More About Me: A Rundown of My Current Creative Projects.
More About Me: A Rundown of My Current Creative Projects.
Duncan Illing Writes: The Column; special edition.
In this edition, I want to spend a few moments focusing on a quick overview of my current creative projects; some are out in the world already, many I’m currently working on longer term. I realise I’ve been writing this Substack for well over a year and have still not mentioned much about any of the many other projects I have in the works aside from writing here on Substack.
1/ Memoir
How was the recorded music industry decimated from its former glories in the face of emerging technology?
Nobody has ever written a book from a true insider view perspective of the events from the late 1990’s into the 2000’s on the music business and the real-life effects on the livelihoods of thousands of artists and employees, the dismantling of artist development investment and the effects we still live with today in the streaming age.
I am reconfiguring a new version of a memoir which will now be solely based on my years working full time in the music industry at record labels. This includes my years at EMI Records signing artists and making records as an A&R Manager, and while there were good times, witnessing the turbulence that led to the eventual downfall and collapse of the EMI Group Plc business, a time of the rise and rise of online technology, my roles at Universal Music having been at PolyGram when it was acquired, and my first A&R role at Ignition Management and Ignition Records. This journey all started from writing a music fanzine, living in the isolated English countryside with zero music industry contacts and little opportunity beyond being a petrol pump attendant. The memoir is being pitched this summer / autumn onwards.
2/ Novel
My first novel is well underway. How far would someone go to gain power and wealth in Silicon Valley?
It’s liberating writing this; I’m enjoying drawing on my experiences in the tech industry. This is a pure work of fiction. Of course, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events or companies, is purely coincidental.
I’m excited to share more news down the line…
3/ Script
I’m planning to dramatise my short story Let The Good Times Roll that was published in 2022 in Brighton & Beyond, A West Hill Writers Anthology – which is currently sold out incidentally.
At the very least there will be an audio version, but my attention will be on scripting a drama in the second half of this year, hopefully. It’s a story reflecting modern Britain, an unconventional outsider lives without the conventions of unaffordable technology, alienated, facing poverty while his livelihood and a life’s legacy is gradually being destroyed all around him.
4/ Production
I did an audio production, compiled and mixed this drama for broadcast, written by Kristin Burniston, its called Anne. I did a media interview with Kristin about the production which will be broadcast in July.
5/ Soundtrack
I have an archive of film soundtrack music dating over the past 15 years that will at some point be mastered for a compilation release. The greater amount of this is solo work. This may or may not include Architects of Grace work that appeared on the likes of a Canal+ drama in Belgium…
I have been archiving material from 2009 to 2018 for possible remastering. This includes the albums Moments In Time and Horizons. I’m not sure when there will be commitment time for a new album, but I’m collecting ideas. Find music on Apple and Spotify and Bandcamp.
7/ New music project.
I have a new music project (name under wraps for now) with a handful of demos, the feel of it is electronic, its influences perhaps best described as; Boy Harsher, Depeche Mode, Coil and Portishead. I’m not planning to sing. The singer will be someone else. I’ve no idea yet on when it’ll see the light of day.
8/ Medium
I’m no longer writing on Medium. In principle, having to now pay them to write words they profit from and for me to earn a royalty income cut from is immoral, and reminds me of the Pay To Play policy of U.S grassroots venues that the likes of Kurt Cobain riled against years ago. I’m only on Substack.
9/ Indie Publishing Press.
I have not the time or the funds now to start a small indie press. Finances are tight month to month. Into the long grass it goes. I would love to publish some of my work via an indie press though. Hello majors too.
10/ Documentary.
I have cut down hours of footage ready for putting together and editing a documentary about loss and moving internationally during a pandemic and when Brexit restrictions began. Mission impossible that became possible.
11/ Commissions.
I’m open to written commissions and contributions to your publication. I’m also open to doing production work for audio, podcasts, and music projects. Paid work will always be prioritised in this regard.
I’m also looking for full-time work too, you know, to pay the bills. It’s still tough out there. All of which takes away time for progress on the above, but that’s life for the majority of us. That said though, I feel my experience, insights, knowledge and skills-sets need to be put to use in this regard sooner rather than later.
Here’s 3 recommendations to close:
Book:
It is the 75th anniversary today of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, a book still as relevant today as the day it was first published in 1949. One of the most important books written in the 20th century. An essential read.
Substack article:
The Age of the Sovereign Creator.
“Today, for good or ill, the fate of the vast majority of the world’s creators’ rests in the hands of Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and the Chinese Communist Party”. Read more of this opinion piece here.
Music:
This should have appeared in my best albums of 2023 list. But I only discovered it this year. Mandy Indiana’s I’ve Seen A Way. Take a listen.
Pinking Shears
Thanks for reading.