Welcome to the New Red Said.

It was a pretty typical evening for me: I was at a pub, listening to a band. I was watching an excellent folk group, really getting swept up in the music, when I got it: the writing itch. 

I used to write about music all the time. That desire to share my latest musical discovery with the world led me to start the first incarnation of my Red Said blog. It led to numerous other music writing opportunities, from interviewing one of my idols to news coverage for the 405 to covering the SF MusicTech Summit to the music-heavy work I did at Hipstamatic and writing Snap Magazine. 

But, as often happens with creative pursuits, I lost the spark. I got burned out on the blogosphere hype cycle. My focus shifted to new things, like my incredible job at LinkedIn (where I do quite a bit of writing, including about music-technology). Slowly but surely, thediscovery element of blogging got lost in life's shuffle. I moved away from the bit that started it all: talking about the bands I found and fell in love with. 

So when I got that writing itch at the pub, I paid attention. And when I got it again, and again, and again over the next few shows, I decided to do something about it. Thus, Red Said was reborn.

When I started this blog originally, from my college apartment in Berkeley, I lived vicariously through YouTube videos and prayed that these British bands would be able to make it to California. But now, thanks to my wonderful company, I'm finally in London and surrounded by the music I love. I spend my days exploring everything this city has to offer—including, and especially, its up-and-coming artists.

Being here, soaking up the vibe of this beautiful country, has gotten me excited about new music again. It's given me my spark back. And I can't wait to share it with you.