Blip Nation Interview: Meet dirtycash

http://blip.fm/dirtycash                                             

Blipper since: February 24, 2010

"I would argue that the evolution of music listening platforms has changed the way we listen to music in a positive way. It exposes us to more and broadens horizons and tastes."

Pete Dulin: What part of the world do you live in?  

dirtycash: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dulin: You are an intern for Time Out Buenos Aires, correct? Do you write about music and other topics?

dirtycash: I write about life in BA, mainly food! I've been working on the BA guidebook which is due for publication in January 2011. I will now be writing freelance for the magazine (which is quarterly) come October in a paid capacity.

Dulin: What bands/artists have you interviewed, if any?

dirtycash: I've interviewed bands for my blog, beauty and the beat. So far Summer Camp and North Highlands with interviews on their way from Ducktails, Julian Lynch, Othello Woolf, Phantogram, Dem Hunger, and Hounds of Hate.

Dulin: What band or artist would you most like to meet and interview? What would you ask?

dirtycash: That's a hard question! To meet and interview probably Van Morrison, although chances are it would be awkward; I'd be dumbstruck, he'd be his usual prickly, unreceptive self. I'd love to ask him about the inspiration behind some of his less commercial songs that die-hard Van fans seems to universally agree on as being his best, despite popular consensus to the contrary.

Dulin: Why do you blip music on Blip.FM?

dirtycash: I blip because I enjoy it. When I started it became somewhat of a compulsion, I guess it was the novelty element and it was encouraging that others liked my stream and were vocal about it. I was also lonely when I first came to BA, roughly around the same time I signed up to blip so it was nice to be connected with like-minded people globally and learn about new music in the process.

Dulin: What other ways do you listen to music? (iPod, stereo, other online services?)

dirtycash: I don't have a stereo yet here in BA, although I'm considering cobbling together a turntable/cassette deck music system in the coming months. I listen to music on my Mac: iTunes, Grooveshark, and get inspiration and downloads from The Hype Machine and RCRD LBL.

Dulin: Is there a new music style/trend that you have noticed gaining momentum in the past year? 


dirtycash: Yes, with ridiculous monikers. It's music I love and that gets me excited, but "chillwave" and "witch house" are just lame Pitchfork/Blogger buzzwords. I don't know how much clout these tenuous genre labels really have?

Dulin: What music style or trend do you wish would go away? 

dirtycash: I'm probably in the minority but I don't get Lady Gaga (with the exception for "Paparazzi" but only because it's so damn catchy). She's an artist though, I'm not a massive fan of Lil Wayne either. Trends or styles - nothing specific.

Dulin: What song or artist do you never tire of hearing? What is special about that song or artist?

dirtycash: I think Van Morrison and Kieran Hebden (of Fridge/Four Tet) are the most consistently brilliant and prolific artists I listen to. I'd be hard pushed to choose just one track from either. The body of work of both artists is impressive.

Dulin: Do you remember the first music you ever purchased? What was it? Format (record, tape, CD, mp3)? Why did you buy it?

dirtycash: I got bought Paula Abdul's "Straight up" on cassette for a birthday. I loved her! Well, I was 9.

Dulin: How does music, whether playing/listening on Blip.FM or elsewhere, affect your behavior, reflect your mood, or express your personality from day to day?

dirtycash: It's an integral part of my being. I am a music geek and always have been. From the ages of 12-16 indie/lo-fi was my life. I had a cool uncle and aunt who used to take me to music festivals from the age of 12 onwards. Then, I gradually got turned onto jungle and drum 'n' bass became the music I obsessed over. I always had to know artist, track name, label. I've always had a voracious appetite for knowledge in a musical context.

Music can both change and reflect my mood. I have had music which has become inextricably linked with boyfriends, this has been tricky as I've subsequently had to take back ownership of it (in recent years Van, Dylan, Fleet Foxes, The Tallest Man on Earth) and create new experiences/memories to associate it with. I'm lucky as my dad has discerning music taste as does my mum, but from very different backgrounds, my mother being Argentine and having grown up here. We used to share evenings during my teens when we would listen to his records and I'd get an extra curricular musical education. I am forever grateful for the foundation they both gave me. I guess that would account for my music tastes being so varied and 'schizophrenic'. What's more, throughout my childhood my parents listened to a great deal of classical music. It's only more recently I've grown to fully appreciate it.

Dulin: Do you think the ease of previewing and sampling of music online with services such as Blip.FM enhances an appreciation of music? Contribute to short attention spans and a "disposable" mindset towards songs since you don't have to buy the music or invest much time in it?

dirtycash: Yes and no. I think a really great track will jump out at you even if you only listen to 10 seconds of it. Something will grab you about it that will ensure you continue listening. I have to admit that I don't always listen to tracks in their entirety on Blip.FM but it will also depend on my mood, concentration, or limitations on a given day. However, I used to reposition the stylus on the record or fast forward and rewind on my cassette walkman. I think that is testament to that fact that I've always had a short concentration span and get easily distracted. Generally speaking, I would argue that the evolution of music listening platforms has changed the way we listen to music in a positive way. It exposes us to more and broadens horizons and tastes.

Dulin: Where do you learn about and hear new music?

dirtycash: Through Blip.FM, friends, YouTube, The Guardian band of the day, Last.FM.

Dulin: If you could Blip.FM one song that could reach everyone on the planet, what would you choose? 
 
dirtycash: "Almost Independence Day" by Van Morrison. All 10+ minutes of it. The last track off the Saint Dominic's Preview LP. It's one of those hidden gems, spiritual, almost other worldly. And no, I'm really not exaggerating; it's an understated masterpiece.

Dulin: Generally speaking, do you think there are broad cultural differences between music audiences in Argentina and South America versus other parts of Europe, the US, or the rest of the world? Explain.

dirtycash: Most definitely. I can only speak for Argentina, but here there seems to be a lack of receptivity to really new and underground stuff, or at least the appreciation/audience is marginalised and on a very small scale. I recently DJed at a friend's party and had to discard my more eclectic playlist in favour of old skool '80s and '90s. Even then I got constant requests for David Guetta. There isn't really much of an international music scene and very few bands make it here. It's just not economically viable for them to only play a handful of gigs. The overheads are too great. I know this has a lot to do with the attitude and lack of broad mindedness, quite simply a lack of exposure and accessibility to more underground music.

Dulin: Any other thoughts to share?

dirtycash: To quote a Gary Bartz track, "Music is my sanctuary, music is my life." I think he speaks for many.

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Pete Dulin is the co-publisher and editor of www.presentmagazine.com and writes freelance for magazines, websites, and newspapers. Always looking for the next great song, he can be found in the Blip Nation at http://blip.fm/slipperydistortion. He unleashes profound non sequiturs at Twitter.com/petedulin and publishes creative work at www.petedulin.com.

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