Critical Listening Episode 6: Why Sound Matters w/ Damon Krukowski
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Oct 20, 2025 Damon Krukowski, a musician known for his bands Galaxie 500 and Damon & Naomi, discusses his book, Why Sound Matters. He explores why sound's materiality relates to labor issues in music and outlines the impact of noise pollution and AI-generated clutter. Damon contrasts musician perspectives on field recording with sound art and shares insights on how community-building among musicians has eroded in the digital age. His call to action emphasizes recognizing musicians as laborers, advocating for fair compensation in streaming.
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Sound As A Material And Labor
- Damon argues sound is a physical material we shape, and that recognizing materiality opens routes to value it through labor.
- Framing music as sound-with-labor shows why musicians deserve economic recognition and pay.
Sonic Waste Mirrors Environmental Pollution
- Damon links environmental noise and digital 'waste' music as parallel pollutants produced by capitalism.
- He warns AI-driven uploads create massive sonic waste similar to physical noise pollution.
Writer-First Path Before Music Career
- Damon recounts studying literature and creative writing first, then becoming a musician while apprenticing with poets like Charles Simic.
- He stayed enrolled in grad school through Galaxy 500's lifespan and balanced writing with touring.
