NY singer, rapper and actress Azealia Banks has hit the underground scene with a bang and is getting ready to release her first full-length. In an interview with Pitchfork, Banks says that she’s ‘not afraid of major labels’
I’m not really scared of major labels. I just want to work where I’m allowed to make mistakes and do my own thing rather than getting into a situation where someone else has their own agenda of what they want me to be.
- Daniel
(video: Azealia Banks - 212 ft. Lazy Jay)
Doom’s new track “Retarded Fren” came with a little help from Radiohead’s Thom York and Jonny Greenwood. The three of them teamed up for this new track for Lex Records 10th anniversary compilation. Did Greenwood just rip this from the ‘There Will Be Blood’ soundtrack?
By Daniel Garrick
I hadn’t heard Ryan York’s music until this cassette. Out on Leaving Records, this EP (it’s just under 26 minutes) threw me for a loop. At first I thought this was going to be a tape of Flying Lotus/Brainfeeder beat scene music, what with its strong start in that direction. However, the second half of the tape turns out to be quite enjoyable drone (I’ll probably preview one other track) and ambient. These two distinct segments are united by this particular track, the most woozy of the electronic numbers that prefigure what’s to come later. The vocal snippets are much more billowy, the percussion spaced out and patient. This, then, is a very enjoyable middle ground between the two sounds on the tape, and it seemed the fitting choice. I hope you enjoy it.
iymi:
RVIVR - Cut the Cord
http://www.ifyoumakeit.com/video/rvivr/cut-the-cord-2/
RVIVR is one of those bands that tours so much it’s crazy. After the fiasco of their last PCS, I’m glad they were able to come back so soon. This is off their self-titled record, which you can download from Rumbletowne Records.This is 1 of 2 videos I recorded. The other one is for the song Tiny Murders.
Ever since I saw that this guy getting ridiculous attention at Pitchfork Festival, with his band Odd Future, I’ve been spinning a lot of Odd Future. This gentleman here, Tyler, The Creator, lead singer of Odd Future, has newly released single Yonkers and it’s been been getting lots of hype all over the web. The video is even nominated for a VMA. This track like many other on the album Goblin, is intoxicating and draw the listener in with hypnotizing beats and lyrics that leave you asking for more. I simply can’t stop listening to it, that’s for sure.
www.thebitingpoint.wordpress.com
Here at The Auditory, we make it our business to cover all different types of music without discrimination. I hope you agree that there is equal value to be found in every corner of the musical world, and that that is why we have you as our followers. Unfortunately, the vast majority of classical music culture and the listeners of classical music aren’t graced with this kind of scope and open-mindedness.
If you’ve spent enough time in an institution, or even reading classical music criticism in the papers, you’re bound to have recognised a hangover from Romantic aesthetics in how the majority of listeners still love to talk and think about music. It is this hangover that teaches us the canon of the ‘great’ composers, and what their works of ‘genius’ are. You may also have noticed that despite this supposed greatness, classical music occupies a pretty small place in contemporary artistic culture. Something surely doesn’t quite add up when what is supposed to be the greatest music of all time is a total niche culture. This isn’t to suggest that the music isn’t wonderful, but I honestly believe it is worth questioning the alienating ways in which we can talk, write, and promote classical music. It is marketed predominately towards those who have already been indoctrinated with classical cultural values. Unfortunately, since the majority of people have not, the majority of people miss out.
The Biting Point is a new blog by a composer and critic working under the pseudonym eidelyn. He outlines more successfully than I have ever read before the ways in which classical culture is self-destructively swallowing itself. It also sets out the ways in which classical music can engage with the positive aspects of popular culture and popular music in order to clamber our of the hole of insularity that its devotees have dug for it. If you are at all interested in the future of art music, then read his manifesto and spread the word to all of your friends and their mothers. There are some very radical ideas that I am sure a lot of you might take issue with, but my belief is that we need this kind of radical upheaval in order for art music to reclaim its positive as a dominant force in contemporary artistic culture.
JJA
Video
This past week I attended a show in Princeton called “Indie Music Night”. The shows generally happen once a month, and are all organized by singer/songwriter Sarah Donner. Sarah attended my Alma Mater, and so I was intrigued to see what her monthly get-together had to offer.
Indie Night turned out to be one of the most enjoyable and musically satisfying nights that I’ve had in awhile. For a mere five dollars, myself and the rest of the crowd were able to hear five acts—all of whom were supremely talented.
This video features one the musicians that I was privileged to see that night—Gillian Grassie. She is a singer/songwriter/harpist—calling to mind, of course, Joanna Newsom. However, unlike Ms. Newsom, Gillian’s voice is warm and inviting. Her lyrics, as she explained to me after the show, are often based on literature—and as a result, they convey strong, rich stories that are sure to keep you intrigued.
The other acts included jazz pianist/songwriter Avi Wisnia (http://aviwisnia.com/), local indie rock/string band Miracles of Modern Science (http://www.miraclesofmodernscience.com/), Adele-esque songstress Steph White (http://www.myspace.com/stephaniewhiteacoustic), and, of course, acoustic singer/songwriter Sarah Donner (http://www.myspace.com/sarahdonner).
It was such a treat for me to be introduced to some great new music in Princeton—and now, I thought I’d pass it onto to all of you! Enjoy!
-Leah Creary
