So, you wanna be on TikTok, but the thought of putting your face out there makes you want to hide under your blanket with a bag of chips and pretend social media doesn’t exist? You’re not alone. But guess what? You don’t have to dance, lip-sync, or even show your face to build an audience on TikTok. Some of the biggest music creators on the platform started without saying a word or showing their face.
Here are 10 ways to post on TikTok when you’re shy—without sacrificing engagement, fun, or your sanity!
1. Lyric Videos With a Twist
Take a cool line from your song and turn it into a bold, eye-catching text animation. Add some vibey visuals (think lo-fi rain, neon city lights, or retro VHS effects) and BOOM—you’ve got a post. Bonus points if you make it a loop so people keep watching!
2. Behind-The-Scenes Studio Clips
Film your hands on the instrument, your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) screen, or the recording process—no face needed! Throw in captions explaining what’s happening, and suddenly, you’re the mysterious producer-genius that everyone wants to know more about.
3. Use Text-To-Speech Narration
Don’t wanna talk on camera? No problem. Use TikTok’s built-in text-to-speech feature to tell a story about your song, a funny band moment, or a behind-the-scenes anecdote. The robotic voices make everything sound hilarious.
4. Visualizer Clips & AI Art
Create an AI-generated video that moves to the beat of your track. You can use tools like RunwayML or Kaiber to make a trippy, animated version of your song. People LOVE these kinds of posts.
5. Show Off Your Gear & Setup
Got a cool guitar? A weird pedal? A messy-but-vibey bedroom studio? Film it. People on TikTok are obsessed with aesthetic setups, even if you’re just showing a close-up of your keyboard lighting up in a dark room.
6. Post a “What If” Mashup
Try posting a “What if [famous artist] wrote a song in my style?” or “What if I turned this meme into a song?” You don’t have to appear on camera—just screen record your DAW or add captions to a still image. This keeps the focus on the music, not you.
7. Duet or Stitch Without Showing Your Face
React to viral videos by stitching them, but instead of showing your face, record your hands clapping, playing an instrument, or even just typing out a reaction on your laptop screen.
8. Let Your Pets (or Props) Do the Work
Seriously—cats, dogs, houseplants, coffee cups—let them be the star of the show. Film your cat ignoring your song, your coffee “vibing” to the beat, or your houseplant “headbanging.” The internet eats this stuff up.
9. Create a Looping Hook Teaser
Take 5-10 seconds of your most addictive hook and make a looping video with cool glitchy text and motion graphics. TikTok’s algorithm loves videos that loop seamlessly!
10. Make a “No Context” Viral Post
Write a cryptic one-liner on the screen—something intriguing, funny, or dramatic, like: 👉 “This song almost got me banned from school” 👉 “POV: You hear this at the end of a 90s teen movie” 👉 “This song is literally about my worst date ever” Then, just play the song in the background and watch the comments roll in.
Final Thoughts:
You don’t need to be a full-on TikTok personality to promote your music. People engage with stories, aesthetics, and good hooks—not just faces. And remember: The best TikTok strategy is the one that feels natural to you. Try these ideas, experiment, and most importantly—HAVE FUN.
If you’re still looking for help, or have any questions, or looking for more information, email me, I’ll be happy to chat – Eric@ThatEricAlper.com and talk soon!
A who’s who of the theatre, music, arts, and the greater Hamilton community gathered at Theatre Aquarius on March 18, 2025, to witness the unveiling of two epic art pieces by prolific artist and Canadian music icon TomWilson. WE ARE THE STARS – SUN, and WE ARE THE STARS – MOON, created in 2024, will enjoy a permanent home on the east and west walls of the theatre’s lobbies.
Wilson approached Theatre Aquarius with the offer of a gift of his magnificent art after the world premiere of his new musical with ShaunSmyth, Beautiful Scars. Wilson was eager to contribute to the space’s legacy.
“I spent the better part, or the best part, of last year in this building, and these institutions are so important to be not only a part of but to be able to wrap ourselves around the energy that goes on in these buildings,” said Wilson to the enthusiastic crowd gathered on the stunning March evening.
TomBeckett from BeckettFineArt on Locke St. spearheaded the art donation and installation and donated framing services along with NewConceptFraming in Mississauga.
The unveiling began with a welcome from Indigenous Liaison and a friend of Aquarius Phil Davis and a ceremonial drum performance by the EagleFlightSingers. Eagle Flight Singers are a professional First Nations group with an extensive travel history in the Great Lakes region and beyond. Led by Gordon Nicotine-Sands, the group is of Plains Cree, Ojibway, Haudenasaunee decent, and is comprised of friends and family.
Mary Francis Moore, Artistic Director, and Kelly Straughan, Executive Director of Theatre Aquarius, welcomed the crowd.
“It is such a special night here for us. The stars just aligned. Tom is here with us. Our friends and family are here with us. And tonight, we’re welcoming the second cohort of Piindigen, our Indigenous Young Artists Program,” said Moore, welcoming a new group of
Indigenous artists to Theatre Aquarius. The Piindigen program, in its second year, is dedicated to exploring the power of storytelling, inviting participants to dive into their creative curiosities and transform ideas into compelling theatrical performances.
“What happens in this program is nothing short of life changing. This is your community, this is your theatre, you are our stakeholders,” she added.
Wilson charmed the hometown crowd and offered insight into the paintings and an aspirational message: “These paintings were part of a series inspired by a song by a guy named Julian Taylor called seeds. If you look at these you can see that there’s giant holes in the earth and in this one over here there’s a warrior underneath. They tried to bury us but they didn’t know that we were seeds. That’s the message of this. The Indigenous world is still here. It’s also important that we’re all here together. We’re all here to continue regardless of the news, regardless of politicians. Be up. We get to survive, we get to survive and be inspired by art. So, the fact that these paintings are sitting here in this building that I love with people that I truly love. This is an honour, and I thank Theatre Aquarius.”
Formula 1 and SiriusXM announced today a multi-year extension to their broadcasting agreement, which will continue to deliver coverage of every F1 race to SiriusXM listeners across North America through 2027.
Following a dramatic season opener in Melbourne, the 2025 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP continues this weekend with the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2025, on Sunday, March 23 (live at 3 am ET).
Listeners will be able to follow every Grand Prix, F1 Sprint event and qualifying session in SiriusXM-enabled vehicles (ESPN Xtra, channel 81) and on the SiriusXM app.
“Fans love Formula 1’s incredibly unique blend of skill, speed and technology and the sport’s popularity continues to expand across the United States. There’s nothing else like it,” said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM’s President and Chief Content Officer. “Our longstanding relationship with F1 ensures that fans across North America will continue to get the most comprehensive coverage in audio, all season long.”
Ian Holmes, Chief Media Rights and Broadcasting Officer at Formula 1, said, “Formula 1 is delighted to extend its relationship with SiriusXM. Their commitment to providing world class analysis and capturing the drama of every lap means our fans listening across North America never miss a moment of the action.”
The 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship season runs from March to December and races around the globe on the world’s most iconic circuits. SiriusXM listeners can hear every lap of the remaining 23 Grands Prix, including all three races in the United States – the FORMULA 1 CRYPTO.COM MIAMI GRAND PRIX on May 4, the FORMULA 1 MSC CRUISES UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX on October 19 and the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX on November 23 – as well as the world-famous FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAND PRIX DE MONACO on May 25 and more. Listeners will hear the BBC 5 Live radio broadcast for each event.
Throughout the season, SiriusXM listeners can hear pre- and post-race coverage on the “Speed City F1” show, which airs in the hour before and after races on SiriusXM channel 81. Hosts Jon Massengale, Jonathan Green, Bob Varsha and Chris Medland provide an in-depth look at that weekend’s circuit, discuss the latest team news and conduct driver interviews.
SiriusXM also airs F1 news and analysis on the weekly show, “Wheel to Wheel,” hosted by Chris Medland and Jon Massengale, Wednesday nights at 7 pm ET on SiriusXM channel 81. The show is also available on demand on the SiriusXM app.
Sweet – one of the most legendary, influential, and enduring names in the history of rock music – will have the absolute collector’s album Platinum Rare 1 available in regular stores for the first time on May 23rd via Metalville Records.
Platinum Rare 1 contains extremely rare recordings by the four original Sweet members. The legendary glam/hard rock band continues to thrill fans all over the world to this day. Over the years, Sweet have sold more than 55 million records and reached 34 #1 chart positions.
The songs on Platinum Rare 1 come from the private archive of Sweet guitarist Andy Scott and were personally selected by him.
Fans of the band will be thrilled with this collection of rare and alternative takes and mixes. Many of the songs on the album have never before seen the light of day on a regular Sweet release.
Platinum Rare 1 is an absolute enrichment for every true fan of Sweet.
Tracklisting for Sweet’s Platinum Rare 1:
CD1:
1. Ballroom Blitz (Rough Mix)
2. IDC Jam
3. Midnight To Daylight (Outtake)
4. Show Me The Way (Alternative Mix)
5. Log One (That Girl) (Brian Vox)
6. Cover Girl (Band Demo)
7. Love Is Like Oxygen (Instrumental)
8. Windy City (Band Demo)
9. Falling In Love
10. Yesterday’s Hero
11. Live For Today (Rough Mix)
12. New Shoes
CD2:
1. Rebel Rouser (Steve Vocal)
2. Fire Engine
3. Blockbuster (Rough Mix)
4. Play All Night (Brian Vox)
5. Strong Love (Outtake)
6. Teenage Rampage (Rough Mix)
7. California Nights (Band Demo)
8. Hellraiser (Rough Mix)
9. Where Do We Go From Here
10. Silverbird (Band Demo)
11. Maggie
12. Lettres D’amour (Band Demo)
13. Lost Angels (Extended Rough Mix)
Zane Lowe meets with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Brian Eno at his home studio to explore the fresh and unconventional artistic theories in his latest book, What Art Does. Eno reflects on his early days with the English rock band Roxy Music and its influence on generative art. The acclaimed composer also delves into the sweeping effects of AI on society and what the future holds for technology in creative spaces.
Additionally, Today Eno released a new digital album called Aurum – a collection of ten incredible compositions all available in immersive Spatial Audio exclusively on Apple Music. The Zane Lowe Show on Apple Music 1 shared the following excepts:
Brian Eno tells Apple Music about his early years with Roxy Music: Brian Eno: I was thinking the other day that when Roxy started, rock and roll was about 16 years old. If you think of it, 1955 is probably when you can say it started with Bill Haley, and rhythm and blues just becoming rock and roll, Little Richard, that kind of thing. 1955, ’56. So that seemed like ancient history to us when we started Roxy Music, and now, what is that, that’s 70 years ago. I suppose what I remember most was people saying, “Well, of course it won’t last. It’s a fad.” And I was surprised that it lasted actually. I didn’t expect to still be doing something like this at my age. I didn’t expect to ever reach my age actually.
Zane Lowe: Wow, and yet here you are busier than ever, and so much that I want to talk about. Thanks so much for doing the radio show with us on [Apple Music] Chill and such a beautiful experience this week… It was lovely to hear this beautiful framework, for lack of a better term, that you’ve created in order to create generative music. But it’s by design, but it also I’m sure creates surprise for you.
Brian Eno: Yeah. I think the misconceptions people have about artists is that artists walk around with unrealized things in their head, and the process of being an artist is making those become real. But I don’t really know any artists who work that way. You might have an idea of where you want to start, but the process of making something is the process of you starting to understand it as well. You find your way through making it, not you’ve got it all in your head. We are not architects, essentially. Architects have to plan it all in advance because otherwise the things fall down. But in art, it doesn’t matter if it all falls down.
Brian Eno tells Apple Music about the impact AI has made on society and the future of technology:
The biggest problem for me about AI is not intrinsic to AI. It’s to do with the fact that it’s owned by the same few people, and I have less and less interest in what those people think, and more and more criticisms of what the effect of their work has been. I think social media has been a catastrophe and mildly useful at the same time. It’s possible for both things to coexist, but I think in terms of what it’s done to societies, it’s been a catastrophe. What it’s done to politics has been completely toxic. Again, that could have been avoided, I think. If it had started out in a not-for-profit regime, it would’ve been different, because maximize engagement wouldn’t have been the headline of the whole project. Maximizing engagement is just another word for maximize profit. If that’s your intention, then you get what we got, just like in the American food industry is maximize profit, which is why you have a lot of very, very unhealthy people.
Talking about AI itself, I’ve always been happy to welcome new technologies and to see what you could do with them that nobody else thought of doing with them, and what things they could do, other than those that they were designed for, because with all music technology, it’s always very interesting that stuff is designed for one reason, and then people start to find new things they could do that are completely beyond what the designer was thinking about. Distortion is a good example. Distortion is, in a way, the sound of popular music, a lot of the things that we find uniquely exciting to do with equipment kind of going wrong. That’s quite a bizarre thought, isn’t it? That you design equipment to do this. Then, you start using it to do something else, which it doesn’t do very well, and you get to like the sound of the not very wellness.
Brian Eno tells Apple Music about overcoming “writer’s block”:
Brian Eno: Picasso once said that inspiration does come, but it has to find you working… So, I think if you think you’ve got writer’s block-
Zane Lowe: Get to work.
Brian Eno: Just get to work and try doing something mundane maybe. Don’t try to write the Great American novel. Try to write a nice letter to a friend or something like that. Just get something going. You have to get the thing running again. It’s like, if you’re an athlete, you have to practice every day. You don’t just wait until the day of the race and think, “Oh. I better get limbered up.” You are in shape the whole time, so a lot of this is me staying in shape, but it means that I have, let me see, how many pieces do I now have in here?
10,550 tracks equates to a listening time of 44 days, 8 hours, 38 minutes, and 28 seconds, starting now. The first thing I thought was, “Well, I need an archive that can take me through those in interesting ways, because I wouldn’t remember the name of anything. The first thing we made was quite a simple idea. Imagine that I was tidying up or something in that room or writing to somebody or something like that, but I want my archive to be flashing past all the time, so now I’ve set it so that every two seconds it’s going to change to another piece.
Brian Eno tells Apple Music about the core principle in his latest book “What Art Does”
Zane Lowe: That gets back to the principle of what you talk about in the book, which is, what do you like?
Brian Eno: Yeah. What is it you really like?
Zane Lowe: The quote that kind of, I guess, has guided you all the way through.
Brian Eno: I think that is such an important question. And people think it’s about self-indulgence, or selfishness, or something like that. But it isn’t really. It’s about, where is your attention? Where does your attention want to be?
As I said earlier, in a world where everything is trying to claim your attention to sell you something, or to get you to vote for something, or to believe in something, what your attention wants to do is very important. And it just is constantly being bombarded by other demands. You know? “No, no, you should look at this.” “Hey, this is really interesting.” “Hey, you’d like this.”
And to sort of say, “Okay, hold on. What was it that I liked? What was the thing that really mattered to me?” And the things that really matter to you can be even quite trivial things. You know? Like, I like cooking my eggs in a certain way. Or it can be, “I really care about what’s going on in Gaza now, even though the newspapers don’t think of it as a story any longer.”
But you really ought to be the shepherd of your own attention. You can’t let that be stolen from you. And I think this is one of the, I was saying that one of the primary qualities of an artist, I think, is stubbornness. And that’s what the stubbornness is about. It’s about refusing to have your attention stolen from you.
Tune in and listen to the full episode this Thursday, March 20, at 10am PT / 1pm ET or anytime on demand with an Apple Music subscription here
On March 22nd, KISS and Pophouse will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the KISS iconic album Dressed To Kill with a never before heard audio tour through the streets of New York City.
Exactly 50 years ago on March 19, 1975, KISS’ Dressed To Kill Album was released into the world featuring one of the band’s all-time iconic photos – KISS dressed in bespoke suits posing on the corner of West 23rd & 8th Avenue.
The image and the street corner have become legendary parts of KISS history and on March 22nd the audio tour will give fans the chance to take their own tour of the relationship between New York and the band.
Packed with exclusive interviews from Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Bob Gruen the audio tour begins on West 23rd & 8th Avenue and continues on to numerous iconic New York venues in Kisstory. While some KISS Army superfans have planned a meet-up to take the walking tour together, fans from around the globe can listen on https://www.kissonline.com/. (Please note: walking tour audio is only accessible via mobile phone.)
Internationally acclaimed and award-winning composer/songwriter and superstar recording artist A.R. Rahman is bringing his new immersive live concert experience, The Wonderment Tour, to audiences across North America. The 16-date arena tour kicks off July 18, 2025, in Vancouver, BC, with stops in major cities, including Los Angeles, Toronto, and New York.
In his illustrious career, A.R. Rahman has composed music for more than 150 films and amassed an estimated 200 million record sales worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling recording artists. His monumental success composing the music of the hit film and cultural juggernaut Slumdog Millionaire earned him two Academy Awards (Best Score and Best Original Song for “Jai Ho”), two Grammys, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award.
Blending classical Indian traditions with contemporary electronic sounds, A.R. Rahman is widely recognized for revolutionizing Indian cinema’s musical landscape. His incredible music extends across cultures and genres, and appeals to audiences of all generations. In The Wonderment Tour, Rahman continues to innovate and push the boundaries of imagination and immersive experiences, as he did in directing the cinematic VR experience for his groundbreaking immersive album Le Musk and collaborating with artists worldwide.
A.R. Rahman Tour Dates
Fri, Jul 18 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Sun, Jul 20 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
Fri, Jul 25 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Sat, Jul 26 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
Tue, Jul 29 – Sugar Land, TX – Smart Financial Centre
Wed, Jul 30 – Grand Prairie, TX – TTCU Theatre
Sat, Aug 2 – Raleigh, NC – Lenovo Center
Sun, Aug 3 – Fairfax, VA – EagleBank Arena
Tue, Aug 5 – Duluth, GA – Gas South Arena
Thu, Aug 7 – Hollywood, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Fri, Aug 8 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
Sun, Aug 10 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
Tue, Aug 12 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
Thu, Aug 14 – Hoffman Estates, IL – NOW Arena
Sat, Aug 16 – Newark, NJ – Prudential Center
Sun, Aug 17 – Boston, MA – Agganis Arena
2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees The Black Crowes and global rock icon Jimmy Page celebrate the 25th anniversary of their historic live collaboration with the release of the special anniversary edition of Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live at the Greek, available now via The Orchard.
Recorded during unforgettable nights of rock and roll in October 1999 at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre and Jones Beach in August 1999, this long-awaited anniversary edition delivers the raw energy and masterful musicianship that made the original Live at the Greek a must-have for rock enthusiasts. Now available worldwide, this definitive collection celebrates one of the greatest live collaborations in rock history. Featuring powerful renditions of Led Zeppelin classics and The Black Crowes’ staple blues-rock jams, the 36-track anniversary album was produced, mixed, and remastered by Kevin Shirley and includes 16 previously unreleased tracks, exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, video, and much more.
“I’m really excited about the release of the new Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes material from the concerts in 1999. We get all of the material that was played on stage and in rehearsals. It means that now we have all songs where we are playing Led Zeppelin and The Black Crowes material that we were unable to use in the past. The new mixes capture the collaboration of those historic encounters and provide the full explosive passion and exciting energy of those alchemical moments,” said Jimmy Page.
The new, remastered editions capture the raw interplay between guitar virtuosos Jimmy Page, Audley Freed, and Rich Robinson, complemented by Chris Robinson’s soulful vocal delivery. Standout moment includes Jimmy Page’s masterful use of his signature B-bender guitar on The Black Crowes’ chart-topping hit, “She Talks to Angels,” adding a unique country-rock twang to the otherwise timeless classic rock ballad. Also included in the Double LP “Best Of” Edition, a never-before-released song Rich Robinson and Jimmy Page wrote while jamming during a soundcheck. The track aptly titled “Jams” is a true rarity.
Decca Classics is delighted to announce the exclusive signing of Japanese violinist, Himari, who, at 13 years old, has become the youngest-ever female artist to join the legendary British label.
Himari is set to release her debut EP on 23 May 2025, preceded by two singles: Carmen Fantasy by Franz Waxman and Romance by Amy Beach. Himari’s performances have already garnered millions of views online, where she has built a dedicated community of over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. She has now been named a Classic FM Rising Star for 2025.
This landmark signing comes ahead of Himari’s European debut with the Berlin Philharmonic on 20 March 2025 at the Philharmonie, where she will perform Wieniawski’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in a sold-out series on 20, 21, and 22 March 2025.
About the Berlin Philharmonic, Himari says: “Since childhood, I have had the privilege of experiencing performances by the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic and have long dreamt of the day I would perform alongside them, through the orchestra members I met during my visits to Japan and at the Salzburg Festival.”
Himari began playing the violin at the age of three and by the age of six, was already performing with professional orchestras. In 2022, she joined America’s famous music conservatory, Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she now studies under the renowned violinist Ida Kavafian.
Himari has been hailed as a once-in-a-generation talent. She has captivated the classical music world with her extraordinary technique, playful and imaginative interpretations, and her remarkable ability to convey emotional depth — all from the unique and refreshing perspective of a young artist. Her talent has been recognised globally, earning her first prizes at prestigious competitions, including the Lipinski-Wieniawski International Violin Competition and the Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition. In December 2024, she performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra during the “New Year’s Eve Celebration” with conductor Marin Alsop. She will perform this same programme with Marin Alsop with the Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival.
Himari’s teacher, Ida Kavafian Nina von Maltzahn Chair in Violin Studies at the Curtis Institute, remarked: “If you’re listening to Himari and you close your eyes, you wouldn’t realise her age. Inside Himari, there is an older person and a wise musician… she’s immensely talented.”
About her signing, Himari says: “I am very happy to be signing with Decca Classics! I hope you enjoy my performances through the recordings!”
Decca Classics Label Director, Dominic Fyfe, says: “Signing a debut artist is always an exciting moment. In Himari we truly have a talent for the ages. Technically fearless, Himari has purity, musicality and breathtaking temperament. There is a voice in Himari’s playing which can speak to any generation. All of us at Decca Classics welcome her to the label and are thrilled to bring her music-making to a global audience.”
Co-Presidents of Decca Records, Laura Monks and Tom Lewis, say: “Jaws are dropping in concert halls around the world. Himari’s virtuosity and musical talent are remarkable – but when you also consider her young age, she is simply astonishing.”
Himari plays the 1717 “Hamma” Stradivarius violin, generously loaned by Mr. Yusaku Maezawa, and a bow provided by the Munetsugu Collection.
In the 24/25 season, Himari will make her European debut with the Berlin Philharmonic performing Wieniawski Violin Concerto No.1. Elsewhere this season, she made her debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra in their New Year’s Eve concert with Marin Alsop at the Kimmel Center Verizon Hall performing three pieces: Kreisler ‘La Gitana’, Waxman ‘Carmen Fantasie’, and Gardel/Williams ‘Por una cabeza’. She will perform this same programme with Marin Alsop with the Chicago Symphony at the Ravinia Festival.
In Japan, Himari appears with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, and she will perform Sibelius’ Violin Concerto as soloist on tour with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. In addition, she embarked on a recital tour of Japan with pianists Yoshitaka Suzuki and Akiko Mimata.
Since making her orchestral soloist debut at the age of six, Himari has worked with orchestras such as the NHK Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, and Gunma Symphony Orchestra, among others. Himari has performed recitals across the United States, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Ukraine, and Japan. She has won top prizes at several international competitions, including the International Competition for Young Violinists in Honour of Karol Lipinski and Henryk Wieniawski, the 12th Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition (Belgium), the 26th Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition (Italy), the 20th Schelkunchik International Music Competition (Russia), and the Kogan International Violin Competition (Belgium).
In 2019, Himari participated in the Internationale Sommer Akademie Mozarteum Salzburg. She performed in the academy’s concert at the Salzburg Festival that year for which she received an award. Himari won the audience prize at the ‘Mini Violini 2023’ held as part of the Montreal International Violin Competition.
Decca Classics is thrilled to announce Chopin: Piano Sonatas Nos. 2 & 3, the new album by internationally renowned British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, due for release on 23rd May 2025. This will be Grosvenor’s ninth recording with Decca since his historic signing in 2011, when he became the youngest British musician—and the first British pianist in over sixty years—to join the label. Since then, Grosvenor has been recognised by Gramophone as one of the 50 greatest pianists ever recorded.
This album celebrates Chopin’s genius with two of his most profound and contrasting works: the Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor and the Piano Sonata No. 3 in B minor. Composed five years apart, these masterpieces showcase the range of Chopin’s emotional and musical brilliance.
Grosvenor comments, “The brooding Second Sonata is widely known for its Funeral March, but it also shows Chopin as a trailblazer, with the Finale: Presto hinting at modernism. It stands out in Chopin’s work as something truly unique.” By contrast, the Third Sonata, written at the height of Chopin’s career in 1844, blends dazzling piano technique with beautiful, flowing melodies, showing the composer at his most refined and expressive.
To complement the sonatas, Grosvenor selected a number of shorter works. He explains, “To balance the sonatas, I included his Ballade No. 1, which helped establish Chopin’s reputation in Paris in 1835.” This celebrated piece, known as one of Chopin’s greatest works, is full of drama and storytelling. Dedicated to Baron Nathaniel von Stockhausen in 1836, Robert Schumann called it “the piece that shows the most genius,” a view shared by Chopin, who described it as his favorite composition. The Ballade is prefaced by the tender Berceuse. Grosvenor shares, “Among the weightier works on this album, I included the Berceuse to offer a moment of calm. It’s a beautiful piece written in the same year as the Third Sonata, with work on it beginning during a romantic summer at Nohant. In just a few years, Chopin had established himself as one of the greatest composers for the piano.” Finally, before the third sonata, we hear two of Chopin’s most mature and richly spun Nocturnes: the expressive No. 1 in F Minor and the lyrical No. 2 in E-flat Major, both written shortly before the Third Sonata. This latest release follows Grosvenor’s much-lauded 2020 recording of the Chopin piano concerti with Elim Chan and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, which received the Gramophone Concerto Award and a Diapason d’Or de l’Année.Diapason described it as “a version to rank among the best, and confirmation of an extraordinary artist.”
Grosvenor continues to garner widespread acclaim. Recent highlights include performances at the Berlin Philharmonie with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, at Chicago Symphony Center, and the BBC Proms. 2025 brings further exciting performances, including debuts with the Bamberg Symphony and NHK Symphony Orchestras, and performances with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Karina Canellakis. Grosvenor will also return to the Montreal, Seattle, Bern, Dallas, and BBC Orchestras, as well as the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Leeds International Piano Festival, and Berliner Klavierfestival as part of a European recital tour. In February 2025, he will be a featured artist at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris, performing both concerto and solo recital programmes.
This album promises to be a landmark addition to Grosvenor’s celebrated discography and a compelling tribute to the enduring legacy of Chopin.
Live dates:
• 28 February 2025 – Barbican, London, UK (BBC Symphony Orchestra)
• 16 March 2025 – Benenden School, Kent, UK (Solo Recital)
• 17 March 2025 – Cambridge Music Festival, Cambridge, UK (Solo Recital)
