Sun-Mi Hong's Jazz Rhythm Builds a Nest of Belonging
South Korean drummer Sun-Mi Hong moved from her homeland to Amsterdam in search of artistic freedom. She found not just a vibrant jazz scene but a new identity as a performer and composer.
Where the Wild Things Are — Jenny Scheinman's 'All Species Parade'
The acclaimed violinist and composer returns to California's Lost Coast, crafting a sprawling double album that celebrates biodiversity with help from an all-star ensemble including Bill Frisell, Julian Lage, and Nels Cline.
Needle Drops
No algorithms, just The Tonearm's guide to six essential new releases. The Cohen family's intuitive interplay, Believers' rhythmic precision, and Quatuor Bozzini's mesmerizing interpretations demonstrate how genre constraints continue dissolving in contemporary music.
Spotlight On Podcast — Looking Back at Year Four (2023)
Ten conversations that transcend mere promotion to explore how creative work emerges from historical, technological, spiritual, and social contexts while building meaningful connections.
Hitting the Pavement — Cary Baker's Love Letter to Busking
In 'Down on the Corner,' the veteran music publicist chronicles his four-decade journey from Maxwell Street to global sidewalks, revealing how spontaneous street performances shaped both his life and music history.
Anupam Shobhakar's Musical Voyage from Slayer to Sarod
Shobhakar's musical awakening began in the most unlikely circumstances — a metal kid in a Slayer t-shirt seated among India's musical elite. Now the Mumbai musician's double-neck guitar carries him from headbanging teen to microtonal master on his new album 'Liquid Reality.'
Beautiful Collisions — Michael Dorf Stages a Carnegie Tribute to Patti Smith
That scrappy Knitting Factory on Houston Street planted seeds for two decades of tribute concerts that have raised millions for music education. Dorf's persistent courtship of Smith finally bears fruit as an inspiring lineup of performers gathers on March 26 to reinterpret her revolutionary catalog.
Excerpt from 'Key Changes: The Ten Times Technology Transformed the Music Industry'
In advance of our live discussion and Q&A with authors Howie Singer and Bill Rosenblatt, we bring you this preview from their chapter on the vinyl revolution and how the transition from 78s to vinyl LPs dramatically changed the consumer music experience.
Needle Drops
This week's essential listening includes a military drummer's debut, a memory-seeking Scot, an Australian trumpeter's electronic-classical fusion, and a Belgian's Vietnamese audio travelogue. Each creates its own climate regardless of the calendar.
Spotlight On Podcast — Looking Back at Year Three (2022)
On the fifth anniversary of Spotlight On, we look back at year three's most popular episodes, featuring jam band guitarist Steve Kimock, Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), jazz greats The Headhunters, and other art and culture innovators.
Six Strings to Software — The Reinvention of Greg Lisher
After decades as guitarist with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, Lisher embraced "the beginner's mind" through piano lessons and software manuals. His latest album 'Underwater Detection Method' documents this creative rebirth.
Needle Drops
From AI-inspired large ensembles to midnight Tokyo sessions, this week's electronic explorations chart new territories in sound, featuring fresh works by Jon Irabagon, Tim Hecker, Oksana Linde, and Benjamin Fulwood.