Welcome to sub_stance, a place for subculture intrigue, analysis, queries and gas. Written by me, Sidney Madden.
As a music journalist, cultural critic, producer and host with a decade in the game (damn), I co-created and hosted the bomb-ass, audacious, award-winning reported podcast, Louder Than A Riot, which traced the collision of rhyme and punishment in America. I created the pivotal playlist series Heat Check, which cosigned outlier artists far before label machines or mainstream breakthroughs. I’ve produced and curated some of your favorite online concerts and magazine covers. I’ve delivered coverage from the greenroom of Cardi B, the tour bus of Kendrick Lamar, Solange’s favorite Houston strip club and backstage at #Beychella. I’ve reported from inside prison walls, at public protests and from a high-profile trial. You don’t need a full résumé (I mean, if you really do, there’s a different website for that) but trust: When it comes to covering culture, I’ve made a career by staying dedicated and curious. When I know what I’m talking about, you will, too.
sub_stance is my newsletter to discover, delineate and dig deep on what’s moving culture in a new way. It’s a place to draft up questions not really being asked, a place to take a stance. Expect exclusive interviews, curated cultural suggestions and even some occasional thique™ op-eds. Some posts will be serious, others not so much. All will be quality. Professionally, I've exclusively covered the world of music for years. sub_stance is about exploring all expressions of culture – fashion, food, books, film, dance etc. And, yea, of course the music, too.
Stay up-to-date
Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
Join the crew
Be part of the sub_stance community. Get active in the comments section and/or support this work with a subscription!
Other than SubStack, I exist everywhere else online (bird app, clock app, camera app etc etc) as @sid_madden.
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
