The Future of Songwriting - (Futures) by Kristin Hersh (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"An endlessly inventive mind and generosity of spirit that alone should give us hope." - The Wire

Throwing Muses frontwoman and critically acclaimed solo artist Kristin Hersh meditates on the future of her craft in this wry, existential and passionate addition to Melville House's new series, FUTURES.

Over a long, hot Christmas in Australia, Throwing Muses frontwoman and critically acclaimed solo artist Kristin Hersh considers her future as a songwriter.

• Is it possible to create music and not show off about it?
• How can artists establish and refine a following without becoming part of the commercial problem?
• And just how many times is it healthy to watch It's A Wonderful Life in 3 weeks?

In The Future of Songwriting, Hersh chooses to interrogate these questions through philosophical dialogue. From in-depth conversations with a comedian friend about the similarities between songs and jokes, via a fruitful visit to Sydney's 'bone museums', to a revelation from an acupuncturist in New Orleans, she delivers a fierce, funny and existential meditation on the art of the song - and its future.

Review Quotes

"Takes aim at the vacuous posturing that runs throughout the creative industries... through [Hersh's] meandering, thoughtful and funny exchanges with the people around her, we witness an endlessly inventive mind and generosity of spirit that alone should give us hope." - The Wire

"Hersh is both an excellent songwriter in her own right and is especially skilled at summarizing the artistic and technological issues facing artists today." - Inside Hook

"Hersh's thesis is that music, and creativity, have been corrupted by capitalism... [The Future of Songwriting] might offer a fresh perspective and some hope." - The Irish Times

'Has its own beautiful logic, one that emerges stealthily through this brief, mischievous, insightful book. To Hersh, songs are lifeforms and healing entities... This book is as life-affirming as her music.' - MOJO

"You've got this kind of dual pronged arm to your creativity, making music and writing, and they both come together so brilliantly in this new project." - BBC 6 Music

'Well, somebody had to say it! I agree with Kristin's clear and honest view of what's happened to music-making and song-writing. The good thing is she offers solutions.' - Viv Albertine, author of Clothes Clothes Clothes, Music Music Music, Boys Boys Boys

'Kristin Hersh is a visionary, iconoclast and genius... The Future of Songwriting is like a TED talk on creativity and the industry from your best and most witchy friend.' - Caitlin Moran

'In what feels like a tense time for the value of creativity, crafted by human hands, The Future Of Songwriting is considerate, gently crafted, and manages to balance honesty and hope with a real rigor and tenderness.' - Hanif Abdurraqib

About the Author

Kristin Hersh's extraordinary four-decade music career is bookended by stints in Throwing Muses - the band she co-founded at age 14 - who blazed across the US grunge scene until their hiatus in 1997. She then continued to tour and release critically adored records, both solo and with her new band, 50FOOTWAVE. Throwing Muses regrouped in 2002, and Hersh also began to chronicle her life in book form, penning three memoirs. Hersh was an early adopter of crowdfunding, launching the Strange Angels model in 2007, which allows fans to subscribe to her work at different levels of investment.