Making her comeback on our Sound Selection is the wonderfully-gifted Meg Blumberg. This time showcasing her latest composition Wading, which evolves with beautiful strings and emotionally-moving melody. As always Blumberg presents us with quality which cannot be replaced.
Aaron Taos ‘Is It Anything?’
Another artist to make his comeback on Our Culture Mag is Aaron Taos. This time with Is It Anything? In this latest piece, Taos showcases his spirited vocal energy with relatable lyrics and a vibe that will have you listening for weeks to come.
YB ‘Dear Soldiers’
Coming in with an emotional beat and energetic vocals is YB with his latest track Dear Soldiers. In this latest piece, YB displays his songwriting skills and vocals that grips the listener within seconds. This one is for the playlists.
Akiyoshi Yasuda ‘Grace’
The last piece to enter this edition of Sound Selection is by Akiyoshi Yasuda named Grace. This composition drives on a filmic ambience with a soft reflective-like melody that will have you under its spell for weeks to come. While Grace is not the newest piece by Yasuda, it certainly is our favourite yet.
Simen Mitlid, a Norwegian singer-songwriter, has recently released his newest creation Saturdays. The song features beautifully dynamic vocals that will have you in awe from the get-go.
Furthermore, Saturdays is the first song from Mitlid’s upcoming album, which is likely to be released this year. Mitlid’s previous album Everything Is the Same came out in 2017. It featured songs like Vacation and This Time. Vacation, the most popular song on the album, reached over one million plays on Spotify alone, making it Mitlid’s most popular song of his career.
You can stream Saturdays via Spotify here. Saturdays was released via the record label Koke Plate.
Luca D’Alberto, an Italian composer known for pieces such as Her Dreams, joined us for an interview to talk about his latest album Exile, 2019, and culture.
Hi, how are you?
Great, Modestas…so happy to be your “guest” at Our Culture Mag.
So, when did you realise you wanted to become a musician?
My first music memories lay in Abruzzo (Italy) and concern a carillon…the carillon was in the music room of my house, where my sister and my mother used to play the piano. The music room had no doors so the notes would expand throughout the floors and the stairs, invading the house. I would play the carillon every day so my mother, to prevent me from breaking it, would put it somewhere high where I would not be able to reach it, but somehow I always managed to. Maybe it was then that I realised I wanted to become a composer..create music was and still is for me like magic.
What was the first composition you remember writing?
I was 13 years old, my best friend had at his home an audio device to record music. So i started to go at my best friend’s house to record my creations with a very punk microphone; the first creation I think was for electric guitar and strings, just instrumental. This is for me a beautiful memory, thanks for asking.
And, how did it Exile come about?
It took me one year, it’s been a deep process and during this period the album has been obviously influenced by the events and the people that crossed my life. I imagine EXILE as the soundtrack of a film that lives in each one of us, a film about the endless relationship between Men and its feelings. I hope this album will become to the listener as a “Secret Place”, where it’s possible to feel free to remember without shame nor limits, a place to cherish and bring back to life our own deepest emotions.
What were the challenges of making Exile?
Having immersed myself in other artistic fields, my sources of inspiration are not music and listening, but rather images and feelings. In Exile music has two strands. On the one hand, there’s a sweetness, where I wanted to express the idea of a caress not given. On the other, there is a more aggressive, powerful side, which translates into the presence of hidden blades connected to an urgent composition that I can’t escape. In EXILE the idea was that of letting two armies collide: the army of sublime beauty and that of aggression; to allow those hidden blades in my music to emerge and thus create something new.”
Do you have a favourite composition from Exile?
If I have to choose just one track I think I could say Like We Were
2019 is on the brink. What are your plans for 2019?
In this moment, I’m working on several important projects: films, theatre and collaborations. About “albums” in 2019 I will start to work on a new solo album and other albums where I will collaborate in duo with international artists.
Our final question, what is your definition of culture?
Be honest with himself and with the audience, don’t be afraid to be a naked soul with all the strength and fragility.
Alice Phoebe Lou, a South African singer-songwriter, has presented her latest single Skin Crawl. Skin Crawl comes from the upcoming album, Paper Castles, which is due to be released on the 8th of March.
Talking about the single Lou said “I was in the heart of Manhattan after taking myself on a solo date to watch Angel Olsen & I was feeling elated. I ended up at a bar, drinking a few drinks with strangers. I felt dizzy and left to call a cab. The last thing I remember, I was standing on a corner, unable to comprehend how my phone worked, feeling as though my world was upside down, panicking. A few hours are then lost and I never got them back. Then I’m suddenly in Brooklyn and it’s 4 AM, I’m barely able to walk, with a man I’ve never seen and he’s taking me somewhere. I remember thinking that he must be taking me to safety, because I was falling over and clearly needed to be in a safe place. Something kicked in and I realized I was in danger. I dropped my jacket and ran as fast as I could. Running and falling and crying and pissing my pants. I’ve never been that afraid. Kind strangers brought me to safety. The next day I was a wreck. Trying to rack my brain and understand how someone slipped something into my drink. But I was lucky. Many people aren’t.
It took me days to feel ok again. Physically and in my mind. But I realized how important it was for me to not let that moment define me and change something that was so important to me; the independence of going out alone. So, I did it again. Only a few days later. Trying to release the fear and not let it control me. I went to a Fela Kuti night and danced my feet off. But I remember being so acutely aware of the men around me on the dance floor; how often I was touched in places I didn’t want to be, how many times I was grabbed, told to smile, rubbed up against, you name it. I felt like I had to fend men off like it was some sort of sick game and the circumstances made it so difficult for me to just enjoy myself. I got home full of fire, ready to turn it all on its head, write a song from my perspective about what pisses me off, to get it off my chest and then set fire to it in my mind so it has no hold on me. It’s about the little things; the words, the comments, the feeling that ripples through your skin every time you’re told you’re a bitch because you don’t want to give him your number. Because for me, it’s the little things that are the starting point of a broader culture of non-consent and sexual aggression. And I guess I needed to write a song that was straight to the point. I find that when dealing with “heavy” subject matter that is important to you, it can be a tricky balance trying to get the message across while keeping up the poetry.
I went through a lot as a teenager and young woman, experiencing a range of extremely negative and traumatic incidences at the hands of men. This is not to say that I paint men with a single brush. I am lucky to have an incredible community of supportive, sensitive and wonderful men around me, in my band and social life, and I am so grateful for them. These are the same men that appear in my music video for “Skin Crawl,” close friends who were happy to play a role in a video where I could use them as my objects and my furniture in order to turn things on their head. The video was a joy to make; a DIY, low budget, full of love day. The song’s intention is to ask that we all work towards a world where we strive to make each other feel comfortable and safe at all times. That’s the dream really. Cozy and safe and equal.”
To support the release of her upcoming album, Lou will tour around the US and Europe.
The Paper Castles 2019 Tour Dates
North America
March 3 – Toronto, CAN – The Garrison
March 4 – Montreal, CAN – Bar Le Ritz PDB
March 5 – Boston, MA – Cafe 939
March 7 – Vienna, VA – Jammin’ Java
March 8 – Brooklyn, NY – Rough Trade
March 10 – Durham, NC – Motorco Music Hall
March 11 – Atlanta, GA – Vinyl AT Center Stage
March 13 – 17 – Austin, TX – SXSW
March 20 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
March 21 – Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge
March 23 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
March 24 – Portland, OR – The Old Church Concert Hall
After a twelve year break of not releasing an album, The Cinematic Orchestra have announced they will be releasing an album named To Believe, which is due to be released on the 15th of March.
To Believe Tracklist:
1. To Believe (feat. Moses Sumney)
2. A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life (feat. Roots Manuva)
3. Lessons
4. Wait for Now/Leave The World (feat. Tawiah)
5. The Workers of Art
6. Zero One/This Fantasy (feat. Grey Reverend)
7. A Promise (feat. Heidi Vogel)
The Cinematic Orchestra will also be touring to promote their upcoming album starting in March.
2019 Live Tour Dates (As of this moment):
13th March – AB – Brussels – Belgium
15th March – Philharmonie – Luxembourg
16th March – Paradiso – Amsterdam – Netherlands
18th March – Casino de Paris – Paris – France
20th March – Roundhouse – London – UK
21st March – Roundhouse – London – UK
22nd March – Roundhouse – London – UK
25th March – Vicar Street – Dublin – Ireland
26th March – Royal Concert Hall – Glasgow – UK
27th March – Sage Gateshead – Newcastle – UK
29th March – O2 Institute – Birmingham – UK
30th March – Manchester Academy – UK
18th April – Sankei Hall Breeze – Osaka – Japan
19th April – Hitomi Memorial Hall – Tokyo Japan
17th May – A2- Wroclaw – Poland
18th May – Studio – Krakow – Poland
19th May Stary Manez – Gdansk – Poland
20th May – Palladium – Warsaw – Poland
21st May – Sala Ziemi – Poznan – Poland
23rd May – Astra – Berlin – Germany
24th May – Music Hall – Cologne – Germany
26th May – Les Docks – Lausanne – Switzerland
Monica Martin, a Chicago-born, Los Angeles-based musician, has released her latest single Thoughtless, two days ago.
Talking about the song Monica said “So many of us remain floundering idiots, drowning in a sea of golden rules, pearls of wisdom and blue-ribbon lifestyle recipes. The best I can do (so far!) is share the feedback loop that results from me trying yet again to apply any of it. ‘Thoughtless’ is a stream of consciousness of receiving wisdom and panic-laughing my way through actually applying it.”
“We have had this song has been on the repeat for the past couple of days, this is a true gem.”
Thoughtless was released by Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Nick Waterhouse, a Los Angeles-based musician, has announced the release of his self-titled album. The album is due to be released on the 8th of March via Innovative Leisure. The album comes following his 2016 album Never Twice which was recorded at LA’s Electro-Vox Recorders and co-produced with Paul Butler (Michael Kiwanuka, St.Paul and the Broken Bones)
The single Song For Winners was released today via Consequence of Sound. It draws inspiration from Percy Bysshe Shelley, a British poet, and Nina Simone. The track combines an untamed R&B howl with graceful waves of club jazz with 60’s soul.
To support his upcoming album, Nick will tour around Europe and the UK.
2019 UK and European Live Dates:
March 18th – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
March 21st – London, UK – 229 The Venue
March 23rd – Brussels, BE – Botanique-Orangerie
March 24th – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
March 26th – Hamburg, DE – Mojo Club
March 27th – Berlin, DE – Columbia Theatre
March 28th – Amsterdam, NL – Het Zonnehuis
March 30th – Athens, GR – Fuzz Live Music Club
March 31st – Thessaloniki, GR – Fix Factory of Sound
Chiara Marañon, MUBI’s UK programmer, has handpicked over fifty prestige titles from Curzon. Mubi’s decision to acquire titles will offer MUBI subscribers in the UK the chance to discover and see a wide-ranging mix of significant cinema titles from Curzon’s beloved catalogue.
MUBI’s Director of Acquisitions, Vanja Kaludjercic has said: “Curzon have long been a standard-bearer for excellence in arthouse, independent and world cinema and we are thrilled to bring their films to MUBI in UK.”
Louisa Dent, Managing Director, Curzon Artificial Eye, added: “We are delighted to offer this selection of films to MUBI, a company who’s ethos of sharing great cinema with its customers chimes strongly with our own.”
Active Bird Community, a band which recently signed to Barsuk (Death Cab For Cutie, Charly Bliss and more), have announced dates for their January UK tour. The band will be touring in Glasgow, Manchester, London, Brighton and Birmingham.
The tour comes after the release of their new eleven-song album Amends, released via Barsuk. Among the songs, Unwind With Me, has already acquired over 800,000 plays via Spotify alone — making it one of the most listened tracks from the band.
Tour Dates
22nd Jan – Stereo – Glasgow
23rd Jan – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
24th Jan – Boston Music Room, London
25th Jan – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
26th Jan – The Sunflower Lounge, Birmingham
Isle of Dogs, the latest animated film by the stylistically driven film director Wes Anderson, is the first film to enter our Best Films of 2018 list. Isle of Dogs became an instant hit after it opened at the cinemas in March of this year. Unsurprisingly the film has received two Golden Globe nominations as it looks to continue its award success into next year.
Crazy Rich Asians (Dir. Jon M. Chu)
Crazy Rich Asians, a rom-com drama directed by Jon M. Chu, is the second film to enter our list. The film cast a range of fantastic actors with great chemistry, who delivered top-notch comedic moments with a heart-warming ending. With a great achievement in creating an engaging storyline with interesting characters, we believe this film deserves a spot on our list.
Incredibles 2 (Dir. Brad Bird)
The long-awaited sequel to the original Incredibles came this year and did not let us down. Brad Bird’s Incredibles 2 holds right up there with the original and has deservedly earned its place in the best films of 2018 list with an entertaining story and heaps of adventure.
Creed II (Dir. Steven Caple Jr.)
The eighth instalment in the beloved Rocky series, Creed II, hit the cinemas late this year. Having big expectations and big shoes to fill since the first Creed, the film delivered an inspirational story which was lifted up by brilliant acting from Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone.
Burning (Dir. Lee Chang-dong)
Gavin Jenkins says “…it’s a visually stunning film that highlights class division in Seoul, contemporary misogyny, and the vulnerabilities and danger facing some young women who are driven to succeed. These themes are executed with brilliant realism. And while this couldn’t hold up to the eventual winner, Shoplifters, or other frontrunners for the 2018 Palme d’Or, it is a very good film nonetheless.”
Dogman (Dir. Matteo Garrone)
Gavin Jenkins says “Often, the quality of some filmmaker’s previous work and Cannes’ prestigious atmosphere can lead to a brief over-reaching from critics and audiences alike. Dogman, however, is not one of those films. Frankly, Dogman is a masterpiece of cinema and left viewers with an overwhelming sense of fulfilment. Garrone was visibly honoured with the reaction of the viewers inside the Lumiere.”
BlackKklansman (Dir. Spike Lee)
Christopher Stewardson says “Whilst perhaps too forceful for some, BlacKkKlansman is nonetheless an extremely well crafted film. Its potent parallels between the racism of the past with that of the present lend the film an undeniable sense of urgency. Thelargely ensemble cast gives form and depth to Lee’s vision with their considered performances. John David Washington and Adam Driver play off of one another, stirring each other’s character development. The juxtaposition of the film’s comedy with the horrifying views and actions of the KKK keep the audience unnerved throughout. With the audience unable to settle in, the film’s pace is tight. This is a remarkable piece of cinema, one that understands its position as a cultural artefact capable of change. BlacKkKlansman is an immense achievement for Spike Lee.”
Mandy (Dir. Panos Cosmatos)
Christopher Stewardson says “Mandy is indeed something else. It is an experience unlike anything else in release. Panos Cosmatos has constructed a surreal horror, at once repulsive and beautiful. With its simple story told through vivid, nightmarish visuals, Mandy is sure to become a cult favourite all of its own.”
A Quiet Place (Dir. John Krasinski)
John Krasinski’s horror debut A Quiet Place became an unexpected hit when it was released in early April of this year. With vastly tense scenes, powerful acting and an atmosphere that will have you hooked from the get-go. A Quiet Place deserves a spot on this list.
Halloween (Dir. David Gordon Green)
Christopher Stewardson says “Stripping away the excess of its sequels and remakes, David Gordon Green’s Halloween looks back at John Carpenter’s 1978 original with reverence. With the welcome return of Jamie Lee Curtis, this latest instalment in the series zeroes in on what made the original work, and whilst not always successfully, it intelligently appropriates those elements forty years on.”
Cold War (Dir. Paweł Pawlikowski)
Cold War is the latest Paweł Pawlikowski’s film since the release of the Oscar-winning Ida which wowed the audiences across the world with its stunning visuals and intriguing story. Cold War much-like Ida is visually striking and thus justifies a spot on this list.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Dir. Bryan Singer)
Bohemian Rhapsody, a biographical film on the British rock band Queen, has become a huge hit with its moderate budget of $55 million. Rami Malek, the actor, mostly known for his role as Elliot in Mr.Robot, delivered a brilliant performance with electrifying energy to bring back Freddie Mercury back to life, once more.
Avengers: Infinity War (Dir. Anthony Russo and Joe Russo)
Russo brother’s latest release Infinity War made quite the impact at the box office, making over two billion dollars worldwide. In this action-filled Marvel film, the Avengers and their allies team up in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos and do so with splendid humour and blazing action.
Hereditary (Dir. Ari Aster)
Ari Aster’s Hereditary made quite the impression during its festival run. Starring Toni Collette, Hereditary is a powerful and intense horror film that is perfectly supported and lifted by its brilliant sound design and Collette’s gripping acting.
A Star is Born (Dir. Bradley Cooper)
A Star is Born, the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper, became an instant Oscar-hit upon its release. Starring Cooper himself and Lady Gaga, the film features several song hits that have become playlist favourites and have become the frontrunners to get some wins at the Oscars next year.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey and Rodney Rothman)
Christopher Stewardson says “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse may be one of the best superhero films to date. It’s funny, it’s thoughtful, and its visuals are a treat. You really feel that you’re watching a film made by dedicated Spider-Man fans who sincerely wanted to make a good film; and they delivered. Simultaneously, Into the Spider-Verse never feels as though its appeal is limited to diehard fans, its jokes and gags accessible to all. Perhaps that’s the film’s greatest strength: like its Spider heroes coming together, Into the Spider-Verse never feels like it’s excluding anyone. In today’s pop culture climate of staunch fan gate-keepers, Into the Spider-Verse is exciting, heartfelt, mind-blowing fun for all.”
Black Panther (Dir. Ryan Coogler)
Marvel’s Black Panther might just be the favourite audience film released this year. While it was expected to do well by some, the film smashed the Box Office as it made over $1.3 billion with a budget of around $200 million. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan and many other great actors the film delivers a splendid storyline with great charismatic characters that flow with an effortlessness that is only seen in film classics.
Mission Impossible – Fallout (Dir. Christopher McQuarrie)
Elias Michael says “Mission: Impossible – Fallout is a spectacular blockbuster that deserves a viewing in the cinema; it deserves to a viewing on a big screen with clear sound (as all films should really). It is thrilling, remarkable and electrifying; it outdoes all previous Mission Impossible films and could be regarded as one of the best action films ever produced… until the next one.”
Roma (Dir. Alfonso Cuarón)
Roma, a film that focuses on a year in the life of a middle-class family’s maid in Mexico City in the early 70s, has become another film fanatic favourite. Cuarón’s Roma is an artistic journey that will make you want to re-watch it more than once with its magical visuals and moving storyline.
Deadpool 2 (Dir. David Leitch)
Deadpool 2, the adored superhero film that stars Ryan Reynolds, has become another fan favourite after its release in May this year. The fantastic comedy-filled superhero film has not let its fan base down with numerous memorable scenes and waves of comedy gold. Being the sequel to the first highly-successful film, the expectation was high; however, it delivered and thus deserves a spot on our list.
