Margot Edwards

Less Talk More Action

By: Pooja Aggarwal, Co-Station Manager & Communications

Stay the course. The voice of our protest organizer, Michela McDonagh, rang in our heads on Monday, November 13^th, as hundreds of us silently marched down Boylston Street. The protest was organized in response to a recently published Boston Globe article, which discussed incidents of sexual misconduct, by professors, at Berklee. While all of the aforementioned professors were fired, it was the “hush-hush” way in which Berklee Continue reading “Less Talk More Action”

This Week on BIRN Alive: Baerd, Saturday, Nov 11 at 4:00pm on birn1

BAERD is a progressive folk band from Boston, MA. Founded at Berklee College of Music, the group traces together influences from Jazz, Americana, Classical, R&B, and World Music. BAERD’s lyricism and instrumental precision is inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, The Punch Brothers, and Radiohead. Continue reading “This Week on BIRN Alive: Baerd, Saturday, Nov 11 at 4:00pm on birn1”

Lydia Loveless and Brian Dunne: Live from the Red Room @ Cafe 939, Thursday, Nov 9 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE

Singer-songwriter Lydia Lovelesss’ highly anticipated new album, Real, was released on August 19th, via Bloodshot Records. This record follows the release of Somewhere Else, which Rolling Stone praised as “…an aching, lusty set of twang and sneer wrapped in electric guitar swagger,” while Pitchfork furthered “Somewhere Else [is] both a bracing and a deeply harrowing listen.” “Longer,” the first track to be revealed off of the record, premiered via Stereogum. Of the song, Stereogum says “It’s like the Replacements soundtracking the sad aftermath of Big Star’s ‘Thirteen’—which is to say, it’s awesome.” Continue reading “Lydia Loveless and Brian Dunne: Live from the Red Room @ Cafe 939, Thursday, Nov 9 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE”

Show Review: Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith

by Ruben Radlauer

Following a stint of performance and production workshops for the EPD department, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith took to the Red Room to play a set of beauty and chaos to a room packed with Berklee and non-Berklee people alike.

Both as a technical feat and an artistic expression, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith’s set was awe inspiring. It was a perfect marriage of experimental pop, ambient music and chaotic noise music, and on top of that most of it was Continue reading “Show Review: Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith”

Show Review: Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile

Live at the Orpheum Theatre, Boston
by Erin Ober

I love being one of the firsts at a concert. Anticipation builds as each person files in; as each additional seat fills up. On Saturday night, the 4th of November, I waited patiently in my seat, eavesdropping on conversations about the sold-out show. Old school jukebox tunes floated softly in the air, as the murmuring few turned into a bustling crowd, before my eyes. On stage, every instrument was covered except for two acoustic guitars placed in the middle. Eventually, the lights cut out, and Jen Cloher stepped out on stage, opening the show. Continue reading “Show Review: Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile”

Electronic Music Night: Live from the Red Room @ Cafe 939 Tuesday, Nov 7, at 7:00 pm on birnCORE

Berklee’s Songwriting Department presents its second Electronic Music Night, highlighting electronic student singer-songwriters.

The evening, hosted by assistant professor Erin Barra-Jean, reflects the department’s efforts to provide a dynamic technology curriculum, which supports its students as writers, producers, and performers.

This Week on BIRN Alive: Eva & The Oak Saturday, Nov 4 at 4:00 pm on birn1

Based out of Boston, with humble beginnings in Raleigh, NC, Eva & The Oak unites their folky roots with indie/alternative influences. Dark and dreamy, they spark a reminiscent calm within the listener powered by ethereal vocals, haunting guitar progressions, layers of rhythm, and blankets of texture. Natural, branching, beautiful, and grounded, Eva & the Oak tells a tale fit for its name sake.

Alluxe, Alisse Laymac and Tal Flora: Live from the Red Room, Friday, Nov 3 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE

Alluxe wields power. To send you to emotional depths, standing onstage over her controller, unleashing hard-hitting beats, loops and grooves that cut through on impact. To send your head into a tailspin via her fine-tuned studio concoctions — a mélange of vocal swirls, avant-garde affects and manipulated melodies. The talented artist, producer, DJ, controllerist, violinist and live show designer has programmed and designed groundbreaking shows for some of the biggest names in music; from Kanye West to Drake, The Weeknd to Bon Iver. Continue reading “Alluxe, Alisse Laymac and Tal Flora: Live from the Red Room, Friday, Nov 3 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE”

Maria Usbeck: Live from the Red Room @ Cafe 939, Wednesday, Nov 1 at 8:00 pm on birnCORE

Growing up in Ecuador, Maria Usbeck was immersed in salsa, merengue, bachata, and Andean music, but was more attracted to German and American culture. She, eventually, moved to the United States, alone, at the age of 17, to attend art school. After five years of fronting the new-wave band Selebrities, and writing songs in English, she knew it was time to let her mother tongue speak. That impulse manifested itself in her debut solo album, Amparo, which reads like an exotic travel diary—music made by a perceptive explorer, tapping into the shared core of human expression.

Album Review: Michael Jackson – Scream

Happy Halloween from your friends at The BIRN!
Michael Jackson – Scream
Recommended tracks – 1, 4, 8, 13, 14
Review by Jon O’Neal

Get ready to SCREAM with Michael Jackson’s latest release. Scream is a brand new compilation of Halloween-esque tracks. They span Michael’s multi-decade career, and include hits from the Jacksons, his solo career as well as an amazing 5 song mash-up from White Panda. This album is long overdue for the king of pop, and it’s a great addition to a legendary catalog of music. If you’re still looking to get your Halloween fix, be sure to check out this album! It is currently available on CD and in a really cool vinyl package!