Why positivity in music is the new anger, and why it matters.

When looking into any movement in popular culture, any changing of the zeitgeist, you can usually start by looking at the authors, poets and artists before you see how their ideas and ideals trickle down into more commercial  art-forms such as music or film-making. For example the poet Alan Ginsberg was such an influence on Bob Dylan that he toured with Bob and his entourage during his 'rolling Thunder Revue' tour in the mid 70's. It's also easy to see how the surreal realism of a writer such as William Burroughs may have influenced the likes of Tom Waits. The writer who I think is most influential in this age is Matt Haig. If you are not aware of Matt and his work then you may have come across one of the pages from his best selling self help/memoir 'Reasons To Stay Alive'. In the two page chapter 'The World' Matt wrote out a new manifesto for loving in the modern age, it follows that. "The World is increasingly designed to depress us. Happiness isn't good for the economy, If we were happy with what we had, why would we want more? How do you sell an anti-ageing moisturiser? how do you get people to vote for a political party? you make them worry about immigration". Matt concludes that "To be calm is a kind of revolutionary act, to be happy with our non- upgraded existence. To be comfortable with our messy, human selves would not be good for business". On the most basic level Matt's book has infiltrated music through the 1975 and their brilliant "A brief Inquiry..." album as they reportedly hd a copy in the studio. this can easily be confirmed by listening to the lyrics on tracks such as 'love it if we made it' or 'Give yourself a try'. Matt has also released an album with Andy Burrows. the album is also called 'Reasons to stay Alive' and is a sort of companion piece to the book.

Glastonbury has also historically been the host to many changes in pop culture. Starting out as a small hippy festival in the 70's, giving amnesty to political campaigners in the 80's and leading the way for festivals to become the billion dollar industry they are now via the big beat sounds of the 90's. In 2019 Glastonbury was the host to almost every single act that matters in 2019. It was an occasion notable for it's blanket ban on plastic but also for the amount of special moments that happened throughout it's many sets. Loyle Carner may have worn a shirt that sad 'I hate Boris' but his set was one full of joyous positivity rather than political anger. as he paid tribute via poetry to his mother and gave his friend the opportunity to propose onstage to his girlfriend on stage before an audience of hundreds. Lizzo made waves with one of the most talked anbout sets of the weekend. Spreading a message of body positivity and self love. Telling her crowd that "I want you to know if you can love me, you can love your goddamn self,”. Dave made headlines by inviting a young fan named Alex to rap the verses of his song 'Thiago Silva' which was one of the most unexpectedly heartwarming moments if the summer. Especially considering how dark the topics on Dave's debut album Psychodrama were. Stormzy delivered an epic Glastonbury set where he took time to shout out many of his other fellow MC's, and became overwhelmed with emotion.

Perhaps the most important band in this current wave is IDLES. Whose instant- classic 2nd album 'Joy as an act of resistance' echoes Matt Haig's writing in it's title. What those who bemoan the lack of politics in music are missing is that while there is currently a huge amount of vibrant artists making political music, the attitude is what's different. There is more than enough anger out there and it doesn't need to be put into music. There is already so much of it existing on the internet, and on our TV screens. If you read 'Reasons To Stay alive. you may also notice the alarming statistics that suicide is the leading cause of death of men under the age of 35 and that one in five people go through depression at some point in their lives. It's an issue that IDLES tackle directly through their music. Believing that 'Toxic masculinity' -I.e. the inability for men to discuss heir feelings due for pressure from social norms. At Glastonbury IDLES frontman Joe Talbot talked openly about his own issues “I spent a long time feeling lonely and depressed and a drug addict and an alcoholic, But I’d come (to Glastonbury) and feel like I was part of something bigger than myself”.  IDLES signature song Danny Nedelko is an anthem which will have been heard across many a muddy field this summer. It's a fiercely pro- immigration anthem and tribute to Joe's friend, the Lativian frontman of Heavy Lungs. The lyrics to this song illustrate better than any why a generation of musicians have decided to eschew cynicism and hatred for postivity "Fear leads to panic, panic leads to pain, pain leads to anger, anger leads to hate". While the world may be increasingly designed to depress us our new generation of rock stars and activists have realised that fighting for what you believe in and that embracing positivity, and loving your fellow humans can go hand in hand.