Writing, writing, writing: Dispatch from Fuzzy Needle
Greetings Fuzzy Needle friends,
Well, we’re on Substack now. Tim has mentioned the idea to me a couple times over the past few months, and a couple days ago, he finally took the plunge. The goal is to publish a variety of brief reflections on the records, books and other interesting things that pass through the shop on a regular basis. If you love Fuzzy, I think you’ll really like this corner of the world, too.
I know us thinkers enjoy the occasional jab at Substack, and to be fair, some of them are really funny. Like, I’m currently drafting an 8k+ word essay on my recent trip to Detroit, and there is no world where a verbose, bleeding heart monstrosity like that could get published… except, of course, on Substack. Some of the writing is bad, some of it is just okay. Sometimes, it yields truly beautiful work, too thorny and live to pin to the pages of a literary mag.
What I love about Substack, though, is that it encourages the practice of writing. I think some creative people still harbor the notion that creation can only occur when inspiration strikes. NO! No it can’t. In fact, it’s necessary for artists to commit themselves daily to their craft. Here’s a quote from The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis I have pinned to my wall:
“There are always plenty of rivals to our work. We are always falling in love or quarreling, looking for jobs or fearing to lose them, getting ill and recovering, following public affairs. If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.”
Another thing I love about Substack is its democratic infrastructure. Anyone can use it to share their work, and it sometimes leads to really cool stuff. Some of y’all might have spotted one of my Substack essays on Wednesday’s Instagram stories last week — I was truly gagged, gooped, floored etc. that it made its way to Karly and to other Wednesday fans. I’m not sure that would have happened if I just kept it to my private journals, or even published it on my own personal blog.
All this to say that as Instagram circles the drain, maybe it’s time to join all them thinking fellas over on the orange app. We’ll see you there.
From Fuzzy’s Substack. Tim’s caption: “This one lives on the work desk.”
Q & A with killdeer
Every so often in this life, you hear a song that sounds like a missive from another planet. Long, lonely, gorgeous, careening through seven layers of atmosphere and straight into your heart. It’s always a trip to find out where those songs come from. Sometimes it’s from a rock star by way of a bespoke studio; other times, it’s from a gal you used to see at Palate in Wilmington.
I’m talking about Maddie, the voice and mind behind killdeer, an auditory phantasmagoria. Maddie is opening for our buddy book NOT brooke tonight at Fuzzy in Wilmington, and we caught up with her for a moment before the show. As usual, our conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
killdeer
Nikolai Mather: You’re opening for Miss book NOT brooke, who just released her new album Dancer First. What do you most admire about her and her artistry?
Killdeer: I think something I most admire about book’s artistry is her commitment to each project she is a part of, especially her solo project. Her sound is so unique and I find it so unlike anything I've seen/heard before. It's really so inspiring to see the voice she's found in herself and how she creates an atmosphere within it.
NM: One of my favorite aspects of your music is your voice — it’s truly just beyond, and if your Instagram stories say anything, it seems to require even more attention than playing a traditional instrument. What’s the best tip you’ve ever got on singing?
KD: The best advice I received long ago was from my voice teacher I've seen on and off since I was 15. She taught me at a young age how to be vulnerable with myself as a performer but also have awareness within my body. There are so many little technical things that are a part of creating each person's voice. Paying attention to that awareness really helps me with juggling everything while I perform. You really have to be comfortable within your body to work it in the exact way your voice and breath need to feel fully supported. And of course drinking enough water!!! Haha.
NM: What’s something you read or heard recently that’s been inspiring you?
KD: The works inspiring me right now… “Once Out, Gone Forever” by Stiching, they sample one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies (Lady Bird) in such a beautiful way. I also love all of Bridget St. John's discography, specifically “Making Losing Better” and “Back to Stay.” And then for written work, I recently read my copy of Alice Walker's Horses Make a Landscape Look More Beautiful again and it's been on my mind so much. Her writing is beyond incredible.
You can catch killdeer, book NOT brooke, and friends at the Fuzzy Needle in Wilmington tonight (6/24) and at a house show in Raleigh tomorrow (6/25). For more details, DM Maddie on Instagram at @rosegardenlalala.
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Shop recs
〰️ Shop recs
Wilmington
Durham
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Upcoming events
〰️ Upcoming events
Durham
June 24th, Old Time Jam, the Fuzzy Needle, 7 pm… It’s just a little Old Time Jam. Bring your own instruments and drinks. (I did drop off a bunch of free Busch Light at the shop earlier, but I know that beer is uhhhh… not for everybody.)
Wilmington
June 24th, book NOT brooke with killdeer, pilothead, and Jerry Chuck, the Fuzzy Needle, 7 pm… An ethereal Wednesday. Tickets $10 at the door.
June 25th, All Records Considered, the Fuzzy Needle, 6-9 pm… Curated by our buddy William Mules, who’s bringing a selection of jazz, reggae, and soul spanning twenty years of record collecting.
