iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

One of the coolest things you can do in the D.C. streets is be listening to a Fugazi song when you drive through a tunnel

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

You need to read my newsletter if you want to party with JJ thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/jjs-rsvp

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Here’s my month-long review of CHARLI XCX’s “Music, Fashion, Film” thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/im-really-...

thefutureisourstomake.substack.com

I’m really hurting my neck

Thirty days of listening to Charli XCX’s ‘Music, Fashion, Film.’

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I actually don’t think it’s nice that everyone’s talking about her good deeds more than her music I wish more publications employed music journalists and critics Despite all the great writing this week, we can still see how much we’re missing right now

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

My favorite DOLLY PARTON song makes me feel like her big pop crossover was actually a bigger step toward improving the world we share thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/just-when-...

thefutureisourstomake.substack.com

Just when I’ve begun to get myself together

Listening for the essence of Dolly Parton in a song she didn’t write.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Friends, which search engines do you recommend now that Google entirely sucks?

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Today, I’m launching a quarterly review of the BEST NEW FANZINES Submit yours for next time to THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE / P.O. Box 60182 / Washington D.C. 20039 Meantime, make a fanzine, read a fanzine, encounter a fanzine here: open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

'It's always been someone's apocalypse'

THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE's quarterly review of significant fanzines.

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Reposted by Chris Richards

Niko Stratis @nikostratis.com · 06/08/2026

BrooklynVegan, Alt Press, et al being unceremoniously shut down by a company owned by the guys from Good Charlotte that’s also owned by Live Nation is a plot that would happen in a direct to video sequel to Richie Rich.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Beautiful Sunday morning music for you on THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE courtesy of the dollar bin at Princeton Record Exchange/destiny open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

I found infinity in the dollar bin

A recording to listen to on Sunday, August 2, 2026.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Proof of listening, proof of life — I just reviewed 102 recordings for THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE. Read it for free / tell a friend open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Any number of quantum positions

THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE’s quarterly review of significant recordings.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

A quick review of the most widely-experienced musical performance in human history open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Halftime hacks

A beginner’s guide to organizing the biggest musical performance in human history.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Seasonal thoughts on how THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS sounds as new as life year round Sunday posts on THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE are for paid subscribers, but today’s is free If you subscribe — or if you’re considering — thank you for your generosity + excellence open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Summertime in the permanent present tense

A recording to listen to on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

This shout out from @alanzilberman.bsky.social in the Washington City Paper’s Best of D.C. issue means a ton and then some washingtoncitypaper.com/article/7887...

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Cleaning out the basement today and found this a day late

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Massive hell yes to this. Natalie is the greatest

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

As zeitgeisty pop songs go, I feel like ELLA LANGLEY’s “Choosin’ Texas” has grown massive enough to contain the vast unknowability of Texas itself — and I wrote about it for @notus.com www.notus.org/this-hugely-...

notus.org

“Choosin’ Texas” isn't about the future of democracy. Unless you want to hear it that way.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

What this review of Patti Smith’s “Bread of Angels” for the Times Literary Supplement doesn’t mention is that I loved the book so much, I bought a copy for my dad for his birthday www.the-tls.com/lives/autobi...

the-tls.com

Just grown-ups

In her succinct volume on the creative process, Devotion (2017), the rock poet and memoirist Patti Smith made her greatest ambition plain. She wanted to

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

I’m so honored by this recognition. I’m also looking for work! The Washington Post laid me off earlier this year. Deep thanks to the SFJ for elevating arts criticism in this tumultuous moment. Deep thanks to everyone for reading my stuff and spreading the word.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

Amazing to be a part of POW MAG this week of all weeks. Read and subscribe and read! substack.com/@powmag

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 07/06/2026

G O O D M O R N I N G open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Honored to be on this list ! ! Deepest gratitude to Of Note With so much flux in music criticism right now, I’m a writer who appreciates every reader and a reader who appreciates every writer

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Took a walk through reality with LIFTED and got schooled on the Altmansound, the Tuscany-Canterbury Drone, Sun Ra jamming on “Dumbo,” the duo’s new album “Movie,” and more open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Screen off

A walking interview with Matt Papich and Andrew Field-Pickering of Lifted.

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Reposted by Chris Richards

Gabe Meline @gmeline.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Love this short reflection of Rollins / an incidental anecdote that says much more than it lets on. "There’s very little experience behind a childhood crush. It’s almost entirely a thing of intuition, of wonder — a decision that’s somehow been made for you."

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

When I walk the streets of my (neighboring) hometown of Annapolis, Maryland, I like to imagine a young SONNY ROLLINS in love open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Sonny’s crush

Brief thoughts on the childhood memories of a saxophone colossus.

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Reposted by Chris Richards

Jeff Weiss @passionweiss.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

An interview with Jeff Parker about his storied residency at ETA, his experience collaborating with Flea, music’s unknowable ability to change the mood of a room, the influence of Wayne Shorter, and his latest, "Happy Today." By the great @chrisrichards.bsky.social www.powmag.net/p/jeff-parke...

powmag.net

I Don't Waste My Music: An Interview with Jeff Parker

Chris Richards speaks with the legendary guitarist about his new album, Happy Today.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Listen to this record/subscribe to this newsletter/have a good week open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Hiding the horizon

A record to listen to on Sunday, May 24, 2026.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

this is tonight ! / come thru ! / D C R U !

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

Playing records at ASL w Kim Coletta and John Davis, we’ll bring the Vace, you bring yrself and a cool beverage, D C R U !

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Went on a walk with MARTYN to talk about music as something we can step into. His new album, “Music for Existing,” is truly fantastic open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Music for existing in three dimensions

A walking interview with Martyn.

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Reposted by Chris Richards

Marc Masters 🌵 @marcissist.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

The Sleeves album on @12xurecs.bsky.social is so good and so unlike anything else rn. Great chat btwn them and @chrisrichards.bsky.social here. thefutureisourstomake.substack.com/p/open-to-an...

thefutureisourstomake.substack.com

‘Open to any eventuality’

An interview with Jack Cooper and Tara Cunningham of The Sleeves.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

I asked THE SLEEVES about the perimeters of their fabulous new album — close, delicate music that invites us to wonder about the borders of existence and/or which string is best open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

‘Open to any eventuality’

An interview with Jack Cooper and Tara Cunningham of The Sleeves.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Jonathan Williger has improved my scene-world-life and his rising experimental music label OUTSIDE TIME can improve yours open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

Always coming home

A walking interview with Jonathan Williger of Outside Time.

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Reposted by Chris Richards

Andy Beta @andybeta.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

D.C. peeps, I'll be in conversation with @bushmeatsound.bsky.social this Wed:

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Today is my birthday and you can help me celebrate by subscribing to my newsletter THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE where I just wrote about a life-changing bday present given to me at age sixteen — a vinyl copy of “Personal Best” by TEAM DRESCH open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

See a brave tomorrow

The perpetual gift of Team Dresch’s ‘Personal Best’

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Every Sunday morning I send a little thank-you to the paid subscribers of THE FUTURE IS OURS TO MAKE and today’s is one of the most exquisite songs I’ve ever heard open.substack.com/pub/thefutur...

open.substack.com

There’s nothing too good for us

A record to listen to on Sunday, April 26, 2026.

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Chris Richards @chrisrichards.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Thanks to the Musicscope podcast for inviting me to go deep on Q and Not U lore www.buzzsprout.com/2011780/epis...

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