The Belarusian-American entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk put it very nicely and apt: "Social media is like crack – immediately gratifying and hugely addictive." I know that I'm an old dinosaur. When I grew up there was no social media. We liked to meet and hang out. When you wanted to get in touch, you made a phone call. Today, digital interaction have replaced much of this. A phone call may be perceived as intrusive. "Why didn't you text, instead?" Social media is what it is. It fulfills some kind of need or want. Social media is smothered by constant weighing and measuring. How will this be regarded by future generations? Of course, it's very difficult to use standards of today as benchmarks by which to judge the past. Future generations will have a hard time trying to understand social media. The most difficult concept to grasp will be "influencer". The definition: "a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media". An "influencer" is famous for being famous. This is a pejorative term for someone who attains celebrity status for no clearly identifiable reason (as opposed to fame based on achievement, skill, or talent) and appears to generate their own fame, or someone who achieves fame through a family or relationship association with an existing celebrity. Influencers like money, but not taxes. Some influencers believe that the free products they receive or money they earn are tax-free. The IRS thinks differently. But is social media marketing through influencers effective? The program logic is pyramid-shaped (large base, edgy top). Influencers may have many followers (someone who has subscribed to an account in order to receive all the updates). But, only a fraction of the followers take any notice of updates and actively do something (engagement rate). Most experts agree that a good engagement rate is between 1 and 5 percent. A fraction isn't much. The low efficiency has led to influencer fraud: influencers that try to puff up their importance through fake followers (bots not humans) or bought followers and purchased likes or comments (yes, everything can be bought). The world has turned upside down. Social media will have the same status as crack in the future. And influencers will have the same social status as crackheads. 

Have you ever wondered why some songs resonate with you? You will get exited and play them over and over again. After a while its lustrous shine begin to wear off. Sooner or later it will become hard to listen to the songs. In worst-case scenario, your initial love has turned into hate. You have killed it. Neuroscientists believe that our brain is to blame. The caudate nucleus anticipates the song as we listen, while the nucleus accumbens is triggered by the peak causing the release of endorphins. Why do we get bored with a song? There are two key factors; overexposure and complexity. The more we listen to a song, the less it triggers our brain. It gets boring. There are evidence showing that the more complex a song is the more likely you will like it with time, while the opposite is true for simple songs. Many songs just go in one ear and out the other, while complex songs starts to grow on you. When you think of it, it's intuitive. Complex music have greater longevity, as it will be more demanding and retain the listeners’ interest for longer, whilst simple music may be more accessible, but lose its initial appeal relatively quickly. I think the theory is correct. I have listened to "The Trickster" by Sons of Perdition innumerable times. I will not get bored. If there was a risk of getting bored, this would already had happen. "The Trickster" is 5 minutes and 23 seconds of pure perfection with layers of harmonic, rhythmic and vocal complexity. "Poison’s in everything. Nothing’s without poison." Read more here (opens in a new window). And last but not least. Don't be afraid to kill your darlings. If they really are your darlings they will stand the test.

Death never goes out of style. Death isn't sensitive to trends. On the contrary, Death's popularity is never-changing. Death and Fashion are closely linked to each other. In fact, they are sisters. This statement was presented by the Italian poet, essayist, and philosopher Giacomo Leopardi in his romantic poem "Dialogue Between Fashion and Death" in 1824. The poem begins with Fashion reaching out to her sister, Death: "Do you not remember we are both born of Decay?". Death does, at first, not recognise Fashion as her sister. Fashion insists that they are bound to each other and "both equally profit by the incessant change and destruction of things here below", that, "our common nature and custom is to incessantly renew the world." Death and Fashion are both executing decay and destruction of the body. In the poem, Fashion ultimately proves to Death their sisterhood in describing the obvious inflictions on the human body. Throughout the dialogue Fashion claims that she could be of assistance, aiding Death in shortening human life. Death replies: "Well, well: time enough to talk of this when you introduce the custom of not dying. But at present, I want you, like a good sister, to aid me in rendering my task more easy and expeditious than it has hitherto been." Fashion is transient and frivolous. Death is permanent and serious. Fashion, in general, is a way of testing the limits of our mortality and reconcile with death. It's an imaginative play with concepts and symbols. Aesthetics and trends in fashion often interact with symbolism and representations of death and human frailty or sufffering. The clothes we wear are not just fabric sewn together in patterns, it's so much more. It's a statement of who we are or want to be perceived. Dress for success. The step from Leopardi to Gothic fashion isn't that far. On the contrary, there's a straight line between them. Death and Fashion, are together forever. 

How many musicians in their right mind would commit themselves to release an EP every month during a year? Nota bene, during a pandemic. Well, I thought long and hard but couldn't think of anyone. Not even a desperate musician who wants to get out of a volume based record contract. However, some people go against the flow. In December 2020 T.K. Bollinger announced: "I have good news for you, and scary news for me. I am planning to release 12 EPs next year. One a month. Can I really do this. I guess we'll find out. I'm not doing this on a whim, mind you. I have a whole swag of songs prerecorded, so that part at least is somewhat under control. My hope with these releases is to push as much of my music out there as I can and see what sticks." This, to say the least, ambitious release project will be digital only with a physical release of the best songs as an album in early 2022. You can read the press release here (opens in a new window). Let's do some maths. 12 EPs with 4 songs makes 48 songs (!). The project management triangle states that the quality of work is constrained by cost, scope and time. I don't know about the cost, but T.K Bollinger has delivered according to schedule (scope and time). The quality of the first six EPs will now be assessed. I will quickly walk them through and also take the opportunity to leave unsolicited advice regarding which songs to include on the physical release. T.K. Bollinger wrote a disclaimer; "These songs are an odd bunch. They are grouped thematically rather than stylistically." I couldn't agree more. The songs vary in every conceivable aspect. So, buckle up and enjoy the ride. First out of the EPs was "Ordinary Choices". The opening song "I Can't Keep Singing This Song" sticks out with its catchy beat and rolling rhythm. "Swallow Me Whole" is unadulterated Bollinger-quality. "When I’m gone the light will swallow me whole / All my hopes and all my sorrows / All that I dreamed will be eaten up by the void – / That light will swallow me whole." This song should go straight to the physical release. The second EP is "Ordinary Hopes". The best song is "At Our Best", which may or may not make it to the physical release. The third EP is "Ordinary Fears". The obvious choice here is "Bright Futures" and "Drained of all Hope". The latter song has great lyrics. "Shame might be too light a word / Drained of all hope might fit closer / Shame might be too light a word / Drained of all hope might fit closer." The fourth EP is "Ordinary Joys". It's the weakest of the first six EPs. From this cheerful bunch of songs I choose "Holy Word". The fifth EP is "Ordinary Madness". This is, in my opinion, the best of the six first EPs. The four songs "Ill Comfort, My Friend", "Let Your Devils Take Heart", "Same Breath, Different Face", "Something Real To Hold Onto" should all make it to the physical release. The sixth EP is "Ordinary Inconvenience". From this album I choose "Disappointing Son". Musicians are different. Some musicians oscillate between hope and despair and will never deliver. Some musicians brood over their songs like a mother hen, unwilling to let go. Other musicians have a more simplistic and undemanding approach. T.K. Bollinger belongs to the latter category. In an e-mail he explained: "Some may be misses, but that’s the nature of my creativity. I’m not one to sensor my muse, I take what I can get and see where she leads me." And the overall impression? T.K. Bollinger will not have any problems with material for the physical release. However, there are highs and there are lows. This is expected and consistent with the idea of releasing an EP a month. Adding to this, the songs span over different genres and styles. It's not over yet. There are six more EPs to come (more correctly five EPs, since "Ordinary Loses" was released July 1st). You can check the EPs out for yourself here (opens in a new window). Finally, I admire the effort. The greater the effort, the greater the glory.

  

In the beginning of the year I wrote a blog post (Absolute zero) about one of the few remaining second hand record stores in Stockholm, read more here (opens in a new window). It wasn't just about any store. It was about Skivbörsen, established in 1971. Skivbörsen has been closed since March 2020 due to covid-19. On June 28th 2021 the store was re-opened. That's really surprising news. I never thought that it would resurrect. Not after being closed for a so long time. Skivbörsen is divided into three sections. You enter the store through a half staircase. It's not suitable for people with accessibility needs. In the beginning the store was only 10 square metres (placed on the left side of the staircase). Today, it's more of a storage room for cds which are less in demand. The store quickly expanded on the right side of the staircase (a former toy store). From this larger part of the store there's a narrow spiral staircase leading down to the cellar. Personally, I haven't been down there since the 1970s. But, it's a goldmine if you have the time and energy to excavate the gems. Not much have changed over the years including the original interior. The first owner was a bit odd and didn't trust some of the customers. He installed a low tech surveillance system of mirrors and monitored the business from a small box-room. The present owner took over the store in the mid-1990s. Skivbörsen is a wonderful establishment for cds and vinyls. However, if you're a house dust allergy sufferer this isn't a healthy place to be. A good record store normally has order and structure. Skivbörsen gives the concept of chaos a new and deeper meaning. On the other hand, the supply is unmatched and prices are very moderate. The society is slowly opening up again. The re-opening is a prime example of survival instinct and endurance. Welcome back Skivbörsen!!!