PeteHatesMusic Featured in the Guardian, Plus Site Upgrade News

Faithful readers, newcomers, and Internet spam bots – as posted on our Twitter and Facebook pages, we had the privilege of being featured on the Guardian’s Blog Jam twice-weekly feature. They select independent music blogs and ask us why we do what we do (spoiler alert: money!). Check out the article on the Guardian, or keep reading below since I copied and pasted it for your convenience.

Also, regular readers might have noticed the site got a bit of a Madonna-esque facelift over the weekend. We’re still tinkering with a few changes here and there, and are open to any comments (but mean ones make us cry). We’re hoping to roll out a couple of new features shortly, and stay tuned for some exciting interviews and concert coverage coming from us. Your input is always beneficial (for us to laugh at and ignore). Drop us a line at [email protected] or leave some notes in the comment section.

And if you are on Facebook and Twitter, so are we! You should “follow PeteHatesMusic on Twitter” and “Like PeteHatesMusic on Facebook” to ensure you maximize your coolness. Note: coolness not guaranteed (in fact, the opposite is guaranteed).

Blog jam: PeteHatesMusic

Twice a week we invite independent music writers and bloggers to tell us about what they do. Today: ‘somewhere to your find favourite new band … plus some hilarious cat videos’

Who are you and what’s your blog called?

I am Pete, and my blog is called PeteHatesMusic. I clearly LOVE music, and that’s why the title is so goddamn clever. Our Twitter feed is @PeteHatesMusic.

Where are you based?

We are based in Toronto and Ottawa (Canada, for those who failed geography, like I did), but I’m living in London, England, until the autumn.

Describe your blog in a sentence.

PeteHatesMusic is where you find your favourite new band … and if you don’t find your favourite new band here, you’ll find some hilarious cat videos.

How long has your blog been going?

How long has the internet been around? I was merely wondering – we started WAY after that, in July 2011.

What music do you write about?

Although I lobbied for it to be about anything Spice Girl-related, we write about mainly indie stuff, lots of rock and rock-offshoots, the odd electronic and hip-hop track. Basically, stuff we think our friends would like, but as far as Google is concerned, we specialise in “indie vampire skrillex hunger games” music.

Why should people visit your blog?

People should visit because it’s embarrassing to have my Dad as the only reader. If you visit, you’ll see we post a morning music news summary, new music that we like or have discovered, and geeky technology and gadgets that we find cool. We also test people’s band knowledge with weekly trivia and pump people up for the weekend with some rump-shaking tunes on Friday afternoon. There’s a good chance you’ll find your favourite new band on PeteHatesMusic; but not if they are the Spice Girls.

We also do concert reviews, and have had interviews with Great Lake Swimmers, the Jezabels, and Zulu Winter among others, with forthcoming interviews with Dum Dum Girls, Wintersleep, the Milk, Fixers, and more. Also, we give free candy to all visitors (note: our lawyers actually say this is not true).

What’s your top song right now?

That’s like asking me to name my favourite N’ Sync member. Since I’m contractually obligated to answer, I’ll have to go with Only Skin by the Spring Standards, from their forthcoming double EP.

The Spring Standards – Only Skin
The Spring standards Only Skin – Yellow EP

What’s your favourite music blog aside from your own?

Is this the part where I’m supposed to say the Guardian music blog? I’ve discovered some great blogs in this Blog Jam series, but I’d have to go with Twenty Four Bit. They have a simplistic design, don’t really report news or tour dates, but focus on a piece of music every day or two. Nothing to overload you, just simple, new music.