20 Questions For The 2020’s From A 20-Something Artist…

Oh. My. God.

...

The Stone rolleth onward,

Clock tickets forward.

What a decade. I'm dec-aged.

A numerical implication of hindsight - yet what's the use of retrospection to dreamers?

_

These are but ramblings.

Late-night-cab-ride-missed-stop-chicken-shop

Mutterances

Of too many ales,

On too many ails.

So strap in! Sink deep!

Exhale, muse,

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Next!

1. Will we get a resurgence of folk and acoustic music in the wake of energy restrictions following the climate crisis?

2. As we’re going into the 70’s 50-year anniversary, will we see a resurgence of album-based music in contrast to the 2010’s 60’s-esque pop singles market?



3. Is such a retrospective attempt to translate the past into our present at all fucking useful or relevant?

4. Will I make it in the Big Bad World of The Industry?

5. Will I die?

6. Will we all die?

7. What’s the next big artist punch-up/beef gonna be?

8. Will music become even more commodified? Pavement music. Kitchen music... A return of Musak?

9. Will any cool instruments properly make it into the mainstream?

10. We’ve had some crazy genrebending. What’s next? I’m excited.

11. Who’s currently developing the style that’ll be the soundtrack for Summer 2025? Will we look back and say ‘ahhh! Them!’

12. Who out of my favourite artists are going to die next?

13. Will artists actually begin to get paid properly through streaming services? Or more squeezed? (Probably more squeezed)

14. Who will be the first artist to do space-gig?


15...I wanna do it. If not, can I be invited?

16. How more lo-fi and chilled will our hip-hop become? How far can we go?

17. In the wake of insular populism and the apparent global imposition of restrictions and borders, will smaller bands be able to tour at all? Will this result in a new era of crazy unique musical hotspots?

18. Is it ethical or sustainable for bands to produce and rely on merch as they have been doing?

19. How much more will governments squeeze arts funding?

20. It’s looking like there’ll probably be revolutions. What role will our art play?

If you have any answers to these questions, or even speculations, do let us know. Calm our whirring brains.

Words by Dan Norton-Smith

Doodles by Kitty Handley

HAPPY NEW YEAR!