Christian Finnegan's Mission to Introduce New Music to Older Fans

Explore how comedian Christian Finnegan bridges generations by spotlighting new music for older listeners seeking fresh sounds.

Songs and Dogs: The Two Pillars of Life

“There’s really only two things you can count on in this world: songs and dogs. Those are the two things that never will let you down.”

That’s comedian and lifelong music enthusiast Christian Finnegan’s heartfelt credo. It perfectly captures the comfort that music and companionship bring amid life’s whirlwind. But Christian also recognizes a bittersweet truth for music lovers as they age: keeping up with new tunes gets tougher.

“Obviously there are tactile reasons why someone my age—uh, 52—might not be absorbing a lot of music,” he admits. “They have children, jobs, lives—it just isn’t part of their weekly practice to seek things out. But sometimes they also just feel that there’s so much out there, where do you even start?”

New Music for Olds: A Newsletter with a Twist

If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. Finnegan’s answer to this musical overwhelm? His bi-weekly-ish Substack newsletter, New Music For Olds. Since 2022, he’s dropped 86 editions, each handpicking at least three fresh artists that might be new even to casual fans of his generation.

But what makes Finnegan’s picks so unique isn’t just the music—it’s how he presents it. Rather than dry industry jargon, he crafts descriptions that speak Gen X fluently. Take Preoccupations’ “Andromeda” for instance: he dubs it “that romantic-but-jittery sound that would fit snugly into an early episode of 120 Minutes, sandwiched between the Church and Peter Murphy.”

Each recommendation is wrapped with:

• A Voltage ranking (think: volume and energy; Preoccupations scored a 6)
• A Pairing Suggestion (the vibe activity; “Eyes closed, swaying in a vaguely rhythmic fashion”)
• And a meme-like visual punchline (cue MTV’s Dave Kendall in jean shorts)

This combo creates a vibe reminiscent of those college days when you’d debate music with friends in the car, full of passion and personality.

Keeping Music Fun, Real, and Relatable

“That’s the spirit I’ve tried to bring to the newsletter. This isn’t me going through a bio of every artist, and it’s not me trying to throw in as many rock writer cliches—you know, ‘shimmering guitars’ and all that stuff that drives me batshit,” Finnegan says with a chuckle.

His goal is to talk about music the way he and his friends would’ve back in the day—focusing on the feelings music evokes and what sticks out.

“And if that means, ‘oh, I like this song because it reminds me of my third grade gym teacher,’ then that’s fine,” he continues. “That’s the way people experience music in their actual lives. Sometimes it’s, ‘I really love the way the vocals are stacked,’ or ‘I really love that guitar tone.’ But sometimes it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this sounds like something you’d hear at an amusement park when you were a kid.’”

How Does Christian Find New Music?

You might think this kind of discovery takes hours of research or some secret underground scene. Nope. Christian’s approach is surprisingly simple.

“It’s not really any more laborious than just going through the new release section and just clicking on stuff,” he explains.

He mainly samples fresh tracks on Apple Music, sometimes guided by writers he respects, but largely it’s about clicking on an album cover that catches his eye or following a friend’s recommendation. If a song doesn’t grab him within 90 seconds, he’s off to the next.

And here’s a sweet secret weapon: dog walks.

“Having a dog helps. Like, dog walks are great for that.”

Forget the Pressure—Tune Into What Feels Good

One of the biggest hurdles for older listeners trying to stay current is feeling the pressure to be “in the know.”

“If you’re trying to be aware of what’s cool, then you’re always going to be frustrated. Because the stuff that’s cool is not for you and you liking it will make it less cool.”

Instead, he follows a simple mantra: “If I stick to what feels good between my ears, that’s a much better metric than, ‘What am I supposed to be listening to right now?’”

Streaming: Blessing or Trap?

Reflecting on how we discover music today compared to the days of wandering through Tower Records, Finnegan acknowledges streaming’s double-edged nature.

“The algorithms trap you,” he says. “They know what you want. They feed you. It’s kind of like you have crappy frozen turkey burgers in your freezer. They’re there, you know what they are, so when you get hungry, you simply say, ‘Screw it. I’m just going to eat another turkey burger.’”

So, while streaming offers endless options at your fingertips, it can also box you into repetitive comfort zones.

Favorite Finds and the Joy of Sharing

Despite these challenges, Christian is eating well musically—finding gems that spark joy and connection.

Some recent favorites include:

• Magdalena Bay: “They’re retro, contemporary, and futuristic at the same time.”
• Die Spitz: “They have this song called ‘Throw Yourself to the Sword,’ which I’ve probably listened to about 40,000 times this week.”
• The Beths: “Not just their songs, which I love, but I love how much they all seem to like each other.”

Writing New Music For Olds also fulfills a creative itch for Finnegan—allowing him to toss in niche music jokes he can’t squeeze into his comedy sets. He likens it to being “the Nada Surf of comedy,” living the career he’s always wanted.

Most importantly, discovering new music keeps him feeling younger and alive.

“Younger, alive, engaged,” he says, as his mind forms new connections and pathways. “I promise that your life—for that next week or two when you find a song or an album that you really love—will have that new car smell that is increasingly rare as you get older.”

Wrapping It Up: The Magic of Fresh Tunes at Any Age

So, whether you’re a Gen Xer like Christian or simply someone who longs to keep your playlists exciting, his advice is gold: give yourself permission to explore without pressure, embrace what feels good, and let new music surprise you. The journey might just bring that fresh new-car-smell feeling back to your life.

FAQ

• How does Christian Finnegan select new music for his newsletter?
  He primarily browses new releases on Apple Music and follows recommendations from trusted music writers, sampling tracks casually without pressure.
• What makes New Music For Olds different from other music newsletters?
  The newsletter speaks directly to older listeners with relatable descriptions and humor, focusing on feelings and nostalgia rather than industry buzzwords.
• Does Finnegan think streaming algorithms help or hinder music discovery?
  He believes algorithms can trap listeners in comfort zones, making it harder to find genuinely new and exciting music.
• Why does Finnegan think discovering new music is important as we age?
  Discovering fresh sounds keeps him feeling younger and mentally engaged, sparking new connections in his brain.
• Can busy people realistically discover new music according to Finnegan?
  Absolutely. Finnegan suggests using moments like dog walks to casually sample and enjoy music without stress.

If you love diving deep into music and cherishing those album moments like Christian Finnegan, why not bring a little of that magic home? Shop your favorite album cover poster at Architeg Prints and keep the spirit of new music alive on your walls.