A short one about music and writing
Nabil's Feels #1
What better time for a rebrand than the end of another crazy year? Since my last correspondence, I’ve moved to Substack—isn’t it nice? And I’ve finished my memoir, which was a ton of fun… and a ton of work. I’m both thrilled and terrified to put it out into the world in 2022. More book news will follow soon (I hope the low-key cover art teaser in the banner above will tide you over).
It’s still November, so I haven’t finalized my year-end best-of lists, but I know this: L’Rain made the best album of 2021.
And Turnstile made the album that I listened to the most in 2021. Why then, you may ask, is Turnstile not my #1 album of 2021? These albums played different roles in my year. L’Rain made me think, and Turnstile allowed me to tune out. Apparently I wanted to tune out more this year, but it meant more to tune in.
I spent most of this year finishing my memoir, and therefore less time writing short pieces, but I did publish a few. Most recently, I wrote a guest essay for the New York Times about why people continue to place themselves in danger at concerts, and the tragic deaths at the Astroworld Festival in Houston.
Earlier this year, I wrote for Pitchfork about what Black Music Month means now. I recalled for Rolling Stone what it was like to be in a tiny, packed club when Nirvana debuted “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” And I wrote for New York’s feminist, Jewish culture site Alma about discovering the short stories my grandmother wrote nearly a century ago.
I hope you’re all healthy and safe. I’ll see you in 2022 when I’m in full promotional mode. Happy holidays.
Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn