Graham Reid | | 3 min read
However technology giveth and taketh away.
Because everyone is doing it, it has also never been harder to gain attention in a world where literally tens of thousands of new songs are uploaded to platforms every day.
Some put the figure as high as 100,000 daily . . . and rising.
The landscape has changed although some things remain the same.
Artists still tend to release two or three singles in advance of albums, publicity people talk the music up (current go-to shorthand descriptions include “summer anthem” and “banger”) and artists try to gain traction through tie-in videos, now called “visualisers”.
Just a few years ago an album would get limited edition release on vinyl as an enticement and talking point, but today just about everyone is doing that too.
The so-called “cassette revival” hasn't and won't ever take off because as a medium tapes are inconvenient, fragile and hopelessly unfriendly to users. Even artists on Thokei Tapes out of Germany – which specialises in the release of New Zealand artists – have the download facility at bandcamp which you can buy separately or get free when you buy a cassette.
Artists hit the road to gain attention and an income – Ladi6 is going on tour in support of a new single, not even an album – and all are looking for cut-through in what PR people now call “the media space”.
Publicity in other words.
Artists are becoming highly inventive, few more so than prolific Goodspace (Jefferson Chen) of Auckland whose album launch for Let's Talk About Death is at the Lim Chhour Food Court on Karangahape Rd this Saturday for a week.
The album is on the menu, the songs as food items which you can order from Goodspace/Chen at the counter, take a buzzer and wait for your serving.
“What are you hungry to hear?” goes the publicity.
You have to admire the lateral thinking of the promotion/album launch concept which goes under the name Vendor.
Here are some options
The immersive 33-minute album listening experience
Sat & Sun: 1pm & 5pm
Mon – Fri: 2.30pm & 6pm
You can book in a group dining/ listening experience of Goodspace's album, Let's Talk About Death (Space limited to 30 people per session)
Solo listener? BYO headphones (or have everything provided)
Sat & Sun: 12pm - 6pm
Mon – Fri: 2pm - 7pm
The free performance/album launch at Chhour
Thu 3 October at 5.30pm
And what of the album?
Recorded at Roundhead, The Lab and his own Goodspace studio, Chen's album is a clever, classy and catchy collection of pop which can be slinky (She Don't Need You), adopt a hypnotic minimalist groove (Miss), be breezy and mainstream (Looking Down on Myself) or languid (Second Chance). the beguiling Soap Dish is almost weightless.
And some of this comes with a tasty flavouring of abrasive guitar.
And some Goodspace background?
By their own account, “Goodspace were formed in 2019 and is primarily a solo project of multiple collaborations and multiple forms: an indie band, a soloist, experimental electronic art, composer & sound designer.
“Having independently released two EPs, two music videos and six singles -- all of which have found radio rotation & charting -- Goodspace has also composed for film, theatre, TV, played festivals and sold-out shows while always continuing to push boundaries where needed to serve the art”.
And now serving up music like a meal.
So . . .
From animated clips to theatre work and now an imaginative album launch-cum-personal installation you'd have to say Goodspace deserve attention.
If you are in or near Auckland treat yourself to a Goodspace meal in the K Rd food court.
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Goodspace's album Let's Talk About Death is launched on October 5 on bandcamp here. Preorders available now. The album is available digitally and on vinyl.
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