A few months ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing the banjo player of an Appalachian folk band, at one end of what the rich Ithaca music scene produces. On the other end of Ithaca’s music spectrum is Rowan Drake, a 19-year-old alternative pop artist who spoke to me about his upcoming debut EP. Rowan was born and raised here in Ithaca, NY. He released his first single “Closure” in 2020 and, since then, has garnered over 5 million likes on TikTok and 1.3 million views on YouTube. He also recently signed with Atlantic Records.
Arts & Culture
Taylor Swift’s New Single: Album (or Two) to Follow?
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Fans are using the release of “This Love” (Taylor’s Version) and The Old Taylor Shop merchandise on her store, which is themed to “1989” and “Speak Now”, to speculate about the potential release of “1989” or “Speak Now” (Taylor’s Version).
Arts & Culture
“Memories” by Conan Gray Highlights Artist’s Changing Style
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The song was released on April 15 and chronicles Gray remembering his love for his former romantic partner.
Arts & Culture
The Weeknd’s Ancient Allusions
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The lyrics impersonate incantations chanted to revive this archaic period.
Arts & Culture
Save Your Tears, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande are Here
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Ariana gives the song a magical quality. Her voice is sweet and gentle, with an alluring edge that immediately distinguishes her background vocals in the first verse from the ones in the original version.
Arts & Culture
Olivia Rodrigo Proves She Is Not a One-Hit Wonder
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“Deja Vu” is more than a worthy successor to Rodrigo’s first hit: the single deepens her credentials as a songwriter and proves that she is an artist here to stay.
Arts & Culture
Frank Ocean’s New Singles Remind Us That We Need Each Other
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Frank Ocean has blessed us with the perfect soundtrack for the moment.
Arts & Culture
Lecrae and YK Osiris’ ‘Set Me Free’ is a Quarantine Anthem
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For those quarantined now, they’ll no doubt find Lecrae’s latest more than relevant for when the shackles are taken off, and they’ll have no other response but to dance.
Billie Eilish
Billie Eilish and The Art of the Bond Theme
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Is it as explosive as “Skyfall?” Is it as sexy as “For Your Eyes Only?” Will anything ever top “Goldfinger?” The answer for each one of these questions is no. But that’s because, with this release, Eilish has subverted the standard creation formula for a Bond theme.
Arts & Culture
SPINNING SINGLES | “Lonely Man of Winter” — Sufjan Stevens
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While the wait continues for a new Sufjan Stevens album, he seems to be working on smaller things with other artists that nonetheless yield pleasant, meaningful results.
altrock
Spinning Singles: Girlpool, “Picturesong”
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There has always been a certain magic to Girlpool. The bond that duo Harmony Tividad and Cleo Tucker share is unlike any other. Girlpool stands out due to their lack of a drummer: Cleo’s guitar chords and picking fit perfectly with Harmony’s bass — or vice versa when they trade off. Their vocal styles also seem to have been made for each other and are instantly identifiable. Their music was perfect already without a drummer.