// Issue 001 · You've made it.

LAUNCH

Long-form thoughts on fantasy, sci-fi, and the music that hits hardest.

FILED:Issue 001
FROM:R&R admin
RE:Thanks for showing up.

If you’re reading this, I hope you come to love this community. Welcome.

Riffs & Reads is the kind of music and book blog that used to live in zines and message boards — before the algorithms ate everything. As someone with myriad hobbies and passions, great stories and music are the two at war for the lion’s share. This is a place (selfishly) for me to marry the two. Aren’t they already though? My favorite music often contains either very overt or more subtextual storytelling. I think there’s a lot of similarities between lyrical storytelling, novelization, script writing, etc. If you’re a fan of post-hardcore and adjacent subgenres of music, I hope you find something to enjoy here. Similarly, if you’re a fan of speculative fiction, including but not limited to fantasy and sci-fi books, movies, or games — I think some of this content might resonate with you. At least, I hope it does. Now, if you find some enjoyment in any capacity from both of these realms, I hope you stick around and become part of this community.

This site is built solo. And at this point it is quite literally a single individual’s passion project. I hope eventually it can grow into more than a hobby, but if it doesn’t, I’m more than okay with that. My goal here is to find an outlet for expression related to the aforementioned media and art, connect with like-minded individuals to engage in meaningful discussion, and hopefully have the opportunity to connect with the artists behind some of this work I love so much, sharing the insights with you through interviews or contextual deep dives.

// What's live today
  • 01 //
    The Bookshelf A working bookcase of what I'm reading and what I've finished. Currently mid-Stormlight, mid-Red Rising, with The Will of the Many on deck.
  • 02 //
    The CD Vault Physical media collection and album breakdowns. Tree City Sessions 3, A Hill to Die On, Hidden Realms, The Purpose of the Moon, and Irish Goodbye are queued first.
  • 03 //
    Now What I'm listening to, reading, watching, and playing in real time. Updated as it changes.

Long-form pieces are also in the works behind the scenes — full lore breakdowns of Eidola’s universe, DGD, Red Rising’s hierarchy, Islington’s worlds, the list goes on. They’ll appear here when they’re ready.

// The pace — This is a soft launch. The foundation is here, the writing is rolling, and new posts will land with a cadence that prioritises reflection and creativity over urgency.

If something on this site connects with you, the best way to support it is simple: read it, share it, send it to one person who’d love it. Word of mouth is powerful.

Thanks for landing on day one. Stick around — there's more coming.

With genuine thanks, — R&R admin