No Depression magazine was first launched by Grant Alden and Peter Blackstock in 1995 as a response to the burgeoning alt-country movement happening within American music. The magazine took its name from a Carter Family tune that had been covered by seminal alt-country act Uncle Tupelo on their first LP. For the last three decades, No Depression has been at the vanguard of American roots music, combining in-depth historical features that explore the fascinating history of Americana with regular reporting on the most exciting things happening in today’s world of alt-country.
No Depression published gorgeous print editions from 1995 to 2008 when the recession and the rising print costs forced Alden, Blackstock and publisher, Kyla Fairchild to make the magazine an online only entity. For five years, the site was a community run entity with no paid editors or writers, all organized by Fairchild and community editor, Kim Ruehl.
By 2015, the community run version of the site was so successful that the magazine launched a series of in-depth pieces by Ruehl, and a few other writers. This set the groundwork for the newest phase of the magazine, a non-profit membership based model now spearheaded by Managing Editor, Hilary Saunders.
Hilary joined me in the Sheddio talk about the history of No Depression and its place within the halls of American roots music. We cover the crucial need for journalism and photography within a music scene, and hit upon the enduring power of the printed word, whether on paper or online. There is also talk of cultural gatekeeping, as Hilary and I break down the place that the music critic still has in a world where every record ever made is accessible at the push of a button.
Let’s get into it.
Cheers,Matty C
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End Credits
Thanks so much to HIlary for joining me. You can find out all about the amazing work she is doing at https://nodepression.org/
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