So if you remember a few weeks ago, we profiled musician Damien Jurado.
He’s actually been a part of the music scene for close to two decades. In this episode of Stagedive, produced by Stephanie Foo, Jurado talks about one of the most fortunate encounters he has had along the way. Stick around for the punchline.
“Damien Jurado is an incredibly heartfelt, sincere singer-songwriter who has crafted more than 12 albums in his long career. But his love affair with music began with the acrid tang of punk rock, and a mysterious stranger who taught him all he knew about punk.”
—-
Stagedive is a podcast about the blood behind the music. Musicians tell their stories in their own words. Then, we score their stories with the artists’ music in order to bring them to life.
Stephanie Foo is the host and producer of Stagedive. She is also a producer and music editor of the NPR show Snap Judgment. Her work has appeared in places like Radiolab,99% Invisible and Pop Up Magazine. She has a personal tumblr with gifs and stuff here. She has never fallen out of love with a song.
Look. Forget about Björk, ok? Cause when I tell you that Of Monsters of Men are from Iceland, a few of you will go, “Ugh. Isn’t that the country where all the wacky swan-wearing musicians come from?”
Well, yes. Yes, it is. Don’t get me wrong. I love Björk’s music! And look at her, she’s so precious. Swan or no swan.
But we’re not talking about Björk here. I mention her just to highlight the fact that there must be something about Iceland that lends itself to artistic eccentricity and gives musicians plenty of time to hone their craft and style.
The members of the band Of Monsters and Men are one of those that are minimal on the quirk, but pack a powerful (and more broadly appealing) musical punch. Even if their videos evoke an air of Björk’s visual style.
Of Monsters and Men: King and Lionheart (Music Video)
While the band is currently making it big here in the US, they’re having a tough time performing at home in Iceland, where the country is still reeling from their own economic collapse.
“Our gigs on tour are nothing like playing in Iceland,” said singer Nanna to The Scottish Sun. “For a start, we hardly have any venues left. It’s a sad thing and they keep shutting them down. It’s so expensive to be travelling out of Iceland and, to be honest, back home being in a band is considered a hobby — people don’t expect to pay you for it.”
Their music is inspired by the mythic tales and folklore of their home, but is easily accessible to an international audiences. As an ensemble of multiple guitarists, drums, horns, and even an accordion, the band produces a rich anthemic sound.
Leads singers Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar “Raggi” Þórhallsson often sing as a duet on most tracks, but occasionally take the lead on certain tracks to let their soft, melodic voices shine. Check out some of their best work down below.
Unlike Björk, if you can’t appreciate them just a little bit, I don’t think I want to be your friend anymore.
At 23 years old, Lianne La Havas has already hit the big time.
Born into a musical family, she started learning how to play herself at the young age of 7. Her father taught her how to play piano and guitar as Lianne watched her mother perform on stage with the likes of Jill Scott and Mary J. Blige. She took on the stage name of La Havas as an interpretation of her father’s surname, Vlahavas.
That her father was Greek and her mother Jamaican could explain why La Havas’ music fuses so many different genres of music; jazz, soul, R & B, and subdued rock.
La Havas’ growth as a performer has been staggering. After appearing on the BBC’s “Later…. with Jools Holland” with Bon Iver, that band’s founder Justin Vernon immediately snatched her up to tour with them throughout the US.
“As soon as we saw her play it was so refreshing; somebody who could play their instrument, somebody who could use their voice, but in their own way,” said Vernon. “She is just fantastic.”
La Havas’s first official album release, “Is Your Love Big Enough?”, was named iTunes’ Album of the Year for 2012. One thing is for sure, we’ll all be hearing a lot more of her.
Prepare to be moved by La Havas’ beautiful voice and these songs of love and loss.
Lianne La Havas: Gone (Slaughtered Lamb)
Lianne La Havas: Tease Me (Servants Jazz Quarters)
Local Natives’ 2009 debut album “Gorilla Manor” was a mix of fun and infectious tunes that hooked me right away. Their layered harmonies were similar to that of Fleet Foxes, producing a rich vocal sound that floated high above the grooves created by so many guys playing stringed instruments over frantic percussive ticks and rhythms.
It’s hard to believe it has been so very long since I found that album. Solid throughout. It helped them gain major attention by the mainstream, led them to open for top indie bands like The National and Arcade Fire and conquer the world on the festival circuit. Well, in America and parts of Europe, anyway.
Their newest album “Hummingbird” doesn’t have a lot of the immediate hooks that I was looking for from them, but it is still strong. Although bassist Andy Hamm left the band in 2011, a kinship with The National’s Aaron Dessner led him to offer his services as producer for the new album. He brought them from Southern California, where the band was formed and where they shared a home, to studios in Montreal and Brooklyn where they recorded the tracks they’d been working on.
It offers a few new songs that like the previous album, lend themselves to great live performance and beautiful acoustic interpretations. Some of which are scattered throughout today’s playlist of some of their best songs.
You haven’t even began reading yet, and I bet you’re wondering, “who’s this homeless guy” and “why do I care”.
Well, that’s no homeless guy; it’s lead singer Dave Davidson of Maps & Atlases.
He may not have the typical appearance of a lead singer, but his voice proves otherwise. Out of all the artists I’ve listened to, I cannot find a single one that compares to his unconventional sound.
Actually, the entire band itself is very “out-there”, not only with vocals and their quirky style; but with how they perform.
Each artist brings a dissimilar feel to the stage. Lead singer Dave Davison remaining stagnant, focusing on guitar rifts and vocals. Then to his side you’ll likely see bassist Shiraz Dada jumping around, rallying the crowd to join in.
Another bizarre aspect of the band is where they perform. If you search them online, you’ll find many videos of them performing on side streets, doorsteps, or in a circle in the grass.
In 2011, I had the pleasure of seeing them in New Haven and Philadelphia. At the end of each, the band would start packing up; leaving the audience to believe the concert was over. Then next thing you know, the entire band entered the center of the crowd and continued to play a small acoustic set. It gave the wow-factor of, “This band is really playing RIGHT next to me”, as well as leaving the concert on a calming note.
Off their new album, “Beware and be Grateful.”
Maps & Atlases: Fever (KEXP)
Features “Will” and “The Charm” strung together, the first two songs on their “Perch Patchwork” album.
Maps & Atlases: Will/The Charm
Dave Davison’s solo performance of “The Ongoing Horrible.”
Dave Davison: The Ongoing Horrible (Sargent House Glass Room Sessions)
Your Morning Music 