Podcast Summary
Listen to your body when feeling ill: Ignore external validation, prioritize self-care and internal evaluation when creating art.
When you feel the first signs of a cold or illness, resist the urge to push through it with exercise or external validation. Instead, rest, hydrate, and listen to your body. The speaker learned this lesson the hard way when he ignored the warning signs and ended up with a disastrous ear infection. This experience also serves as a reminder to be cautious of external praise and focus on creating art that resonates with you personally. The speaker encourages artists to be mindful of external validation and to prioritize their own internal evaluation of their work. Additionally, the speaker will be sharing a "hot take" on art and music in this week's podcast, so stay tuned for that. Lastly, the speaker has upcoming live shows and a new book of short stories, "Boulevard Wren," available for purchase on November 1st.
Author's latest work, 'Boulevard Rent,' receives positive feedback and excitement for upcoming BBC series, 'Blind Boy Understands': Author's latest book and upcoming series reflect his growth as a creator and dedication to exploring complex issues, generating positive feedback and excitement.
The author is receiving positive feedback from respected individuals regarding his latest work, "Boulevard Rent," which aligns with his initial goals and objectives for the book. He's excited to release it and move on to new projects. Additionally, the author's upcoming BBC series, "Blind Boy Understands," will explore heavy topics like modern slavery, work, anxiety, and chaos, and he's looking forward to its release. The author sees these projects as part of a new artistic movement and is eager to understand and define the zeitgeist of the current era. He's cautious about tackling sensitive topics on his podcast due to his lack of expertise and the potential for causing harm. The author's work, both the book and the series, reflect his growth as a creator and his dedication to exploring complex issues.
The Origins of Heavy Metal Music: Heavy metal music emerged from industrial environments in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with specific roots in a band and album. The speaker's passion for the genre is rooted in its evolution from cultural and historical contexts.
The BBC player content is accessible for those living in Britain, but for those outside of Britain, creative methods such as illegally downloading or using VPNs are required. The podcast discussion revolves around the birth of heavy metal music, which emerged from industrial environments and is a form of electronically assisted music that the speaker is passionate about. The speaker traces the roots of heavy metal to a specific moment, band, and album in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and compares the evolution of music to genetics and memetics. The speaker expresses their love for heavy metal music and shares their struggles with other genres, but emphasizes their fascination with how new forms of music emerge from their cultural and historical contexts.
The birth of Futurism: A reaction to societal changes and technological advancements: Futurism, an Italian art movement, emerged in response to the societal shifts and technological advancements of the time, with its founder, Marinetti, experiencing a pivotal moment involving a car accident that solidified his belief in the superiority of machines over traditional methods.
The artistic movement of Futurism, born in Italy in 1909, was significantly influenced by the cultural conditions of the time, specifically the emergence of automobiles and the clash between old and new technologies. A pivotal moment for its founder, Marinetti, involved nearly hitting two cyclists with his car, leading him to champion machines and industry over traditional methods, even if it meant conflict with those who opposed progress. This event sparked the creation of the Futurist manifesto, which championed modernity and the superiority of machines, marking a significant shift in artistic thought. Understanding the cultural context and societal changes is crucial to identifying the mimetic mutations in art, as they often reflect the zeitgeist and shape new artistic branches.
A radical artistic document from 1909: The Futurist Manifesto championed technology and industry, embraced modernity, but held problematic views, including the glorification of war and violence, and played a significant role in the rise of 20th century fascism.
The Futurist Manifesto, written in 1909, was a groundbreaking artistic document that championed technology and industry as the way forward. It represented a radical departure from previous artistic movements, embracing the chaos and modernity of the industrial age. However, it also held problematic views, including the glorification of war and violence. The Futurists saw technology as a form of magic that invigorated them with an arrogant certainty about the future. While it is an important artistic document, it also played a significant role in the rise of 20th century fascism, promoting the idea that war was a cleansing and necessary part of progress. In essence, the Futurist Manifesto was a manifesto of modernism's belief in art's power to change the world, but with a dark and toxic twist.
Futurism's Impact on Art and Music: The Futurist movement, originating in Italy, advocated for technology, speed, and disruption in art, influencing later movements like Dada, Surrealism, and heavy metal music. Its manifestos also significantly impacted music in the 1920s.
The Futurist movement, originating in Italy around 1909, was a radical artistic movement advocating for technology, speed, and disruption. However, it is tainted by its association with Italian fascism and the embrace of destructive and single-minded ideologies. The movement's manifestos and ideas influenced later art movements like Dada, Surrealism, and even heavy metal music. Despite its problematic origins, it's important to acknowledge the impact of Futurism on art history. One specific development was the Futurist interest in music in the 1920s, marked by a significant manifesto in 1913. However, it's crucial to remember that the positive aspects of Futurism should be separated from the negative aspects of its association with fascism.
Luigi Russolo's vision of noise as a new art form: Luigi Russolo's 1913 manifesto predicted the shift towards electronic and electric sounds in 20th century music, inspired by unconventional instruments and industrial noise.
Luigi Russolo's "The Art of Noises" manifesto, written in 1913, was a prophetic document that accurately predicted the evolution of 20th century music towards electronic and electric sounds. Russolo, an Italian futurist, was inspired by a non-conventional orchestral performance using unconventional instruments like pots, pans, and machines. He saw noise as a new art form, crediting the invention of the steam engine for its creation. At the time, humans were living in industrial cities for only about 80 years, and Russolo recognized the impact of machines on sound and the human experience. He believed that music should reflect and accommodate the noise of the modern world, moving away from traditional melodies towards disturbing, loud noises. This was a radical shift from the futurist ideals of beauty as a speeding car or a weapon, and instead saw beauty in the chaos and abrasiveness of industrial noise.
Art and music reflect the world around us: Art and music evolve to keep pace with changing times, reflecting the world around us through industrial sounds, urban life, and modern complexity
Artists and their work are influenced by their environment and the times in which they live. As early as 1913, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, in his Futurist Manifesto, recognized that people's experiences with industrial sounds and urban life were changing their musical preferences. He believed that music needed to reflect this new reality and not cling to the past. Marinetti's prediction was borne out in the development of genres like techno and house music, which emerged from industrial cities and reflected the rhythmic clank of factories. Fast forward to the future, and we see the same trend with heavy metal music, which also reflects the intensity and complexity of modern life. So, in essence, art and music are a reflection of the world around us, and they evolve to keep pace with changing times.
The Impact of Italian Futurism on Art and Science: Italian Futurism inspired artists and surrealists but also led to negative consequences, such as influencing fascist leaders, while modern conveniences like Airbnb and 1800flowers.com offer rewards and benefits.
The futuristic ideas of art and science from the Italian Futurism movement had a profound impact on the world, influencing artists like Picasso and the surrealists. However, the movement's ideological aspects also led to negative consequences, such as inspiring fascist leaders like Mussolini, Franco, and the Nazis. The industrial centers of the UK, like Birmingham, were heavily targeted during World War II with the tactic of blitzkrieg, leaving the cities in ruins and taking years to rebuild. Meanwhile, the ability to earn extra income through renting out one's home through platforms like Airbnb and the perks of being a generous gift giver through websites like 1800flowers.com can bring modern conveniences and rewards.
Birmingham's Role in Heavy Metal's Emergence: Birmingham's futurist influenced architecture, chaotic environment, and distorted guitar sounds contributed to the development of heavy metal music.
The industrial city of Birmingham, which was heavily influenced by the futurist ideology, gave birth to heavy metal music. This connection can be traced back to the modernist architectural style, which emerged from the same ideology that destroyed Birmingham during the Blitzkrieg. The futurist manifesto, with its emphasis on noise and rejection of traditional art forms, can be seen as a precursor to the raw, chaotic sound of heavy metal. The city's cacophonous environment and the emergence of distorted guitar sounds in rock and roll contributed to the genre's development. Birmingham's role in heavy metal's emergence is as significant as New York's role in hip hop or Detroit's role in techno. The mimetic mutation of music, influenced by its environment, led to the creation of a genre that breaks the rules of traditional music and fulfills the epic, orchestral role that huge symphonic pieces once held.
The Birth of Distortion in Guitar Music: Dave Davies of The Kinks pioneered guitar distortion using razor blades in the late 1950s, leading to the creation of heavy metal by Black Sabbath in 1970, with Tony Iommi's groundbreaking use of distortion and heavy riffs.
The evolution of guitar music, specifically the introduction of distortion, can be traced back to Dave Davies of The Kings in the late 1950s. His innovative use of razor blades in his amplifier led to the creation of the first guitar distortion, which was initially met with surprise and skepticism. This redefinition of beauty in music, which came from the ears of city dwellers accustomed to cacophony, paved the way for artists like Jimi Hendrix in the late 1960s and Led Zeppelin in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Led Zeppelin, while not the first metal band, significantly contributed to the genre's development with their heavier take on the blues. The fundamental change and birth of heavy metal, however, came from Black Sabbath in 1970. Originating from Birmingham, this working-class band, led by guitarist Tony Iommi, is credited with inventing heavy metal. Despite Ozzy Osbourne's larger-than-life persona, it was Iommi's groundbreaking use of distortion and heavy riffs that truly defined the genre.
Post-industrial reality's impact on Black Sabbath and early hip hop: Black Sabbath and early hip hop artists expressed disillusionment and frustration through their music, reflecting the harsh realities of post-industrial environments and departing from modernist visions of progress and prosperity.
Black Sabbath, originating from the post-war ruins of Birmingham, grew up amidst the failure of the modernist industrial vision and the trauma of war. Instead of embracing the futurist ideal of industry as the solution to all problems, they experienced its collapse and the resulting poverty and despair. This post-industrial reality influenced their music, making it a postmodern response to modernism's failed promises. Similarly, early hip hop artists in New York responded to the escapist disco music of the late 1970s by addressing the harsh realities of living in urban slums. Both Black Sabbath and early hip hop artists used their music as a means of expressing the disillusionment and frustration that came from growing up in environments that were far removed from the modernist visions of progress and prosperity.
The birth of heavy metal music from Tony Iommi's injury: Tony Iommi's injury in a metal foundry led to the creation of heavy metal music, characterized by dark, gloomy, and ugly themes and sound, contrasting the intellectual and head-in-the-clouds themes of prog rock.
The birth of heavy metal music can be traced back to Tony Iommi's experience in a metal foundry and his subsequent injury, which led him to create innovative ways to play the guitar despite losing the tips of his fingers. This event, influenced by the futurist manifesto and the contrasting lyrical themes of prog rock and early metal, marked a significant turning point in music history. Iommi's determination and ingenuity resulted in a genre characterized by its dark, gloomy, and ugly lyrical themes and sound, which was a stark contrast to the intellectual and head-in-the-clouds themes of prog rock. This genetic mutation in heavy metal music not only reflected the industrial environment of Birmingham but also provided a platform for musicians to express their emotions and respond to the cultural context of the time.
Tony Iommi's unique guitar tuning led to the creation of heavy metal music: Tony Iommi's genetic mutation led him to tune his guitar down, creating a unique sound that inspired heavy metal's darker, more aggressive tone and focus on the riff.
Tony Iommi's genetic mutation, which resulted in him losing the tips of his fingers, led to the creation of heavy metal music. Unable to play the guitar in standard tuning due to the reduced resistance, Iommi tuned his guitar down and played with heavier strings. This change in tuning gave his guitar a unique, "depressing" sound that inspired Ozzy Osbourne's lyrics, leading to the formation of Black Sabbath and the birth of heavy metal music. The genre, which derived from the blues, took on a darker and more aggressive tone, with a focus on simplicity and concentration on the riff rather than complex melodies. Iommi's handicap essentially led him towards the sound of doom, and the genre's simplicity and concentration on the riff became a way for people to process trauma. The first heavy metal song, "Black Sabbath" by Black Sabbath, showcases this unique sound and marked the beginning of a new genre.
The early days of British heavy metal music were shaped by wartime experiences and trauma: Black Sabbath's music was influenced by the fear, aggression, and anger of wartime Birmingham and resonated deeply with American veterans during the Vietnam War, making heavy metal a powerful means of reprocessing and expressing trauma.
The early days of British heavy metal music, specifically Black Sabbath, were deeply influenced by the trauma and chaos of wartime experiences, particularly the bombing of Birmingham during World War II. The heavy, orchestral sound of their music can be seen as a musical representation of the fear, aggression, and anger felt by the people during that time. This connection was further solidified when Black Sabbath began touring in America during the late stages of the Vietnam War, where their music resonated deeply with veterans who were also processing their own traumatic experiences. The music of Black Sabbath and the emergence of heavy metal can be understood as a way of reprocessing and expressing trauma, and a testament to how deeply environment and history can shape artistic expression.
Black Sabbath's music embodied Italian Futurist goals decades later: Black Sabbath, despite lacking formal artistic education and growing up in post-WWII Birmingham, created groundbreaking heavy metal music that transcended boundaries and influenced culture.
Black Sabbath, despite not being directly influenced by the Italian Futurist manifesto of 1913, managed to create music that embodied its goals and intentions decades later. This is particularly remarkable given the band members' lack of formal artistic education and the challenging circumstances of their upbringing in post-World War II Birmingham. Black Sabbath's groundbreaking sound is a testament to their musical vision and the enduring power of art to transcend boundaries and influence culture. If you're into heavy rock music, it's worth giving their early albums a listen, as they are widely regarded as the birthplace of the heavy metal genre. Overall, the story of Black Sabbath is a fascinating reminder of the unexpected ways in which art and music can intersect and evolve over time.
