I recently heard an album from a band that I overall enjoy, but had me think about how Gen Z’s identity in irony. There were good songs that would be contrasted with literal meme skits. It felt as if it were a defense for making weird or nonsensical art. That the jokes on the listener for taking the music seriously. To be honest, that took me out of appreciation more than music could ever do. It’s a theme that I’ve noticed with more upcoming independent bands. The branding is unserious, but then you listen to the music, and it’s clear that somebody put care into it. There’s no middle ground between being a “serious” intentional artist and shitposting for “irony” sake. That’s not to say that all art must be serious and have meaning. There’s plenty of art I enjoy that can be viewed as meaningless, and that doesn’t make it lesser. The difference is intention. When I write a song, I don’t usually go in thinking it will be the most meaningful thing I wrote. A lot of the time it isn’t. Have fun with your art, but let it be genuine. Make meaningless art and own it. Don’t turn around and act like it was all a bit. That’s disingenuous at best. 

23 SKIDOO