JC
I love my weekly Sound of Pen classes SO much. But even the hour we spend together each Wednesday isn’t enough to make our way through all the ideas we have. So trying to synthesise five different classes in one half-hour podcast was some kind of challenge! Hopefully you can listen and at least get a sense of the project. I look forward to putting episode 2 together. If you have any thoughts, let me know! If you want to come to a real-life Sound of Pen class, let me know! If there’s music you want featured, let me know!
In the first episode of the podcast, I talk about Halsey and how, as A-Level Lit students, we can learn a lot from her! The kaleidoscopic pop star will be bringing her ‘Back to Badlands’ tour to England next year and I can’t wait!!
She’ll be playing at Brixton Academy. It’s such an amazing venue and Simon Parkes writes about it beautifully!
You should watch the video below. In it, Halsey tells us she didn’t know ANYTHING when working on ‘New Americana’ and the release of the ‘Badlands’ album. But she just threw herself into the project anyway. She says she just went out there to “fight”.
That feels like an ethos we all might want to adopt. It’s hard, though!! To believe in yourself. To trust that you’ll find your way even though you can’t quite see the endpoint. But you’ve got to do it. Whether you’re thinking in terms of achieving some huge life goal, or just finishing an essay, you’ve got to believe you’ll get to your destination. And to know that Halsey – someone we admire, someone we appreciate – came from a place of knowing not very much is reassuring, right?
Watch the video below too. I reference it at the start of the podcast. It might be the best interview of all time! Halsey talks in such a fast, frenetic manner. No one’s going to be in any doubt that the singer’s work means a lot to her.
Elsewhere in the podcast, I talk about Olivia Rodrigo, Fontaines D.C., Sigrid, Linkin Park and Calum Bowie.
You can listen to episode 1 here.
Then enjoy the playlist of inspiring tracks I’ve referenced on the podcast. I’ll keep the playlist updated.
And if you want to talk in more detail about how listening to ‘New Americana and all your other favourite songs can help you fulfil your potential in the A-Level classroom, come along to a Sound of Pen class! I teach at Hinchley Wood School, just outside Kingston in Surrey, but even if you’re not local, that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved. If you want to know more, you can email jc@soundofpen.com or complete the contact form at the bottom of the page linked here.
Thank you and have a LOVELY day 🙂
JC