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The publicist for A Celtic Christmas tells me that we got our first negative reviews of the album. On the one hand, I'm a bit unnerved and disappointed. On the other, I'm not much surprised. Any great project that pushes the limits will get a mix of love or hate reviews. It's the reviews in the middle that suck. They give you no bearings. I want to read those negative reviews. Because I have a suspicion…
The Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is not a traditional Celtic music show. I feature very few artists from Compass Records, the leading distributor of traditional Celtic music in the world. Every up and comping Celtic musician from Ireland or Scotland ends up on that label. The music sounds clean and professional. It's pretty awesome.
Compass also has a publicity department that sends these albums to every radio, newspaper, blog and podcast. I used to get albums from them all the time. But I wasn't playing them.
You see, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is dedicated to the indie Celtic bands. The ones who don't have a label (unless they run it). The ones who can't afford a publicist, and probably would waste their money if they hired one.
I got an email from one of the artists on my compilation who asked, “Was hiring a publicist for this album worthwhile?” Well, the jury is still out on that question. But the simple fact is, more than likely every artist on the album would NOT benefit from hiring a publicist.
Anyway, most of the radio programs, newspapers, and blogs have their own opinion as to what is Celtic music. The trad music lovers turn off my podcast because it is too contemporary. Because there are no artists who sound like Compass Records Celtic artists. To them, the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast is does not represent Celtic music, or they sneer at it and think of it as simply a “marketing term”.
While I agree the term “Celtic music” is often used as a marketing term, I'm on a crusade to give it a true definition. I believe I'm succeeding too. My show is the most-downloaded Celtic podcast in the world. I help to define “What is “Celtic music”?
Not everyone will agree with me. I won't impress the trad lovers. A Celtic Christmas won't get just glowing reviews because of that. The album is a part of my overall, grand mission to redefine Celtic music. To give Celtic culture a voice. To inspire new Celtic musicians to write new songs and tunes.
It's an uphill battle. I play Celtic music with the autoharp though. I was not raised on traditional Celtic music. So I know uphill battles. It will be decades before Celtic music is seen as a true, defined genre unto itself, including Celtic rock and original 2nd, 3rd or 4th-generation, American Celtic music. But I believe it'll happen.
Then perhaps A Celtic Christmas will gain new life and definition.
I just have to say THANK YOU for all the years you’ve been doing this.
It is greatly appreciated!
And about your statement I wonder: Is any true definition on Celtic music really possible? It already combines so much other genres, mostly with a certain touch/sound/feel that would define it as being Celtic.
But is thát a true definition? It’s more like a guideline that tells you somewhat what you might expect. And it always leads to great surprises!
Nevertheless, I’ve always enjoyed your choices of music (as well as the music from the Brobdingnagian Bards).
I hope you might and will be able to continue for a long time and wishing you all the best for the coming holidays and the upcoming year.
Slainté!
Hypla
Thanks Hypla. I don’t know if there is a “true definition”. There’s definitely a “feel” to Celtic music. Personally, I look at each song on an individual basis to decide, and I try to keep my definition rather broad.