ListN Up is a sequence of artist-curated playlists that provide an intimate sonic portrait of latest artists by showcasing the various and stylistically diversified music that influences their inventive apply.
A sound can evoke a time, a spot, or a method of trying on the world. Alex Temple (b. 1983) writes music that distorts and combines iconic sounds to create new meanings, usually in service of surreal, cryptic or fantastical narratives. She has collaborated with performers reminiscent of Mellissa Hughes, Julia Holter, Wild Up, Spektral Quartet and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and is at present an assistant professor at Arizona State College.
Hello, I’m Alex Temple — a composer, performer and educator primarily based in Tempe, AZ. I’m additionally a queer trans lady, and I’m perpetually amazed by the sheer number of nice music that my fellow LGBTQ+ artists are making within the twenty first century. Come be a part of me as we take heed to a few of my favorites.
“The Reign of Queer Anarchist Black Steel Begins Now” by Gaylord
Let’s begin off with a bang! The black metallic scene is notorious for harboring far-right extremism, however Canadian multi-instrumentalist Gaylord is pushing again with aggressively anti-fascist music that doesn’t sacrifice the style’s grit and dirt.
“Out Previous Curfew” by Anxious? Anxious!
One other angle on leftist politics: a queer Brooklyn punk band’s autobiographical account of being on the streets through the 2020 rebellion towards police racism. “De Blasio’s not my fucking dad, and if he was, I wouldn’t pay attention anyway!”
“Sound an Alarm” by Evan Williams, carried out by members of the College of Tennessee at Knoxville Percussion and Saxophone Studios
Sound an Alarm offers with kind of the identical matter as “Out Previous Curfew,” however extra abstractly, with clamorous saxes, clattering percussion, caterwauling sirens, and quotations from the long-lasting Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.” I heard this piece final yr on a livestream from the College of Tennessee at Knoxville and was blown away.
“Extraordinary Rendition” by The Prince Myshkins
Staying on the political theme, the Prince Myshkins — who I like to consider as a extra radical successor to Tom Lehrer — take a restorative-justice strategy to the Bush administration’s struggle crimes. (This isn’t to be confused with simply pretending they didn’t occur, à la Ellen.)
“Hollywood Eternally” by Heaven Pegasus
Nonbinary synthpop phenomenon Ash Nerve, recording below their former identify Heaven Pegasus, tells the story of how Devil and horror films saved them from suicidality and internalized transphobia. The distinction between the darkish lyrics and the tune’s lilting doo-wop sound, together with Nerve’s otherworldly voice, makes me tear up each time.
“Unfold These Hidden Wings” by Xenia St. Charles Iris Llyllyth, carried out by Hattie Bestul
Unfold These Hidden Wings offers with (very) loosely the identical matter as “Hollywood Eternally,” however extra abstractly, with frenetic arpeggiators, lush sustained synth chords, and lengthy, semi-improvised delay results. I met Xenia once I visited the College of Michigan in 2020 and we’ve had a terrific ongoing trade of concepts (and puns) ever since.
“Digital” by Moe Store & Puniden
Talking of synths, how a few journey to the world of futurefunk? With its pastel anime aesthetics, fake clavinets and brain-scrambling excessive side-chaining, “Digital” is a good instance of one among vaporwave’s many, many offshoots within the 2010s — all of them havens for LGBTQ+ musicians.
“Koi” by Le1f
Ethereal trans icon SOPHIE helped outline the pop sound of the 2010s earlier than her premature loss of life in 2021, and you’ll hear her distinctive manufacturing type on Le1f’s “candy however lethal” tune about rejecting guys on the bar for not being cool, sizzling, good or refined sufficient. His indelible charisma and imperious swagger are completely complemented by her wild, sliding, buzzing chromatic synth traces.
“Cheerleader” by Sir Babygirl
And at last, on a contrasting word, let’s finish with Sir Babygirl’s joyous tribute to individuals of all genders and physique varieties making out within the locker room!
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