Hello you wonderfully creative folks -

This week's issue is a bit different. No media. No profiles. No puzzles (although based on the engagement and fun that we had from the last one, there will indubitably be more puzzles in the future).

For now, a story and an update. Here we go...

The Story

Earlier this summer...I had a problem. I had about 30% momentum on about 10 different personal projects. After some big changes with Google earlier this year (*cough* layoffs *cough*) I found myself with an unprecedented amount of “free time”, and in order to stay creatively sharp during this momentary pause I started to tinker with various personal projects that had once burned bright in their own merit for a brief moment over the years, but had inevitably died out at one point or another due to work and life (as they do).

One of my favorite projects from this mix was a podcast - because it’s 2023 and that’s what you do. I focused on developing the concept for a while with friends and creative partners and even found some exciting momentum from a handful of early guests. But in the end, it wasn’t the right one to pursue at the time. Timing, as they say, is everything.

Another fan favorite during that time was the ol’ reinvention-of-local-media project that I'd been kicking around for the past two years. I picked it back up, put a lot of work into it, got it to a great place with progress and momentum, and saw the path to multiple versions of success. But again, it wasn't the one for the moment.

Although neither project went the distance, there were pieces I loved from both of them. I loved the authentic interactions around creativity and the opportunities to explore diverse personal experiences that the podcast was going to provide a platform for. I also loved the innovative multimedia infrastructure that was designed while developing the local media behemoth.

And my favorite piece from both projects was the idea of having a collaborative outlet to create, play, and explore with amazingly creative people on a continuous basis. This was the dream - the true goal.

After considering as many inputs as possible, the logical solution naturally presented itself...I'd start a newsletter (because again, 2023). That newsletter became Pop Rock Disco, and the experience of publishing the first series of issues was everything I hoped it would be. Expression. Collaboration. Creativity. Exploration. Joy.

However, as wonderful as it was to collaborate with all of the amazing creatives that were profiled in those first 3 issues, from Kat Thay to Chris Barber to Smooth Nature, I couldn't help but want...more. More connection. More insights into creative lives. More depth.

Which brings us to our update. : )

The Update

The original editorial format for PRD was designed to explore creativity through the work and experiences of creative people around the world. The three core sections - Spotlight, Sharing, and Showcase - provided a fantastic framework to do just that.

While the initial approach provided a plethora of content, that is, collaborating with multiple creatives for each issue, it didn't allow for the depth that I - and many others based on feedback - were craving with each profile.

With that in mind, an update for future issues: moving forward, Pop Rock Disco will now focus on a single source of creative exploration for each issue (i.e. an individual, group, or topic).

The organization of each issue will remain the same, with each section dedicated to exploring the creative world of a single featured subject from the unique angles of each section: Spotlight, Sharing, and Showcase.

This new approach will provide the opportunity to truly explore, in depth, the nuances, experiences, and insights from creatives around the world without leaving anything on the table.

A deep, deep thank you to everyone out there that's been reading, engaging with, and supporting PRD over the past couple of months - it's been a truly wonderful ride so far.

I'm honored to have the opportunity to engage with all of you and can't wait to share the exciting new features we have coming up through the rest of the year.

For now, stay healthy, stay creative, and keep smiling.

Vince

The End