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(10/02/19 4:33am)
In one of the first classes that history professor Ann Farnsworth–Alvear taught at Penn, the sheer range of experiences of the students packed into her lecture on Latin America was both remarkable and invisible, depending on who you asked.
(03/25/19 1:00pm)
Walking into Green Soul on a Thursday night, the first thing we notice is how rustically modern it is. It reminds me of a repurposed log cabin—with high, slanted wood ceilings, floor–to–ceiling windows, ivory–washed walls, and dining and bar areas dimly illuminated by string lights and hanging bulbs. There’s greenery and hardwood accents all around us. Jazz piano softly accompanies the murmurs of conversations in the packed seating area.
(03/20/19 3:50am)
It’s 4:15 a.m. on a Thursday when Heewon Kim (C’22) jolts awake to the first of nine alarms. Groggy from two hours of sleep (better than last semester, when she used to pull all–nighters), she tiptoes around her still–slumbering roommate. The sky is still pitch black as she gets ready for the day and heads to her hall lounge, her “Warrior Knowledge” manual clutched in her hand.
(01/30/19 6:51am)
The day before the government shutdown, Louis Lin (C ‘20) updated his voicemail:
(12/03/18 1:00pm)
While tiptoeing in the back of the standing–room–only, free–for–all crowd at the Fillmore on November 29th, The Internet looked larger–than–life. With “INTERNET” dramatically projected onto the screen behind the band in all–white capital letters, their initial presence, combined with the raucous cheers of the audience, was impressive.
(12/05/18 1:00pm)
It’s hard to categorize Spanish singer–songwriter Rosalía. Rosalía’s songs aren’t just songs—they're vibrant soundscapes, bursting at the seams in every syllable, beat, and chord with seemingly infinite amounts of color. And while she may not yet be known by the masses in the US, the world has taken notice of this genre–defying artist marrying flamenco with pop, hip hop, and electronic music.
(11/08/18 2:06am)
This coming Tuesday, November 13, SPEC–TRUM and Jazz & Grooves will collaborate to present headliner Tierra Whack and supporting acts Tobi Lou and Riz La Vie, performing at the Rotunda at 4014 Walnut Street. Two SPEC–affiliated groups: SPEC–TRUM, designed to represent undergraduate minorities, and Jazz & Grooves, known for bringing up–and–coming musical acts to campus, have previously hosted concerts by artists such as Young Thug, Aminé, Daniel Caesar, and Smino.
(11/07/18 1:00pm)
We hear music everywhere: on the radio, on our way to class, at our events, and yes, in the TV shows comprising our Netflix sessions. But shows centered around music and the music industry – scripted, plotline-based shows (excluding reality TV programs a la “American Idol”) – were scarce until the massive success of “Glee” a decade ago (don’t worry, it got onto the list). Now, shows focused on the trials and tribulations of being a musician and making it in the industry have grown much more common. Highlighted below are some of the best TV shows about music out there. Happy binge-watching!
(11/19/18 1:00pm)
Most musical groups at Penn restrict their music–making to rehearsals and the occasional gig or performance. Not Penn Sargam, one of America’s few college performing arts ensembles dedicated to South Asian fusion music. At their Open Jam and Chai Chat in collaboration with Penn Sangam last Thursday, Sargam expanded the discussion—and creation—to everyone.
(10/22/18 12:00pm)
As the atmosphere of Penn this past Thursday night slowly picked up, the members of Jazz & Grooves were especially busy. Known for bringing up–and–coming musical acts such as Daniel Caesar, Smino, and Kevin Abstract to campus, the SPEC–affiliated group was gearing up for their first show of the year—free for all Penn students. With a stage, sound, and lighting system all set up inside the house, the event was ready for opener DJ Haram and headliner Injury Reserve.
(10/30/18 12:00pm)
The world was first introduced to British singer–songwriter Ella Mai upon the release of her debut commercial single, the breezy summer anthem “Boo’d Up”. As the first UK artist to top the US R&B charts since 1992, her style of pop–inflected R&B sung over snare–heavy trap beats proved infectious to everyone. Signed to DJ Mustard’s label after being discovered on Instagram, Mai’s three previous EPs contain songs asserting her confidence and desire, all while nodding to '90s R&B musical traditions lyrically and musically. While her previous songs sound more similar than different, Ella Mai’s eponymous debut album was highly awaited by fans.
(10/22/18 12:00pm)
When you switch on Top 40 radio anywhere in the United States, the majority of music you’ll hear is still chiefly American-made and in English. Spotify’s response to this fact? Their new Global Cultures Initiative, launched at the end of September. As Rocio Guerrero, head of Global Cultures at Spotify and creator of the initiative, explains, “Why is food from other countries so embedded in our culture and yet music isn’t? Because streaming didn't exist. But now it's happening.” While the Global Cultures Initiative includes multiple plans to promote culturally diverse music, one of the most accessible is the high-profile Global X playlist. Already at 152,296 followers, it’s one of the best curated playlists Spotify has published in recent years.
(12/08/18 1:00pm)
The random spoken–word tracks that come on when you’re shuffling an album on Spotify. The 30–second conversational interjections in the middle or at the end of a song. Pure instrumental tone setters, small snatches of songs, uplifting sermons, or even comedic skits. Interludes are (usually) short tracks that aren’t standalone pieces, and their forms are as varied as the artists who choose to include them. A tradition stretching backing decades, interludes are found in all genres of music, yet are often a staple of R&B and hip–hop albums.
(10/30/18 12:00pm)
Despite her stage name, Noname, 27–year–old Fatimah Warner is anyone but someone you should ignore. Rather, her stage name identifies her as a rejection of mass–produced modern hip–hop—Noname is one of the few rappers releasing music independently, bound to no contract or label. Growing up in Chicago, her rap is rooted in the city’s slam poetry and open mic scene which dominated her childhood. Noname has cemented herself as a rapper who weaves together jazz and neo–soul beats with an elaborately rhymed flow after being featured on “Lost,” a song from her hometown friend Chance the Rapper’s mixtape, Acid Rap, as well as the release of her own successful mixtape Telefone. Both mixtapes received rave reviews from magazines like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
(09/29/18 12:00pm)
It’s fall—a season of plodding down Locust Walk in a turtleneck as you shiver and clutch your arms closer towards you, of the leaves on the trees in College Green turning brown and withering, of the pastel–grey sky draining of sunlight, of rain, returning to campus, and midterms. It’s easy to feel fatigued in the fall, the chilliness sucking the energy out of you. The desire to let your music consumption be entirely composed of study playlists that fade into the background and songs you’ve already listened to a hundred times is tantalizing. Instead, here’s some music that mirrors the season’s autumnal vibes while cheering you up on that cloudy September afternoon.