Here’s a virtual tour of the exhibition Instruments de Nulle Part by Musiques de Nulle invented and created by musician and inventor Nicolas Bras.
BAHAMAS announces new album, Sad Hunk out October 9
The award-winning songwriter and musician Bahamas (Afie Jurvanen), returns with his fifth full-length, Sad Hunk, on October 9, 2020.
While the 2018 release Earthtones saw Bahamas joining forces with bassist Pino Palladino and drummer James Gadson (the rhythm section behind D’ Angelo’s Black Messiah), Sad Hunk was created with past collaborators Christine Bougie (guitar), Don Kerr (drums), Mike O’Brien (bass), Felicity Williams (vocals) and recorded by longtime producer and multi-Grammy nominee Robbie Lackritz (Feist, Jack Johnson, Robbie Robertson). It also features the graceful guitar work of Sam Weber, a musician whom Jurvanen discovered on YouTube. Sad Hunk is the next step in Afie’s virtuosic signature style of restraint as a guitarist.
“Something like ten years ago, I did a photoshoot, and in all the pictures they sent back, I was lit half in shadow, looking all brooding and mysterious,” says Jurvanen. “When my wife saw the photos, the first thing she said was, “Whoa, sad hunk,” and after that, it became sort of a joke among our friends.” It’s a fitting backstory for an album that embodies an undaunted self-awareness, each track graced with Bahamas’ wry wit and unabashed heart.
In sketching Sad Hunk’s delicately composed batch of songs, Jurvanen drew much inspiration from his home life and all the joy and struggle that comes with building a family together. Having recently moved to the coast of Nova Scotia with his wife and two daughters (ages three and five), the Ontario native inevitably imbued the album with the sleepy idyll of his surroundings, even while committing to a sometimes-painful sincerity in his lyrics.
“I definitely use music to work things out for myself,” says Jurvanen. “It’s possible I’m too open sometimes, but I really don’t know any better way to be. If I tried to just go write fun songs about hot dogs or something, I’d probably fail.”
A globally successful touring artist, Bahamas averages over 2.5 million regular monthly listens on Spotify with more than 450 million streams to date. “Lost In The Light,” from 2012’s Barchords, is nearing 100 million streams, while “All The Time,” the lead single from third album Bahamas Is Afie, recently passed 70 million. Nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical at the 2019 Grammy Awards, Earthtones won Adult Alternative Album Of The Year at the 2019 JUNO Awards. Jurvanen also received this accolade for Bahamas Is Afie in 2015, when he was also named Songwriter Of The Year.
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Icelandic Artist Kahnin Releases Timelier than Ever New Single, “DuckTape”
With 30,000 streams and rising, Icelandic singer/songwriter Kahnin — Gudmundur Jens Gudmundsson — muses on mistaken identity and answering to authorities in the release of his new single, “DuckTape” — available now!
“‘DuckTape’ is a song that can take on many meanings,” Kahnin shares. “For example, it can easily be associated with all the craziness that is going on in the world today, but mostly, it’s a song about being in the wrong place at the wrong time — kids having fun, sort of thing — mistaken identity, and being interrogated by the authorities in an unethically harsh manner.
“The song’s main mechanics started after I had been watching some CIA conspiracy documentary. I imagined how horrible it would be to be mistaken for some counterspy, and if it would ever be possible to get out of a situation like that.
“But with that said, the song still has a very fun/feel good atmosphere about it!” Kahnin insists. “And the reason behind the spelling of this song ‘Duck’ instead of ‘duct’ is simple: being that English is my second language, I always believed this is how it was spelled. I never really thought, ‘why in the hell would it be named after a duck?!”
Produced by, and featured on accompanying guitar is Arthur Pingrey (Sia, Sting, Norah Jones), with Dylan Wissing (Alicia Keys, Eminem, Drake, Jay Z) on drums and Gudmundsson/Kahnin on vocals and guitar.
“‘DuckTape’ strays away from my previous songs whilst still staying true to my sound,” Kahnin says. “‘DuckTape’ carries a harder pop/rock edge to it and a heavier tempo which differs from my previous songs.
“My philosophy on music is to always try and step away from what is comfortable and experiment with the colours of the music.
“‘DuckTape’ does that for me.”
With Jazz Versions of Nirvana + Feist, Calgary’s AIMEE-JO BENOIT Reinvents The Classics With New LP, BORJONER
Calgary, AB’s jazz artist Aimee-Jo Benoit continues to celebrate this year’s release of BORJONER, her stunning new 10-track LP with Trio Velocity exploring songs from her personal journey — available now.
“BORJONER was born in a coffee shop,” Benoit recalls of the album’s earliest days. “I was thinking about the process of growth as an artist, a person, and a mother. The idea of burgeoning soil was all I could think about as I was trying to piece together a project that had been 15 years in the making.
“As a Canadian artist with a French background, I searched for a term that represented the idea of growth and BORJONER was found,” she continues. “It’s an old French term for burgeoning, and it couldn’t be more accurate for how I really do feel. It is as though I am clawing through the soil upwards and downwards, and it’s been a symbol for the entire process of how the album came to be, the recording and subsequent re-recording of it, its release during COVID-19, and its life as its rooted its way into the music community.”
Recorded by Spencer Cheyne at OCL Studios, the album sees Aimee-Jo Benoit and Trio Velocity — Simon Fisk, Robin Tufts, and Sheldon Zandboer — organically lean into songs of importance from the musical journey of the artist, holding space for them to breathe as they morph and are rearranged and reimagined through the connectedness of the quartet.
“We were brought together by the death of a close friend and colleague about four years ago,” she shares. “We held an improvisational performance at his wake, and the energy brought about by our grief exhumed a special connection.
“For each performance of a particular tune, including the recording, we loosely arrange the feel and structure, but listen to each other so intensely that we allow for the song to develop and grow in its own way.”
Among the 10-track LP includes a pull from Nirvana’s catalog in “All Apologies,” a nod to Feist’s “Lonely Lonely,” and a revisit to Snailhouse’s “Repetition” — and so much more.
CBC’s Saturday Night Jazz and JUNO Award-winning artist Laila Biali says, “Aimee-Jo Benoit’s approach to jazz… is heartfelt, whimsical, fresh and creative. She’s an artist whose beautiful humanity and sensitive approach to life cannot be separated from what she brings to the music.”
“I never thought I might be the inspiration for someone,” Benoit muses. “I am so grateful for the weeping and breathing it created…
“The valve release.
“The love that I feel, I want it to be contagious. These are the things that have meaning now… It’s no longer my desire to be respected; now, my only desire is to inspire.”
London, UK’s Alt-Indie Artist MORCHELLA Unearths Human Complexities in Ethereal New Single “Coat of Arms”
Producer and multi-instrumentalist Morchella has suited up a swirling and lush breakthrough alternative release, “Coat of Arms” and equally stunning and imaginative video — each available now.
Seamlessly blending ethereal and enveloping production values with a tender brand of lyricism, the new single is anchored by haunting vocals as it holds space within its ranging soundscape.
Accompanying “Coat of Arms” is a uniquely crafted stop motion video by award-winning director Isabel Garrett.
“I wanted to take the listener on an atmospheric journey,” Morchella says of the new song. “For me, this track is an expression of the complexities of every individual and just how much ‘lies beneath the surface.”
Born and raised in Ukraine, the London-based artist has long-drawn from her rich and varied musical education and experience: choirs to orchestras, piano to guitar, songwriting to production. Under her previous nom de plume of Threepwood, she wrote, produced and released The Final Piece EP, and has been featured on BBC, The Line of Best Fit, Just Music I Like, and more.
Morchella is currently collaborating with award-winning sound engineer Shuta Shinoda (Jehnny Beth, Hot Chip, Ghostpoet, Daughter, Anna Meredith, Babe) to record at Hackney Road Studios.
From Vancouver to L.A – 54-40’s NEIL OSBORNE and Daughter KANDLE Have The Folk/Blues As THE FAMILY CURSE
Driven by bluesman Niz and Baby Kiz — aka 54-40’s Neil Osborne and his daughter, singer/songwriter Kandle — modern day blues duo A Family Curse are out with their new self-titled album — available now!
Decidedly different from their respective artistic pursuits, Niz and Kiz’ approach to A Family Curse seizes firm hold of whatever emotional range, found sounds, or random instruments are within reach.
And people: it’s not uncommon to hear Osborne uncles, cousins and other honorary musician ‘adoptees’ chime in on the tracks, from the LP’s kickoff “Cast A Curse” to the release round out “Getaway Car.”
The result is bespoke musical mastery of the best variety — 10 tracks of pure folk-art best listened to, they urge, under the light of the Moon.
David Bowie’s ‘Starman’ As Played On A Harp
This is all very sweet by Maël Isaac, the seriously accomplished harp player.
Missy Elliot’s Isolated Vocals For “Get Ur Freak On”
Released in 2001, Missy Elliot’s Get Ur Freak On treached number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Internationally, “Get Ur Freak On” became a top ten success in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where it became her first solo top ten hit, peaking at number four. A remix of the song featuring Nelly Furtado was a dance club hit during this period, and was used both in the soundtrack and in the background of the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) starring Angelina Jolie.
Liam Gallagher (Oasis) & his love for eyeglasses
There’s no better way to express what you feel through music and through what you wear. Musicians, out of all, have mastered this skill and some are even known for their flamboyant fashion sense.
Legends like Elton John, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Prince and many more love to express their beauty and rhythm through their custom-designed accessories. Glasses are also one such statement that various musicians like to add to accentuate their look. John Lennon and his round glasses were one of the iconic looks that still gets copied by a lot of people.
One such musician who’s also known for his love for glasses, especially round ones, is Liam Gallagher from the band Oasis. In men’s glasses, the most popular ones were the regular oversized Aviators. Fortunately for Liam, the ’90s and even the current generation got a fresh style to play and adore.
The band was a household name in the 2000s where everything perfectly clicked from Liams Gallagher glasses to the white bucket hat of Noel, Liam’s younger brother. The band got popular for its signature elevation mass of sound, louder yet blissful melodies, ultimately overwhelming you with strong emotion.
Apart from the band’s growing popularity, the significant thing that marked the coolness of the member’s personality was the iconic choices of glasses Liam Gallagher put out on display at every appearance. Let’s take look at his John Lennon inspired glasses collection with his spin on it:
Round frames were undoubtedly Liam Gallapherer prime selection. He’s street fashion outfits and round shades worked for hand in hand in giving off a rebel with no cause look. The round frames were quite popular in the ’90s along with the oversized aviator’s frames.
For the male’s version of cat-eye, the 90’s introduced arced square frames which turned out to be quite popular than the fame of Liam’s Gallagher iconic live shows. Based out of Manchester, the band was known for their electrifying live performance. For instance, their 2005 appearance in Manchester itself created their legacy. After their musical performance, the band turned into a fashion mogul for being elite but mostly relatable through music and self-expression.
When we said, Oasis went with big, it didn’t restrict to their musical limits but also with their glasses. With their dark, an edgy, confrontational and gloomy musical track, the band created an aesthetic of the 90’s era to resonate better with the audience. Declaring the band’s motive and executing it beautifully was a complex part but Oasis was challenging each genre within every one of their albums. In their “Definitely Maybe” Oasis talent in creating a track-list that went with audience expectation of the music portrayed at its finest. Their other albums like “Live Forever”, “Supersonic” and “Cigarettes & Alcohol ” expressed their galvanic, rousing nature in continuity, which was rarely put-out by other artists popular at that time.
There’s no life without colour and coming from Liam Gallapheres, there are not enough tints to experiment with your look. Liam’s every lookbook is filled with candy-tinted shades which are getting prevalent among supermodels now. There’s nothing new under the sun anymore. Apart from playing with different tints, Liam was the greatest tambourine player. Unlike the rest of the members in the band who would whack the tambourine out of boredom, Liam went on to make the instrument his unique style statement.
There are only a few instruments that turned popular over the years in rock, apart from the usual ones like guitar and drum and infrequently the bass by the Red hot Chili Peppers Flea. Liam however, usually being the frontman of the group utilized the tambourine like an orchestra and went on to create a significant effect in his music.
Fan of Liam Gallagher and his signature glasses then we’ve got the perfect solution for you. Find quality designer glasses online at Specscart at the best price with extra coatings for free. From iconic 90’s women’s glasses to the latest eccentric one’s, each pair of glasses are truly magnificent. Specscart offers free shipping on all its prescription and nonprescription with 30 days free return. It’s time you channel your favourite singer’s iconic look and relive the nostalgia era of great music and rhythm.