WAIM 160: Damien Jurado

Damien Jurado has fully embraced the digital behemoth as a delivery method for his music. In an era when vinyl, t-shirts, and touring are said to be the economic engine for artists, Jurado has doubled down on the value of his own work. In recent years, Jurado, an acclaimed singer/songwriter with an impressive catalog that spans more than 25 years, has taken to releasing his work in a digital format via Bandcamp and then eventually, to streaming sites like Spotify and Apple Music.As a truly independent artist, this approach has allowed Jurado to work much more quickly and more efficiently as he releases his new work. By distributing solely in a digital format, Jurado doesn’t incur the hefty costs and lengthy wait times of vinyl production. And surprisingly, Jhe has seen his fans invest more heavily in digital releases than they do in the releases that are also available on vinyl or CD.As a music lover who has spent a life collecting vinyl records and glorifying physical media, I was fascinated by Jurado’s pragmatism and his results. We dove deep into the real costs, both economic and environmental, of making physical products like vinyl and Compact Discs. Jurado shares his path from hardcore to the life of an acoustic singer/songwriter, while even offering up a bit of advice to budding young songwriters.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Damien for joining me. You can find out all about him and his work at https://damienjuradomusic.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe