EDITOR’S NOTE: ISSUE 14 – Movement

By: Michael Rancic | Art by: Laura Stanley

It feels appropriate to introduce myself as the newest Features Editor at New Feeling with the theme of the issue being “Movement,” where we’re embracing fluidity, change, and the power that can come from passing from one phase into the next.

I’m tremendously grateful for the opportunity, and to be working with such an excellent team of people. I might be responsible for arranging meetings or interfacing with freelancers, but it is a collective effort and we would not be here at Issue 14(!) without it. Recently we’ve changed our processes to more equally distribute the labour within editorial, so that everyone involved is responsible for bringing an issue to fruition through the editing process. 

Sometimes a theme like “Habit,” my first official issue as Features Editor, arrives at the Editorial working group meeting with a nice bow on it— perfectly packaged with a great pitch. Other times, a theme jumps right out at us. I recall everyone really connecting with the theme of “Movement” because it felt like a totally distinct avenue we hadn’t explored at all. There’s an inherent energy to it, and a physicality that balances out how cerebral or contemplative other themes like “Prospect” or “Legacy” are.

The three pieces in this issue do an excellent job of building on that theme and delivering on its exciting promise. 

With dance music being such a worldwide phenomenon and economy unto itself, it’s easy to lose sight of its origins. First time contributor Aurora Sol pulls focus to the queer history and enduring struggles at the heart of electronic dance music through the lens of Toronto-based DJ Blackcat, who emerged in the early 90s and has remained a force ever since. The shape of dance music today was guided by people like him, and it’s important to not lose sight of this.

If you haven’t noticed by now, co-op co-founder Daniel G. Wilson is extremely passionate about rock music. Daniel breathes new life into the Generation Wise feature with that passion, sitting down with musicians Jennelle Lewis (Camille Léon), and Chris Murdoch (Souvenir), to talk about their experiences as Black punks in so-called Canada. The three discuss what brought them to punk music initially, facing the erasure of Black people from punk history and scenes, as well as the work they’re doing to correct that harm. 

Co-founder Tom Beedham closes out the issue speaking with musician and arts administrator, Shawn Petsche, about his latest project, Trickle Down Music— a growing, free, online resource aimed at independent musicians who do not have access to resources like management, or PR. As streams of funding like grants have had entire industries of gatekeepers and barriers emerge around them, Tom reports how Trickle Down Music could help level the playing field and even challenge how those current systems function.  

Change can be a difficult thing to live with, especially when it’s unexpected or sudden, but with “Movement” we want to highlight how dynamic and vital change can really be, and the people that drive it.