Backstage Burrow with Sadie

Sadie's Backstage Burrow: The Official Intro

Backstage Burrow — How Humans First Locked Down Their Tunes (Part 2)

Ep7-2026

Welcome back to the Backstage Burrow for Episode 7! In this episode, we run zoomies through the history of Western music notation to explore how a chaotic need for standardization sparked a brilliant visual revolution. From Charlemagne’s aggressive 800 AD decree forcing the rise of "neumes"—small squiggles and dots used as memory aids—to Guido of Arezzo hyping up the drawing of actual lines on a page to unlock sight-reading, we examine how medieval innovators completely transformed the underlying framework of human creativity.

Backstage Burrow — How Humans First Locked Down Their Tunes (Part 1)

Ep6-2026

Hi everybunny! Welcome back to the Backstage Burrow! 🐰🌾 Today, we are running zoomies through time to uncover the wild, weird, and wonderful roots of how humans first figured out how to lock down their tunes in a tangible way. Long before you could just drop a link or print sheet music, passing down songs meant relying entirely on a high-stakes game of oral tradition and human memory—from intense apprenticeships in India to 1,000-year-old court traditions in Japan. But what happens when ancient civilizations try to "freeze" sound onto Sumerian stone tablets, Chinese bells, or Greek inscriptions? 📜🗿

Hey everyone! It’s been a bit quiet in our cozy little tunnel lately, and I wanted to check in. I know I’ve been away from the desk for a minute, but the truth is, the "backstage" has been a little chaotic with other work, and I haven’t had the headspace to properly uncover the wild stories I want to share with you.

I’m taking another week or two to reset so I can keep bringing you the wild, weird, and wonderful deep dives you expect.

🥕 A Little Teaser for the Wait:

I am currently deep in the archives of Medieval and Renaissance Europe! I’m uncovering how the birth of music notation wasn't just about writing things down—it actually triggered a massive wave of innovation. I’m so excited to share these discoveries once I’m back at 100%!

I also want to say a massive thank you for being the most patient fellow burrowers a bunny could ask for. Having you all hanging out in this burrow with me is what makes these deep dives so special, and I’m so grateful you’re willing to wait while I get the Burrow back in order.

Stay curious, and I'll see you in the Burrow soon!

Backstage Burrow Ep5-2026: Moog v. Buchla: The Analog Revolution

Backstage Burrow Ep4-2026: How One File Format Sparked a Music Revolution

Backstage Burrow Ep3-2026: Pipe Dreams

Backstage Burrow Ep2-2026

🎸🐰 From quiet strummer to cultural thunder — how the electric guitar found its voice.

Take a cozy hop into the hidden history of amplification, innovation, and rebellious noise as we trace the guitar’s journey from back‑row rhythm keeper to electrified icon. From Hawaiian lap steels to “broomstick with pickups” prototypes, this episode uncovers how marginalized musicians, bold tinkerers, and a few happy accidents reshaped American sound.

Backstage Burrow Ep1-2026 - Charles Ives: The Musical Agent of Chaos!

🎶🐰 Dive into the chaotic genius of Charles Ives!

Join me, your resident bunny‑host, on a whirlwind hop through American music history as we explore how one curious, chaos‑loving composer helped shape a truly original, national sound. Inspired by his father’s wild sonic experiments, Charles grew up to create rule‑breaking, ahead‑of‑its‑time masterpieces. This episode uncovers how barn dances, marching bands, hymns, and pure creative mischief fused into something unmistakably American. Let’s hop into the noise and find the music hiding inside everyday life.

Two important sources of information for this episode are:

Swafford, Jan. “Ives the Man: His Life | Charlesives.org.” Charlesives.org, 1998, charlesives.org/ives-man-his-life.

Koopol eires Celfon. “Leonard Bernstein on Charles Ives Symphony N 2 (SUB SPA).” YouTube, 7 Aug. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MMkP3aZIxw. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.