Waterbagel wrote:How Music Works by David Byrne. Maybe 20% memoir, 80% Byrne's experiences in the musical world, from the literal context in which humans found themselves developing different kinds of music to his direct/indirect experience with how labels finance (or don't finance) releases.
I'm nearly done with it - the upcoming chapter I'm most excited about is what I believe are his guidelines for how a music scene lives and thrives -- welcome advice for someone in a town where the music scene still hasn't quite recovered from COVID.
It's so good! I had the pleasure of meeting David and seeing him present this in a theatre in Minneapolis in I believe 2012-2013. I think it was at the Walker Art Center. I didn't know what to expect walking in as I was honestly just really excited to see him in person, but I ended up really enjoying the presentation!
I would have a signed copy of it still, however when I went to the restroom I set it on the paper towel dispenser and someone walked in, grabbed it, and ran out before I finished my business. I guess they really needed a copy lol.