Author: Miranda

I am a senior in Political Science at NC State and lover of R&B, rap, international, and electronic.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

My Concert Experiences

Before COVID, one of my favorite activities was seeing bands live. Now that I’m quarantining at home, I’m reflecting on my previous concert experiences. I made this TikTok to rate my different show experiences. I’ve also included a little bit more detail below in case you’re curious.

Mitski: 7/10

I gave this concert a 7/10 because the concert was incredibly cool. Mitski had just put out her third album, “Bury Me At Makeout Creek.” The songs she performed were emotional and it was a great show.

Mac Demarco: 3/10

This show was pretty decent, but while crowd-surfing, Mac Demarco kicked my Dad in the face and knocked off his glasses, which was not great.

Wavves: 1/10

This show was definitely not my favorite, the sound was really off and the band sounded a lot different live. I still enjoy their music but probably wouldn’t see the band live again.

Neutral Milk Hotel: 9/10

This show was part of NMH’s last tour. I really love the band, and their album “In The Aeroplane Over The Sea” is a quintessential indie favorite. A truly unforgettable experience.

Cults: 10/10

This was one of my first concerts and one of my best. It was at a venue in Charlotte during Halloween and I was lucky enough to be able to meet the band afterward.

Hope you enjoyed my video and description, let me know if you want to see a part two!

– Miranda

*Disclaimer: these are my own views and experiences, and don’t reflect the views of the WKNC station as a whole.*

Categories
Classic Album Review

Metaphorical Music Review

My favorites: Lady Brown, Beat laments the world, Peaceland
Listen if you like: The Deli, Tomppabeats, Schlomo

Nujabes, also known as 瀬葉 淳, or Jun Seba was a Tokyo-born producer, DJ, and composer. Nujabes is mainly celebrated for his influence in the “anime beats” genre as he was the first artist to begin composing simple beat tracks, and with the development of the genre he has gained prominence among fans. His work ranges from sampling hip hop and jazz to producing his own atmospheric instrumentals. He also owned two record shops and founded his own independent record label in 1998, Hydeout Productions; his passion for music is obvious. 

“Metaphorical Music,” a breakbeat album created in 2003, is one of the best albums in his discography. because of the many different artists it features, rapping and singing over the incredible instrumentals created by Nujabes. His production dips into many different genre influences and this is exemplified beautifully in “Metaphorical Music”.  The album flows seamlessly between jazz notes, hip hop beats, and Eastern elements. The album begins with jazzy tracks overlaid with rap verses by Substantial, Pase Rock, and Cise Starr. My favorite of these is “Lady Brown”, a beautiful love song. The verse “She smells like a Happy Birthday/On a Thursday” is one of my favorites out of all the love songs I’ve heard. It’s really a great song. You can get a glimpse of Nujabes’ foray into “chillhop” (before the genre was even created) in his track F.I.L.O. which features artist Shing02. The album finishes with some more simplistic but exquisite instrumental tracks, like “Peaceland.”

Jun Seba tragically died in 2010 in a traffic accident. Following this, artists worldwide performed tributes in his musical style and many modern artists like Otakon and Logic have credited him for his influence in their work. His label posthumously released his album “Spiritual State,” another amazing work. Despite his passing he continues to bring music fans together through his touching, soulful works. 

Give “Metaphorical Music” a listen, with the newfound appreciation of Nujabes and his musical impact. 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

Friday Favorites (8/21)

As a continuation of my biweekly series, Friday Favorites, I’m updating everyone on the best songs I’ve discovered recently. This week I’ve gone genreless and picked songs that truly appealed to me on first listen. Check them out and let me know if you like them!

Obsessed – Wevlth 

Moody electronic to the likes of Crystal Castles with an EDM influence gives this new release interest and appeal – I’m “Obsessed” with it, especially around the three minute mark when the beat starts slowing down. 

Don’t Look At Me – POORSTACY 

Neo-emo rap is not a genre I’ve explored much, but the introduction to it I got by POORSTACY’s energetic beats and melancholic lyricism have led me toward interest in his work and the genre in general. 

Fingerbib – Aphex Twin

Engaging electronic brings this late-90’s track to life. I love the variety in the Aphex Twin discography and can’t stop listening to this happy little song. 

Berlin – Blood Orange

A beautiful creation which mixes the vocals of Blood Orange, Porches, and Ian Isiah. “Angel’s Pulse” is one of my favorite recent albums and Berlin is probably my favorite track on it. 

Sea Sick – binki

An anti-pop love song to get you moving on these slow days. 

As always, you can listen to these songs and more on my Friday Favorites Spotify playlist. 

Thanks for reading. 

– Miranda

Categories
New Album Review

The Prelude EP Review

My favorites: Not Alright, At My Worst
Listen if you like: Khalid, Mac Ayres, Arin Ray 

The new Pink Sweat$ EP, called The Prelude, showcases six tracks by this upcoming R&B artist most known for the release of his single “Honesty” which has more than a hundred million plays on Spotify. However, the track “17” from the new EP has already surpassed those numbers. Pink Sweat$, also known as David Bowden, has yet to release his debut album but has gained popularity in R&B/pop circles for his singles and EPs. This EP is no exception, with a masterful blend of popular cotton-candy beats, soulful vocals, and emotionally vulnerable lyrics.

The album artwork for the EP greatly reflects the whole vibe of the album: happy and bright. On the surface, every song has a playful melody and instrumentation. Easily you could picture all of these songs on a top-100s chart, alongside Bowden’s past works. Penetrating into the lyrics and meaning behind the songs gives a deeper look at the emotion housed in the artist’s music. The tracks have beautiful lines like “We’ll be dancing the same groove / When we are ninety-two, the same as seventeen.” His track that delves deepest into emotions is “Not Alright,” which focuses on the treatment of Black Americans and the emotion following the death of George Floyd. 

This EP reminded me of some of the popular works by Khalid and Arin Ray, if you enjoy those I recommend giving this a listen. There is clearly an influence of contemporary R&B, pop, and soul music infused into this work. Most of the tracks utilize guitar, very simple beats, and rely heavily on the artist’s vocal talent. 

Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

– Miranda

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Top Choice: Japanese Artists

As I’ve entered my senior year at NC State and am taking my final Japanese class of college, I am reflective on all that I’ve gotten to do and learn so far during my college experience, especially getting to take courses in Japanese language and history that has led me to appreciate the culture more deeply. I have always been a fan of non-Western artists and wanted to share some of my favorite Japanese musicians. Hopefully you can be led to some cool new music. 

Awich

An Okinawa native who married a New Yorker, Awich weaves together Japanese and English language to create her own unique style of music. She seamlessly switches between genres throughout her discography between rap and pop, and any other genre she wants to explore. Most recently she created her own Tokyo Drift freestyle which you can find on 88Rising’s YouTube. 

Hikaru Utada

Hikaru Utada is an extremely popular Japanese artist, loved by a wide variety of fans including my Japanese professors at NC State and my 30-year-old uncle. I first fell in love with Utada’s voice in her track “traveling” – which is still to this day one of my favorite Japanese songs. 

Moka Sato

Found on music streaming platforms as “satomoka”, Sato generally creates bubbly, sweet JPOP that is perfect for a relaxing listen. With vocal talent and a melodious background, I especially recommend giving her a chance if you enjoy dreamy pop. Aside from her music, Sato generally has an impeccable Instagram aesthetic and is delightful to follow there. 

CHAI

A badass Japanese girl group – what more could you ask for? CHAI self-describes their band as “redefining kawaii” and promoting women empowerment with their lyrics. Their songs are musically complex and vocals maintain your interest. I especially love their utilization of the electric guitar, which gives their soft voices a harder edge. 

I hope you enjoyed my list. Keep on the lookout for more of my top choices in music. 

– Miranda

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Black Contributions to Music: Blues

In continuing my Black Contributions to Music series, which explores the many ways Black individuals globally have contributed to different genres of music, I wanted to cover one of the most iconic Black-created genres, blues music. 

Blues first originated in the American Deep South. The genre began with influence from African musical traditions, Black work songs, and spirituals. Blues uses a specific scale and chord progressions and is characterized by the call-and-response pattern. Call-and-response in music can be traced back to African music styles, and blues itself is closely related to spirituals, the religious music of Black Americans. Many early blues songs reflected a narrative on some topic and as blues singer Charlotte Forten is famously quoted, “can’t be sung without a full heart and a troubled spirit.” The genre is diverse and dynamic, able to be appreciated and played by all people of any socio-economic status. Blues is especially important within African-American history because it’s associated with the end of slavery in the United States, the genre is thus bred out of a “celebration of freedom.” The dynamic nature of the genre allowed former slaves to chisel out their own corner of American culture while celebrating their African ancestry. 

The blues genre has evolved to encompass more sound influence and has mixed with other genres to create new styles such as electric blues and blues rock. The genre has continued to influence modern music in America and throughout the world. Blues had a significant impact on early country music and country pop, whose genre’s artists often borrowed the blues scale and tones for their work. The format of most blues music including call-and-response and the blues scale is utilized by and influences jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll genres. Many prominent modern musicians like Louis Armstrong and Bob Dylan  have performed in blues style. 

If you want to learn more about the contributions Black musicians have made to music, please check out the tags below for more posts in the series. 

– Miranda

Sources: I, II

Categories
Music News and Interviews

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame was created in 1994 to “recognize, promote and commemorate the musical heritage of the State of North Carolina.” This organization showcases the artistic talent of N.C. musicians through their Hall of Fame installations, historical exhibitions, and more. The NCMHOF showcases the talents of extraordinary artists like Shirley Reeves and Doris Jackson of The Shirelles, Nina Simone and Ben E. King. When open, the Hall of Fame offers free admission. 

On August 5, 2020, the NCMHOF announced their 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees. The six inductees include The Briarhoppers, Donald Lawrence, Charles Whitfield, The Squirrel Nut Zippers, Jermaine Dupri, and Michael Mauldin. The NCMHOF additionally awarded previous inductees Roberta Flack and Tony Brown Lifetime Achievement Awards for their achievement of lifetime success in the music industry and their impact on American music. The induction ceremony has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic but is expected to be held in 2021. 

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame has also recently launched a new live series called “Listening to Legends,” which interviews Hall of Fame inductees. Anyone is able to share questions and comments for these individuals, and the series is streamed live to the NCMHOF’s Facebook and YouTube pages. I definitely recommend checking the series out, you can find out more about it on their Twitter or website. 

– Miranda

Source: I

Categories
Playlists

Friday Favorites (8/7)

Quarantining away from my friends and family has been difficult, but I’ve found some bright new releases that keep me uplifted. They also relate to my experience, likely a widely shared one, for my Friday Favorites this week, check it out and enjoy.

Cabin Fever – Jaden 

This new single from the talented Jaden Smith perfectly reflects the “Groundhog Day” experience of being away from your partner during quarantine. With a bouncy melody and layered vocals, the song will become anyone’s new favorite.  

astrid – glaive 

This short track is a new release that I quite enjoy; it’s a brave mix of pop, electric and rap that actually sounds good. Something new that you should definitely check out. 

Verbs (ft. Steve Lacy) – Peyton

A cute little love song with delicate, otherworldly vocals, simple beat and background vocals by my favorite, Steve Lacy. A simple song perfect for long summer days (and the inevitable multiple walks you’re taking to fight boredom). 

Please Don’t Make Me Cry – Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas’ new self-titled album is a beautifully crafted artistic work. It combines elements of indie folk, soul and alternative genres into something beautiful. This song in particular has a complex melody that keeps the listener intrigued throughout. 

Darcy – Wabie 

This single from Wabie is very groovy. It reminds me of the West Coast surf-pop I listened to during my high school years, but I also find that his songs have really strong lyricism and depth. 

You can listen to all of these songs and any from past weeks on WKNC’s Spotify, linked here. 

– Miranda

Categories
Playlists

Road Trip Playlist

One of the best part about a road trip is that you can listen to excellent music while traveling. I recently got home from a 7000 mile road trip from North Carolina to Washington and back*, and suffice to say the 80 hours in the car required a lot of good music to keep me entertained. I decided to compile my best road trip tracks to share with all of my friends and blog readers, I hope you enjoy! 

America – Simon & Garfunkel 

I love Simon & Garfunkel, this song and also many in Paul Simon’s wheelhouse are perfect for a long road trip. Think old subaru outback, stale cigarette smells, and cinnamon coffee.

Coming Home – Leon Bridges 

A really pretty track which I especially appreciate after an incredible journey. Nothing like coming home. 

Nara – alt-J 

This song and the “This Is All Yours” album are all really relaxed, pretty songs with appealing electronic tones to add a perfect depth. 

Santa Fe – Beirut 

I love hearing songs about the places I’m visiting, which is why many of the songs in the playlist reflect state or city names. Beirut’s “The Rip Tide” is really appealing to me for this reason. 

This Must Be The Place – Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine makes some great road trip songs. I love their covers which bring a new, usually acoustic and gentle, sound into the nostalgic tracks we all grew up loving. 

Check out my full road trip playlist here. 

*To preemptively address concerns about my trip – I am relocating to Washington after graduation and went up to begin the moving process, as well as get engaged to my now-fiancé. We took social distancing precautions and wore PPE in public, and I quarantined for two weeks before and after my travels. I recommend anyone planning a road trip to consider postponing until U.S. COVID-19 cases are significantly reduced, especially because many of the cities I visited still do not have mandates about masks or social distancing. If you must travel, please pack plenty of masks, sanitizer, and gloves, and use common sense. Be safe. 

– Miranda 

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Top Choice: Indie Artists

Anyone who knows me or has read my posts knows that I am a big fan of indie artists. I include in my definition of “indie” any artists who are not readily discoverable, artists who are or were unsigned or independent artists, and any artists who heavily influenced modern indie genres. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite indie artists of all time and what work by them I enjoy. 

Sonic Youth 

One of my favorite 80’s bands, Sonic Youth, helped shape a generation of modern indie artists and created some amazing music in the process. Now a very popular band, they extended their influence despite humble beginnings within the American underground, and went on to influence the sound of indie rock for years to come. 

Neutral Milk Hotel 

Jeff Mangum and his band created some of the most interesting albums in this world. “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea” is a quintessential indie album. I had the pleasure of seeing NMH on their very last tour and can attest to the raw talent the band has and the amazing experience provided by their artistry. Definitely check them out if you haven’t already. 

Elliott Smith

Smith was a very talented musician and songwriter who also helped shape the sonic environment of indie and related genres. Smith also definitely created some of the most somber and melancholic discography of related artists. I recommend both his “Either/Or” and “Elliott Smith” albums. 

Sufjan Stevens 

Sufjan Stevens is one of the best artists of our time. Much of his discography is entirely produced, written, and played by him solely. His albums typically follow complex concepts, some of the best of which reflect religion, the grieving process, and childhood. The artist began from nothing and has built up enormous success in the indie genre. 

of Montreal 

I have mentioned this band a lot in previous posts but want to ensure that they are recognized. Their music is extremely compelling – emotional lyrics, shifting musical influence, and entertaining media and live performances make the band incredibly unique. Their best album, hands down, is their electronic-based “Innocence Reaches,” but I also really enjoyed their newest release “UR FUN” which has more rock & roll influence. 

Honorable mentions include: They Might Be Giants, Toro y Moi, King Krule, Angel Olsen, and Soccer Mommy. 

– Miranda