Author: WKNC Admin

Categories
Non-Music News

Preserve This Podcast Workshop

It’s the year 2039. Where’s your podcast? (A Preserve This Podcast workshop)

Bring your hard drives. Bring your laptops. Bring your Dropbox password. We’re going to preserve your podcast. Zines will be provided.

If you’ve listened to our podcast or read our zine, you know that podcasts are disappearing. So how can podcasters protect themselves against loss? By attending our Preserve This Podcast workshop. This interactive workshop will tackle this issue head-on by walking audio-creators through the history of podcast technology, the basics of archival preservation, and simple steps you can take to preserve your audio. We will review through the tools and techniques to prevent data loss before it’s too late, as well as “bake” these concepts into podcasters’ existing production workflows.

Co-organized with the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University.

About our instructors:

Dana Gerber-Margie (@theaudiosignal) listens to podcasts while living in Madison, Wisconsin. She earned her Master’s in Library & Information Studies at UW-Madison, and has worked as an A/V Archivist for WiLS and the Wisconsin Historical Society. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the Bello Collective, a publication about podcasts and storytelling.

Mary Kidd (@kiddarchivist) is an archivist and illustrator. By day, she works for New York Public Library’s Special Collections Division. She has worked on audio/visual preservation projects for New York Public Radio, the Magic Shop Recording Studio, and the XFR Collective, a non-profit organization that transfers at-risk media off magnetic tapes to digital format for individuals and groups with limited means. She enjoys creating drawings, zines, gifs, and other artful tidbits to make archiving, and the technology that supports it, accessible, approachable and fun for everyone.

Date And Time
Sat, September 14, 2019
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EDT

Location
Center for Documentary Studies
1317 W. Pettigrew Street
Auditorium – 7 Bridges Building
Durham, NC 27705

Categories
Weekly Charts

Chainsaw Charts 9/10

Artist Record Label
1 INVOKE Invoking Chaos [EP] Arduous Path
2 KNOCKED LOOSE A Different Shade Of Blue Pure Noise
3 FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY “The Sea of Tragic Beasts” [Single] Nuclear Blast
4 WAGE WAR Pressure Fearless
5 DEVOURMENT Obscene Majesty Relapse
6 INFANT ANNIHILATOR “Swinaecologist” [Single] Self-Released
7 ASCENDING FROM ASHES Glory Darkscale Media
8 CHAMBER Ripping / Pulling / Tearing Pure Noise
9 RITUALIZER “Speed Of Sound” [Single] Self-Released
10 INCLINATION When Fear Turns to Confidence [EP] Pure Noise

Categories
Miscellaneous

Sampling in music: What is it? Good? Bad? Who knows?

cellar door’s take on Sampling

In short, sampling is the practice (an art form some may say) of taking a portion of another sound recording, music or not, and reusing it in another sound recording. Samples come in many shapes and sizes. They can be speech sounds, instrument sounds, ambient sounds, beats and even lyrics. Musique concrète, which originated in the 1940s, was a way of making music out of previously recorded sounds. Artists who indulged in this kind of music composition would literally take tapes, cut the audio out that they wanted and then proceed to manipulate them via music technology. The point of musique concrète was to find “music” in everyday sounds by looping them, slowing them down or speeding them up. Now, thanks to some French dudes, sampling was (sort of) born. Of course, artists were borrowing from each other since the beginning of music; sampling is an inherent element in music-making.

In the 1960s, Jamaican dub reggae artists would take previously recorded reggae tracks to create faster songs to dance to and then they would DJ over them, these songs were called riddim (not EDM, though they share the same name). Jamaican immigrants who moved to America shared their practice of sampling and so began its roots in hip hop in the 70s. Sampling is the foundation of hip-hop itself, which is why it’s so widely used in the genre today. DJs would use turntables and loop breaks in soul records from artists like James Brown and use them to rap over for their audiences.

So why do some people despise sampling? Is it because they don’t know about its history and thus make blind assumptions of stealing (yes.)? Or is it because they do know what sampling is and they still don’t exactly agree with the “taking” of intellectual property even if it is manipulated to create another work? I’m not the one to say, but I can say that there is plenty of controversy surrounding sampling in the music world. I mean sure, it is very wrong to literally take someone’s work, copy it, paste it and then call it your own. To me, that’s not what sampling is. Sampling is about paying homage or shouting out something you really like as a music artist and it gives artists even MORE creative room to work with. It gives artists the chance to share something new with their audiences and it sometimes propels the original to new stardom. Sampling also creates a unique space for music to be made of other music which is pretty meta if you ask me. However, running into copyright issues is where it can get tricky and controversial. Of course, nowadays, you hear a lot about artists having trouble getting samples cleared because of how expensive and difficult it is to get through copyright rules. Imagine all of the good, juicy sampled music we could have if these samples had been cleared. Personally, I love sampling. For me, it’s like finding hidden treasure because the original song is ALWAYS better than the song with the sample. It also broadens my musical horizons greatly and gives a song another layer of history. Hip hop and electronic music are my most favorite genres and sampling is at the base of their creation so I am all for it.

 -cellar door xx

Categories
Playlists

Jazz Rap: a history lesson and playlist

History:

If you’ve ever heard any of A Tribe Called Quest, Anderson .Paak, Digable Planets, Quasimoto or Noname then you’ve heard of Jazz Rap. Jazz Rap emerged in the 80s and 90s, right along with the rap genre’s own beginnings. Jazz had been used to sample and reconstruct new soundscapes for lyricists to rap over. It was mellow, it was jazzy and it was paying homage to black music. While the music itself was historically aware, the artists who participated seemed to be as well by adopting lyrics about the intricacies of black people in America and throughout. Gang Starr was among the very first to popularize the genre with songs like “Talkin’ All That Jazz” which sampled famous jazz musician, Lonnie Liston Smith. 

In 1993, Digable Planets released a hit jazz rap record called “Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space)” which sampled many a jazz artist including Herbie Hancock. After a time, jazz rap’s popularity began to dwindle in the mainstream sphere, but jazz still holds strong roots in the back beats of any rap song then and today. Jazz rap gave room for other experimental and unconventional forms of rap and hip hop as can be seen with MF Doom and Noname. 

Jazz Rap: a playlist

Award Tour: A Tribe Called Quest

Where I’m From: Digable Planets

Self: Noname

Blah Loops: Like ft. Kali Uchis

Running Shoes: Ivan Ave

Bluffin: Quasimoto

Me of the Papes: Jeru The Damaja

Dancing in the Rain: Blu and Exile

Mass Appeal: Gang Starr

They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y): Pete Rock & CL Smooth

93 ‘Til Infinity: Souls of Mischief

Poe Man’s Dreams (His Vice): Kendrick Lamar ft. GLC

The Strip: MED, MAdlib, Anderson .Paak

Next Levels: King Geedorah

4r Da Squaw: Isaiah Rashad

– cellar door 

Categories
DJ Highlights

How to Experience Music Differently

I never knew just how many ways there were to experience music until I came to college. It honestly blew my mind to see just how many different ways one could listen to music and how much that changes the experience, so I wanted to share some of my favorites

DJing – Of course the best way to experience music differently is by listening to WKNC 88.1 (the best in college radio) 🙂 but actually, it really does change the experience when you’re in charge of the music selection on the radio. Hearing your favorite tracks over the monitor and knowing that you’re able to force however many people are tuned in to enjoy it too is a feeling like no other. DJing also definitely changed how I experienced music on a first listen and how I think of playlists (I’m kind of addicted to making playlists now and have far more than necessary)

Live – Anyone who’s ever been to a concert for a band they love will testify to this, seeing the music performed live is such an intimate and mesmerizing experience and you feel the music in a way that only comes from a live show. Like most people I keep a list of all the shows I go to, but I know that even if I didn’t have it I would still remember. You never forget a good show and for a good while after you’ll feel different about that music/ artists.

Knowing/meeting the Artist – This is one of my favorite ways to experience music. Much like a live concert it just feels way more intimate but it also brings in this ‘aw i’m so proud of you’ feeling, almost makes you feel like a proud parent at your kids talent show. You get excited to show off your friends work and how talented they are, and when you listen you think ‘yeah definitely feels like them’. I listen to my friends music all the time because it’s the most inspiring and exciting thing to experience.

Making the music – This one is fun as long as you’re not too critical of yourself. Sitting back and listening to something YOU created, thought of, put into existence, etc. is an exciting and inspiring experience. You might stop and think ‘hmm I should’ve done this differently’, but it’s a learning experience and it just makes you want to do it again. Sharing your music with other people who make music can also be a scary thing, but hearing good feedback and being able to enjoy each other’s work is by far my favorite way to experience music.

Focus on Different Elements – Now this is something that studying music as a minor has added to my musical life. Structure, instruments, tempo, lyrics, etc. there’s just so much to hear when listening to a song and if you focus on a different part each time you almost feel like your experiencing it for the first time every time. This can also apply to where you are in your life and what your experiencing too. Like how a love song feels different depending on relationship status and how you feel about someone.

Car, Biking, Skateboarding, Flying etc. – Last but not least, I do think listening to music during any kind of travel changes the experience. Freshman year my absolute favorite thing to do when I was stressed was get on my skateboard and jam out while riding around campus. Now that I live off campus I find listening to music while biking has its own spark too. There’s something about that breeze and flow of travel that really puts people in a mellow and bop mood. And I can’t forget to mention that ‘movie-like’ (and EXTREMELY satisfying) feeling when you pull up to your destination right as the song is ending.

If you have any other favorite ways to experience music please let me know

– DJ Psyched

Categories
Podcasts

EOT293 Shervon Cassism: Assistant Director of NC State Creative Writing Program, Jennifer Hall: Executive Director of the American Lung Association in NC 9/08/19

Categories
Festival Coverage

WKNC Breaking

image

After weeks of intense negotiation The Avett Brothers finally realize their dream of directing people towards bathrooms and beer.

-Andrew Evans 

Categories
New Album Review

Album Highlight // Pit Boss by Cecil Frena

 

Cecil Frena’s 12 track record ‘Pit Boss’ was released last month on August 21, 2019. The newly released album was a must listen for me because Cecil Frena’s first album ‘The Gridlock’ was the first album I ever reviewed for WKNC, and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I was excited when I heard about this release and I absolutely loved the change of pace I felt when I had my first listen. This album definitely sounds like Cecil Frena but it holds its own unique sound at the same time (something I love to see artists do). 

From first listen the track ‘Are You A Cop’ really stood out to me and remains one of my favorites from the album. The guitars are memorable, as they are all throughout this entire album, and the use of screaming vocals (which are also used a good amount on this record) really add to the weight of his words. ‘The Rats are Winning’ also stood out to me that first time. With its fierce vocals and whisper like chorus this track really gets you feeling the intensity behind the artists words. ‘Baby you got this’ is definitely an anthem type track and i’m here for the catchy hook that I know I’ll have stuck in my head for a while now. And I’m alright with that.

I’d definitely have to say though, my favorite thing about Cecil Frena’s music is the experience of pulling up the lyrics on bandcamp and reading along side the track. His lyrical work is usually telling an underlying story that you only catch if you’re paying close attention, and it’s always a story worth hearing. Cecil hasn’t been afraid to talk on personal beliefs and political topics in the past and he doesn’t shy away from them on this record either, and it’s powerful.

– DJ Psyched

Categories
New Album Review

ALBUM REVIEW: POW! – Shift

Pow! by Shift album cover

BEST TRACKS: Peter, Free the Floor

FCC VIOLATIONS: Disobey, No World

This is it. We are now in the Cybergoth future that our parents and teachers warned us about. POW! is back – darker, noisier, and giving less of a damn than ever with their new album Shift.

Pow! started out in 2011 with four members but by the time the band released Shift, their numbers had dwindled down to just two: the extraordinary duo Byron Blum and Melissa Blue. With Blum’s cutting guitar, and Blue’s chilling vocals and brain-liquefying keyboard, they don’t really need anyone else.

This album came as a surprise. Based on the two albums that came before this release, it seemed like POW! was moving in a more pop direction. For some reason, they changed their minds and turned a complete 180…and we’re so glad they did! Shift is experimental, unnerving, and abrasive in the most ripping way.

This album is an avant garde explosion of self-expression. Picture oscillating synthesizers, robotic deadpan vocals, strange electronic whirring, and tinny drums being beaten to within an inch of their life. Any song from this album could go on the soundtrack of a post-apocalyptic movie about a motley group of computer hackers and mechanics trying to overthrow the government.

To give you an idea of how noisy this album actually is, I was listening to the fourth track, Free the Floor, in my car and thought the sirens of a firetruck passing by were just part of the song. I almost didn’t stop for it. A minute later, in the same car ride, I was vibing so hard to Peter that I missed my turn. SO yeah what I’m trying to say is this album is really good but bad for when you’re driving.

If you’ve ever worn glittery black nail polish or cosplayed as anyone from Invader Zim, you’ll probably like this album. Even if you’re not a cyberpunk menace, it might still amuse you to give this album a spin.

-Safia Rizwan

Categories
Festival Coverage

vitamin e’s electronic music roundup baby!!

 its that time of year again folks! Here is the WKNC Afterhours approved lineup for the top 6 best electronic shows for the hopscotch weekend

  1. Channel Tres-  my #1 electronic show of the weekend, def going to be a good, super funky house music set: Friday, Imurj at 12:30am

  2. Spelling- Oakland, CA based artist, makes dreamy soul music with some electronic undertones: Saturday, Neptunes at 11pm

  3. Zah- Brooklyn, NY DJ and artist: Saturday, Wicked Witch at 11:30pm

  4. Shormey- Chesapeake, VA based artist,  makes light and sunny electronic music: Saturday, Imurj at 9pm

  5. Oak city slums-  Raleigh based DJ: Friday, Imurj at 11:30pm

  6. Gudiya- Raleigh based artist: Saturday, Wicked Witch at 8:30pm

stay dry out there n dance a lot everybody :0)
vitamin e