For the latest installment of our new Q&A series, we chatted to David Johnson-Igra of SF Critic  Read on below to find out more, and see which blogs could be up next. Tune in soon for the next Q&A post.

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Name
David Johnson-Igra

Blog
SF Critic

Location
San Francisco

When did you start your blog?
June 2008

First album you ever bought?
It was either Pearl Jam’s “Vs.” or MC Hammer’s “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em.” I’ve been all over the map, even as a little kid.

Sound of 2011?
Dubstep—I don’t listen to it much—but you can’t ignore its presence. I feel though that 90s R&B is coming back though.

Favorite record of 2010?
Toro Y Moi “Causers Of This”

Best show you’ve been to recently?
Cults was fantastic. I was impressed by Madeline Folin’s voice. The album make her seem alot more childlike, whereas in person, she hits some deep notes. But memorable, like Black Rob “Whoa!,” has to be Little Dragon. Just remembering the bizarre back drop, Yukimi Nagano singing with a scarf covering her face, and the crazy hippie dancing in front of me, makes me wonder whether there were any drugs in my whiskey and ginger.

Regular stops on the festival circuit?
SXSW, Outside Lands, but soon CMJ and Lollapolooza

Any new discoveries at SXSW this year?
I was impressed with Givers. Obviously not a new discovery, but Friendly Fires were also incredible.

What’s your experience with blog showcases? Stressful, worthwhile, (both!)?
Blog what? Too many people doing it—no thanks. I organize music industry mixers instead, so that I can hang with new, old, and potential friends in the industry.

How do you deal with the inevitable onslaught of emails? And how much of them do you actually read?
During the weekends I hide from my emails. Like literally, I put my computer in a corner of the room, and maneuver my way around the room so it doesn’t see me. It’s my way of saying, “You can’t get me!” Ultimately, this has it shortcomings. By Monday I have an onslaught of mail that slaughters my day. Do I read them all? Let me ask you this: do you listen to all the advice your mother gives you? No. I see subject headlines, names I recognize, and read those. The rest either get deleted or put into a box, which I swear, someday I’ll discover.

How much of a factor is design for music blogs?
I think it’s huge. I mean aesthetically a simple blog may work with the brand/idea of that blog. Regardless, organization and “design” become really important when you have thousands of posts.

Guilty pleasures?
Ace of Base or Soul 4 Real

Last book read?
This is going to sound ridiculous, but a debate between Foucault and Chomsky.

Are you on last.fm? Who are your most listened to artists, or best new suggestions?
At this point I imagine this question is dated. My suggestions recently? On the not so obscure end, Cults or STRFCKR. I was also obsessed for a while with The Weeknd’s album (I’m paying close attention to Illangelo) and Frank Ocean.

Craziest perk or experience you’ve had as a result of your blog?
Obviously getting the opportunity to talk to bands is an amazing perk. I got the chance to speak to my celebrity crush, Annie Clark. I asked completely unprofessional questions (in a very flirty tone which I later realized when I listened to my transcript) like “Who is your John? Do you have a John right now?”

Though at last years ACL, I attended a private house party where I watched Local Natives sound check,
while shooting the shit with Matt & Kim—that was definitely a pretty surreal moment.  
Any tips for our aspiring music bloggers?
Know what you want to accomplish. I’m not one of those bloggers that will say you should  ”Do it for the love it” or “Bloggers can make money if they want to.” Both are true, but make sure that when you start, you know which is most important to you, and run with it. You can do both, but I assure you, there will be times you’ll likely have to make compromises.

Who should we interview next?
Tsururadio, the blogger’s Hefner, or Chris of Culture Bully, whose like the OG for me of blogging.

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