đď¸ The Twelve Inch Gets Two Sides (And Youâre Invited to Flip the Record)
Some Housekeeping & Fun Announcements
I was going to start this Fridayâs episode with a bit of housekeeping.
But, in true Twelve Inch fashion, it got too long. đ
Which is ironic, because length is exactly what I want to talk about.
If you read last weekâs Polnareff piece (especially the transatlantic collaboration with Brad Kyle), youâll know what I mean. I was incredibly happy with how that one turned out. The EuropeâAmerica connection. The cross-perspective storytelling. The way the history of dance music felt truly interwoven.
Judging by your reactions, it resonated.
But it was⌠long.
And while I love going deep, you know that, I also want these stories to be a pleasure to read. Dance music is joy. It shouldnât feel like homework.
đ Why Iâm Changing the Structure
Over the past few months, Iâve experimented.
Splitting episodes in two. Publishing the same weekend. Spacing them a week apart. Trimming harder. Restructuring.
But the real answer was staring me in the face all along.
This newsletter is called The Twelve Inch for a reason.
Two years ago, at the start, I explained that the lifespan of the 12-inch single mirrors the 1975â1995 era Iâm writing about. The format wasnât just a container for music, it shaped the culture. It gave us the extended mix, the dub, the instrumental, the acapella.
So why not let the newsletter reflect that?
đż From Now On: Side A & Side B
Starting next episode, The Twelve Inch will officially have two sides.
âśď¸
Side A â The Extended Mix
This is the main story.
Published every Friday.
Free, as always.
Itâs the narrative arc. The history. The context. The deep dive.
Yes, my writing will remain prolific. Donât worry. đ (itâs an âExtendedâ mix after all)
But by creating a natural âflip side,â I can keep it sharper and more readable.
đ
Side B â Beats, Acapella & Dub
Published on Saturday.
This is where things get extra.
Side B will include:
The Beats â spillover details, additional context, extra explanations
The Acapella â behind-the-scenes research, personal connections, collector insights
The Dub â Every week I build a full soundtrack to accompany the story. That DJ set is one of the real joys of this adventure. It deserves its own space.
tracks that didnât make the mix
personal top 10s of tracks I want you to (re)discover
forgotten gems
crate-digging stories
notes on the weekly YouTube & Mixcloud soundtrack
Side B is where we go deeper. Where I take you into my archive. Into my collection. Into my search for the obscure.
Side B will become paywalled once Iâve found the right rhythm.
đź Whatâs Not Changing
Longer industry deep dives, like the Casablanca Records story, arenât disappearing. They are less frequent and only published when fully ready.
As you know, I approach this as both fan and historian. I enjoy the thrill of discovery, but I also believe in checking sources, double-checking facts, and building on solid ground.
One day, maybe, weâll venture into âwhat ifâŚâ alternative dance-music history.
But not yet. đ
đ¤ Building This Together
More than anything, I want this to become:
A trusted database of dance music history
A living archive of the 12-inch era
A community of people reconnecting with the sounds that shaped them
If youâve been enjoying the ride, now is a great moment to consider becoming a paid subscriber.
To celebrate this new Side A / Side B structure, Iâm offering:
đ 20% off all paid subscriptions during March
Your support makes this sustainable. It allows me to keep researching, writing, mixing, and building this into something lasting.
Flip the record with me.
Click here to claim your discount
Iâm very curious to hear what you think, about the new structure, about Side B, and about where I could best host curated playlists (Iâm still searching for a platform that feels right).
As always:
Thank you for reading.
Thank you for listening.
And thank you for being part of this. đ