On My Radar: Coke Youngblood

What’s the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

I loved the recent Progressive Insurance Dr. Rick ads, about people turning into their parents. They make me laugh and I always look forward to seeing the new ones. 

What website(s) do you use most regularly? 

Reddit, by far. For whether you’re looking for good restaurants, how someone made a certain synth or guitar sound, or a random question you need the answer to. I like that it’s real people answering each post. Of course, they’re not always right, but at least you know (for the most part) that it’s their honest opinion. 

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought? 

I guess it’s not recent anymore, but my Kemper amp has been a huge game-changer for me. I have tried every amp simulator you can think of and nothing even comes close to the Kemper. I have been a guitar player all my life and I can’t tell the difference between the Kemper and the real thing; yes, it really is that good, and no, I’m not endorsed by them! 

What product could you not live without? 

It would have to be my new acoustic sound treatment. I think people in this industry vastly underestimate the necessity of it. You can have the best gear and the best monitors, but if you can’t hear the music accurately, none of that matters. Invest in acoustical treatment first! 

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year? 

It would have to be two: Anora and The Substance. I’m so over superhero and cookie-cutter movies. Give me something weird, give me something interesting. Both of these movies break the mould and have a great message. I highly recommend them. 

What film do you think everyone should have seen? 

If we’re talking recent, then the ones I mentioned above. The Substance in particular has some heavy nods to some of my favourite horror directors: Cronenberg, Kubrick, Lynch, etc. It’s a wild ride. 

What’s your preferred social media platform? 

I’m on social media less and less these days. I still use Reddit and Instagram from time to time. 

What’s your favourite TV show? 

I’m mainly watching movies these days, as it’s hard for me to commit to hours upon hours of a TV show, get invested, and then have to wait sometimes years for a new season. That being said, I do love Severance and can’t wait for its return. I love the mood and the weird sci-fi futuristic aspect of it, and I think Theodore Shapiro did a FANTASTIC job with the music. I love the score so much. 

What’s your favourite podcast? 

I’ve recently been listening to What Went Wrong. It’s a deep dive into massive blockbuster flops and hits and why they did or didn’t work. It really makes you realise that making a movie is incredibly difficult, and making a good one is nearly impossible. 

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently? 

I went to the Basquiat exhibit when it was in LA. It was amazing to see his old school drawing books, and the progression of his art until he eventually found his voice. 

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be? 

Wow, what a difficult question to answer. I guess, at this point in my life, it would have to be someone who has an extensive catalog, and that I could study and learn from forever. That being said, it would probably be one of the greats: Mozart, Beethoven or Bach.