Welcome to “New Music with Nick.” In this column, I will be reviewing some of the most notable new album releases across various genres, focusing on hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Join me in exploring the ever-shifting landscape of the streaming era. Daniel Caesar: “NEVER ENOUGH” (April 7, 2023) The long-awaited return of Daniel Caesar … [Read more…]
Willie Nelson closed his performance at Frost Amphitheater on Monday in classic raspy tone, singing “Happy birthday to… me!” The birthday ballad was timely: Nelson turns 90 years old this Saturday. The tune was reminiscent of Nelson’s 1984 rendition of “Happy, Happy Birthday Baby” with fellow country star Dolly Parton. Although cowboy sightings may be … [Read more…]
In “Music that Makes You Feel,” columnist Sam Waddoups recommends albums that take the listener through a specific emotional journey. This week, he covers two albums of piano ballads that explore mixed feelings: Nina Simone’s “Wild is the Wind” and Mitski’s “Lush.” Poet W.H. Auden once defined poetry as “the clear expression of mixed feelings.” In … [Read more…]
The 2010s was the decade of Drake. Boasting the most successful commercial run of the last decade and inspiring a generation that infused rap with pop and R&B, the Canadian artist has left an indelible mark on the music industry. However, before Aubrey Drake Graham became the decorated musician we know today, he was releasing … [Read more…]
Welcome to “New Music with Nick.” In this column, I will be reviewing some of the most notable new album releases across various genres, focusing on hip-hop, R&B and pop music. Join me in exploring the ever-shifting landscape of the streaming era. Larry June and The Alchemist: “The Great Escape” (March 31, 2023) Typically when … [Read more…]
Imagine you’ve just finished family dinner when your aunt and uncle, perhaps under peer pressure, announce they’ve got some music to share. With full bellies and fuller hearts, you turn to hear them spin a lifetime of stories into your family’s own personal concert. With close to 1,000 patrons in attendance, Monday’s Stanford Live concert, … [Read more…]
Lizzy McAlpine, Jonah Nilsson and Imogen Heap may not seem to have much in common besides their singer-songwriter profession. But Stanford’s oldest all-gender a cappella group, Mixed Company (Mixed Co), brought together compositions by each artist in their victorious 2023 West Regional International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) quarterfinal performance. The group placed first … [Read more…]
The first question I asked conductor Jeannette Sorrell was supposed to be straightforward: what was your experience with Jewish music growing up? “Well, growing up, I had no idea that I was half Jewish,” she said. She then began a whirlwind story of immigration, deception and cultural collisions that landed right at the heart of … [Read more…]
After the evening’s final applause, silence fell onto the crowd at Bing Studio. As the performers walked off stage, the woman next to me broke the tension: “Was that it? It went too fast.” In many ways, I find this remark summative of the performance, which was the first with Stanford Live for Hindustani classical … [Read more…]
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at Bing Concert Hall was that I was almost comically underdressed. In a room of extravagantly fitted donors and surrounded by more wool than a sheep farm, I settled in my seat wearing a tour shirt from a Japanese sludge metal band and Doc Martens. For the … [Read more…]