Quest for fire

"Where do you get ideas for articles?" That question always comes up whenever we're interviewed by a newspaper or do a college talk. It's not quite as effortless now that we're bimonthly, but the subjects are still flowing and there's still tons to cover.

For example, I've become obsessed with this dark metal band from Japan. (You'll see who it is in two months.) It was pretty easy to track down the lead singer's email address, and it turns out he speaks English really well. So far, so good.

The problem is that it's difficult to scratch beyond what's posted on myspace because the group's CDs are either import or out of print. (Not on iTunes or Napster, either, although it's probably on Soulseek or some site from Russia. I need the packaging, anyway.) The group does have a U.S. distributor slated to release its next album in 2007, but that doesn't help me now. As a result, I'm bumping around the Web and dropping little bits of money at weird places that sell underground metal.

This is how it often is. Because (1) what the PR people feed is rarely good and (2) it's too late when stories are easily accessible, we have to scrounge around for DVDs, CDs, and other fodder.

It would be easy to write about filmmakers or bands without watching their movies or listening to their music--especially for a two-page shorty--but GR readers have finely tuned bullshit detectors. More importantly, I actually enjoy seeking out my obsessions. And you should see my ridiculous collection of Asian cinema and Chinese-Jamaican reggae...