Replying to Old Music Submission Emails
Flooded inboxes, human connection, and inspiration from 'Inbox Infinity.'
In August of 2009, I received an email from Stephanie Estes of A-Side Worldwide because I was still writing occasionally for The Smoking Section at the time. It was a promo for producer 14KT’s upcoming release Nowalataz - a Dilla/Donuts-inspired masterclass in sampling that the Ypsilanti native crafted exclusively in Cool Edit Pro. Though this album would be a beloved personal favorite of mine a few years later, I honestly don’t know if I even saw the email at the time.
In a world where we’re constantly inundated with DMs, emails, and endless information, it’s easy for a music journalist’s eyes to glaze over while unread submissions from artists and PR companies pile up. This has become an all-too-common practice for me. The problem is, when I tune out I miss amazing stuff like Nowalataz.
Recently, I saw something that perfectly encapsulated my guilt over 100s (1000s?) of unread emails while also offering a proactive and positive solution - Patrick Lyons’ newsletter Inbox Infinity. Every Thursday he highlights 10 songs discovered through his inbox. It’s his effort to actually engage with the music submissions he receives and better honor the hard work that so many artists put into their craft.
I love this idea. Though I don’t plan to start a newsletter specifically to address music submission emails, I’ve gone through a few submissions from years ago and listened to them. I even responded to some of the artists whose releases I enjoyed. They seemed surprised and happy that I wrote back, even though it was several years later. Many aspects of the arts and media landscape feel pretty bleak right now, so it was nice to have a few brief human connections with other people trying their best to make something worthwhile and share it with the world. I was also glad to see all of the artists I connected with are still actively making music.
I have a full-time job, a wife, a seven-month-old daughter, and a lot going on in my life. I also want to write more at some point. So I still can’t promise to be the best at listening and responding to every single music submission. But I can take small steps and do a better job than I have done historically.
On that note, here are a few of the tracks from past music submissions that resonated with me. I hope you enjoy them too.
“Long Way Home” by Justo The MC & meticulous via Mind of a Man (2019)
In 2019 Brooklyn-based artists Justo The MC and producer meticulous joined forces for the joint venture Mind of a Man. Justo’s laid-back, understated delivery is the perfect vessel for his insightful, reflective lyrics. meciulous’ carefully crafted instrumentals provide the ultimate backdrop. This somber Kev Brown-assisted beauty is one of my personal favorites.
“Violet Sun” by The Expert via Excursions (2019)
Dublin-based producer The Expert released his Cold Busted-backed instrumental album Excursions in 2019. An enjoyable listen throughout, the track “Violet Sun” is a gorgeous slice of loop minimalism that has just enough piano variation to keep the listener locked in. Floaty, sublime, and highly recommended.
“Sugarcone” by Pawcut via Next Flight Ontario (Beat Edits) (2021)
Hailing from Minden, Gemany, producer Pawcut released the album Next Flight Ontario with Sudanese vocalist Zen-Zin in 2021 with the instrumental/Beat Edits version following soon after. The track “Sugarcone” utilizes a bubbly bass and a killer vocal sample to create a mesmerizing listen. At 1 minute and 49 seconds, this one is short, sweet, and worth repeated listens.
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Just a quick note to say I've enjoyed checking out some of your archived posts today...as someone making beats here on Substack, very cool stuff!