Music Is Politics is an upcoming newsletter about how politics influences how musicians create and perform music, and how politics influences how listeners understand, consume, and interpret music.
If there’s a thesis statement for this newsletter, it’s that music doesn’t happen in a vacuum. In other words, there’s nothing about music that happens without human input or without exposure to society and culture. Whether we’re composing, recording, performing, selling, or listening to music, we’re always doing it from the vantage point of our own cultural and personal experiences.
So if you’ve ever wondered why conservatives are surprised when they discover that Rage Against the Machine’s lyrics are actually overtly anti-capitalist, or thought there was a small but distinct chance that Sabrina Carpenter might be transgressive, or wanted to know why everyone from tech bros to Timothée Chalamet gets so weird about classical music, Music Is Politics is the semi-regular newsletter for you.
If you don’t want to miss out on the first post, hit the button below to subscribe. If you hate free stuff, you can simply close this window and go on living your life.
Now Playing
You didn’t really think a music newsletter would skip music recommendations, did you?
Let me be your algorithm: here are two new tracks I’m streaming right now + my two-second take on each.
Nine Inch Noize, “Closer” (Live at Coachella 2026)
Missing the Nine Inch Nails x Boys Noize set at Coachella 2026 will haunt me forever. I am not a festival girlie but I am a person who enjoys new takes on old hits. While you’re appreciating the souped up electronics, check out Mariqueen Maandig Reznor on backup vocals. I love her entire vibe and especially her voice.
Lady Gaga and Doechii, “RUNWAY” (2006)
Leave it to Gaga and Doechii to turn what could have been a boring promotional single for the upcoming The Devil Wears Prada sequel into peak bisexual freak4freak representation. Sonically, it’s a very obvious nod to the early 1990s dance music that is so much a part of queer ballroom culture, which means that inevitably the track will draw some earnest but shallow criticism alongside a lot more bad faith criticism couched in woke language. That’s probably something I’ll revisit later, but for now please savor the serve.
Okay, that’s it for now. If you liked this introductory post, subscribe for free to feed my ego.
About the Author
Music and Politics is a semi-regular newsletter written by me, Gillian Gower. I’m a lapsed professional musician who earned a PhD in musicology but don’t let that scare you. Or do. I don’t run your life.
Live footage of the author coming for the incorrect belief that music happens in a vacuum. Gif via meganlockhart on Giphy