A name by any other rose
A lot of people have asked us where the name Lost At E Minor comes from and what the phrase implies. Well, several years ago I came across a compilation of obscure electro music called Famous When Dead, which is off the commendably experimental German label, Playhouse. One of the tracks on the album was by the production duo, Light Fantastic, and was titled Lost At C Minor. It’s an awesome song which weaves and winds its way through several distinct melodic changes. Anyway, the name kinda stuck in my head. There was something quite beautiful about the symbolism of being lost in a minor key world. C Minor is an interesting chord, but being a musician with an ear for the melancholic, I’ve long thought that E Minor was the most evocative and honest of the keys – haunting, endearing, a little sombre, yet strangely uplifting. So when we were brainstorming a name for this website and newsletter that would showcase all the magnificent cultural things that we love, the name Lost At E Minor leapt out just like the song had done the first time I heard it. It captures the immediacy of the moment but also hints at the depth of those that we feature. But above all, it’s about total immersion in this artistic, creative world we seek to create where anything is truly possible. [illustration by Sam Weber]
Tagged: Lost At E Minor, sam weber
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YOU'RE SAYING (6)
Gary said | 2 October, 2006
Oooo… That’s how the name was derived. Been wondering about it myself really. Interesting, never thought of that. Thanks. 
Zac said | 2 October, 2006
nice theory jake. makes alot of sense too. maybe subconsciously there’s something in that. hey, and gary, i know you love your rock music, so i have a tip for you to check out if you haven’t already: two gallants. american duo. so good.
ellyy said | 2 October, 2006
What a beautiful story, strange too cause when I was trying to find a blog name I pressed some random keys on my piano to find a chord I liked and then rearranged the note letters to form a name.
I came up with eggface, but I think yours is far more poetic. Great minds eh? :}
Sophie Ward said | 14 December, 2008
I love your site, it is regular bliss, constantly changing and always interesting. I’ve played piano since I was 8 years old, and have a weird brain for nifty word constructions…. Everything you share is exactly what I enjoy. Thank you for keeping a true pulse on what is happening in our culture. You all rock at E Minor.
The Beautiful Kind said | 8 October, 2009
I’m so glad you shared this! I love how things play out like this, like serendipity. Here’s to haunting and endearing!
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Jake said | 1 October, 2006
It’s funny you say that.
I actually thought that the name “Lost at E Minor” was selected for an entirely different reason. The E minor chord is probably the most basic of any chord played on a standard guitar, and thus the first chord which most beginners will learn.
I had assumed that Lost at E Minor was a tongue-in-cheek mention of this basic chord, and a reflection of our ever shortening attention spans as consumers in the digital age.
Maybe I should stop thinking about this sorta stuff so much….