The hottest Artists Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Music Topics

Open Letter to Russell Brand

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 30 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Books Psychology Society Artists Celebrity
  1. The author suggests Russell Brand should consider a path of radical honesty and atonement to address past wrongs.
  2. Men and women both have complex, multifaceted natures and there should be efforts to understand these complexities better.
  3. Fame and societal rewards can sometimes remove limits on behavior, leading to unhealthy patterns and consequences.

Generative AI and the death of the artist

Kyle Chayka Industries • 71 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Generative AI Artists Creativity Technology Culture
  1. Generative AI tools are being used to replicate artists' styles, impacting the livelihood of traditional artists.
  2. The role of the artist is changing as AI allows anyone to easily create art, potentially diminishing the value of artistic skill.
  3. AI is making it possible for people to generate art or music in the style of established artists, leading to a redefinition of what it means to be an artist.

Empathy No. 125

Empathy: The Remnant Pieces • 58 implied HN points • 22 May 23
🎶 Music Events Artists Reviews
  1. The author attended a surprise music event by Cobalt Sky with a new lead singer, Roderick Butler.
  2. Roderick Butler, previously known for his math skills, surprised with his exceptional singing talent.
  3. The band, with their new vocalist, might be gearing up for a big performance at the Winter Homecoming entertainment event.
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Two Acclaimed Albums—Heard in a New Light

The Chase • 58 implied HN points • 21 Mar 23
🎶 Music Albums Recovery Artists Sobriety Lyrics
  1. Two acclaimed albums, Southeastern and Saint Cloud, by Alabama artists dive deep into sobriety themes.
  2. Both Jason Isbell and Waxahatchee openly share their journey to sobriety through their music.
  3. The albums reflect themes of transformation, moving forward, and personal growth rather than dwelling on victimhood and rock bottom experiences.

The Romantic Myth of the Tortured Alcoholic Artist

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 79 implied HN points • 25 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Creativity Alcohol Artists Stereotypes
  1. Creativity should not be romanticized as dependent on alcohol and drugs. They can hinder rather than enhance one's work.
  2. The idea of the tortured artist using substances as part of their identity is a harmful myth that can lead to self-deception and hinder creativity.
  3. Using alcohol and drugs excessively can have long-term negative impacts, and moderation and awareness are key to prevent a downward spiral.

May Day

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 01 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Painting Artists Poetry Creativity Philosophy
  1. The author reflects on personal struggles, like health issues and temptations to drink, while creating art on cardboard.
  2. The text criticizes the disparity in wages between different professions and suggests that teachers and healthcare workers should be paid more.
  3. The author contemplates escaping to a place where they can be supported financially for their art, questioning the pursuit of money and the American way of life.

Art in Response to Pollution

Green Graphic Design • 39 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Pollution Exhibit Artists
  1. Impressionist artists might have unintentionally depicted air pollution in their paintings.
  2. Plastic pollution can be creatively visualized through art, like popsicles made from polluted water samples.
  3. Art can be a powerful medium to raise awareness about the impact of pollution on the environment, as seen in exhibits mixing animal bones with plastics.

The Merlin Residency and Cloud Hidden, Whereabouts Who Cares?

The False Consensus Effect • 78 implied HN points • 02 Jul 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Residency Painting Creativity Artists Gallery
  1. The author reflects on the idea of professional artistic residencies and the freedom found in creating without the pressure of external judgment.
  2. The author expresses a desire to escape the societal demands and norms, yearning for a simpler, more authentic existence to create and live by their own terms.
  3. The author plans to disconnect from social media, prioritize personal creative pursuits, and embrace a quieter, more intentional lifestyle away from the noise of constant online updates.

Over and over, all born into great pain

The Golden Notebooks • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23
🎶 Music Artists Songs Albums Abuse
  1. Sinead O'Connor was a sincere and real artist who faced backlash for speaking out against abuse and corruption in the Catholic Church.
  2. She created powerful music and openly addressed personal struggles, motherhood, and societal issues in her work.
  3. Her bravery in challenging authority and advocating for change left a lasting impact, inspiring others to stand up against injustice.

The Grand Tour - Holiday Break

On Looking • 59 implied HN points • 03 Jun 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Artists Networking Essays Book Reviews Process
  1. The Grand Tour was a historical educational journey undertaken by young men from wealthy families to acquire cultural knowledge through firsthand experiences of classical artworks in Europe.
  2. The author's modern version of the Grand Tour involves networking with fellow artists in New York to create shared experiences and a sense of union beyond online interactions.
  3. The author is considering switching this newsletter to a bi-monthly schedule to dedicate more time to research and writing better essays, focusing on topics like colors, illustration AI, and exposure.

Burn Down the House?

Gideon's Substack • 9 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
🎭️ Culture Theater Artists Funding Community Challenges
  1. The traditional not-for-profit regional theater model is facing challenges due to rising costs and falling revenue.
  2. One proposed solution is to have artists create their own work independently, forming partnerships and renting spaces.
  3. Direct funding of artists by foundations or government may face challenges, and alternative funding models like crowdfunding require exceptional marketing skills.

Creators vs. Artists

The Intersection • 1 HN point • 22 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Ethics Creativity Technology Copyright Artists
  1. Differentiating between creators and artists involves a deep exploration of generating versus creating, as highlighted through the example of Hayao Miyazaki's unique filmmaking process.
  2. The ethical considerations surrounding AI-generated content raise questions about permission, originality, and the boundaries of creative practices.
  3. The evolution of technology has blurred lines in creativity, introducing complex discussions on fair use, copyright infringement, and the essence of true artistic expression.

The Base Determines The Superstructure

The Seat of Loss • 11 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🎶 Music Evolution Technology Industry Artists Trends
  1. The history of music and the music industry is influenced by economic factors and technology advancements.
  2. Artists throughout history have adapted to changing conditions, from Chuck Berry's use of new recording technology to modern producers working on digital audio workstations.
  3. The traditional music industry model has shifted, with artists like Drake and Tame Impala showcasing self-sufficiency and adaptability in the face of evolving industry trends.

Happy Paintings and Propaganda

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 06 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Paintings Propaganda Artists Politics Nuclear Weapons
  1. The text discusses the power of propaganda and how it influences opinions and perceptions, emphasizing the impact of repeated messaging.
  2. There is a strong critique of nuclear weapons, highlighting their destructive potential and the author's belief in the urgency of addressing this global threat.
  3. The author expresses skepticism and criticism towards political leaders, particularly focusing on their role in conflict and perpetuation of harmful ideologies.

Do Not Research: Random Forest: A Reading Room

Do Not Research • 19 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Exhibition Artists Installation Literature Collage
  1. ISTANBUL’74 presents _Random Forest_ (A Reading Room) by Jonah Freeman & Justin Lowe with Boo-Hooray
  2. The exhibition in Istanbul includes a site-specific reading room inspired by William S. Burroughs’ _The Electronic Revolution_
  3. The artists focus on language, words, and books as foundations for artistic methods like cut-up, collage, and disruption

The Last Recording Artist

The Seat of Loss • 8 HN points • 16 May 23
🎶 Music Recording Artists History Industry Innovation
  1. Vocaloid technology has the potential to revolutionize the music industry by creating 'new' performances using existing recordings of singers.
  2. Hatsune Miku showcases a successful model of a virtual pop star, serving as a platform for secondary creativity and fan engagement.
  3. The traditional concept of recording artists is evolving, with the rise of AI-generated music, shifting focus from recording income to other revenue streams like touring and merchandise.

Songwriting in Nowhere

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 29 Jan 21
🎶 Music Songwriting Artists Creativity Lyrics
  1. Writing what you know doesn't guarantee success in creative pursuits, as demonstrated by examples like Stephen King. People often prefer stories of magic and fantasy over reality.
  2. Creative expression in various forms like painting, sculpture, and music requires a deep connection to the subject matter, but success and financial reward aren't guaranteed.
  3. Songwriting is a personal and cathartic process, and it's essential to engage in it for personal fulfillment rather than for public performance or external validation.

A Consumer Guide To The Music I’ve Devoted My Life To

And It Don't Stop • 0 implied HN points • 22 Mar 23
🎶 Music Artists Album Reviews Live Performances Music history Music Criticism
  1. The post is a consumer guide to music and explores a variety of genres and artists.
  2. The author shared personal anecdotes and moments from live events, adding humor and connecting with the audience.
  3. The guide includes reviews and reflections on iconic albums and artists from Louis Armstrong to contemporary bands like Low Cut Connie and Selo i Ludy.

"Pathetic Gloating Villain" Playlist

Ritual of the Golden Witch • 0 implied HN points • 12 Feb 23
🎶 Music Songs Artists
  1. The 'Pathetic Gloating Villain' Playlist consists of songs where the perspective is of embracing portraying oneself as a villain.
  2. Each song in the playlist has different themes, such as being a villain in a historical context or wanting to be evil.
  3. The songs in the playlist range from theatrical villainy to more casual and relatable pieces of work.

Recent Paintings and New Studio

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 11 Dec 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Paintings Artists Artwork
  1. The artist talks about their new studio space and recent paintings, including the story of accepting the offer for a new studio and planning exhibitions.
  2. The artist shares a glimpse of new paintings created and introduces the concept of sharing space with other painters to reduce rent.
  3. The artist reflects on their new studio, mentioning its history and the plans for setting up their art space with reverence and functionality.

More Songwriting In Nowhere

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 21
🎶 Music Songwriting Lyrics Artists Albums
  1. Songwriting can be a valuable and rewarding practice that allows for creative expression and personal growth.
  2. Embrace the amateur mindset in creative endeavors, allowing room for experimentation and the freedom to fail without the pressure of perfection.
  3. Reflect on personal experiences and emotions as inspirations for songs, embracing simplicity and honesty in storytelling.

Against Oligopoly

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 Nov 14
🎶 Music Industry Streaming Artists Consumers
  1. Having three major labels in the music industry can lead to an oligopoly, limiting choices for platforms like Spotify and ultimately hurting consumers.
  2. Individual artists having their own labels can potentially benefit both platforms like Spotify and consumers, as negotiation power is more evenly distributed.
  3. Exclusive deals between artists and platforms can limit consumer choices and drive business models towards uniformity, stifling innovation and competition.

Emergent Futures

Cybernetic Forests • 0 implied HN points • 11 Jul 21
🎭️ Culture Cybernetics Artists
  1. In times of uncertainty, the future can manifest in unexpected, rapid ways, challenging traditional methods of prediction.
  2. Collaboration and input from diverse perspectives, like hacker-artists and activists, can help identify emerging signals and drive positive change.
  3. Focusing on emergent futures involves imagining multiple possibilities beyond current norms, valuing inclusivity, and planning collectively for a shared future.

Eva & Franco Mattes: Abuse Standards Violations (Excerpt)

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Content Moderation Social media Artists Labor
  1. Artists Eva & Franco Mattes showcase the clearly defined content boundaries on social media platforms through leaked internal documents, helping users better understand moderation rules.
  2. Despite the increasing automation in content moderation, there is still a substantial need for human interpretation, often carried out by gig workers worldwide, which leads to high turnover rates due to disturbing content exposure and irregular work hours.
  3. Part-time content moderators are often unaware of the platforms they are moderating for, as the origin and ownership of the moderation guidelines remain undisclosed.

Angel Emoji: Like It or Not, I'm Dropping a Huge Bomb of Joy on Your Heart

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Performance Music Artists Literature Creativity
  1. Working on a Disney cruise ship can create a magical, stable, and joyful environment as a performer.
  2. Artists like Jeffrey Lewis and John Cage showcase endurance and commitment in their artistic endeavors.
  3. Repetition in performance can lead to a deep familiarity and acceptance, transforming initial offense into enjoyment.