HeyJaredIf Ever You’re Listening
Weekly music essays from a millennial independent music journalist with 10+ years of experience. Here I share tips for early-stage musicians, advice for fellow indie music writers, and analysis of music industry trends for casual music listeners.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 13
- Latest publication
- Sep 28, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Aug 13, 2026
Latest issues
The Pandemic Era Of Music Writers On Medium Was A Glorious Time (opens the original)
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Back in the pandemic era of Medium, Josh Herring’s music reviews and essays were a bright light. His takes on modern hip-hop and R&B albums were a refreshing shift from the regular rock and pop reviews permeating the platform. He was doing all of this while being a student at Auburn, where he majored in English. Soon after he began writing on Medium, he created his own music publication called Modern Music Analysis. There, he worked with writers like me on our reviews and essays about the albums
Naylon Remains Passionate Pop Music And All Its Glory (opens the original)
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Naylon is back in Los Angeles and back on the pod! The Nebraska-born singer, songwriter, and producer is one of the most talented pop artists I know. Since our last conversation, she has remained steadfast in her quest to save pop music. There’s a lot to love about her sound, from the bubbling synths to the love-soaked lyricism and the virtuoso singing. She reminds us that pop music can be fun and flirtatious even when it’s about something heartbreaking.Naylon has lived a lot of life since the s
What I’d Stop Spending Money On If I Were an Independent Artist In 2026 (opens the original)
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It pains me to see musicians waste their money or lose money. I remember when I interviewed Cassandra Jenkins; she spoke candidly about the financial strain her world tour was causing her. What makes it worse is that she’s actually signed to an independent record label. For completely independent artists, the financial toll of a music career can be devastating. Fortunately for Cassandra, the money from the tour was coming, just much later than she would have liked. Smaller artists may never see
Why We Need To Evolve Our Thinking Around Music Genres (opens the original)
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Here Are The Best Ways You Can Get An Artist To Say Yes To An Interview (opens the original)
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