Strands of Genius: Intersection of Music, Technology and Music, Yesterday's Price is not Todays Price, Global Cultural Consciousness
Guest curated by Jesse Kirshbaum, Founder of Nue, Editor of Beats + Bytes & Professor at American University
Each year we aim to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. This edition is guest curated by Jesse Kirshbaum, Founder of Nue, Editor of Beats + Bytes & Professor at American University.
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, JESSE KIRSHBAUM ::
LOCATION: Miami, FL
Hello, my name is Jesse Kay. I'm from the People's Republic of Brooklyn but currently reside in the magical city of Miami. I'm obsessed with the intersection of music, technology and brand marketing. I currently run an agency that services that niche called NUE with my brother, Alex. I also write a weekly newsletter called Beats + Bytes. Plus I'm a strategic advisor and investor to numerous great companies, artists and brands. I like to think of myself as a member of the Life Long Learning Club. I love to meditate, play competitive tennis and am an avid journaler.
Editor’s Note (Faris): We met Jesse in the heady days of the web 2.0 boom in NYC circa 2009/10. We were all part of the organizing cluster that put on the first Twestival in NYC to raise money for charity:water. It sounds ridiculous now but back then there was an incredible enthusiasm around the emerging social platforms.
We’ve been reading his newsletter ever since and are very grateful for this excellent edition! Hope to see you Jesse!
:: THE LINKS ::
INTERSECTION OF MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE
Like most creatives, I’ve been obsessed with Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative ACT.” With all of the hits Rick Rubin has had, I think this will be his most impactful work, helping to define his legacy. To complement this book he has a fantastic podcast. One of the best podcast episodes all year was the Tetragrammaton with Ian Rogers and Rick Rubin. If you care about the intersection of music, technology, and culture, this is a worthwhile listen. When Ian was working with the Beastie Boys, he knew Hip-Hop was destined to be a global phenomenon, but never would he have predicted that the Canadian kid in the wheelchair from Degrassi would be the biggest rapper in the world. When he subsequently worked in Silicon Valley with Yahoo! Music and Topspin, he knew digital music was going to be a big thing for the music business, but never would he have thought a Swedish company that incubated out of Europe would become the driving force of music globally. Now that he works in blockchain as Chief Brand Officer at Legder, he’s certain that the ideals of Web3 are going to be realized, it’s just a matter of when. Still, he’s quick to admit he has no idea what will make this next era of transactions truly connect. (YouTube)
YESTERDAYS PRICE IS NOT TODAYS PRICE
Im a huge fan of Tyler The Creator. Fun fact, back when I was an agent, I booked his first show in NY. It was awesome. We want out to dinner the night before. He was a character back then too. I was always struck by his extreme creativity and his ability to garner attention & think differently. To watch his evolution over the years is nothing short of inspiring. He's truly an artist, a builder and purveyor of culture all while doing things his unique way. This is a fun interview with rap aficionados, The Rap Radar Podcast. I produce another hit interview show with the host of the show Elliott Wilson. It's called CRWN and it features some of the biggest names in Hip Hop and even though it's been on hiatus since Covid... our last interview was with Megan Thee Stallion and I'm excited about potentially bringing it back in 2024. (YouTube)
GOOBAL CULTURAL CONSCIOUSNESS
This is an awesome interview with Pharrell Williams. I know Pharrell the producer and label executive. When I was 22 as an agent, I signed his first artists, The Clipse and we toured the world together. I got to do numerous deals with Pharrell over the years. I remember being in the boardroom with him in London talking video games or bringing him the factory where they make Oreos. He's an unbelievable creative with out of this world ideas. Stepping into this role at Louis Vuitton is so exciting to watch. Now he has the best resources in the world to help see whatever ideas he was, come to life. Listening to him hear, you can tell he's infused with a divine light and a level of focus on his mission like never before. This role as creative director is a culmination of his career to date and I'm willing to be he delivers big with this. What it will look like and where he goes from here... time will tell. But there is a reason his first monster hit production moniker was called The Neptunes. His talent & process is out of this world! (Business of Fashion)
Looking for more from Jesse Kay? Coming Friday, look for an interview from him in your inbox!
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: I'm very into Worldle right now. It was a 2024 game I picked up and I'm off to a hot streak so far.
:: City :: New York City - Greatest City in the world on every level. I am currently in lust with Miami in the Winter though.
:: Book :: Right now I'm obsessed with Building a Second Brain by Tiago Forte. I'm a geek about personal knowledge management systems.
:: Podcast:: Tim Ferris all day every day. So many nuggets and I love that the transcript is easily available to pull in depth quotes and further research. He's a true student of life.
:: Album :: Watch The Throne (Two GOATs with very different approaches, Kanye West and Jay Z in their primes where steel sharped steel!)
:: BIG ASS KIDS ::
Credits to photographer Stuart Tracte as seen on Big Ass Kids
For more info and a weekly update sign up for my newsletter Beats + Bytes. It's the best way to keep your arms around the intersection of music, technology and brand marketing.
I would love for you to come along this ride with me and if you have any questions, just reach out off the back.
- Jesse
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