Browsing Tag

classical

Freya Wolf knows that she is looking for more than a meaningless one-night stand on ‘Just Another Day’

Posted on 2 May 2022

Released with the world-class assistance of Remote Highway Music, Freya Wolf glistens rather brightly on her brilliant new release all about knowing your worth when others just greedily want you for themselves on, ‘Just Another Day‘.

Freya Wolf is a South Wales-born, Somerset, UK-based classically-trained pianist/singer-songwriter who is inspired by travel and the late great Nina Simone.

”Freya writes and co-writes her own material including her first two singles ”This Man is Mine” and “Meet Me at 8” both of which she co-wrote with U.S. Songwriter’s Hall of Fame member Ross Hemsworth.” ~ Freya Wolf

Showing us her present mindset that has evolved from the past and takes us on a voyage that so many need to hear on full volume, Freya Wolf sends a loud message to all those who don’t want to start something memorable with her. This is a motivated woman who is only here to dance the night away, as she pushes away the hungry men who just want her valuable energy for themselves.

”A taste for the fantastical and magical, the weird and wonderful. My life is my book, and I’m still filling the pages‘. ~ Freya Wolf

‘Just Another Day‘ by the fantastic Welsh artist Freya Wolf, is a track that shows us a strong soul who has seen and heard all the players before. She can see the games before they have even started on this let-down-my-hair gem that will have you grooving with delight. With a fabulous soundtrack of jazzy-soul melodies and that sassy smooth vocal ability that has made her known all over the world, this is a trip down memory lane for those who love that timeless sounding music that will last forever.

Hear this new release on Spotify and see more of her travels on Twitter.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The floodgates open in Erica Pan’s contemporary classical composition, Torrent of Thoughts

Posted on 24 April 2022

If any young up and coming artist has the capacity to make you curse your misspent youth, it is the music composer, violinist and dancer Erica Pan. Despite being a high school student, her expressive talents have formed a resounding cohesion, as proven by her artful contemporary piece, Torrent of Thoughts.

Torrent of Thoughts is a stunning crescendo-filled piece. Though it may be simple, the minimalism makes efficacious use of the minor key melodies that flow through progressions which stand as a testament to her ability to convey emotion through orchestral strings and pensive minor piano key.

You can check her out via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The East and West coalesces in Yazan AL Hajari’s achingly profound classical composition, Suite for Orchestra No.2

Posted on 8 January 2022

Yazan AL Hajari’s most recent composition, Suite for Orchestra No.2, is achingly beautiful from the first quiver of the cello bow from the Budapest Scoring Orchestra. Like all of his work, this classical piece pays homage to his Arabic heritage while embracing his passion for freedom, peace and creativity.

The Damascus, Syria-born, New York-based artist wrote his first song at the age of nine before studying classical music, classical Arabic music, jazz, world music and film scoring. If anyone can break the monocultural moulds that shield us from truly embracing the beauty in all corners of our globally intertwined world, it is Yazan AL Hajari.

It’s infinitely harder to feel numb towards the atrocities relayed on Sky News once you have experienced the east and west intricately weaved together in such nuanced fashion where borders aurally dissolve and timelines intersect.

With every crescendo scored to crawl beneath the rib cage and every minor note placed to share the weight of our sickness-riddled world, this classical reflection of humanity is one of the rare works that proves the beauty we are capable of.

You can watch and hear Yazan AL Hajari’s composition come to life for yourself via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alex Spencer has released his arrestingly sinister neo-classic score, Tachycardia

Posted on 20 December 2021

Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Alex Spencer, made his debut earlier this year with his neo-classically polyphonic instrumental track, A Brief Intro; with his latest release, Tachycardia, he’s moved into trepidation-laden Bernard Herrman territory.

With the unnerving strings and bleakly carnivalesque arpeggios, Tachycardia is almost enough to do what it says on the tin and elevate your heart rate through the arrestingly sinister progressions. After hearing it, the fact that Alex Spencer bounces from one style to the next is almost disappointing. Yet, based on Tachycardia, we’re pretty certain that anything he brings to the airwaves will be nothing less than phenomenal. He’s set the bar exceedingly high for himself. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Tachycardia is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Discover your new metaphysical playlist staple with Basil Babychan’s ambient composition. Phantasm

Posted on 29 October 2021

Hans Zimmer fans will want to delve into the latest composition by Indo-Dutch artist Basil Babychan which extends his mission to create music from the soul for the soul; the concept behind the neo-classic ambient composition, Phantasm, is a lesson in philosophy. In his own words;

“Coping mechanisms are often subject to debate and scrutiny. They improve mental and emotional well-being by addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, derived from painful real-life events. In many cases, one makes conscious or unconscious choices that enhances control over behaviour or gives psychological comfort by creating an alternate reality. Fantasy and Reality often overlap. We need Fantasy to survive our Reality.”

Phantasm unravels as the perfect soundscape to embrace our true reality, in all of its infinite metaphysical possibility and beauty. In the prelude, the intricate keys start tentatively ascending, as more layers amass in the meditatively textured single; Phantasm becomes a transcendental experience that reminds you, we’re all just energy constrained by our vision of a 4D reality.

Phantasm is due for official release on October 29th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sonophonix have released their alternative orchestral bond theme, No Time To Die.

Posted on 30 September 2021

To correspond with the new 2021 Bond film, the breaking classical duo Sonophonix have release their ethereal spin on Billie Eilish’s theme song, No Time to Die.

With Eilish’s rendition becoming the most haunting Bond theme to have ever existed, it was hard to see how more intrinsic beauty could be pulled from the minimalist score. Yet, Sonophonix discernibly succeeded by amplifying the intensity of the soundtrack with far more prominent orchestral strings and a more cinematically sinister edge. I wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow if I was told the composition was Ramin Djawadi’s work.

You can stream No Time to Die for yourselves on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Orchestral composer Tony Manfredonia leaves us breathless with ‘Midnight’

Posted on 21 September 2021

Michigan-based composer and orchestrator Tony Manfredonia has released his Lost at Sea EP, featuring the modern masterpiece, Midnight. Even if you’re accustomed to listening to intense OSTs, Midnight is enough to leave you feeling like Alex in the infamous Clockwork Orange aversion therapy scene.

Tony Manfredonia spreads his talent between composing and orchestrating for video games, concert halls and the airwaves. His ability to command aural alchemy through colourful orchestration and emotionally charged narratives has allowed the artist to tour the globe with the Apollo Chamber Players, the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra and the University of Cambridge Concert Band.

Like all of his pieces, Midnight is enough to challenge your existing perception of talent. The sheer ethereal artistry pulsating through this orchestral piece is enough to trigger your emotional responses; when you throw in the expression of passion in this striking score, you’ll be left breathless.

Midnight is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Fullers welcome you to the ‘Unreal City’ with their classical folk single.

Posted on 13 August 2021

The brutalist architecture in the single artwork perfectly captures the bleak tone in the Fullers’ latest semi-orchestral single, Unreal City, which comes with 70s melancholic pop-rock nostalgia and a sorrowful indie post-punk edge.

The Fullers have been in formation since 2018; they garnered the attention of BBC Surrey and Essex before transforming their rock sound to make the most of songwriter Peter Neilan’s classical training. The evolution in their sound allows classical motifs to coalesce with folk elements; any fans of Ben Folds will want to pay attention.

Unreal City was officially released on August 13th; you can check it out for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Venezuelan aural ambassador Morris Northcutt has released his latest classical score, Tonada Del Cabrestero

Posted on 9 August 2021

Ahead of the release of his solo debut album, award-winning professional touring artist Morris Northcutt teased what is to come with the richly cinematic, deeply emotional classical composition, Tonada Del Cabrestero, composed by Simon Diaz.

To name a few, the Latin-inspired artist’s accolades include winning global music awards, being a Bach Conn-Selmer solo performing artist and touring the globe with performance groups such as Mannheim Steamroller, Critical Mass Big Band, The Blues Brothers Reunion Band, Puget Brass, and the Tacoma Concert Band to the Seattle Symphony Chamber Orchestra, Breath of Aire, and the Tacoma Symphony.

Before you even learn the intent behind the instrumental score, you feel the ego-less sense of passion in the production; you get a sense that Tonada Del Cabrestero is pulling emotion from a much deeper place. Tonada Del Cabrestero was created in collaboration with Venezuelan artists impacted by the economical disaster imparted by quarantine measures.

It was designed to pay ode to the culture that has been stifled and to introduce the world to the cinematic magic of Venezuelan music. It embraces Northcutt’s bold virtuosic flair, bringing a sense of warmth to the soundscape that proves that beyond borders and language barriers, we share humanity that defies the suffocating concepts of tribalism and late-stage capitalism. Frankly, we’re obsessed. Venezuela couldn’t ask for a better aural ambassador.

Tonada Del Cabrestero was released on July 23rd and is now available on Spotify. The debut album is due for official release on August 30th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Shift your perception on affection with TIBIBI’s ethereal neo-classic single, Remind Me.

Posted on 1 August 2021

‘Remind Me’ is the latest artfully ethereal release from alternative singer-songwriter, producer and engineer, TIBIBI; whose neo-classic works carry the same haunting weight as Portishead while registering as enticingly authentic.

The single melodically spins the story of a person falling in love but not falling deep enough to lose their head. The suitably meditative semi-orchestral synth-pop single allows the lyrics to resonate as a mantra, a promise to yourself that you won’t descend to the depths of love you can’t pull yourself up from.

Remind Me starts as a neo-classic piano loop before classical strings weave into the mix with reverb-swathed analogue synths. TIBIBI’s gently layered vocals meld succinctly into the single which is conceptually powerful enough to shift your perception of love.

Remind Me is now available to stream on all major platforms via this link.

Review by Amelia Vandergast