A newsletter about music that cuts through the status quo.
Welcome to Switchblade by me, Dana Raidt.
I’m an editor and journalist in Minneapolis, and the author of the forthcoming book, Link Wray: The First Man in Black. This biography dives deep into the life and legacy of the ingenious, pompadour-sporting, switchblade-wielding Native American musician Link Wray, whose sleazy 1958 instrumental hit “Rumble” sounded so dangerous that it was banned from radio stations for fear it would incite violence. The book will be published in early 2021 by Bazillion Points Books.
I’ve written for many publications; I’m also a former radio station deejay and music director, and the co-founder/producer of both Girls Got Rhythm Fest and Girl Germs (which has been incarnated as a feminist radio show, podcast and series of amazing tribute nights).
This newsletter is all about music—like Link’s tremolo-laden atomic bomb—that inspires change and challenges the way things are, both sonically and culturally.
Topics might include how early rock ‘n’ roll intersects with Jim Crow laws and integration, why power chords forever altered our emotional response to music, or the evolution of screamed vocals. Plus some bonus pop culture candy: Q+As with musicians and music writers, spotlights on underrated albums, article recommendations, must-read books and other assorted music-adjacent content.
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