Domino + Faber = Loops: a pre-launch event

Richard Milward

Loops is an exciting new project that comes out of a marriage between Domino Records and the book publishers Faber. It’s a bi-yearly journal that features the best from the worlds of music, art and literature. The first issue will have an extract from Nick Cave’s new novel, The Death of Bunny Munro, as well as a James Yorkston “influences” piece.

After an introduction from the journal’s editors, Lee Brackstone of Faber and Richard King of Domino Records, the authors take to the stage.

Richard Milward is often referred to as the “The Boro Bard”. Raised on the mean streets of Teesside, 24-year-old Milward’s intoxicating tales of sex, drugs and Ibiza dance classics have formed the base for his two novels, 2007’s Apples and the recently released Ten Storey Love Song. A thoroughly charming fella, Milward reads from his latest novel with a handmade cardboard “block of flats” over his head. His account of the lives of the grimy, disaffected youth of a Middlesbrough tower block is one of the best reads of 2009 so far, spanning one massive paragraph that’s knee-deep in pop culture. Milward’s essay on Spacemen 3 features in the first issue of Loops, which is out in July 2009.

One of Faber’s most esteemed writers, Hanif Kureishi, is next, reading from his classic 1990 book The Buddha Of Suburbia. Kureishi is an engaging reader and his humourous writing comes to life on the stage as the teenaged character of Karim. Calling into question race, culture and identity, the light-hearted facade of The Buddha of Suburbia covers poignant issues articulately and profoundly.

Faber is famed for its pop culture releases and Eugene McGuinness from the Domino stable seems to bridge the gap between music and literature with ease. He plays acoustic versions of songs from his debut album, The Early Learnings Of Eugene McGuinness, and his eponymously titled second record. It’s a strong performance, with his cheeky chappy troubadour tales such as ‘Fonz’ and ‘Wendy Wonders’ delivered with confidence and a smattering of falsetto.

It really is the best of both worlds when music and literature cross – as Londoners have experienced previously at the brilliant monthly BookSlam event. Loops is set to be a sought after read for anyone who’s a sucker for the cream of pop culture.