Remember the fun we had in the 80's with all those great bands who couldn't decide if they wanted to look like chicks or guys ? The big hair, sprayed on leather pants and lipstick .... Those were the days of Bubble Gum Rock! Despite the make-up, that era brought forth some serious musicians; talented virtuosos of their craft bound to be sent packing when "Seattle" happened. Economical dive bombing always rearranges the musical ear to conform to the sentiment of the times ... go slash your wrist; or better still - overdose. Tremendous talent rose up like a Sisyphus out of the burning ruins of misery ... the rest went to therapy. Oh, and don't forget the "alternative" wave ... it's been 12 years since the "Rockers" were buried alive and hardly any "Grunger" survived anyway, the youth of World is in a stable "go-happy" mood. What's next and is it going to be new? Experiencing new music can be exhilarating, but does "new" really mean anything?   Perhaps since our ideas of music are subjective, shaped by our own tastes and references, the

definition of "new" may have to be examined closer. The presentation of new ideas does not necessarily mean the interpretation of "new". Ask any woman in their early 40's and they wish the kept their wardrobe from the 70's ... in any genre of music, new means whatever you think and for that matter whatever the person next to you thinks. Maybe new music is perceived as challenging our intellectual and emotional standpoint and the effect it has on us the very moment we hear it. Although completely original to some, others may hear familiar compositional frameworks which results from a conceptional pattern of styles that we are used to. Maybe new music is the music that is being produced, written and recorded right now in studios, garages and living rooms across the globe. Cultural preference, upbringing, social and economical status all have an influence on the identifiable originality of musical composition. While I am still puzzled over the "next new thing" one thing is certain: People are going to argue over what's new; never mind what's "good" (that's a whole other story). If what you hear startles your thoughts and takes you out of our comfort zone of the familiar ... maybe, that's what's new. As for myself ... I can't wait ... !    

Gina McAuley

... whilst my colleague gets lost in philosophy over "what is new", the other part of the team (little me) soares on the incredible possibilities computers and internet offer us these days, comparing it all to the stone age times, when we had to supply every foto and text to the god like printer, who charged extreme amounts of money for putting OUR stuff on THEIR paper. And the distributors charging another % for destroying issues, that had not been sold....   NOW, once a website has been set up, we can finally concentrate on the most important thing: Getting the news out, exclusive or gathered, in all formats, links or downloads. My age old dream of an independent entertainment magazine featuring not only the written word, but the acutal person interviewed on film on a website... it will never stop to amaze me.... New, used, old or plagiarized.... The wait is over...

Susanne Lewis