Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Just Fucking Try


I’ve been on a Nardwuar kick of late and after watching his recent Andre 3000 and Chappell Roan interviews, ended up digging back into a few memories from his past work. In particular, I revisited a 2011 TEDx talk he gave, which found him adding some context to his role as interviewer and TV personality. The part that stood out to me was about an awkward run-in with a Canadian politician and a remark made to him from security at the event, “... And immediately I thought of the Latin term — and I’m not sure if I pronounced this right or not — 'voluntary non fit injuria'. Which basically means if you go to a punk rock gig where people are slam dancing, you might get hit.” In context, he was talking about the risks inherent to his style of journalism, which he's come to accept as a fundamental aspect of stepping into such an arena. It got me thinking a little more about all the areas of life I unwittingly overlook the consequences of my own actions, but also some of the little victories that are easy to overlook. If you're not much for large crowds, even mustering the nerve to go to the punk rock show and stand among a room full of strangers can be a hell of a victory.

The role Nardwuar maintains isn’t one he developed overnight, nor is it something I’m sure he was immediately comfortable with, himself, but it’s one that absolutely works. Thinking back to all the ways in which he took a beating along the way (for every Snoop Dogg there was a Henry Rollins) and how all those awkward embarrassing moments might have otherwise added up, it's kind of a wonder he survived the decades it took him to become an overnight success. In many ways though, those challenging moments are critical to the broader acceptance of his creative vision; the failures along the way are what helped Nardwuar as much as anything. 

Recently in conversation with The Creative Independent’s J. Bennett, Kim Deal (you know, of the Pixies & the Breeders – that Kim Deal) talked about her perception of “failure” as a driving theme on her new album, Nobody Loves You More. “To me,” she said, “failure reads as: At least you fucking tried it, even if you got fucking beat up because you were in the fight to try something. There’s something really sweet and endearing about somebody who got their ass kicked.” Surely there’s a relationship between success and any outgrowth of “personal character” which might result from one’s failures, but that sort of “success” is the sort usually best understood long after the fact. “I can look at all the little failures of my life,” Deal continued, “but that’s not what I think about. I read it as, ‘Oh, you look so cool all beat up.’”

A couple months ago I was wondering aloud about the process laid out by the band Japandroids with their final album. I haven’t gone back to see if this changed, but at that time they were really just done with it all: The album was recorded, released, and relinquished – set free to signal the band’s conclusion. And once that was done they were done. This got me thinking, “When creating a work, does the creator then owe it to that piece – even if only as a sign of respect – to market it to one’s fullest capabilities? Like, as a creator, in promoting a work you’re honoring that effort and that creation by putting it in front of as big an audience as you can, maybe?” 

"Without promotion, something terrible happens... Nothing."
-P. T. Barnum

Above any of those other Nardwuar interviews mentioned earlier, I'd recommend watching this video with Doechii. (I also suggest her Tiny Desk and Late Show performances.) I'm late to the Doechii bandwagon, but am I ever into her album Alligator Bites Never Heal now that I've heard it. The release showcases a wild range of sounds and styles, but the track that's been on repeat for me is "NISSAN ALTIMA." Not only does the Childish Major beat provide a foundation for Doechii's precision laden flow, but its pace accentuates her rapid-fire delivery revolving around sexually explicit lyrics aimed squarely at leveling out objectification by creating a counterbalance to the historically patriarchal genre's long history of misogyny. With the release, the MC and singer has proclaimed herself on a quest to become The Best, and it's tracks like this one that would put her in that sort of conversation, in my opinion. That said, that sort of thing almost feels counterintuitive to her abilities. Like, why even put yourself into a conversation that includes others when on any given day you're actually one of the few people in contention to be labelled the best at what you do?

Success isn't really a binary thing, right? Rarely does it always mean the same thing for the same person all the time in every context, and I think this is particularly true when considering success surrounding a creative pursuit. As Kim Deal continued in that conversation, she talked about the intention of and inspiration behind the cover art for her album, which reveals itself to bear a sense of reconciliation with failure. By her explanation, it represents “a doomed voyage,” picturing the musician cast adrift, accompanied by a flamingo, an amp, her guitar, and a vision; even if she never reaches her desired destination, at least she fucking tried. 

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  1. Couplet "Tabby Cat"
    • "Tabby Cat" is from Couplet's December 2024 EP2 release. (via Stereogum)
  2. Aphex Twin feat. Luke Vibert "Spiral Staircase (AFX Remix) [London 03.06.17]"
  3. Six One Tribe "Martians"
  4. Justice & Tame Impala "Neverender"
    • "Neverender" is from Justice's Hyperdrama album, released in April 2024.
  5. Joell Ortiz & L'Orange "OG"
    • "OG" is from Joell Ortiz & L'Orange's collaborative album Signature, released in August 2023.
  6. Griselda "Dr. Bird's"
    • "Dr. Bird's" is from the November 2019 album WWCD.
  7. Teller Bank$ feat. Ponderosa Moe "Repeat Freestyle"
    • "Repeat Freestyle" is from Teller Bank$'s December 2024 Loose Leaves release.
  8. Doechii "NISSAN ALTIMA"
  9. Phiik & Lungs "Uber Dents"
  10. Yard Act "We Make Hits"
  11. Fazerdaze "So Easy"
  12. Aphex Twin "afxfm e [Barcelona 16.06.2023]"
  13. Jim Swim feat. Dan Padley "Same Old Same Old"
  14. Michael Kiwanuka "Small Changes"
  15. Slow 404 "Supermassive"
  16. Mannequin Pussy "I Got Heaven"
  17. Slut Intent "Peppa Pig"
  18. Marini & The Steps "Kuingin Dekatmu"
  19. Kim Deal "Crystal Breath"
  20. Extravision "Temporary Fountain"