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 shaped by vulnerability: Keaton Henson’s “Birthdays” and Sufjan Stevens’s “Carrie & Lowell.” Singing in a whisper is technically impossible. When you whisper, you halt your voice’s vibrations so that … [Read more…]
On Wednesday evening, amid a frantic Week 8, I had the opportunity to watch the Silkroad Ensemble deliver a once-in-a-lifetime performance at Bing Concert Hall. As one of the youngest attendees of the performance, I felt calm and at peace for the first time after hearing the ensemble’s uniquely colorful sounds. Eminent cellist Yo-Yo Ma … [Read more…]
Artists of this time are constantly seeking to reposition themselves and reinvent their art, be it through monikers or thematic shifts. South London musician Sampha is the latest to join the club. Honoring his paternal grandfather, Sampha’s “Lahai” is a beautiful homage to family and lineage. His new album reveres the ways in which the … [Read more…]
Exactly nine years after Taylor Swift released the legendary studio album “1989,” we are still dancing to its beat. The original 2014 album reinvented Swift as a pop artist and cast her into the media spotlight. Now fans have the chance to relive this iconic era with the Oct. 27 release of “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” … [Read more…]
When the lights dimmed in Fox Theater, fog creeped onto the stage as singer-songwriter Stephen Sanchez took the spotlight. During the Oakland concert on Saturday, Sanchez immersed the audience in an enchanting musical narrative. Sanchez was simultaneously the narrator of the love story and main character of his concert; with his sultry voice and emotive … [Read more…]