search for something...

search for something you might like...

Inside Outsideleft Alan Rider reflects on his first year of writing for OL.

Inside Outsideleft

Alan Rider reflects on his first year of writing for OL.

by Alan Rider, Contributing Editor
first published: December, 2023

approximate reading time: minutes

Outsideleft is an odd site. It really is, but in a good way.

Reflections on 2023

It is traditional at the turn of the year to look backward and forward at the same time. Given that I started writing for Outsideleft at the start of 2023, it fits rather neatly. Outsideleft is an odd site. It really is, but in a good way. It doesn’t take advertising or get bankrolled by subscriptions, so is not beholden to any part of the media industry, or driven by the need to feature popular things to keep subscribers happy. It can do and say what the fuck it likes and that’s a great thing to have these days.

Looking back over my first year writing for the site, I seem to have written rather a lot. Lots of book and music reviews, even a film review, along with a fair few interviews and features, some of which got a lot of hits. Being rude about the crass and commercial, and championing the different and original is what I like to do (you may have noticed). Meantime I have been working on my own music project ‘Senestra’, dubbed ‘dark electronics’ by those who dub such things. There is an album ‘Stanford’ out and another being worked on for 2024. I’m still working on my third book too for a European publisher but it’s taking a lot longer than it should.

Looking back over the year though, my overwhelming thought is that there is a vast amount of stuff out there. There really is a lot, so how anyone can make any sort of impression without already being an established act or having mega bucks corporate backing is beyond me.  That’s where Outsideleft comes in. The little guys, the amateurs, those without glossy PR agencies or a label or publishing house behind them. Those who are going against the tide, and not looking to be on trend or become a social media sensation. Those are the ones we can make a difference to by giving them even a tiny step up so that a few more folk can hear about them. It’s a shitty world and Arts and Culture websites have zero impact on that, besides helping us appreciate the good bits in life. I’d say that’s well worth our doing.

Alan Rider
Contributing Editor

Alan Rider is a Norfolk based writer and electronic musician from Coventry, who splits his time between excavating his own musical past and feeding his growing band of hedgehogs, usually ending up combining the two. Alan also performs in Dark Electronic act Senestra and manages the indie label Adventures in Reality.


about Alan Rider »»

Pete Williams web banner

RECENT STORIES

RANDOM READS

All About and Contributors

HELP OUTSIDELEFT

Outsideleft exists on a precarious no budget budget. We are interested in hearing from deep and deeper pocket types willing to underwrite our cultural vulture activity. We're not so interested in plastering your product all over our stories, but something more subtle and dignified for all parties concerned. Contact us and let's talk. [HELP OUTSIDELEFT]

WRITE FOR OUTSIDELEFT

If Outsideleft had arms they would always be wide open and welcoming to new writers and new ideas. If you've got something to say, something a small dank corner of the world needs to know about, a poem to publish, a book review, a short story, if you love music or the arts or anything else, write something about it and send it along. Of course we don't have anything as conformist as a budget here. But we'd love to see what you can do. Write for Outsideleft, do. [SUBMISSIONS FORM HERE]

WRITERS thru' the Years

Agata Makiela, Alan Devey, Alan Rider, Alex V. Cook, Ancient Champion, Andy Allison, Annemiek, Becca Kelly, Belle Plankton, Bruce Bailey, Caiomhin Millar, Cassie Thomas, Chantal, Cheiron Coelho, Chris Connolly, Christian Present, Damon Hayhurst, Dan Breen, Danny Rose, David Hackney, David O'Byrne, Denni Boyd, Dirty Lillie, DJ Fuzzyfelt, Dr. Rich, Dr. Richard Bennett, Duncan Jones, Erin, Erin Pipes, Erin Scott, Gracey Babs, Graham Baker, Guilaine Arts, H.xx, Hamilton High, Henderson Downing, Holly Martins, J. Charreaux, J.Lee, Jay Lewis, Jaycentee, Jennifer Lynn, Jenny McCann, Jeremy Gluck, Jez Collins, Joe Ambrose, John Robinson, Jonathan Thornton, Julie O, Karl Morgan, Katherine Pargeter, Kelsey Osgood, Kevin McHugh, Kiah Cranston, Kleo Kay, Lake, Lee Paul, Luke Skinner, Malcolm, Marek Pytel, Mark Piggott, Martin Devenney, Meave Haughey, Michelle Williams, Mike Fox, mindy strouse, Neil Campbell, Neil Scott, Ogglypoogly, OL House Writer, Pam, Paul Burns, Paul Hawkins, Paul Mortimer, Paul Quigley, Peter Williams, Pixie McMowat, Pixievic, Rene Williams, Richard John Walker, Rick Casson, Rikki Stein, Ronan Crinion, Rowena Murphy, Ruby Lake, Ryan 'RJO' Stewart, Samantha Charles, Seth Sherwood, Shane O'Reilly, Sheridan Coyle, Sofia Ribeiro Willcox, Sophia Satchell-Baeza, Spanish Pantalones, Speedie John, Spencer Kansa, Steve McCarthy, The Conversation, Tim London, Tim Sparks, Tony Fletcher, Toon Traveller, Trevi, Urs Lerch, Wayne Dean-Richards, and founders, Alarcon & Lamontpaul

OUTSIDELEFT UNIVERSE

Last NIght of the LTB Showrooms
OUTSIDELEFT Night Out
weekend

outsideleft content is not for everyone