Marginalia #7 — Scholarch
Marginalia is a series of short interviews with music lovers from small corners of the internet — bloggers, reviewers, and listeners worth knowing about.
Who are you and what do you do?
I maintain a blog under the pseudonym of Scholarch. I started blogging in December 2025 as I was (and still am) going through some life changes. Writing is how I figure things out, and I've been reflecting on my relationships with time, hobbies, the work I want to do (I'm currently in academia but am not fully convinced that it's the path for me), spirituality, philosophy, and what I enjoy—the last of which is relevant for this interview, as music has played a significant role in my self-exploration. I'm also fond of games (video, board, role-playing) while seeking to lead a simple life, and my chief goal in life is writing novels.
How did you get into music? Any highlights in your journey?
"Getting into music" is an interesting notion. Today's landscape is rather noisy, thanks to streaming, Apple's decision years ago to remove the headphone jack from their phones, and shortform content's use of music to accentuate clips. We're surrounded by music, and yet I think this produces an experience that is shallow by default. For me, getting into music means listening deeply to the sounds for their own sake, and to learn about the artistry behind them. Given this framing, I can think of three pivotal moments along my journey.
The first happened when I was 17 or 18, and I came across tracks in the trailer music genre: literally the the music plays in movie trailers to hype them up. The music I listened to before that point was given to me—by parents, by the radio, by what the cool kids deemed popular, etc.—and although passable, I don't recall being hooked in the way I was with my discovery of this genre. Tracks like "Electric Romeo" and "Mercutio" captivated me. They inspired the protagonists of the stories I'm writing. And they also inspired me when I was going through the growing pains of young adulthood. For practically all of my 20s, I was accompanied by epic orchestral music.
The second turning point happened last summer when I was going through bouts of insomnia. I would put on my headphones at night and play songs on repeat, and I began to really appreciate the structure of songs I had been listening to for years. I challenged myself to pick apart the instrumentations, to track the tempo of the songs, and to imagine why certain choices were made here and there. I don't have any knowledge of how to play an instrument, and I don't claim to know the proper terminology, but what I do know is that something clicked for me during those nights: music is a powerful language, transcending barriers like grammar and syntax. Sounds convey emotions that words cannot; if you've ever dug a song with lyrics in a language unknown to you, then you know what I mean. Consequently, I think listening to music can be a hobby, insofar that it is done consciously and deliberately. I make time for music every day (either in listening or in learning about the artists who make them), and I'll consider my life a good one if I can enjoy music this way for as long as I live.
The third pivotal moment came shortly after, in the fall of 2025. I cancelled my subscription to Spotify (because of their CEO's shady investments) and went back to using an old iPhone SE to play music. I'll say more about my gear in question 9, but I'll say here that limiting my access to endless music increased my enjoyment of it. This is because I have to be conscious about what I get into and what I add to my device and what I choose to play. It's an algorithm-free process, which seems vital in 2026.
What's your current favorite album/artist and why?
Tough question! For me, it's not necessary for my favourite album and favourite artist and favourite song to be congruent. The 'what' is secondary to the 'why'. I'm also unconvinced that one's favourites need to be played all the time. (That's another gripe I have with Spotify: their Wrapped feature gamifies the listening experience to show off who's a "true fan," but I dismissed this as a valid indicator when I met someone who had Spotify running on a separate device to constantly be playing Taylor Swift, even without the sound on just so the minutes could be tracked and they could brag about their year-end rankings!)
Right then, enough disclaimers. My favourite song is "Temptation" by New Order, specifically the 12" version. See, when Joy Division dissolved after Ian Curtis' suicide in 1980, New Order was formed. Yes, they had "Ceremony" as their bridge between the two entities, but check out the live version of Temptation (then called "Taboo No. 7") in 1981. Can you hear it? It's the sound of a band striving to move past tragedy. The song is rough and raw—the lyrics still in development—but the energy is there. The version that's on their compilation album, Substance (1987), is arguably more popular, but it doesn't have the energy of the 12" version. The 12" version has a segment, between 3:07 and 4:07, that is the sound of optimism. It's earned.
My favourite album is Illusions by Thomas Bergersen. Released in 2011, it was the first actual album of epic orchestral music I listened to. I didn't even know such a thing could exist, as tracks I had listened to were samples or singles from studios. Bergersen's release was a revelation to me. There's nothing like the title track, "Aura".
My favourite artist/band is Slowdive. They're a shoegaze band from the 1990s that fell out of favour when grunge took the lead. And yet, they re-emerged last decade and have since released two albums (in 2017 and 2023, respectively). To me, they represent the old guard, staunch stalwarts of a genre that's been revitalized, and I'm thrilled they are now receiving the recognition they deserved decades ago. My select tracks from each of their five album releases: "Waves"; "Souvlaki Space Station"; "Crazy for You"; "Slomo"; and "kisses".
What's an album that you feel holds up to the years and will stand the test of time?
In my exploration of music, I seem to be most drawn to the 90s, have gone as far back as the 70s, and only recently got into the 2000s.
This question makes me think of the Lindy effect: the future life expectancy of some non-perishable thing, like music, is proportional to its current age. It would feel like cheating to say My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, released in 1991, holds up and will stand the test of time. That's too obvious.
What's more interesting is making a call of what's been released recently, that'll still hold up in, say, the late 2030s.
Beach House's Once Twice Melody
For my money, I offer Beach House's Once Twice Melody released in 2022. It's a double-album that was released in four segmented chapters. It's on the longer side and runs the risk of feeling bloated compared to their prior works. But I can pick out new things each time I listen to it, so I wager that OTM will rank among their best, given time. It's an album worth listening to "Over and Over" again.
What's a "guilty pleasure" artist you'll defend to anyone who'll listen?
A Flock of Seagulls. No, don't laugh, I'm serious. Look past Mike Score's hairdo and "I Ran" and observe their other killer tracks: "Transfer Affection"; "Space Age Love Song"; "Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You)".
Then observe that they released orchestral renditions of their songs, as well as extended versions—two things I'm a sucker for.
How do you discover new (or old) music these days?
Passively, I use Shazam when out and about and hear a song I like. Actively, I explore subreddits based on bands and genres to track recommendations. On Bandcamp, I follow record labels representing bands I like, and see who else they work with. Genre-specific radio stations like DKFM are visited when I'm feeling adventurous. More for entertainment than actual learning, I read reviews on Pitchfork and Rate Your Music, but try not to give them much influence over my listening habits or self-formed opinions.
How do you discover new (or old) music these days?
Passively, I use Shazam when out and about and hear a song I like. Actively, I explore subreddits based on bands and genres to track recommendations. On Bandcamp, I follow record labels representing bands I like, and see who else they work with. Genre-specific radio stations like DKFM are visited when I'm feeling adventurous. More for entertainment than actual learning, I read reviews on Pitchfork and Rate Your Music, but try not to give them much influence over my listening habits or self-formed opinions.
What's an album or artist everyone seems to love that you just couldn't get into?
I'll volunteer as tribute and name: Rumours by Fleetwood Mac or The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd in terms of albums, and the Beatles in terms of artists. I simply don't have the taste for them, and while some music is an acquired taste, life's too short to force liking something considered popular or influential. If I don't enjoy an album after two full plays, I move on.
If you could only listen to one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Goodness this is a fun question! As much as I adore shoegaze and dream pop at the moment, I must return to my original love: epic orchestral music. There's enough diversity in that genre for all that life holds. Falling in love? "Sunshower". Rallying allies against the forces of darkness? "Soul Healer". Nervous in the hour leading up to an interview or public speaking engagement? "Myth".
How do you listen to music i.e. via streaming, vinyl, CDs? What audio gear do you use?
As mentioned, I stopped streaming back in September. I don't have vinyl or CDs as they're media I wish to avoid collecting and fretting over. (I know myself, and I have a personality that wouldn't know when to stop.) True to my roots as one who owned an iPod as a teenager, I'm a fan of audio files like mp3 and FLAC. They don't take up physical space, and managing metadata tickles my OCD.
In terms of gear, I use a first-gen iPhone SE that has a capacity of 32GB. It has a headphone jack (remember them?) and foobar2000 installed. Managing music is as simple as dragging and dropping folders and files from a Dell Latitude laptop that stores all my music. My main headphones are the HyperX Cloud II (which I also use for gaming), and when I'm out and about I carry with me the basic Sony MDR-ZX110.
I also have speakers for when I'm doing chores around the house: two units of the Sonos One SL, and a Bose SoundLink Mini II that was gifted by a friend. It's nice to have options.
I've learned from other hobbies that there's no strong correlation between one's gear/setup and one's enjoyment. In other words: you don't necessarily enjoy more by spending more. I don't have a dream setup, and I don't need to identify as an audiophile, but when any of the aforementioned equipment stop working, then I'll seek suitable replacements based on where I'm at in life. As long as I can listen to music comfortably, I'll be happy.
Who should I interview next?
Is this an appropriate place to admit I don't really have anyone I can talk to music with on a regular basis? In fact, I'm secretly hoping this interview can connect me with folks who enjoy the genres/artists that I enjoy!
A more practical response: during the last Bandcamp Friday (on March 6), I saw a few Bearblog posts on the Discovery feed that discussed purchases. I figure that anyone who (1) recognizes how Bandcamp Friday supports artists; (2) times their purchases to support the cause; and (3) writes about it would be strong candidates for interviewing. This is a subtle nudge to others to write about the music they enjoy. ;)
Where can we find you and do you have anything you would like to share?
I don't have social media, but maintain a blog.