Journal
- Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Composer Donnacha Dennehy, whose piece Land of Winter, performed by Alarm Will Sound and conductor Alan Pierson, was released earlier this month on Nonesuch, shares some insight on the work, which explores the subtleties of Ireland’s seasons via twelve connected sections representing the months of the year, in a new essay. "It is the varying quality of light that truly demarcates the seasons," he says, "from the shorter days of grey or piercing light in the winter to the warmer but mercurial light of summer days that at solstice stretch almost to midnight. I like this play between light and time, and it is the major inspiration behind the piece."
Journal Topics: Artist Essays, Artist News
- Saturday, April 25, 2020
Devendra Banhart curated a series of workshops for children titled Imaginary Universes, for Fondazione Prada's Accademia dei bambini in Milan in 2018. Now, the foundation has made the first workshop, "The Astonishing Adventures of a Celestial Archaeologist," available online as a resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers. It is part of the foundation's Accademia Aperta initiative to share materials during its temporary closure and the wider coronavirus quarantine. You can watch it here, along with the animated film shown at the workshop set to Banhart's song "Celebration."
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoFriday, April 24, 2020Chris Thile performed "This Is the Song (Good Luck)"—from Punch Brothers' 2010 album, Antifogmatic—with the band of his public radio show Live From Here, each in their respective homes, for a special #LiveFromHome broadcast on April 11. You can watch it here, as well as Thile's solo performance, and Punch Brothers' own 2010 performance of the song.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Radio, VideoThursday, April 23, 2020Lake Street Dive, whose Lounge Around Sounds tour was due to be taking place now, brought some of the joy and silliness of the planned tour from their own homes to those of fans around the world last night with the online Lounge Around Sounds Variety Hour of music, story-telling, jokes, games, and one very special guest. It was an hour of pay-what-you-can fun—pajamas encouraged—with a portion of the proceeds going to Off Their Plate, an organization helping feed frontline healthcare workers. You can watch it all here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoThursday, April 23, 2020Yola performed on the inaugural episode of The Bluegrass Situation's Whiskey Sour Happy Hour, hosted by Ed Helms, to benefit MusiCares' COVID-19 Relief Fund and Direct Relief. "She put out one of the most exciting albums of the year last year with the production and co-writer guidance of Dan Auerbach," says Helms. The show's "house band" is Punch Brothers' Gabe Witcher, whom Helms calls an "unbelievably annoyingly talented musician." You can watch it here. New episodes of the show will air April 29, May 6, and May 13, with guests including Chris Thile, Rhiannon Giddens and Francesco Turrisi, and Rodney Crowell.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoWednesday, April 22, 2020Congratulations to Dave Malloy and to the cast and creative team of Octet, which has been nominated for eight Drama Desk Awards—Outstanding Musical; Malloy for Outstanding Music, Lyrics, and Book of a Musical, and, with Or Matias, for Orchestrations; Annie Tippe for Outstanding Director of a Musical; Amy Rubin and Brittany Vasta for Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical; and Hidenori Nakajo for Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical—and has earned a special Ensemble Award. The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony will take place digitally on May 31.
Journal Topics: Artist NewsTuesday, April 21, 2020David Byrne is on 3 Girls, 1 Keith, Amy Schumer's Spotify podcast with Bridget Everett, Rachel Feinstein, and Keith Robinson. They discuss his show American Utopia on Broadway, his life in music, and more. "We have a living legend on the show today," says Schumer. "This is big. This is finally it." Of American Utopia, she says: "I went bananas for it ... American Utopia is a show that will change your life ... The album is so good." You can listen to the conversation here.
Journal Topics: Artist NewsTuesday, April 21, 2020Sonos launches Sonos Radio, a free, ad-supported streaming radio service, available to Sonos customers today. The new service brings together more than 60,000 stations from multiple streaming partners alongside original programming from Sonos. In addition to genre-based stations, the service includes ad-free artist stations, including one coming soon from David Byrne, and Sonos Sound System, an ad-free station hosted by the Sonos team with guest-hosted radio hours from artists including Vagabon and Jeff Parker to come.
Journal Topics: Artist News, RadioMonday, April 20, 2020"Randy Newman is an Oscar-winning singer-songwriter whose music never fails to capture the spirit of the times," says CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley in her introduction to Newman's appearance on the show. He and his wife Gretchen spoke with correspondent John Blackstone about life under quarantine and his new song, "Stay Away," a call to social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, which the show calls "a love song of sorts, perfect for a time of isolation." You can watch the piece here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, Television, VideoMonday, April 20, 2020Composer and conductor John Adams spoke with France Musique for a thirty-minute tête-à-tête in English during a trip to conduct Orchestre Symphonique de Radio France in concert earlier this year. The conversation covers his music, musical influences, current events, current social trends, Kendrick Lamar, and some of his favorite pieces by Debussy, Stravinsky, and more. You can watch it here.
Journal Topics: Artist News, VideoSaturday, April 18, 2020Record Store Day may have been delayed a bit, but now is a great time to show how we Love Record Stores by shopping online at local independent record stores. Find yours in the US at recordstoreday.com and around the world at recordstores.love.
Journal Topics: NewsFriday, April 17, 2020Randy Newman’s new song, “Stay Away,” a PSA about COVID-19 safety, is now available to purchase and stream. Proceeds will benefit the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music in New Orleans, a city to which Newman has a deep, lifelong personal connection. "New Orleans is really suffering, and since African Americans are taking the brunt of the punishment, I thought something to help the Ninth Ward would be a good idea,” Newman said. “The Ellis Marsalis Center has a great reputation among musicians and people I know who live in the city. If the song makes a great deal of money, all bets are off.”
Journal Topics: Album Release, Artist NewsThursday, April 16, 2020Lake Street Dive, whose Lounge Around Sounds tour was due to be taking place now, will bring the joy and silliness of the planned tour from their own homes to those of fans around the world with the online Lounge Around Sounds Variety Hour of music, story-telling, jokes, and games. Tune in via the band's Facebook page and website on Wednesday, April 22, at 8pm ET, to join in on an hour of pay-what-you-can fun. Pajamas encouraged. A portion of the night’s proceeds will go to Off Their Plate, an organization helping feed frontline healthcare workers.
Journal Topics: Artist News