Shuffle Synchronicities: Volume 1 - #80
Guest Post by Rollie Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) + "Frustration" by Lou Reed, Metallica - 03/23/21
Today we have a guest post from Substacker and musician, Cadence Weapon aka Rollie Pemberton, who has a fellow top #25 in paid Substack music newsletters (#16).
A rapper, producer, and writer, Cadence Weapon is also the former poet laureate of Edmonton, a two-time Polaris Prize shortlist nominee, and a huge music nerd. In his newsletter, he talks about his creative process as well as writes about music that has been overlooked or isn’t being featured elsewhere.
My favorite of Cadence Weapon’s own music is
“Sunrise” by Alice Ivy, Cadence Weapon
Synchronistically enough, the song I got today is:
“Frustration” by Lou Reed, Metallica
It’s a song about being frustrated with a former lover who is with someone else.
Which you can either lament bitterly like Lou and Lars.
Or accept like Byron Katie, whose book Loving What Is I started to read last night and greatly enjoyed.
She believes that “The only time we suffer is when we believe a thought that argues with what is. When the mind is perfectly clear, what is is what we want.”
Synchronistically as well…
Rollie aka Cadence Weapon didn’t quite follow the memoir half of my format.
I could have chosen to be frustrated about that or gratefully accept what is, which is his amazing taste in music I have never heard of, which is what I have chosen to do ;)
So without further adieu, here is Cadence Weapon’s guest post!
A Better Future: Selections by Cadence Weapon Playlist
Capo Lee, Norf Face "Capo's Pattern"
Capo Lee is one of my favourite rappers right now. From North London, he's got a really strange way of emphasizing his rhymes that I like. I love when rappers zig when others zag. This is from a group album called Norf Face. "Ends like Resident Evil!" The beat reminds me of the Nokia cell phone snake game.
Khruangbin, Knxwledge "Dearest Alfred (MyJoy)"
This remix of Khruangbin by Knxwledge has a really interesting character to it. I like how lo-fi it is, especially when you listen to it next to other new songs. This track is the sonic equivalent of finding a really amazing vintage couch. There's a Dilla-ness to how the drums and samples drop out occasionally. There's an authentic sensuality to the vocals that I really appreciate.
Virginia Wing "I'm Holding Out For Something"
This record feels very optimistic, a great precursor to spring. There's something ebullient about the singing that recalls Tom Tom Club. Mysterious new wave would be a genre I would invent to describe this song. I don't know anything about the band but I love that they exist and I didn't know about them before. I find it encouraging when I can still find out about new artists that I hadn't previously encountered in some way. Discoverability is still possible. More optimism!
Sydanie "Dats Soft"
Sydanie is one of my favourite Canadian rappers right now. There's something slinky and authoritative about this track. I love chill bangers. There should be more research on chill songs that hype you up. I love how "Dats Soft" harnesses both fierce and mellow energy. That's life, right? It's really singular too which I always appreciate.
Check out Cadence Weapon’s Substack at this link!
Okay, that’s the eightieth Shuffle Synchronicities.