Browsing Tag

Classical Pop

Chamber strings go pop in Philadelphia String Quartet’s latest score, Oh My God

Posted on 6 October 2023

Living by their motto, ‘Think Outside the Bach’s’, the classically trained artists of which the Philadelphia String Quartet comprises know no bounds when scoring their pieces and comply to even fewer.

Their recently released piece, Oh My God, is a baroque folk fantasyscape, which wouldn’t be out of place in the prelude in a progressive folk metal track, in the OST of lore lore-filled series akin to The Witcher, or any other setting that calls for the romanticism of chamber strings pulling together in complete coalescent quintessence.

Since forming in 2009, the quartet has been immensely in demand as a wedding band; the performers even go as far as to curate custom playlists for couples. If Oh My God is anything to go by, the airwaves should be equally as inclined to champion the quartet’s quasi-classic spin on pop.

Stream Oh My God on Spotify, and follow the four-piece to ensure you’re the first to know when their live-recorded upcoming album drops!

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Raquel Kiaraa – delicate, charming, emotional storytelling with ‘Dear Jesus’

Posted on 26 April 2021

Leonard Cohen didn’t start his music career until the age of 33, with the now-classic ‘Songs Of Leonard Cohen’ in 1967. Like her inspiration, Raquel Kiaraa has waited until the same age to release her first collection of songs, but whereas Cohen was already an author, published poet, and a guitarist from childhood, Kiaraa took the step of learning piano, taking vocal lessons, and essentially going from a standing start to selling out 250-seat theatres in the space of just a few short months.

All that makes new single ‘Dear Jesus’ all the more impressive, Kiaraa’s delicate piano playing and potent rise-and-fall vocal giving – if one didn’t know the story – the impression of a musician with a far longer pedigree and experience of the industry. ‘Dear Jesus’ is polished, accomplished, sounding less like a debut-album piece and more like something delivered by a well-established artist. While there’s no doubt those vocal lessons paid off – in spades – Kiaraa’s voice is obviously also a natural talent; she has a feel for dynamics and performance that works perfectly with the relaxed, acoustic nature of the track, gentle arpeggiated piano chords sitting delicately behind her vocal, which sounds confident and composed and, at times, just the right side of emotional and edge-of-breaking.

It’s a beautiful performance, the lyrics poetic and storytelling, and well put-together, and – if this is truly Kiaraa’s first forays into singer-songwriting and not some elaborately-constructed Seasick Steve back-story – auger even better as she matures and develops with time and experience.

You can hear ‘Dear Jesus’ on SoundCloud, or check out the official video on YouTube; check out Raquel Kiaraa here or on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Classically trained London singer-songwriter Libby Phippard has released her latest single, ‘Please Don’t Ask Me to Stay’.

Posted on 5 April 2021

London singer-songwriter Libby Phippard’s latest single, ‘Please Don’t Ask Me to Stay’ is the kind of revival needed to keep classical music relevant in 2021.

With her operatic training, background in classical music and tendency to draw influence from everyone from Hozier to Ariana Grande, her latest ballad is a theatrical release that doesn’t allow any of the pain of a relationship expiring to hide behind smoke and mirror. Instead, it bridges the gap between those grandiose lovesongs that have always been around and the common experience of romantic duality.

It is criminal for singles such as Please Don’t Ask Me to Stay to be relegated to soundtracks. If society can see the beauty in acts such as Daughter and Tom Odell, there’s no reason why the same affection can’t be found in Libby Phippard’s timeless sound.

Please Don’t Ask Me to Say is due for official release on March 12th. You can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud. Head over to the artist’s official website for more info.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Molly Clare Soars High On New Single ‘Wings’

Posted on 1 January 2021

Classically-trained singer-songwriter Molly Clare here brings her stunning, soaring voice to new single ‘Wings’, a divine, heartfelt piano-led ballad of love. Already garnering multiple radio plays, ‘Wings’ is the follow-up to ‘The Sun After The Rain’, which notched up over 40,000 views in support of NHS charities.

‘Wings’ really is an absolutely beautiful creation, the piano carrying the melody whilst leaving just enough space for Clare’s magnificent vocal to really shine. It’s no surprise that it’s already seen Clare into the semi-final of the International Song-Writing Competition and the John Lennon Song-Writing Contest, and as one of five finalists in the ‘Snowdrop Song-Writing Conpetition’ in front of judge Glastonbury-supremo Michael Eavis. With soft-but-supremely-powerful vocals in the style of her inspirations Joni Mitchell and Dido, ‘Wings’ is the lead singles from Clare’s forthcoming EP ‘The Sun And The Stars’, released this month, and it’s a perfect introduction to the incredible talent that Clare has at her disposal.

Hear ‘Wings’ on Spotify, and follow Molly Clare now on Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Alex Holmes