Ryan Dombal
@ryandombal.bsky.social
Founder, editor, and writer at hearingthings.co / @hearingthingsco.bsky.social
Formerly at Pitchfork, Blender, Entertainment Weekly, NYou, The Whitman Word
Formerly at Pitchfork, Blender, Entertainment Weekly, NYou, The Whitman Word
five years of umaw—lots of wins, and a lot that has yet to be won
members and organizers speak to me about their experiences battling the powers that be and why anyone who cares about music needs to take artists' rights seriously
members and organizers speak to me about their experiences battling the powers that be and why anyone who cares about music needs to take artists' rights seriously
At this point, for many artists, industry workers, and conscientious fans alike, UMAW is the most vital music advocacy group out there, offering a way for people to fight back against a system that seems more irredeemably fucked with every passing day
UMAW Is Changing How We Think About Musicians’ Rights
Five years after United Musicians and Allied Workers began its fight for a fairer industry, organizers and members consider how far they’ve come—and what’s next.
www.hearingthings.co
September 3, 2025 at 5:41 PM
five years of umaw—lots of wins, and a lot that has yet to be won
members and organizers speak to me about their experiences battling the powers that be and why anyone who cares about music needs to take artists' rights seriously
members and organizers speak to me about their experiences battling the powers that be and why anyone who cares about music needs to take artists' rights seriously
it's always incredible when an artist exceeds your own sky-high expectations. dijon did that. i wrote about it.
Dijon is shifting the sound of pop at its highest levels—a pursuit he continues with maniacal fervor on his second album, 𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺
Dijon Is Daddy
The musical omnivore’s outrageously great (and horny and wrenching) second album ‘Baby’ scrambles pop convention as it pays loving tribute to his wife and young son.
www.hearingthings.co
August 16, 2025 at 12:31 PM
it's always incredible when an artist exceeds your own sky-high expectations. dijon did that. i wrote about it.
it's a wrap
Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any more reasons to quit Spotify, the brutal news keeps coming
Why We Quit Spotify
Enough is enough
www.hearingthings.co
July 14, 2025 at 2:19 PM
it's a wrap
guaranteed catharsis + camaraderie at our summer party w/ infinity knives & brian ennals this thursday. tune in & show up!
We’re Throwing a Summer Party Starring Infinity Knives & Brian Ennals
Celebrate the sweaty season with the brilliantly unfiltered rap duo at Trans-Pecos in New York City on June 26.
www.hearingthings.co
June 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
guaranteed catharsis + camaraderie at our summer party w/ infinity knives & brian ennals this thursday. tune in & show up!
we write. we edit. we report. we listen. we decide.
we own our work.
plz support us if you're able.
thx!
we own our work.
plz support us if you're able.
thx!
An exciting housekeeping note from yours truly!
Hearing Things Is Now 100% Worker-Owned
A word from your fearless founders
www.hearingthings.co
May 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
we write. we edit. we report. we listen. we decide.
we own our work.
plz support us if you're able.
thx!
we own our work.
plz support us if you're able.
thx!
spoke w/ the almighty yeule about the songs they want to soundtrack their funeral for our existential playlist series. (to be clear, we wish for all the artists featured in this series to live very long lives!)
Yeule on the Music They Want to Soundtrack Their Funeral
The cybergoth star waxes philosophical on death, drugs, and sobriety—and details how they want their life to be celebrated with a furry-filled battle royale.
www.hearingthings.co
May 29, 2025 at 8:29 PM
spoke w/ the almighty yeule about the songs they want to soundtrack their funeral for our existential playlist series. (to be clear, we wish for all the artists featured in this series to live very long lives!)
spoke w/ one of my absolute favorite music critics, ben ratliff, about his new book 'run the song.' topics include listening as a superpower, describing as an act of faith, endlessness, Hendrix, Monk, and the aesthetic failures of jam bands
With His New Book ‘Run the Song,’ Ben Ratliff Searches for an Eternal Music
The professor and former ‘New York Times’ critic talks about how running and listening can be endless rituals that transcend our era of constant optimization.
www.hearingthings.co
May 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
spoke w/ one of my absolute favorite music critics, ben ratliff, about his new book 'run the song.' topics include listening as a superpower, describing as an act of faith, endlessness, Hendrix, Monk, and the aesthetic failures of jam bands
somewhere between what was, what is, and what will be, charli brought brat to brooklyn
How Much Charli XCX Is Too Much Charli XCX?
The pop star grappled with that very 2025 question on stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center last night.
www.hearingthings.co
May 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
somewhere between what was, what is, and what will be, charli brought brat to brooklyn
a probing, of-the-times piece by @cushac.bsky.social about musicians who are opting out of streaming and finding other ways to share their art and commune with listeners
Tune In, Drop Out
The independent musicians and labels who are saying no to streaming.
www.hearingthings.co
April 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
a probing, of-the-times piece by @cushac.bsky.social about musicians who are opting out of streaming and finding other ways to share their art and commune with listeners
tried to put my embarrassing late-night TV consumption to good use
Cypress Hill, Kims Gordon and Deal, Mannequin Pussy, Bartees Strange, Randy Newman... John Mulaney's refreshingly random weekly series is in the middle of a three-month run on Netflix, and its music has been unimpeachable thus far
The Last Great Hope for Music on Late-Night TV
John Mulaney’s Netflix show is resurrecting the art of the memorable musical moment.
www.hearingthings.co
April 25, 2025 at 7:17 PM
tried to put my embarrassing late-night TV consumption to good use
as it happens, i found the "happy" bon iver album to be kind of a bummer
Bon Iver Was Never Just Sad
On the project’s bifurcated fifth album, ‘Sable, Fable,’ Justin Vernon undercuts his music’s emotional complexity.
www.hearingthings.co
April 16, 2025 at 5:06 PM
as it happens, i found the "happy" bon iver album to be kind of a bummer
clear-eyed, heartwarming, and just very real—an incredible personal essay by @jillmapes.bsky.social about music, and listening, as legacy
Whether through Peter Gabriel's 1992 song "Kiss That Frog" or borrowed 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘦 and 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 CDs, the single-most important thing he gave me, besides unconditional love, was modeling how to use music in my life
I Learned to Listen From My Dad
He taught me a crucial survival skill when he passed down his rock’n’roll fandom.
www.hearingthings.co
April 15, 2025 at 6:32 PM
clear-eyed, heartwarming, and just very real—an incredible personal essay by @jillmapes.bsky.social about music, and listening, as legacy
i wrote abt the jane remover album, which is incredible
Jane Remover Takes Their Place as Hyperpop’s Vengeful Superhero on ‘Revengeseekerz’
A spectacular rupture of sound and vision, the album marks a new high for one of the decade’s most enthralling young artists.
www.hearingthings.co
April 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
i wrote abt the jane remover album, which is incredible
i really enjoy talking w/ dan bejar—even if he told me he was "very disturbed by having to do" this interview
Destroyer’s Dan Bejar on the Lyrics That Changed His Life
The wonderfully confounding indie-rock bard honors the pure poetry of Syd Barrett, Lou Reed, Jim Morrison, and more.
www.hearingthings.co
March 31, 2025 at 3:35 PM
i really enjoy talking w/ dan bejar—even if he told me he was "very disturbed by having to do" this interview
wrote about one of my all-time faves, tortured artists, near-death dramatics, fundamentals, permutations, and the eight versions of "spiders (kidsmoke)" on the a ghost is born super deluxe edition
How Wilco’s Massive ‘A Ghost Is Born’ Box Set Complicates the Album’s Harrowing Myth
Jeff Tweedy thought he was going to die while making the 2004 art-rock masterpiece. But there’s more to this album’s story than tortured-artist tropes.
www.hearingthings.co
March 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
wrote about one of my all-time faves, tortured artists, near-death dramatics, fundamentals, permutations, and the eight versions of "spiders (kidsmoke)" on the a ghost is born super deluxe edition
oh wow, we're throwing our first hearing things party! music and merriment, offline and in person. it's going to be great.
would love to see you there!
would love to see you there!
We’re Throwing a Party and You’re Invited
March 20, Hearing Things takes over Trans-Pecos with a live performance from Lollise and vinyl DJ sets from Edan and our own Andy Cush.
www.hearingthings.co
March 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
oh wow, we're throwing our first hearing things party! music and merriment, offline and in person. it's going to be great.
would love to see you there!
would love to see you there!
got a lil existential w/ magdalena bay for our new interview series abt funeral music—immortality, cremation, billy joel, we get to it all
The prog-pop duo go deep on Genesis, Coltrane, ELO, and more—all the music that would play at their extremely groovy and surreal memorial service www.hearingthings.co/magdalena-ba...
Magdalena Bay on the Songs They Want to Soundtrack Their Funeral
The synth-pop seekers get existential while talking about communing with the music of Billy Joel, John Coltrane, ELO, and more.
www.hearingthings.co
February 6, 2025 at 3:39 PM
got a lil existential w/ magdalena bay for our new interview series abt funeral music—immortality, cremation, billy joel, we get to it all
many choice insights from malkmus & sweeney here, including: "When you would go see the Fall, you would be like, 'This guy has bad vibes, he doesn’t like me, and he thinks I’m a loser—but I’m still gonna copy him.' I don’t see that as much anymore. It’s like all the bands are forced to beg now."
Stephen Malkmus and Matt Sweeney, indie legends and current bandmates in the Hard Quartet, spoke to us about their favorite lyrics—and how they write their own. Plus find out what 1959 English folk track Sweeney calls "the scariest fucking song I’ve ever heard"
Stephen Malkmus and Matt Sweeney on the Lyrics That Changed Their Lives
The indie heroes and Hard Quartet bandmates talk about songs that made them think: What the fuck is going on in here?
www.hearingthings.co
January 31, 2025 at 3:41 PM
many choice insights from malkmus & sweeney here, including: "When you would go see the Fall, you would be like, 'This guy has bad vibes, he doesn’t like me, and he thinks I’m a loser—but I’m still gonna copy him.' I don’t see that as much anymore. It’s like all the bands are forced to beg now."
so david lynch called me "baby" once, and you can hear it
meanwhile i will be screaming like laura until further notice
meanwhile i will be screaming like laura until further notice
David Lynch was a visionary filmmaker, but he was also an accomplished as a songwriter and musician. From his extensive work with Angelo Badalamenti to his deft and haunting curation, his impact on music in cinema was unparalleled. Here's a look back at our fave moments and a query for yours, too.
What’s Your Favorite David Lynch Musical Moment?
No director used sound and music in such a specifically eerie way.
www.hearingthings.co
January 17, 2025 at 7:48 PM
so david lynch called me "baby" once, and you can hear it
meanwhile i will be screaming like laura until further notice
meanwhile i will be screaming like laura until further notice
at hearing things, we take pride in giving new artists the space and consideration they likely wouldn't receive elsewhere. in that spirit, i'm excited to present my profile on the wise and wary electro-pop-folk genius emory!
Emory’s Post-TikTok Pop
Here’s an impressive young artist who would much rather spend time building a real-life community around her work than figure out how to promote herself online.
www.hearingthings.co
January 16, 2025 at 2:31 PM
at hearing things, we take pride in giving new artists the space and consideration they likely wouldn't receive elsewhere. in that spirit, i'm excited to present my profile on the wise and wary electro-pop-folk genius emory!
Reposted by Ryan Dombal
editable/addable spreadsheet of music industry folks who have lost their homes to the fires, along with gofundme links and immediate requests where applicable. for sharing docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Support The Music Community - Fire Loss
docs.google.com
January 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
editable/addable spreadsheet of music industry folks who have lost their homes to the fires, along with gofundme links and immediate requests where applicable. for sharing docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Bad Bunny's 𝘋𝘦𝘣𝘪́ 𝘛𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘳 𝘔𝘢́𝘴 𝘍𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘴 is a wise, purposeful, and textured love letter to Puerto Rico’s indigenous and homegrown musical styles as well as a direct treatise for its cultural and environmental preservation. It's a must-hear from us.
www.hearingthings.co/bad-bunny-al...
www.hearingthings.co/bad-bunny-al...
Bad Bunny ❤️ PR
The superstar finds freedom amid his homeland’s glories and struggles on ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos.’
www.hearingthings.co
January 8, 2025 at 7:55 PM
if you are a fan of arts criticism and/or vampires and/or "love shack," wesley morris' 'nosferatu' review is a must-read
that kicker!
that kicker!
‘Nosferatu’ Review: Drac’s Back, Sucking Blood and Souls (Gift Article)
The director Robert Eggers dares you to feel seduced in his take on the classic vampire tale, starring Bill Skarsgard and Lily Rose Depp.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2024 at 5:01 PM
if you are a fan of arts criticism and/or vampires and/or "love shack," wesley morris' 'nosferatu' review is a must-read
that kicker!
that kicker!
some year-end thoughts about four artists of a certain age—millennial, geriatric—who released albums that made me think about what's next for our cursed ilk
How Four Elder Millennial Indie Artists Embraced Middle Age in 2024
Vampire Weekend, How to Dress Well, Bat for Lashes, and Los Campesinos! all returned with their most rewarding albums in more than a decade.
www.hearingthings.co
December 30, 2024 at 7:36 PM
some year-end thoughts about four artists of a certain age—millennial, geriatric—who released albums that made me think about what's next for our cursed ilk
this is the first time since the george w. bush administration that i'm not involved in pitchfork's year-end lists. it's weird. but also kind of nice! here are a bunch of things i enjoyed this year. i hope you find something new to like too.
Ryan’s Favorite Music of 2024
Including TikTok mashups and epic albums, ambient jazz and sugar-rush pop, beloved stalwarts and geniuses you’ve never heard of
www.hearingthings.co
December 19, 2024 at 3:08 PM
this is the first time since the george w. bush administration that i'm not involved in pitchfork's year-end lists. it's weird. but also kind of nice! here are a bunch of things i enjoyed this year. i hope you find something new to like too.