Hello all,

Starting this blog has been in the back of my mind for some time now.

I often find myself thinking back to the days where I would pen articles and reviews just about things I was interested in with abandon — sharing them with friends, family, or whoever cared to read them. Over the last few years, I think something happened.

I recently read something from a writer who has become one of my favorites, Mark Fisher, on the experiences that prompted him to start his renowned blog, k-punk. He was describing his experience in academia where there was a sense of expectation that you couldn’t write on a particular subject unless you’d read absolutely every single book, article, or any other tract on it. For him, the blog became a more liberating outlet where he could express himself and write on the things he was interested in without restrictive parameters.

That’s not to say that it isn’t important to know what you’re talking about when writing. I think it’s fairly clear at this point that one aspect of the “fake news” proliferation includes those who write either maliciously or in a willfully ignorant manner on their subjects as a means of obscuring reality. However, I felt the point Fisher was making spoke to a sort of truth that had been gnawing at me, one that fed more on self doubt over one’s abilities rather than one’s perceived credentials. Obviously I’m not in academia, but that sort of endless research drive into a subject before even beginning to type a word has been the death of so many articles I’ve dreamt up over the years.

So I’m kicking off this blog in the spirit of re-fostering the love of writing that I once enjoyed. I can’t say for sure all I will cover here, but I can certainly envision it consisting of the personal and the political, the cultural and the speculative. I hope to continue writing on my favorite music and films as I have on past platforms, as well as offer commentary on current events as I feel inclined. It’ll be a grab bag of sorts — some serious, some lighthearted.

On the choice of name — Mumbler. I’m not sure if I’m going to keep this title. I came up with it some years ago (I told you this has been on my mind for some time!) so it has always been kind of a placeholder whenever I attempted to actually start working on this. But rather than put it off any longer, I’m using it for now. The name is inspired by the one critique I’ve always endured when speaking — that I mumble. Given that, I thought it’d be kind of a funny contrast when putting together a platform where I would be sharing my thoughts clear, unimpeded, and without filter. Also, I guess there is an evocation of the popular blogging platform Tumblr there.

That’s all for now. While I’m thinking of this as being an exercise largely for my own benefit, I do hope folks enjoy reading and following along. I have no real road map, schedule, or end goal for this other than chronicling and sharing. But if I’m able to reach an audience and deliver something positive or prompt some sort of reflection, then that would certainly be a plus.

Until the next entry. Take care, all.

Raul