On May 6, Stanford’s Black Family Gathering Committee hosted its annual Blackfest music festival at Frost Amphitheatre. The event brought local Black-owned businesses and performers together to celebrate Black art. Blackfest is the largest free hip-hop event in the Bay Area, serving a combination of Stanford students and audience members from surrounding cities. Although part … [Read more…]
Five weeks ago, I attended the St. Lawrence String Quartet’s Easter service concert, featuring Haydn’s “The Seven Last Words of Christ.” I went somewhat on a whim (my roommate was playing), and I enjoyed it as much as an undergraduate waiting to start his weekend could. Though I don’t remember much of the piece, I … [Read more…]
My dad has one of the strangest airplane routines I have ever encountered. On international flights, sometimes 10 or more hours long, he’ll listen to a single song on loop while doing work on his laptop. His recent favorites include Shakira’s “Try Everything” (from “Zootopia”) and Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.” More than anything else, my … [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. 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…]