In spring of 1990, Madonna‘s career and creativity was on an upward trajectory. She was already an international icon and had successfully made the transition from ’80s pop star to global megabrand. The singer’s visual component played an arguably huge role in helping her become a phenomenon, as she questioned, pushed and confronted many accepted […]
Articles by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike
When I was growing up, my Aunt, who was only 13 years older than me, was obsessed with the Peanuts cartoon strip. The walls of her room had a trim going around the top of the walls, adjacent to the ceiling, of index card-sized favourite tableaus, featuring any assortment of Charlie, Snoopy, Linus, and the […]
I was probably about 21, maybe 22. I was sitting in my apartment in San Francisco, smoking a clove cigarette – indoors – and drinking vodka- alone. I knew that neither of these vices were healthy, but just by imbibing in them, I felt closer to the idols that adorned my walls: Ian Curtis, Sylvia […]
I remember the first time I heard PJ Harvey. I was working at my college radio station, KDVS. Someone had sent a single over in hopes that we would add this new artist into rotation on our playlist. Promotional items were delivered by the literal bucketful on a daily basis. Different record labels, local bands, […]
“Genius is an overworked term but I’m struggling to think of anything else that defines him.”- Irvine Welsh on Andrew Weatherall Andrew Weatherall created the soundscape for some of the best years of my life. Even if you are not familiar with his name, it is likely you have danced along to one of his […]