*serious voices now*
The internet is commonly seen as a 'threat' to journalism. Whether you like it or not we're now in an age where with three clicks you can set up a platform to share your opinions and have them exposed to thousands of people.
There has been an uprising of freelance journalists, working solely off their own backs...which have again become seen as a 'threat'.
However, are these contemporary 'non-traditional' journalists a threat to journalism? Or are they just a threat to large, well-respected music journalism companies and their incomes?
I think it's important that just like we welcome new musicians and fresh-faces to the ever-evolving music business, we do the very same for the world of journalism.
Identically to the way in which MP3's revolutionized music, whilst somewhat wounding the sale of CDs, you cannot argue that the results of the rise of the MP3 were efficacious. In the same way, blogs are rising and major magazines are taking the fall, but they're still selling thousands of copies weekly! If you prefer, look at Tindr. Sure it may have taken the romance and initial excitement out of dating, but you can't deny it's practicality as it moves romance into the 21st Century...plus is it really like people now walk round bars with their eyes closed, refusing to buy anyone a drink? Ofcourse not.
Personally, I have been shunned as 'unprofessional' for not writing for a magazine. Just take a step back though and look at the bigger picture.
Jim Morrison once said, 'whoever controls the media, controls the mind'. He isn't bloody far off either. One week you'll see some kids in the back of NME with their Jamie T haircuts' and their debut album being given four out of ten stars. Wait though, cause if you give it a fortnight this same album will have landed them their own cover-spread. Suddenly their someone and everyone loves them. Don't be fickle with your opinions and stick by your guns. Because money can't be the main motivator to why you're doing your job or what's the point?
In the soundcloud generation of musicians, where anyone can post their music online and get it out there, we've reached a beautifully overwhelming chaos. New music is now easily accessible, but great new music is lost, drowned and diluted. Darlia have their heads above the water.
The band are a three-piece from Blackpool, often compared to Nirvana (although how much of that is based on shaggy haired Nathan is arguable), have made an impact on the music scene with their hits Napalm and Queen of Hearts.
They've released three EPs(which you can nosey at, here)and a mini LP. They've had sell out UK shows, they're currently touring the world and they've popping up across the UK for festivals left right and centre. They're standing out as one as the 'one's to watch'.
So why do they stand out? Well, I think it starts with how stripped back they are. They've taken rock right back to its roots and thrown in some dirt- making them appeal to a huge range of people.
Their track names themselves hold a lot of promise- Napalm, Pandemonium, Choke on Bones. Darlia aren't full of empty promises. Each song mixes raspy vocals and (dare I say) Nirvana-esque heavy, bursting riffs. It's the type of music that teenagers will mosh to in crowded sweaty rooms, middle-aged punks will admire and new rock revival will profit.
What this space for an interview soon.
This year we've been faced with one of the most disputed and controversial line-ups for years. Whilst the mixture of pop/folk, pop-punk and music legends has some people already packing their wellies and taping their hipflasks to their ankles, it has some others claiming that this could be the end for the 54 year old festival.
The main issue music fans seem to have is the folk/pop band Mumford and Sons holding the place of a headliner, where Queens of The Stone Age stood the year before.
The fact that whilst year the main stage was bombarded with indie-legends and this year pop-punk seems be dominating the main stage has also caused a bit of a rumble.
Although...really, where is the problem? It appears that many people are looking at the line-up with their hands over their eyes. Whilst, for me, I'm more inclined to be at the main stage for The Libertines, Alt-J Jamie T and The Cribs (oh my god, why is no one freaking out about The Cribs?!) I can't wait to dance my legs off to Panic! At The Disco! Plus, it's I find that the acts that are the most exciting are those performing on the NME and Festival Republic Stage!
Don't starve yourself of indulging on the smaller acts on the smaller stages! The smaller, developing acts are what these types of festivals are about- so when you've necked your £7.50 rum and coke and you're waiting in the rain for Metallica, dance on over to a smaller tent and discover somebody new!
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