In an era dictated by algorithms and AI, and a digital landscape that rewards the visual more than the written word, we at CLASH recognise the necessity of original, thoughtful journalism. We’re heartened to have a community of incredible writers contributing to both online and print strands of the magazine. So many are responsible for CLASH being at the forefront of music, fashion and wider culture reportage: established journalists writing one-off pieces that echo throughout the year, and regular contributors who keep CLASH afloat with sustained, informed commentary.
With the curtain closing on 2024, CLASH Editor in Chief Robin Murray and Deputy Editor Shahzaib Hussain look back on some of the pieces that struck them personally, spotlighting just a few examples of stellar writing published in the last twelve months.
It’s no easy feat to mine through noteworthy interviews, reviews, retrospectives and opinion pieces, as everything we publish is valued. That being said, a few pieces emerged as examples of journalistic excellence. Here’s a selection of our favourite pieces of music writing this year.
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Just Played: A Column About Vinyl Records by Gareth James
Gareth James’ regular vinyl column is firmly embedded within CLASH, delivered with punctuality and panache every month. It’s an example of a solid idea done well; expertly researched, it spans multiple genres, attempting to offer a cross-section of the month in vinyl.
It’s spawned a close following on social media. Each month readers tune in specifically for this column, with Gareth also guesting on a vinyl-related podcast, and running his own newsletter. How he finds the time for all this I’ll never know, but we’re forever grateful to him for having the tenacity to spawn a genuine eco-system of vinyl fiends. Robin Murray
Played Cymru: The Best In New Welsh Music by Tom Morgan
I’ve long had a soft spot for Welsh music. Operating in defiance of a depressingly London-centric music industry, Wales nurtures a series of DIY collectives that move from avant-folk and left-field electronics through to rap, metal, and beyond. Tom Morgan’s monthly columns celebrate the curious creativity of Welsh music, an omnivorous feast that takes time to spotlight both English and Welsh language releases, before moving from genre to genre.
There’s always something new to uncover in Played Cymru, a column whose sheer persistant enthusiasm will keep you coming back time after time. Diolch! Robin Murray
“This World Has Become My Life” Nilüfer Yanya Interviewed by Naz Hamdi
Naz Hamdi only ever seems to pop up in my Inbox with great ideas. Whether it’s reviews, live reports, or in-depth interviews, she approaches each commission with real tenacity, her character shining out in every word.
I’ve decided to spotlight this Nilüfer Yanya interview firstly because it’s an excellent album, and secondly because it’s a great example of the bond Naz establishes with her subjects. Nilüfer goes into admirable detail on her creative processes, but the conversation veers from space to space. In truth, it’s like a warm chat between two old friends. Robin Murray
Reggae Sumfest Is A Schooling In Jamaica’s Musical Legacy by Charis McGowan
Charis McGowan is a writer with considerable pedigree, a gal-dem alum who has by-lines with an array of heavyweight titles. We’re lucky to have Charis as a recurring CLASH voice, and she handled our excellent Cat Burns cover story back in Spring.
Her trip to Jamaica for Reggae Sumfest was a true leap into the unknown, but resulted in this bold piece of reportage. Hurling herself into the challenge, Charis seemed able to take the pulse of the island, moving between the roots of Jamaican music through to the newgen. A remarkable, colour-laden feast of words, I have rarely been so jealous of – and so thrilled by – someone’s epic travelogue. Robin Murray
Zack de la Rocha: The Most Impactful MC To Never Break Hip-Hop by Karan Singh
Writer Karan Singh contributed a few pieces of deft commentary this year but his retrospective on an unsung hero in music towered above the rest. Recognising that Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de le Rocha was as much a poetic rhymester in the tradition of hip-hop forebears, Singh astutely illustrates all the ways the frontman brought rock closer to rap without fully committing to the genre. The piece digs through the archives to present Zack de la Rocha as the bridge between worlds – the definitive precursor to the rap-punk hybrids that are virtually the norm today. Shahzaib Hussain
Making Movements: Bashy Interviewed by Dwayne Wilks
Dwayne Wilks creative repertoire isn’t limited to UK rap but it is the realm in which writing truly shines. Drawing the anxieties and tensions out of his subject, Bashy, Dwayne charted the return of a revered rapper set against a backdrop of a scene that has shifted and splintered in the intervening years. ‘Making Movements’ is a piece that implants the reader into an artist’s ever-evolving psyche; sensory, probing, and meticulous with references, this is a must-read. Shahzaib Hussain
Growing Up, Again: Kai-Isaiah Jamal Interviewed by Zoya Raza-Sheikh
This cover interview featured some of the most absorbing quotes I’ve read from a CLASH profile piece this year. That could not have been achieved without a conscientious, dialled-in interviewer able to put their subject at ease. Zoya captured Kai-Isaiah Jamal’s identity-in-flux, their South London origin story and the model/poet’s foray into music with sensory, world-building detail and a whole lot of heart. Shahzaib Hussain
‘reincarnated’ By Kendrick Lamar: An Interpretation by Mimi The Music Blogger
This year we invited a few columnists into the wider CLASH network to wax lyrical about their passions. Bringing her scholarly excavation of zeitgeist works in a series of dedicated columns to the site, Mimi the Music Blogger particularly excelled in a thorough, past, present and future-converging interpretation of Kendrick Lamar’s ‘reincarnated’ – our No. 2 Song of the Year.
Mimi’s pieces are forensic in detail; she feverishly connects the dots and deciphers lyrics like a seasoned cryptanalyst. For anyone wanting a deep-dive into the inner-workings of a cerebral creative, you need to read this. Shahzaib Hussain
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