Site: The Hood Internet
Elitish: What made you start the blog?
It was something fun we did on the side from playing in a band.
Elitish: What were some of the first mp3 blogs that you became familiar with?
Stereogum, Fluxblog, Gorilla Vs Bear
Elitish: How have blogs like yours changed the way people discover new music? Do you think it’s a change for the better?
Anything that turns people on to music that they like is a positive thing.
Elitish: How do you think artists will reach fans or be discovered in the future?
I think we’re watching it change right now.
Elitish: What is the future for blogs like yours? Do you see any drastic changes happening?
Always hard to say what the future holds. I like the idea of blogs like ours, or say the Deerhunter blog, that provide new music from the same source on a regular basis. The band I’m in right now is thinking about releasing music in that manner.
Elitish: It seems like electro and disco are two very popular genres of music that have sprung up around the mp3 blog format? Would you agree? And if so, why do you think blogs have played a part in their popularity?
In the age of the remix, mp3 blogs have really helped in delivering multiple versions of songs to people, and electro/disco/etc remixes have certainly been at or near the forefront of that.
Elitish: What have been some positives that you’ve experienced from running your site?
We’ve been able to work with some artists that we like who got in touch with us from enjoying tracks we’ve posted up
Elitish: What are your thoughts on piracy? Do you see any solution for it?
I dunno, you have to make people want to buy something or they’ll figure out how to get it for free. I have many friends who still buy records, maybe now even moreso that CDs are dead. Cool large gatefold LP artwork, you don’t get that with MP3s. Vinyl is gonna be the only format that survives, even if it’s still such a small percentage of people buying records.
Elitish: Have you had any negative feedback from artists that you’ve incorporated into your music?
Not a ton form artists. Definitely a healthy amount from people that visit the site, though.
Elitish: When did you get started making your own version of mash-up music?
Years ago. In 2002 I made a Dismemberment Plan x Ludacris/Nate Dogg track. Didn’t really fuck with the idea again until 2007 when we started the Hood website.
Elitish: As an artist, how have you made the whole blog culture work for you in a positive way?
Once people started checking the blog regularly, we responded by giving them more material to check out on a regular basis.
Elitish: What do you think is the best thing that has come from the increase in mp3 blogs?
More people liking more music.
Elitish: What did you hope to achieve with the site? Have you achieved it?
We didn’t hope to achieve anything at all, and it’s gone well beyond that already. Now we just gotta GO BIGGER.
