The Death of Music Journalism - poetry collection by Simon Sweetman

“I’ve long followed, and been a fan of, Simon Sweetman’s unflinching and surreal poetry. It is at times confronting and uncomfortable, un-self-conscious and angry. But with a huge heart and perfect comedic timing. Poetry should make you feel something, and Simon’s poetry definitely does that.” Emily Writes – author/blogger/journalist

Simon Sweetman – blogger, reviewer, podcaster, and author of On Song: Stories Behind New Zealand's Pop Classics, releases his first poetry collection, The Death of Music Journalism. Simon's been writing poems since he was first listening to bands on his Walkman, but then he started sharing them via social media and open mic nights. Word got around and he was a sleeper hit at LitCrawl's Lit-Sync For Your Life and the 2020 Variety for Fierys. Marking a pivot from the razor-sharp and sometimes controversial music writing he is best known for, Simon’s collection is as wide-ranging as his career to date. He writes about late-night encounters on the phone with rock stars, hanging out as a student in Wellington flats, the simplicity of time spent with family and the unpredictable life of a freelance music reviewer, and what happens when these things occasionally intersect. A natural storyteller whose poetry is filled with characters both famous and ordinary, this eagerly awaited collection is unpredictable, anarchic, playful and surprisingly heartfelt.

The cover artwork for The Death of Music Journalism is already underway, by the renowned Matthew Couper. Matthew is a Hawke's Bay-born, Las Vegas-based professional artist. He is Simon’s oldest friend; they met at kindergarten at around the age of four, have supported each other in many artistic projects throughout the years and they were once in a band together (The Runnie Reagans).

Here's what people are already saying about Simon's book:

“A few months ago I heard Simon read some poems from his forthcoming book, The Death of Music Journalism. The poems he read were clever, thoughtful and really well crafted. I am really looking forward to the release of this book. I have read Simon’s work on his website and enjoyed that a great deal I think an opportunity to see Simon’s poetry collected will be great. I think the poems have a resonance with each other which I think will make for a really satisfying and thought-provoking read. I have a feeling The Death of Music Journalism will be one of those books where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The reading I saw Simon do showed the poems together form an interesting conversation of sound and ideas.”

Pip Adam, author of The New Animals – winner of the 2018 Acorn Foundation Prize for Fiction

“Can’t wait to read Simon Sweetman’s no doubt brilliant, The Death of Music Journalism.”

Ali Whitelock, author of The lactic acid in the calves of your despair.

“I can’t wait to read Simon’s poems in a book. I heard I am in one, that makes me nervous … But otherwise I can’t wait. I’ve been reading his work for twenty years and a whole book of his lyrical take on life is right up my alley.”

Paddy Gower, National Correspondent, 3 News/Newshub

Simon Sweetman photo credit: David Thomsen