Fratstep

I like that someone's finally made the connection that what's going on in the American Dubstep scene is kind of a travesty on where it's started. I feel like there's a really strong lack of respect for where it came from. Now it's just pop music. Not to mention, most of the UK Dubstep DJ's have already moved on from the sound. They're the ones creatively pushing the boundaries. That's why the sound has grown, shifted, and modified. Instead of spiraling out of control into some nonsensical sound that's going to (unfortunately) become the next hot thing for the big record labels.

"Certain producers – who I can't even be bothered naming – have definitely hit upon a sort of fratboy market where there's this machoism being reflected in the sounds and the way the music makes you feel. And to me, that is a million miles away from where dubstep started."

– James Blake quote from The Boston Phoenix

Fun with CSS!

It's 1:15am. I've just spent the last 4+ hours battling CSS to get my site where it's currently at. I had fun researching new CSS3 capabilities. Rounded corners and drop shadows, woo! There's a lot more research to be done. Unfortunately, I'm starting to greatly dislike the look of my site. I've been so indecisive with this design for the last year. Will I ever settle on one? I've already done some scouring and come up with another design I really like. Of course that's how I would do it. Start to make progress and then, whammo, change directions.

We'll see how it pans out. For now I'm going to keep up the battle. I suppose there's still to much that needs to be designed and styled for me to change course now.

Oh so under construction...

Ahh yes, the joys of revamping your website and having far too many things to do at the same time. So here is my site. Devoid of content for the most part. Broken in it's navigation. Random in it's placement of graphic treatments.

My hope is to have things tidied up soon. Possibly one Decibel Festival is over. In the meantime, here's to lots of hard work that I'm really passionate about.

http://www.dbfestival.com

Across the pond...

It's the 8th of May. Well, actually it's 12am on the 9th of May now that I've checked the clock. I'm at Orsi's about to pass out for my final night in London. It's been quite a trip, but I feel I've held back. Somehow things didn't quite come together. There were a few nights that I wanted to get to and either missed or didn't make it down to see.

Currently I'm feeling quite anxious. I tend to do this a lot, but I'm also feeling a bit emotional. I have an overwhelming sense of being alone. It's scaring me. Right now it feels like it might not end. Like I'm stuck this way and I'll never get to go home. That seems ridiculous. I think it's how unplanned everything feels and how I feel like this was a stupid move to come to the UK for so long. I feel like the things I want to do in England, Edinburgh, and Dublin were just too much. Or I just didn't think clearly about all this.

I know I need to power through this. But honestly, I'm pretty damn scared. Maybe I'm really tired. The knot in my stomach tells me different though.

If I could be home in my own bed right now I'd feel so much better.

And so it begins.

There's a ton I could write here, but since I'm sitting in the suburb of W.Seattle, I'll keep it succinct.

The new year is coming up an I've never felt like there was so much change on the horizon in my entire life. First off, I fully plan on getting my NMT posts back up and running weekly. Some of that energy may need to be shifted over to Fresh & Noble though, which I'm more than happy to do.

I have an offer from Space Invader FM to do a radio show, which could he really exciting. The creative approach to that seems like it could offer a myriad of possibilities.

I owe a full rundown of the Decibel Festival to F&N, as well as a good friend of mine. I absolutely do not want to let her down. Though I'd probably venture a guess that she thinks I forgot.

Though it's been a few months and I still don't have anything to her. I pray she understands as the last few months have been absolutely chaotic.

I'm on my way to being single again. Which is weird. That's the best way I can describe it. My entire universe feels like a series of unknowns.

What I do know is that I'm happy for my sister and Rob, and I wish my brother and Claudia all the best. My mom and dad are healthy, so there isn't a whole lot more I could ask for.

For now, keep an eye out for me playing some random DJ sets soon around town. If you see me out playing, come give me a hug. There's a darn good chance that I really need it.

Thanks for reading, and all the best to you and your family and friends in 2011.