in ten' shənz

Atlanta has every right to think of itself as a cosmopolitan city; there are, after all, almost two million of us who daily curse each other on the downtown connector.

It is a city whose life encompasses America and the world. It has international restaurants, theater, professional sports, films and art exhibits from around the world, several large universities in close proximity and other "cosmopolitan" characteristics too numerous to name.

Yet for all this, there is only one serious publication in town devoted to examining and commenting on these aspects of culture which shape our city and lives.

Others have tried:

The Atlanta Gazette, and The Marquee - R.I.P.

The Atlanta Concert Calendar - In Limbo.

Creative Loafing . . . ?

But now it's our turn.

As the name implies, MUZIK! is a periodical concerned with and devoted to music journalism. In Atlanta, in the United States, and around the world.

In Atlanta: The music a) community, b) scene, c) situation (pick one) is growing as fast or faster than the city itself, and aside from the one voice which can be read daily, there is no publication which comprehensively documents, reports or analyzes its changes. One of our goals at MUZIK! is to keep you informed of musical directions in Atlanta.

In the States: What kind of music is being played in the lofts in the Village? How about the blues scene in Chicago? Or Tex-Mex in the southwest?

"This land is your land," sang Woody Guthrie, "This land is my land/From California to the New York Island." And so is this land's music.

We will be spotlighting different genres of American music in upcoming issues, as well as providing in-depth interviews and features on those in the forefront of American musical development- from Captain Beefheart in the Mojave Desert, to the folkies in the heartland, to the next wave that rolls out of New York City.

Around the world: Musicians from all parts of the globe perform in Atlanta. Jack Bruce (England), Nana Vasconcelos (Brazil) and the AEC (Africa by way of Chicago) come immediately to mind. We will report on their music and see through their eyes how the world views ours.

MUZIK! hopes to fill a journalistic void in Atlanta with reporting that is progressive, diversified and interesting. We will do this monthly (for free!) and ask for your support and comments (P.O. Box 49292, Atlanta, GA 30359).

- Steve Hurlburt