Art & Creativity Quote by Mark Edwards

“I am pretty detached from the local music crowd though” reads like a soft confession with a built-in shield. The phrase “pretty detached” is doing diplomatic work: it’s casual enough to avoid sounding bitter, but specific enough to signal distance as a choice, not a failure to belong. Edwards isn’t just describing his social calendar; he’s narrating his position in a scene that’s built on proximity, mutual favors, and constant visibility.

The subtext is status management. As a celebrity, admitting you’re not embedded locally can sound like disloyalty or arrogance, so he adds “though” as a little shrug at the end - a verbal gesture that says, don’t overread this, I’m not making a statement. Of course he is. Detachment can be a survival strategy: local scenes often demand performative participation (shows, hangs, collaborations, praise on social media) and punish absence with suspicion. Saying it out loud pre-empts the inevitable questions: Why don’t we see you around? Who do you think you are?

There’s also a quiet critique of how “crowd” functions. It frames the community as a mass - a social blob with politics, hierarchies, and noise - rather than as peers or friends. That word choice hints at alienation, maybe even disappointment, while staying polite. In a cultural moment where authenticity is policed and networking is mistaken for art, Edwards’ detachment doubles as brand protection: distance keeps you from the drama, but it also keeps you from the warmth.