening experience, and as much as I lament the death of vinyl as well as local record shops and specialist radio shows, [...]
Archive
10/10/20 by holden
We can do better
Visually the aesthetic component of digital music is in the dark ages and shows no sign of embracing the future. Despite all sorts of attempts at fancy innovation, the visual interaction that people are actually having on a daily basis with music on line is pretty terrible. My iTunes is full of badly tagged MP#’s [...]Archive
10/10/20 by holden
The future of consumption…
Our future role as the interpreters and propagators of music and design is to create stimulating interactions; as with so many areas of our contemporary practice, we now need to integrate interaction design with visual design if we are going to move forward. It doesn’t take Steve Jobs to tell you that pretty coon we [...]Archive
10/10/20 by holden
Product is dead…
It is time to accept that product is dead. Yes, there will always be the hardcore geek element that will slobber over high-end limited edition releases, and speaking as one of them I know the desire for heavyweight vinyl and complicated packaging will be insatiable. But be under no illusion that this is but a [...]Archive
10/10/19 by holden
The future of music.
What was in our past is in our future and that’s folk music that is not necessarily “folk music as we know it. It’s by the mostly young, and occasionally the old folk for their own folk. Sure, every now and again, the circle gets bigger, there’s a welcome invasion of strangers to the campfire [...]Archive
10/10/18 by holden