iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 15/04/2025

Every once in a while a preorder shows up before release date and it’s always such a wonderful thing when that happens. Mdou Moctar’s band made a 4-track EP. It comes out on Friday but it showed up today and this thing goes so hard. It’s like post-punk desert blues.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 01/04/2025

@therealadam.com Hey there, I’m subscribed to your RSS feed and every article title shows up as “Adam Keys is Thinking”. If possible, it would be great to change that to a title That helps RSS readers like me quickly parse the topic. Thanks for considering!

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 22/01/2025

Went to the Post Office today and get this—thanks to modern technology I got to listen to music on the way there and back! This is a game changer. Imagine always having 12 songs in your pocket!

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 06/01/2025

I am trying to read more books in 2025 so I am testing a theory that it’s the Kindle that puts me to sleep as soon as I open it. So here is an actual TBR pile! This year’s non-fiction theme is music. Fiction theme is all SF/F (with the exception of the new Orphan X novel because I love that guy).

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 25/12/2024

I own very few Christmas records, but this one is not only a very pretty splatter pattern, it’s also wonderful (not cheesy!) music. Highly recommended.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 20/11/2024

Oh I like this game. Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, or Alice In Chains.

The cover image for the album August and Everything After by Counting Crows.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 29/07/2023

Are we still doing How It Started / How It’s Going or is that over now? Anyway. Happy Friday, friends. May you be able to charge your… battery this weekend.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 25/07/2023

New book arrival! Thanks a bunch to ‪@andrewliptak@mastodon.social‬ for putting this on my radar via his newsletter. What an absolute delight.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 24/07/2023

Sunday evening with a couple of this week’s new jazz & blues reissues. Turns out this is an excellent back-to-back combination for taking a breath before the week starts. Recommended.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 21/07/2023

Recent jazz listens. Once I got on the Kenny Burrell train I couldn’t get off. He’s in my top 3 jazz guitarists.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 19/07/2023

Hello, gorgeous. Ah, I miss this band so much. Best live show I’ve ever seen.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 18/07/2023

Me: “It’s some lost recordings from a live Coltrane concert at the famous Village Gate.” My wife with a pained look on her face: “It’s definitely something.” And this is why I don’t play “weird jazz” unless I’m home alone. But if that kind of thing is your vibe, this set is 🔥.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 15/07/2023

I’ve been obsessed with Diablo IV, to the point where it’s interfering with sleep time. This Diva Agency campaign is so good, and that means I’ll probably go to bed late again tonight. “How we drew on old and new creative techniques to summon a 100ft Lilith in three European cities for Diablo IV.”

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 13/07/2023

I think I’m a few days late, but happy 3rd anniversary to The Midnight’s “Monsters”, an album I adore with all my heart. There is probably no song I listen to more than “Brooklyn”.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 09/07/2023

This text—which appeared in every single CD booklet ever produced until around the mid 90s—is one of my favorite pieces of copywriting ever. Clear, consistent, benefit-focused. I have read it a million times and will continue to read it with a sense of wonder and nostalgia for many years to come.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 09/07/2023

“Next Level” in Portland—a pinball museum and arcade—is an absolute national treasure. Today I finally played Golden Axe again after way too many years.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 04/07/2023

My 10yo asked me to put the app for my Tidbyt (tidbyt.com) on her iPad and now she sends me messages every day and it’s the absolute best.

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 04/07/2023

Can this be my jazz record recommendations account or is that going to be a problem?

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 25/05/2023

I already think that @ryanbroderick.bsky.social is a national treasure, but today’s newsletter is just off the charts amazing. www.garbageday.email/p/humanitys-di…

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Rian van der Merwe @rianvdm.com · 24/05/2023

I confess that I’ve never listened to this album front to back. But it’s this month’s VMP record and dang, have I been missing out. What an absolute banger.

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