Christian John Wikane chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about his book “A Night at the Disco” and other projects.
He wrote the liner notes for the “Donna Summer: The Casablanca Studio Albums” box set, which came out on October 2nd. He was a part of a nationwide US 30-date book signing tour for “A Night At The Disco.” He was an integral part for Donna’s family for the HBO documentary that Donna’s daughter Brooklyn directed.
How was the experience assembling ‘A Night at the Disco’?
I had the best time with the book. It was so much fun. I went on a 30-city promotional tour, traveling to cities all over the country and also visiting Canada. It was a peak experience of my life.
What was your favorite part of the book-writing process?
My favorite part about writing A Night at the Disco was being able to bring together a variety of artists representing a variety of genres. For me, A Night at the Disco is more about the music that was played in the disco than disco as a genre.
I wanted to show that there was a foundation beginning in the early 1970s that carried through the entire decade. Being able to bring together 112 artists was a dream come true because I feel disco is far more multifaceted than a lot of people realize.
What was it like writing the liner notes for Kim Carnes’ box set collection?
I had a wonderful time writing the liner notes for Kim Carnes’ box set because she is an exceptional singer-songwriter. I feel her career has so many different chapters, and each of them is distinct in its own way.
I think it’s interesting that she started out as a singer-songwriter in the ’70s and was then able to bridge into the 1980s by recording New Wave and dance music. Not a lot of her contemporaries made that transition successfully, but she did.
How does it feel to be part of the digital age?
I feel like it is the digital age, and I’m glad to be in the mix of it. It’s where things are happening right now, and it’s just as valid as the analog age. Being able to bring those two spheres together is really powerful.
What are your plans for the future?
My plans are to continue writing and working on documentaries. I also have an interview series that I produce here in New York, and that has a lot of momentum behind it. So, next year looks to be pretty exciting.
What’s your favorite Donna Summer song?
“Dim All the Lights.”
Were there any moments in your career that helped define you?
I think my first interview defined me. My first interview was with Donna Summer in 2003, and that just set everything in motion. Everything that happened afterward is a result of that interview and my lifelong admiration for her music.
What is the title of the current chapter of your life?
To Be Continued…
What would your superpower of choice be?
Healing pain… healing people’s pain.
What does success mean to you?
Success means satisfaction and joy in who I am as a writer and who I am as a friend.
What’s your advice for young and emerging journalists who want to enter the field professionally?
Begin. Just start.
Don’t let fear of the process deter you from starting. You have to just start. Even if you’re writing on your laptop by yourself and no one else reads it, it’s important to get the words out, because that’s what I did.
I would just write for myself. Whether or not I realized it at the time, I was sharpening the skills that I would eventually draw upon when I became a professional journalist.
So, I think the most important thing is simply to begin… to get the wheels turning rather than waiting for something to happen. Nothing is going to come to you; you have to make it happen yourself.
What would you like to say to the readers of A Night at the Disco?
I would encourage readers to go to the source of the music. Play the vinyl records. Get lost in the music. Dance with your friends, dance by yourself, and remember that this era sparked a whole phenomenon that is still relevant today.
It’s easy to take these songs for granted because we hear them all the time. But there’s a reason we hear them all the time: they’re incredible productions, and we had musicians and vocalists who were at the top of their game.
I can still feel that when I listen to the music, and I hope other readers have that same experience.
What’s the one thing you want people to get out of the Kim Carnes box set collection?
I would love listeners to find themselves in Kim’s music… in a love song that speaks directly to the heart, or in a story that’s a beautiful character study that they themselves might identify with, like “Paris Without You” or “Jamaica Sunday Morning.”
She wrote these beautiful songs that were like paintings coming to life. For me, I respond to her music because, in a way, I can see myself in it. I hope listeners have that experience as well.
Donna Summer’s box set is available by clicking here.
Kim Carnes’ upcoming box set is available for pre-order by clicking here.
For more information on Christian John Wikane, check out his official website.
