In this BIRN Podcast , Contemporary Writing and Production professor Jerry Gates, Berklee faculty, Olivia Perez, dancer and choreographer, Sonia Olla, and vocalist, Ismael Fernandez, preview Soundscapes of Spain: From Flemenco Roots to Fusion, a concert at the Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, January 30, 2020. For more information about the show, please click here.
Bag Raiders – Horizons – electronic
Bag Raiders‘ album Horizons is a bold and modern development in the world of electronic music. The Australian duo’s latest release smoothly blends pop and house, acoustic and electronic. Tracks like “I Need You” illustrate Bag Raiders‘ eclectic influences, as layered harmonies float over an electronic beat, acoustic guitar, and synths. Aside from featuring various musical techniques and styles, Horizons also does an amazing job of highlighting different moods throughout. While tracks like “Back To Myself” take a slightly darker and edgier tone, tracks like “Lightning” contrast with a cheerful, major sound. Overall, Horizons is overflowing with creativity, and it’s quite an exciting find for listeners. Give it a listen below!
Continue reading “Kelsey’s Prime Slices of the Week (1/20-1/24): Bag Raiders, José James”
Don’t miss Irish singer-songwriter Ryan McMullan‘s live performance and interview on BIRN Alive tomorrow at 4PM on BIRN1! Also, he will be playing a show at Cafe 939 with special guest Ken Yates. Get your tickets here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7915048
One of Ireland’s brightest upcoming talents, Ryan McMullan is a singer-songwriter blending folk and pop. Recognized for his captivating voice, described by Ed Sheeran as a “rare jewel to find” and “the voice of an angel” by Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol, McMullan is one to keep an eye on in the contemporary folk world. Within the last year, he has achieved many successes including playing the Glastonbury stage, joining Gary Lightbody on his headlining tour, and the release of his highly praised single “Rebellion”.
Wye Oak – “Fortune” [single] – indie rock
Indie rock duo Wye Oak are here to shake up the indie rock genre with their latest single “Fortune”. Jenn Wasner’s captivating vocals and catchy bass lines matched with Andy Stack’s unfaltering drum grooves give the track a mysterious feel. The lyrics further establish the mystery of “Fortune”, as they take a dark and enigmatic tone. Wye Oak did an outstanding job of creating a sound that transcends the typical indie rock borders; “Fortune” is alluring in every aspect, and listeners are bound to sing along. Simply put, it’s a great song from a great band. Check out Wye Oak‘s “Fortune” below!
Continue reading “Kelsey’s Prime Slices of the Week (12/23-12/28): Wye Oak, Ollie”
Bedroom pop artist Sophie Cates (known as Silver Sphere) has released her first eight-track full length album yikes!, a unique culmination of heartbreak songs. With a stage persona that’s described as not from this earth, Silver Sphere is a being of magic that has yet to come to the forefront of pop.
With songs like “drinking games” and “boys r dumb! duh!”, Silver Sphere paints a picture that makes your heart ache for her, utilizing parties as a theme to show the listener how different the guys in her life act around others versus how they act around just her. Further describing the meaning behind the song, Cates has stated:“‘Drinking Games’ to me is a song about knowing you’re wasting your time with someone but continuing to see them because the person is so captivating that you don’t even care if you’re feeling used. It’s about realizing that it’s more important to value yourself than playing a silly game with someone that doesn’t have the best intentions.”
As the album progresses, Silver starts to become more wary of the boys that keep breaking her heart, and rightfully so. This new found self discipline is shown on the song “boys in bands” which is about falling victim to the same type of boy (musicians in her case) so often that she realizes she needs to stop letting herself go down that path. Her newfound confidence and fed up attitude is shown in the lines, “The second you walk in with tattoos and problems / I can’t help but think I’m the one who could solve ‘em / I can’t do that again.” The catchy chorus and dance-able unique techno sounds make “boys in bands” a song that’s scream-able by anyone, especially Berklee students who can relate.
When it seems like she has taken a stand against the boys that waste her time, Silver backtracks to the same mentality she had previously in “drinking games” and “boys r dumb! duh!” with the song “waste my time”, the epitome of her internal struggle. Although the title maintains the heartbroken tone of the album, the sonic vibe of “waste my time” isn’t as sad as the listener would expect. This song is a romanticization of boys that are bad for you and will never commit which Silver is clear about in the beginning, saying: “You are never gonna be the type to commit / one day you’re in love then you’re over it / But I can never get tired of chasing you / Even when I know what you’re gonna do.” If you have ever read Silver’s “about” page on Spotify and not understood what “I love pop music and breaking my own heart” meant, this song makes the statement clear.
The last song “sucks 4 u” is about finally overcoming a breakup and realizing that you’re going to be okay, giving the listener closure and resolution. When describing this song, Silver explained, “Writing this song helped me look past those negative things looming from my last relationship and focus on the positives in my life at the time, and I hope it does the same for everyone listening.”
As a whole, yikes! allowed the listener to learn and grow with Silver, feeling the heartbreak, independence, and love she experienced throughout her journey.
Little Monarch‘s EP Grains is lighthearted and lovable. With strong indie and pop influences, Grains takes a relaxed tone that’s easy to enjoy. The album starts off with the song “Got Me Good”, a carefree and content love song. The track is full of smooth melodies, claps, and snaps that give the song a laid-back West Coast vibe. Being the first track on Grains, “Got Me Good” sets the tone for the EP, and tracks like “See You” and “Bloom” solidify the sound that Little Monarch so carefully creates. One of the features that stands out on “See You” is the vocal harmonies. They are extremely well-written, as they bring listeners ears to new heights and fill out the sound of the chorus. While “Got Me Good” and “See You” are slightly more upbeat, Little Monarch creates a contrast with their slower-paced conclusion to the album, “Bloom”. Catchy electric guitar loops are the name of the game in “Bloom”, as they form a steady baseline for the lead vocalist’s voice to shine. The combination of electric beats, guitars, and synths give the track an ethereal sound that contrast with the more focused sound of the vocals.
Little Monarch made a great contribution to the indie genre with Grains. The EP is full of upbeat lyrics and catchy melodies that create a fresh and optimistic sound. In short, Grains is a great listen for fans of any genre. Kick back, relax, and enjoy Little Monarch’s Grains below!
Check out our video of Lola Kirke performing “Shoulda Cheated” and “Seeds and Stems” on BIRN Alive!
Lola Kirke is a singer, songwriter, and actress writing country-rock inspired music. Kirke stopped by the BIRN studios in September while touring in support of her EP, Friends And Foes And Friends Again.
Avant-pop artist Tahliah Debrett Barnett (better known as FKA twigs) has made a memorable comeback with sophomore album MAGDALENE–one of the BIRN’s favorite albums of 2019. After the release of her debut album LP1 in 2014 and touring the world, she went on a lengthy hiatus, followed by surgery removing six fibroid tumors from her uterus, among other sudden life changes. During Barnett’s time in recovery, she began making many self-healing realizations about her own womanhood, and rebuilding confidence in her femininity–resulting in MAGDALENE, a thoughtfully produced experimental-pop masterpiece that speaks volumes to women today.
Barnett had hit a rough patch while working on the album–but the heightened emotions she was experiencing only strengthened her artistic vision and enhanced her writing. She took inspiration from Mary Magdalene’s story, resonating with her inner turmoil as a woman who struggled to be accepted in society. Barnett decided to embody the character of Mary Magdalene as a symbol of empowerment, encouraging other women to take control of their own narrative. Although MAGDALENE isn’t quite a concept album, its powerful themes, biblical references and religious imagery might easily fool you–thanks to Barnett’s skillful attention to detail and intentional placement of each track, lyric, beat, and rhythm. MAGDALENE’s sound delves deep into experimental territory, a bit more so than Barnett’s prior more “accessible” works–with subtle additions of church choir-like background vocals and cinematic swells of a string orchestra. Many aspects of the production draw comparisons with other experimental art-pop artists like Bjork, Grimes, and SOPHIE.
Kicking off with the haunting “thousand eyes” and closing with “cellophane”, a fragile and emotion-filled ballad, the album progresses from eerie, dark and complex to soft and vulnerable slow-tempo tunes with truthful words like “A woman’s work, a woman’s prerogative, a woman’s time to embrace she must put herself first”. This contrast seems to represent that there are many more layers to a woman than what may be seen or expressed on the surface–just cause one may appear to be gentle doesn’t mean she can’t also be assertive and aggressive, and vice versa. MAGDALENE does a clever job at expressing how society has misrepresented women to be only one thing or another for ages, and FKA twigs’ courageous self-expression is incredibly admirable.
Ian George – Kingdom of My Youth – folk
Ian George‘s Kingdom of My Youth is the pure, down-to-earth folk album the world needs this Winter. George stands out among other artists in that his music is extremely true and authentic to his artistic voice, which is clear throughout Kingdom of My Youth. Mellow fingerpicking, lovable vocals, and atmospheric harmonies give the album a peaceful, optimistic, and upbeat character and highlight George’s artistry. One of my personal favorite tracks off the album, “The Wild & The Untamed”, is full of long phrases that flow over complimentary guitar lines and drum grooves. The lyrics of the song are personal and touching as they tell a story of love and identity. Overall, “The Wild & The Untamed” feels incredibly honest, and it’s hard to not get lost in George‘s story. There’s so much more to be said about Ian George, but the best way to experience his album is to listen to it for yourself! Check out Kingdom of My Youth below!
Continue reading “Kelsey’s Prime Slices of the Week (12/16-12/21): Ian George, Palace”
10/27 – 11/1:
Cigarettes After Sex – Cry
Mikal Cronin – Seeker
Floating Points – Crush
Little Dragon – “Tongue Kissing” [Single]
David Byrne – American Utopia Cast Recording
Patrick Watson – Wave
Oracle Porpoise – Parkas In The Pool
The Duskwhales – Take It Back
Catholic Action – “One of Us” [Single]
Matt Maltese – “Jupiter” [Single]
Zero 7 – “Swimmers (feat. Jem Cooke)” [Single]
Magic Sword – Awakening
Desert Sessions – “Crucifire” [Single]
Geoffroy – 1952
Elephant Gym – “Gaze at Blue” [Single]
The Drums – “I Didn’t Realize” b/w “You Lied” [Single]
Refused – War Songs
Matt And Kim – “MONEY” [Single]
Squirrel Flower – “Red Shoulder” [Single]
David Graff – Supposed to Fly
JIM ALXNDR – “Slave” [Single]
David Kowal – A Different Blue
Telemarket – “A: Wide Awake” [Single]
Subi – “Red Dress” [Single]
Mike Notez – “Leave Wit You” [Single]
The Deer – Do No Harm
Natalie Walker – Evenfall
Gamma Dog – “Designer Love” [Single]
Fime – Sprawl
Pernice Brothers – Spread The Feeling
Sam Weber – Everything Comes True
Thomas Mudrick – Ten Dollar Soup Collection
11/3 – 11/8:
Rachel Dadd – Flux
Basement Revolver – Wax and Digital
Berhana – HAN
Sean Henry – A Jump From The High Dive
Toro Y Moi – Soul Trash
Common Kings – “Neil Armstrong” [Single]
Sløtface – Sorry for the Late Reply [Advance Tracks]
Leif Vollebekk – New Ways
Landon Elliott – Domino
Vetiver – Up On High
Dan Deacon – “Sat By A Tree” [Single]
Wolf & Moon – Before It Gets Dark
Anti-Flag – “Hate Conquers All” [Single]
No Vacation – Phasing
Star Parks – “Oh Boredom (Shmaltz City, USA)” [Single]
Geowulf – My Resignation
The Growlers – Natural Affair
Dirtwire – Electric River
The Lovepools – “White Lies and Palm Trees” [Single]
Haddon Cord – “All I Want” [Single]
Wax – B.A.A.A
Beyond Chaotic – This Can’t Be Good
Joel Paterson – Let It Be Guitar!
Bob Bradshaw – Story Goes
Jason Hawk Harris – Love & The Dark
Written By Wolves – Secrets
Jonathon Bree – “Cover Your Eyes” b/w “Waiting on the Moment” [Single]
Pat Irwin & J. Walker Hayes – Wide Open Sky
Coyote Kid – Skeleton Man
Tom Devil & The Wizard – “The Ground” [Single]
Chris Waters – “As It Seems” [Single]
Izy – “Moon” [Single]
Milly – Our First Four Songs
Malou Beauvoir – “Papa Damballah” [Single]
The Districts – “Hey Joe” [Single]
Elephant Stone – “Hollow World” [Single]
Pat Lok – “Somebody” [Single]
Run River North – Monsters Calling Home, Vol. 2
The Orphan The Poet – Queen Cobra EP
Deerhunter – “Timebends” [Single]
FKA Twigs – “Sad Day” [Single]
Algiers – “Dispossession” [Single]
Desert Sessions – Vols. 11 & 12
Lapsley – “My Love Was Like The Rain” [Single]
11/10-11/15:
Matt Maltese – Krystal
Mourning Routine – “Too Much” [Single]
Pink Martini – Tomorrow / Besame Mucho
Green Buzzard – Amidst the Clutter & Mess
Fran – A Private Picture
Pendant – Through the Coil
Square Peg Round Hole – Branches
SebastiAn – Thirst
Allen Stone – Building Balance
Brother Ali – Secrets & Escapes
Illuminati Hotties – “Ppl Plzr” [Single]
Dessa and the Minnesota Orchestra – Sound the Bells: Recorded Live at Orchestra Hall
TORRES – “Good Scares” [Single]
CocoRosie – “Smash My Head” [Single]
Ásgeir – “Youth” [Single]
Roman Lewis – Something to Care About
Margaux – More Brilliant is the Hand that Throws the Coin
Roman Lewis – “Something to Care About” [Single]
Aunty Social – The Day My Brain Broke
Tōth – “Juliette” [Single]
Kelly Bado – “Hey Earth” [Single]
Darksoft – BRAIN
Strange Case – “27 Club” [Single]
Boyscott – Goose Bumps
11/17-11/22:
Calibro 35 – “Stan Lee (feat. Illa J)” [Single]
Menahan Street Band – “New Day Coming” [Single]
Varsity – Basement Takes
Tyler Meacham – Property
Daniel Pearson – “Down the Tracks” [Single]
Telemarket – You Deserve A Hard Day’s Work After a Long Night’s Rest
Suggested Friends – Turtle Taxi
Hoops – “They Say” [Single]
ALTA – Reasons
BRONCHO – Bad Behavior (Remix EP)
Soccer Mommy – “yellow is the color of her eyes” [Single]
Tim Ayre – Time Ayre [EP]
Various Artists – 30th Century Compilation
Bryce Bangs – “I Want All Your Love” [Single]
Luke Lalonde – The Perpetual Optimist
Yann Tiersen – “Closer (feat. Blonde Redhead)” [Single]
AQVOL – Honey Berry Butterfly [EP]
Wide Mouth Mason – I Wanna Go With You
Susanne Sunfør – Music for People in Trouble: Live from the Barbican
No Win – “Blood On Your Tooth” [Single]
11/24-11/29:
Iguana Death Cult – Nude Casino
OMNI – Networker
Caroline Says – Ohio River
Dark Below – “Halo” [Single]
Jenny Teator – “Daughter of the Devil” [Single]
Heathcote Hill – Fight Another Day
The Lavender Scare – Hand Me Down Kingdom Come
Quantic – “Orquíeda feat. Sly5thAve (Sampology Remix)” [Single]
Quantic – “September Blues (Dan Shake Remix)” [Single]
Bryony Jarman-Pinto – “Sweet Sweet” b/w “Sweet Sweet (Wu-Lu Remix)” [Single]
Troi Irons – Lost Angels
Electric Neon Clouds – Memories
Heartstreets – Why Make Sense Revisited 1 & 2
Macseal – Super Enthusiast
SONOFDOV – Towers
Prism Tats – “Tenderness” [Single]
Christopher Paul Stelling – “Trouble Don’t Follow Me” [Single]
12/1-12/6:
Colony House – “Original Material” [Single]
Gen Hoshino – Same Thing [EP]
Ratboys – “Alien With A Sleep Mask On”
Alexandria Maillot – Benevolence
Arbor Labor Union – “Flowerhead” [Single]
Various Artists – 30th Century Compilation Vol. II
Waax – “History” [Single]
Klingande – The Album
Blue Vervain – Demos & Alternate Takes
Will Samson – Paralanguage
dj poolboi – Forever Yours EP
Fern Mayo – Week of Charm
Meghan & Caitlin – Bad Terms
DJ Shadow – Our Pathetic Age
The Milk Carton Kids – “The Only Ones” [Single]
Wolf Parade – “Against the Day” [Single]
D Minor – “Homerun (Feat. Zeek Power)” [Single]
Catherine MacLellan – Coyote
ROOKIE – “Too Late To Pray Defiant Chicago Roots” [Single]
Nat Coles and the Blue Diamond Band – “Standing on the Corner Alone” [Single]
The Flaming Lips – The Soft Bulletin Recorded at Red Rocks with the Colorado Symphony
Tennyson – Telescope EP
Antibalas – “Fight Am Finish” [Single]
Little Monarch – Grains [EP]
Palace – Life After
Alex Ebert – “Stronger” [Single]
Various Artists – So Many Singing Vol. 2
Various Artists – Athens Resonates
Approachable Members of Your Local Community – “Strangest Places (feat. Dulcie)” [Single]
The Undercover Dream Lovers – It’s All In Your Head
Kid Nobody – discretion
Ian George – Kingdom of My Youth
Caveboy – “I Wonder” [Single]
Courtney Love – “Mother” [Single]
Soccer Mommy – “Feed” [Single]
Poliça – “Forget Me Now” [Single]
Jonah Mutono – “Shoulders” b/w “Circulation” [Single]
Hello Forever – “Some Faith” b/w “Colors in the Sky” [Single]
GARZA – “Where the Moon Hides” [Single]
12/8-12/13:
Shopping – “Initiative” [Single]
Kenny Tudrick – “LIGHTNING BYRD” [Single]
Ephemerals – “Blur” [Single]
Jon Hopkins & Kelly Lee Owens – “Luminous Spaces” [Single]
Squirrel Flower – “Headlights” [Single]
Ollie – “Broken Down” [Single]
