Archive for Solo Artist

Grimes Wins Webby Awards

Grimes

The 17th Annual Webby Awards have been announced and Grimes found herself on the winning the side. The 25 year old musician was one of many, including Lady Gaga and Frank Ocean, to win a Webby this year. The win shouldn’t be surprising to fans who have fought to see Grimes recognized for her talent rather than her gender. For women in the music industry it can be an uphill battle but the battle is even tougher when you’re young. Grimes is originally from Canada but has toured all over the world, specially in keyboard and synthesizer mixes for her songs.

Her songs “Oblivion” and “Genesis” caught the attention of fans but her social media presence has caught the attention of many media outlets. While most artists turn over their social media accounts to their PR team, Grimes has been content to run her own. In February she announced she was “quitting” the internet only to revive her Tumblr later on.

After the completion of her world tour she took to her tumblr to voice concerns that many female artists face. Music is a business and being a woman in the music business can mean compromising many values in order to get ahead. This type of standard does not sit well with me since music is a passion of mine and violating someone’s passion because you stereotype them as being a submissive female is never acceptable. Grimes seemed equally unsettled by the lack of inequality and stereotypes she faced during her recent tour.

While many in the media have been quick to jump in and bend her words to say she is “quitting” or “giving up music”, it seems like she is taking time to just process the experiences of her tour. Maybe this will mean a break but not necessarily the end of her music career. If we’re lucky there will be a lot of really great music produced from her experiences. I believe the naiveté of her previous albums is really amazing and I look forward to her growth as an artist.

You can read Grimes’ thoughts on her experiences as a woman in the music world here.

What do you think about the problems facing female musicians? Do you feel stereotyped based on gender?

Beyonce Rules the World

Beyonce Super Bowl Performance

This year’s Super Bowl was owned by the Queen B, Beyonce. Fans of this super woman already know that Beyonce is the star of her own show on and off the stage, so it came as no surprise to me when she took the stage and brought the house down. Her stunning Super Bowl performance was followed up by a Grammy win at the 55th Annual Grammy awards for her hit song Love on Top. Mrs. Carter is not letting motherhood, marriage, or expectations stop her from running the world, literally.

Like many, I first fell in love with Beyonce during her years in Destiny’s Child. With the help of  Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland, Destiny’s Child reigned supreme in the 90′s. Their songs Survivor, Say My Name, and Bootylicious became my childhood summer jams. So when the trip reunited at this year’s Super Bowl half-time show, it was hard to contain my glee. I can only assume the combined glee of millions of Beyonce and Destiny’s Child fans are what ultimately cause the infamous Super Bowl power outage.

Mrs. Carter Show World Tour

Regardless of her incarnation, I think I will forever be a fan of Beyonce. She keeps reinvigorating the world of pop and R&B music, challenging haters to keep on hating and fans to keep on singing to the beat of her song. But Beyonce isn’t the only one changing the music world.

Beyonce’s band, “The Sugar Mamas”, lit up the Super Bowl stage literally when leading guitarist and musical director BiBi McGill’s guitar exploded in pyrotechnics. The Sugar Mama’s are no one hit wonder though. This all female band has kept up pace with Queen B all the way.

So when will fans of Beyonce get a chance to see more of this wonder woman? She has already taken home more Grammy gold this year, rocked the Super Bowl, and prepared for the upcoming Mrs. Carter Show World tour. With all these events going on it is hard to know when Beyonce will have time to slow down.

Grimes Makes Us Move With Her Grooves

Grimes

I found out about Grimes when I saw the music video for “Oblivion” and couldn’t get enough of her. There was something mesmerizing about her vocals and even more intriguing about the simplicity of her music, relying on layer upon layer of fuzzed out synth lines piled on top of each other.

Since bursting onto the scene, Grimes armed with only a synthesizer and voice to die for, has become a rising star in the indie music scene. Her look is constantly changing and it is hard to tell what kind of performance she’ll put on. All I know is this Canadian musician has won a place in my heart of hearts.

What makes her music so catchy?

There is something nostalgic about the sounds her synth spits out. The melodies trail off into nothingness with her faint vocals into distant worlds. Before she lets us get carried off into a indie head bobbing zone, the beat comes in. Grimes embraces the whimsy of music, creating something magical and timeless.

But she hasn’t stopped yet. Her first album, Geidi Primes, caught the attention of music magazine Pitchfork. Although it was more naive, being her debut album, she has sent taken charge of both her sound and image.

Grimes Smoking

Her unique image comes with an even more unique perspective on music. She’s found a place in the electronic world, preferring the simplicity of electronic instruments over playing guitar or drums.

In an October interview with the Chicago Tribune, Grimes explained, “I didn’t own any instruments and wasn’t really able to play anything,” she says. “I didn’t see the point of getting instruments if I could make fake guitars and drums on the computer. It has more possibilities: you turn the sub bass up, create a sine wave, and play with the wave form.”

I have already listened to her albums Halfaxa and Darkbloom. Both have drawn me in and I’m excited to see what 2013 will hold. Grimes’ sound has been transforming each album so perhaps she’ll throw a curve ball with her next release.

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-doe

New Bjork Remix Album Stands Strong

New Bjork Album Bastards

Bjork is a force unto herself. She stepped into the music scene and brought with her a wave of change and transformation, turning simple performances into extravagant experiences. Few can forget the impression she made with the infamous swan dress.

So when I heard Bjork was releasing a new album entitled Bastards that would feature remixes of her seventh studio album, Biophilia, I couldn’t contain my glee. Generally remixes aren’t my thing but hearing other artists interpret Bjork’s very unique voice is hard for me to pass up.

For those of who aren’t caught up, Biophilia was Bjork’s exploration of sound through apps. She wanted a project that would turn a passive listening experience into one that nurtured interactions. Songs like “Virus” let listeners explore the destructive journey or a cell and virus in app form. What other artists on the scene can say they’ve got an album of apps?

The release of Bastards is the latest interpretation of Bjork’s studio album and the third remix album she’s released.

Björk Bastards Cover Art

But even more good news has come from the singer since she wrapped up work on the Biophilia album. After many months of being forced to cancel tours because of vocal nodules, Bjork finally put the past behind her. On November 21, 2012 Bjork released the following on her website:

“few years ago doctors found a vocal polyp on me chords … i decided to go the natural way and for 4 years did stretches and tackled it with different foods and what not . then they discovered better technology and i got tempted into hi tech lazer stuff and i have to say , in my case anyway : surgery rocks ! i stayed quiet for 3 weeks and then started singing and definitely feel like my chords are as good as pre nodule ! it´s been very satisfying to sing all them clear notes again . im sorry i had to cancel stuff earlier in the year , didnt want to talk about this until i knew for sure if it would work . so looking forward to singing for you in 2013 all the warmth ,björk.”

I’ve been a fan of Bjork since high school so I can’t wait to hear her sing again with her full range.

Have you listened to Biophilia or Bastards? Both have their own charm and certainly show how much Bjork has developed since releasing Volta.

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-doe