What to Read: Sam Valenti IV is sourcing music for your Sundays
This week, we interviewed Sam Valenti IV, founder of the record label Ghostly International and a DJ, who writes Herb Sundays, a publication sharing a weekly playlist.
This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
What’s your Substack about in one sentence?
Intentional, handcrafted playlists from a new person each week.
Where does the name Herb Sundays come from?
In 2020 I started tweeting about some of my favorite records here and there, revisiting a lot of the softer or maybe “uncool” side of my collection. The name became a hashtag to tie that all together. The word “herb” is NYC slang for an uncool person, so it’s a little self-deprecating, but it’s a way to encourage my guests to know that it’s a safe space to share some of their secret tastes.
You’ve been in music since you were 18 years old. What motivated you to start a Substack about music now?
I always feel happier when I’m writing consistently, but I have had a hard time finding a theme I feel comfortable focusing on regularly. This publication is a way to show love to people and records I care about and also acts as a form of memoir for me. Each playlist curator has played a role in my life, so they evoke memories, even if distant.
You interview “world-class music fans” for this newsletter. What does it mean to be a world-class music fan?
My criteria is that the folks I ask for playlists have dedicated a large portion of their life to the search for music in some capacity. They don’t have to work in music, but music informs their work and is a big part of their inner life or sense of self.
Read more: Herb Sundays 25: Helado Negro and Herb Sundays 37: Sasha Frere-Jones
Why do you ask contributors for their Sunday mix specifically?
Music sort of hangs in the air differently on Sundays, so there’s a chance to really absorb it that is different than most days.
I definitely am a “Sunday scaries” person and have been since I was a kid, so I actually don’t like Sundays, but maybe this is a way to overcome that. The series gives me something to look forward to and always feels like a present to give and receive. Each mix is very personal, and the curator’s personality shines through even with minimal context, so it forms a little conversation. I also send each edition to my friend, the artist and designer Michael Cina, who makes a cover for each one, so it’s a nice process that is low-stakes.
Music sort of hangs in the air differently on Sundays, so there’s a chance to really absorb it that is different than most days.
What’s been the most surprising song or playlist shared with you so far?
Dave 1 from Chromeo went really deep into his musical history and into lanes I didn’t expect. This Trevor Jackson playlist really got to me with a sort of a slant of the ’80s.
Read more: Herb Sundays 29: Dave 1 & Herb Sundays 17: Trevor Jackson
Who’s another Substack writer you’d recommend?
I’ve been consistently surprised by Dirt and its approach to pop culture that somehow ties together although the subjects are diverse.
Browse the Substack publications Sam recommends here.
Subscribe to Sam’s newsletter, Herb Sundays, and find him on Twitter and Instagram.
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