Author: dj dragonfly

Alt rock and grunge lover.

Categories
Concert Review

A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Opera!  Andrea Cheeseman, Clarinet”

Woman in black posing in front of grey background
Dr. Andrea Cheeseman. Image provided by Dr. Andrea Cheeseman, image by Matthew Wood

Once again, I attended the Arts NOW Series for one of my classes.  Instead of a lecture recital, Dr. Andrea Cheeseman performed a one-act opera from a three part series of one-act pieces.  This show was different than one might expect from this description, but it did not disappoint. 

The concentration of the show was on computer music.  First, let’s cover what computer music is.  From the title, you can assume that it is music made with a computer which would be correct.  That being said, it’s more complicated than using a computer program to make a song like Logic Pro of Ableton.  It’s more akin to using various synthesis and algorithmic techniques to make music with a computer.  A recognizable example of this would be “Daisy Bell” programmed by Max Matthews at Bell Labs in 1961, originally written by Harry Dacre in 1892.

Continue reading “A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Opera!  Andrea Cheeseman, Clarinet””
Categories
Playlists

DJ Dragonfly’s February Favorites

Purple violet flowers close up
Violet flowers. Image licensed CC0 1.0 Public Domain Universal

February might be the shortest month of the year, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a fresh set of DJ Dragonfly’s Favorites.  

With Mother Nature having a tough time deciding if we should have a wonderfully frigid and white Winter or a splendidly sunny and green Spring, I too find myself at a loss for the kind of music I prefer to listen to.  

Continue reading “DJ Dragonfly’s February Favorites”
Categories
Miscellaneous

Who Are Betty and Veronica?

Comic book cover with five animated teenagers
"The All New Betty And Veronica" comic book cover. Image from Philipp Lenssen, licensed CC BY-NC 2.0 Generic.

** Image license **

Have you ever heard of Betty and Veronica? Do you know who they were and are? 

If these feel like questions that shouldn’t need to be asked, then I’m relieved to not be alone. 

A few months ago, I mentioned something to my friend about “Betty and Veronica” who proceeded to look at me with square eyes.  They had never heard of them before which shocked me to my core.  I had been under the impression that everyone had not only heard of “Betty and Veronica” but grew up with their comics, like I had. 

Continue reading “Who Are Betty and Veronica?”
Categories
Concert Review

A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Joshua Brinkman, Saxophone”

Man in glasses playing saxophone
Joshua Brinkman, Ph.D. on the Saxophone. Image provided by Dr. Brinkman, image by Spirit Nyx Photography

The Arts NOW Series lecture recital on Joshua Brinkman was one I attended for a class but ended up enjoying a lot more than I had expected.  I know very little about the saxophone and the music genres that evolved alongside it.  Dr. Brinkman’s lecture recital was a presentation on the technological and cultural backgrounds and evolutions of the saxophone. This presentation included slides on the origins of the saxophone, the differences between different saxophones, the historical significance of the saxophone in different genres and even live performances of two different saxophones and a clarinet, all performed by Dr. Brinkman himself.  

Continue reading “A Review of “Arts NOW Series: Joshua Brinkman, Saxophone””
Categories
Playlists

DJ Dragonfly’s January Favorites

Snowman with stick arms and rocks for eyes, a nose, and buttons
Snowman. Image licensed CC0 1.0 Public Domain Universal

The first DJ Dragonfly’s Favorites for 2026 is here.  It’s time to see if anything’s changed from last year to this year.  

Continue reading “DJ Dragonfly’s January Favorites”
Categories
Playlists

DJ Dragonfly’s December Favorites

Snow covered trees and a snow banks
A winter scene. Image by Claudette Gallant, licensed CC0 1.0 Universal.

It might be a new year, but some old things keep carrying on.  A prime example would be the next edition of “DJ Dragonfly’s Favorites.”

I know this post comes a little late but these were my picks for December, I promise.  

Continue reading “DJ Dragonfly’s December Favorites”
Categories
Music News and Interviews

What It’s Like to Be a Woman in a Band

Five young adults posed together in a graffitied brick alley
The band Ajena. Image provided by Ajena, image by Nyshita Ramadugu.

Many of my regular readers know that I am a woman and that I play in a band here in Raleigh.  If you are someone who regularly attends shows, small or large, you know that there is a distinct shortage of women.  I have decided to call upon some of the women in the community to help me describe what it’s like on the other side of the microphone for us.  

Continue reading “What It’s Like to Be a Woman in a Band”
Categories
Miscellaneous

DJ Dragonfly’s 2025 Favorites

Sea lion laying together on a barge
The Sea Lions of San Francisco. Image by Sophia Dutton-Rodkin

It is officially that time of year: Spotify Wrapped has been released.  This event is a much anticipated one by many a Spotify listener and I have decided to share my wrapped, unedited.  Some of these songs have explicit content, so fair warning to everyone.

Continue reading “DJ Dragonfly’s 2025 Favorites”
Categories
Playlists

DJ Dragonfly’s November Favorites

Snow covered canyon
Snowy Grand Canyon National Park. Image by Grand Canyon National Park, licensed CC BY 2.0 Generic.

** Image license **

Another day, another dollar, another “DJ Dragonfly’s Favorites.”  

The end of the semester is upon us but that isn’t stopping me from keeping this series going.  This month, my tastes seem all over the place.  As the temperature cools and the days grow shorter, my music tastes usually grow more distorted.  I move away from the upbeat indie beachy Summer-y feel to a more alternative rock, grungey, nu metal feel.  Despite this, I have quite a few choices in this playlist that do not fit into that box.  So without further ado, the playlist.  Some of these songs have explicit content, so fair warning to everyone.

Continue reading “DJ Dragonfly’s November Favorites”
Categories
Playlists

Guilty Pleasures

A set table at a restaurant with two drinks
A couple of drinks. Image by Sophia Dutton-Rodkin

When it comes to anything in life, we tend to have our patterns.  Whether it is our favorite foods, movies, activities or music, no matter how broad our tastes, there are patterns.  That being said, we often have things we enjoy that are outside of our usual patterns.  At times, there are things we enjoy for which we might be ashamed.  

Some examples of this might be horror movie fans being into wholesome Disney films, science fiction fans liking chick flicks, quiet and calm people loving adrenaline inducing activities and so on.

Continue reading “Guilty Pleasures”