My Process
Image credit: New Trier High School
“J-Term, short for ‘January Term,’ is a short break between two semesters of school. Students spend the first 3 weeks of January on two threads: a teacher-led class and an independent project.”
-Integrated Global Studies School (IGSS)
Why a music blog?
I started playing classical piano and cello when I was six years old. At fourteen, I picked up acoustic and electric guitar and started singing at bars and restaurants through Highland Park’s School of Rock. I can always find an appreciation for any type of music, because I’ve simply experienced so many types–as both a listener and a musician.
That’s why when I got the chance to design an independent study for IGSS’s J-Term, I knew I wanted to do something music-related.
Step 1: Critic Research
I was first inspired to review albums by the music critic and journalist Anthony Fantano. I love his analytical style of review. Even when I disagree with his opinions, I admire how he manages to stay educated on such a wide variety of artists. Youtuber and music critic Todd In the Shadows has also been a big influence of mine, and in a way, he’s more critical than Fantano. He’s even more blunt about what he doesn’t like in a track, and he’s definitely not afraid to say it. I revisited both of these creators to take inspiration from them, seeing what they did best.
Image credit: @AnthonyFantano
Step 2: Blog Design
Next, I started designing my blog. I picked Squarespace because it was affordable and I loved their customization options. I knew it would take a while to teach myself how to use the website builder fluently, so I blocked out a large chunk of time to do this step. Luckily, I didn’t have too much trouble, and the whole design process only took a few hours. I made sure to keep contrast and image formatting for both computer/tablet and phone users in mind.
Image credit: Squarespace
Step 3: The Writing Process
Finally, it was time to write the reviews themselves. This was, as expected, the most consuming part of the process, but it definitely took me longer than expected. It sometimes was hard to put my thoughts about songs into concise, easy-to-follow words, so I consulted blogs which educated me on what would make up a good album review. According to the music blog Ninja Ninja, good reviews contained a “clear thematic focus, engaging storytelling, and emotional resonance”. Writing site Proofed told me that alongside sitting down to listen critically to the music, it might help to listen to albums as I follow my daily routine.
Image credit: NME
Step 4: J-Term Jam!
Hi! This is probably what I’m doing right now. I’m excited to show everyone this blog.