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First Floor #272 – What Do the Kids Have to Say?
An interview with music and culture writer Kieran Press-Reynolds, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh batch of new track…
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Shawn Reynaldo
Kieran Press-Reynolds Is Mapping the Brainrot Continuum
A conversation with the NYC-based writer and proud zoomer, who shares his thoughts on Gen Z's relationship with music and details his own penchant for…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #271 – Everybody's Problem Is Nobody's Problem
The growing struggles within independent music culture, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh bundle of new track…
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Shawn Reynaldo
Everyone Says They Want Independent Music Culture, but Is Anyone Willing to Pay for It?
With even well established artists and organizations now turning to the public for financial support, it's becoming hard to imagine a viable future for…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #270 – Not Nearly Enough
The music world's (possibly doomed) battle against unethical corporate power, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh slate of…
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Shawn Reynaldo
Artists Can't Fix the Music Industry on Their Own
With Deerhoof's decision to remove their music from Spotify currently doing the discourse rounds, it's worth acknowledging the limits of what one…
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Shawn Reynaldo

June 2025

First Floor #269 – Following the Conversation
Instagram takes over the discourse, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh batch of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
Music Discourse Has Migrated to Instagram
With social media posts promoting content often attracting more attention than the content itself, what is the "real" work of a modern-day music…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #268 – Someone Has to Ask the Hard Questions
The impotence of the traditional music press, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh crop of new track recommendations.
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Shawn Reynaldo
Music Journalism Desperately Needs More Muckrakers
In the face of unceasing corporate consolidation and the normalization of extractive business practices, the traditional music press shows little…
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Shawn Reynaldo
First Floor #267 – A Bright Spot Among the Bad Vibes
Takeaways from the growing controversy around the Sónar festival, plus a round-up of the latest electronic music news and a fresh bundle of new track…
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Shawn Reynaldo
With Sónar and Superstruct Still Spinning Half-Truths, a Headliner Has Pulled Out and Palestinians Have Called for an Official Boycott
In the face of intense public outcry, high-profile artist cancellations and an official PACBI boycott, statements from KKR-affiliated entities are being…
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Shawn Reynaldo
© 2025 Shawn Reynaldo
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