Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 5

Stranger Things on Stage | Stranger Things: The First Shadow Hits Broadway March 2025

Stranger Things on Stage
Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Hits Broadway March 2025

(New York, NY) Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions are proud to announce that the critically acclaimed, Olivier Award-winning, “mega five-star hit” (Sunday Times) play STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW will begin performances Friday, March 28, 2025 and officially open Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre (210 West 46th Street). 

A scene from the London production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Photo by Manuel Harlan

Based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry, and rooted in the mythology and world of the Netflix global phenomenon, STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW is a new play written by Kate Trefry, directed by Stephen Daldry and co-directed by Justin Martin.

From the London premiere:

 The Facts 
By Kate TrefryOriginal Story by The Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne & Kate TrefryBased on the Netflix Series, ‘Stranger Things’, Created by the Duffer BrothersDirected by Stephen DaldryCo-Directed by Justin MartinCreative Producers The Duffer BrothersAssociate Producers Shawn Levy & Dan Cohen for 21 LapsProduced by Netflix and Sonia Friedman Productions
Performances Begin Friday, March 28, 2025Officially Opens Tuesday, April 22, 2025At Broadway’s Marquis TheatreSIGN UP FOR FIRST ACCESS TO TICKETS HERE The ShowHailed by the Daily Telegraph as “The West End Event of the Year” and the recipient of nineteen 5-star reviews and twelve 4-star reviews, STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW opened in its world premiere production at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End, where it is currently breaking box office records and is now on sale through February 16, 2025. The West End production recently won several awards including two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design, the Critics’ Circle Awards for Best Set Design and Most Promising Newcomer, and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play.
A scene from the London production of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Photo by Manuel Harlan
The story is a prequel to the Netflix TV series, and takes place in Hawkins in 1959. Jim Hopper is a young man who's car won't start, and Joyce Maldonado is looking forward to the day she can graduate high school and skip town for good...
There's also a flashback to 1943, when the US government first experiments with force fields and accidentally finds themselves in Dimension X.
The production features state of the art stagecraft that brings the sci-fi story and its period setting to vivid life.

Dreamy Americana | Driftwood Pines: Crimson (Dusk Moon Records / 1 July 2024)

Dreamy Americana
Driftwood Pines: Crimson
(Dusk Moon Records / 1 July 2024)

Stream the "Crimson" EP on Spotify.

Oakland-based duo Driftwood Pines are headed by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter IJ Smith. Crimson is their debut EP, a four-song collection of instrumental pieces you'd loosely file under folk/Americana - with a difference.

Smith's lap steel guitar reigns supreme on three of the four tracks, with his mandolin a close second. But, underneath the familiar acoustic sounds, you'll find a thread of ambient syth that ties the sound together. 

It's most prominent on Truckstop Milkyway, where the ambient sound goes with the concept of wandering about the desert at night. It's a nostalgic sound that's enhanced by the newer addition. On the Tree is a song that conjures up images of retro drives in the country, lit up by a harmonica solo. 

It's Americana with a dreamy edge. 

Musician Names/Instruments: IJ SMITH (guitars, mandolin, lap steel, bass, percussion, synths), Tony Daquipa (drums/trap/percussion)

Websites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559910476423Instagram: driftwood_pines

Jazz/Classical Fusion | James McGowan Ensemble: Reaching Out (Independent / 24 May 2024)

Jazz/Classical Fusion
James McGowan Ensemble: Reaching Out
Independent / 24 May 2024)

Stream/Buy the Album on Bandcamp

Ottawa-based James McGowan and his big band released the successful fusion album Reaching In in 2023. Reaching Out is the follow-up for the 13-piece ensemble that blends elements of jazz and Western classical music into an eminently listenable mix.

The album consists of instrumental tracks, along with spoken word by Ottawa-based English Poet Laureate Jamaal Amir Akbari that artfully weaves in and out of the music. Stylistically, it veers from jazzy to progrockish to contemporary classical moments. 

James McGowan is a pianist, composer, producer, and award-winning faculty member in Carleton University's Music program.

The Ensemble comes together as three quartets, McGowan and Ottawa-based Modasaurus, Quatuor Despax from Gatineau, Quebec, and four of horn players that include Ottawa Jazz Festival Artistic Director Petr Cancura, Mike Tremblay on tenor and soprano saxes, Mark Ferguson on trombone, and JUNO-award winning Ed Lister on trumpet. 

Modasaurus jazz-fusion quartet is McGowan on piano, Alex Moxon on guitar, JP Lapensée on bass, and Jamie Holmes on drums, with Quatuor Despax, violinists Cendrine Despax and Jean Despax, violist Maxime Despax and cellist Valérie Despax.

It's a 17-track mega-album that you can put on to enjoy the seamless changes of pace that each track offers. The musicianship is top tier, with standout guitar work from Alex Moxon. The spoken word tracks, titled Imagine (Part 4, 5 & 6) chart the journey from despair to hope. 

"Reaching Out tells my story through words and music of moving past grief to find strength in community. I truly think that everyone will be able to relate to it and find personal resonance in this journey," McGowan says in a statement.

Websites: 

https://jamesmcgowan.ca/https://jamesmcgowan.ca/epk-for-mediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ModasaurusOttawa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesjmcgowan/

Power Dream Pop | Spencer Skyline: Catalyst (October 18, 2024)

 Power Dream Pop

Spencer Skyline: Catalyst (October 18, 2024)
Single: The Chase (June 28, 2024)
Single: Right (August 23, 2024)

Listen to The Chase on Spotify

Spencer Skyline is a new artist out of St. Petersburg, Florida with a radio-friendly sound that ranges through pop rock to emo. The highlight of the release is his vocals, with an accomplished delivery that doesn't forget about the emotion.

While he started out studying in the field of engineering, a personal tragedy led to his determination to take his music to the next level.

"The night before I lost my mom we were actually at a music festival. At her funeral, people were throwing things in her grave, and all I had on me was a guitar pick. So I threw that in. And I promised that I would do something cool with my life."

He sings about love and making his way in the world, in a way that's easily relatable. Stylistically, he's firmly rooted in the early aughts - think Blink 182 and Linkin Park. He's working on a debut album, with one single released in June, and another coming up on August 23.

The full album, Catalyst, will come out in mid-October. The album is intended to be the first of a trilogy he's calling Stardust. 

The Chase (out now)

Power pop rock, or dream rock, as he likes to call it, is the tone of The Chase. It's a song that tells a story.

"'The Chase' is all about that relentless drive we feel when we're chasing our dreams, mixed with the inner turmoil that often comes with it. This song really dives into the raw emotions of ambition, self-doubt, and the fear of failure. It's about fighting for self-worth and purpose even when the odds seem stacked against us. 'The Chase' is my way of sharing the intense struggle of striving to fulfill my aspirations, and I hope it resonates with anyone who's ever felt that pressure to succeed," says Spencer.

Am I someone, or am I stardust? he asks, hinting at the theme of the upcoming trilogy.

Reality (to be released August 23)

I'm stuck in between my dreams and reality... (from the song Reality)

"'Reality' is a really introspective track for me, tackling the often harsh truths of adulthood. It's about the sacrifices we make chasing success and the disillusionment that can come when our dreams don't quite match up with reality. This song is a deep dive into the gap between our idealistic goals and the often tough experiences of real life. It speaks to anyone who's had to grapple with the complexities of growing up and finding their place in the world."

The remaining five tracks on the album keep up the pace. Hold On is another standout, driven by a relentless beat that adds urgency to his message about keeping the faith.

If you were fond of the early 2000s radio rock and emo, you'll enjoy the song and the upcoming album.

Musician Names/Instruments: Spencer Skyline - Vocals, guitars, synths; Jared Kneale - Drums/percussion; Kevin Gift Jr - Bass; Ryan Conners - Keys

Websites:

Official: spencerskyline.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencerskyline/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@spencerskylineInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/SpencerSkyline

Indie Electronic | Les Brown: The Next One (Independent / 28 June 2024)

Indie Electronic
Les Brown: The Next One
(Independent / 28 June 2024)

Stream "The Next One" on Spotify

Les Brown's music trips along blithely from neoclassical and contemporary classical passages to electronica to rock and pop, and music that sounds cinematic - even like sound effects. 

It's easy to come up with a bunch of sounds and riffs - not so easy to get them to trip along with each other seamlessly. 

If music has a sense of humour, you'll find it easily in Yeehaw! where a vocal riff punctuates a tracks that ranges from pop dance to rock guitar riffs. 

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Les Brown is on a mission to include as many of his great ideas into one release, and overall, the more is more approach works for him. A nicely original sensibility keeps it fresh, with each track offering a new angle to experiment.

In Happy Malfunction, it's electronica in early video game mode. In Picycle, it switches to a playful mode of EDM. Not surprisingly, Brown lists Tangerine Dream and King Crimson among his influences. 

The Next One is his second full-length album, (after... The First One). Rather amazingly, he's largely self taught, and now producing as well as composing his own work. He has this to say in a statement,

"My albums are meant to be like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates: "You never know what you're going to hear." If one tune isn't your favorite flavor, try a different one.

"I blend music genres, geographic regions, languages, instruments to make unique music with emotion and feeling. Some songs invoke fun or playfulness, while other songs are closer to rock or jazz, and others are entrancing psychedelia, an auditory space to explore or be enveloped within."

He's essentially taking his listeners on the journey with him. 

"I write music to capture the sound and feeling of being in a new and unfamiliar, or perhaps mysterious, but always unthreatening place. I try to invoke feelings of being in a new space, real or imagined, for the listener to think "That's interesting!" or "I hadn't thought of that before. Cool!" I want the listener to enjoy experiencing music that is new and interesting, with no pretense or lessons; just the listener observing and coming along for the ride."

Musician Names/Instruments: Les Brown - Guitars, bass guitar, drums, synthesizers, samplers, effects

Official Website: https://lesbrown.rocks

Post-Punk | Mother Ghost: Radio Fantasma (Geodesic Records / 19 July 2024)

Post-Punk
Mother Ghost: Radio Fantasma
(Geodesic Records / 19 July 2024)

Stream it on Spotify

Electronica, what they used to call New Wave rock, synth pop - all of the above apply to Radio Fantasma, the new release by Mother Ghost. They cite the likes of New Order, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, and Daft Punk as their inspirations, and it's easy to hear.

As inspiration goes, it's good source material for experimentation. The songs have appropriately post-punk titles - Dead Inside, Negative Affirmations, and so on - and lyrics to match. Their music is in your face in terms of approach, anchored by a driving punk beat in a modern drums & bass kind of vibe, ranging from aggressive punk to melodic New Wave, with a dash of jazz thrown in here and there.

Mother Ghost is brothers Oscar and Thomas Flores, based in Houston, TX. Between the two of them, they play/program all the instruments, and sing. Oscar is the main vocalist, with just the right emotive and angsty delivery for the music.

Con Colmillo breaks the pattern in a Spanish song, sung with low key vocals in a lower range. Bury Loose has a faster, straight up punk feel - in the words and the music.

Everything falls apart
Before you even start... 

Brothers Oscar and Thomas Flores, Mother Ghost (Photo: Daniel Jackson)
The album was largely written and recorded during the pandemic. The brothers Flores commented on the process in a statement. 

"We have loved having the time to focus in the studio, allowing us to experiment and discover the right sound for each song. 

Radio Fantasma is about the anxieties of everyday life and the things that help us get through to the next day. Most of the lyrics on the album come from our personal life, a news story, or social grievance."

The title track returns solidly to New Wave territory, with a danceable groove and heavy bass line.

It's for fans of the post-punk era and its genres, done here with a sense of invention.

Musician Names/Instruments: Oscar Flores – Guitar/Vocals/Programming; Thomas Flores –Bass/Programming/Synths/Backing Vocals

Websites: 

Official Website: https://geodesicrecords.com/mother-ghostFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MotherGhostInstagram: @motherghostmusic

Red Island: A film by Robert Campillo | Theatrical opening August 16 2024 In NYC

From a media release

Red Island: A film by Robert Campillo
Theatrical opening August 16, 2024
At Film at Lincoln Center

A semi-autobiographical film inspired by Campillo's childhood in Madagascar
Additional markets to follow

The director of the acclaimed movie 120 BPM, Robert Campillo follows up with a story drawn from his childhood in Madagascar. The French filmmaker's story takes place during the early days of independence in the island nation.

The Story

Living on one of the last remaining military bases amidst a hedonistic group of French armed forces in 1970s Madagascar, ten-year-old Thomas begins to find cracks in the surface of his family’s blissful existence on the idyllic island. 

Taking inspiration from his comic book hero Fantomette, Thomas spies on those around him, discovering the hidden and tangled political and sexual lives of the colonizers and the colonized. As relocation looms, he questions whether the memories he has made are ones he should remember fondly.

The Film

Simultaneously a sensual evocation of discovering the adult world and a sober reflection of what it represents, Robin Campillo’s anticipated follow-up to his acclaimed 120 BPM weaves together the personal and political in a “visually spectacular [and] masterful portrayal of colonialism through a child’s eyes” (The Upcoming).  

Following its World Premiere at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, where it was nominated for a prestigious Golden Seashell “Best Film” Award, the affecting drama was also nominated for Best International Film at the Haifa International Film Festival and a Dragon Award at Goteborg.

RED ISLAND (2023)

Directed by:  Robin Campillo
Written by: Robin Campillo (screenplay), Gilles Marchand (collaboration)
Cast: Nadia Tereszkiewicz, Quim Gutiérrez, Charlie Vausellem, Amely Rakotoarimalala, Sophie Guillemin, Hugues Delamarlière
Produced by: Marie-Ange Luciana
Cinematography by: Jeanne Lapoirie
RT: 117 minutes
Language: French, Malagasy with English Subtitles

Imagination Fusion | Idiot Grins: Hounds of Mess Around (Snug Harbor / 9 March 2024)

Imagination Fusion
Idiot Grins: Hounds of Mess Around
(Snug Harbor / 9 March 2024)

Stream It On Spotify

This is our fifth full-length album. We all gave each other COVID during one of the first sessions, but managed to recover from that to finish the album in a leisurely twelve months.

Idiot Grins, of Oakland, CA, fuse RnB, soul and alt-country, combined with a relentlessly upbeat vibe, and turn it into a sound that's their own. 

They've got a retro sound that would fit solidly into the 1970s, where complex, layered pop rock with horns and two or three keyboard parts weren't at all out of the ordinary.

PA Mining Town has a kind of anthemic radio-friendly vibe that's typical of the group. John Hansen's vocals are perfect for the style, rich and melodic, making it all sound easy.

There's humour in the song titles and attitude. Not Reggae... isn't reggae, but it is one of the highlights of the release. It's a rhythmic track with a taste of Caribbean grooves here and there, but incorporating so many changes that they blend seamlessly with the other non-reggae parts. It ends somewhere in contemporary pop territory, surprisingly.

On Ded Zep, which begins with acoustic strumming and spoken word, and ends in a kind of folk-jazz blend that doesn't sound like it should work, but it does.

It's an intriguing and imaginative sound from veteran players who do it (seemingly) because they're having fun.

Musician Names/Instruments: Evan Eustis - Bass, mandolin, backing and lead vocals; Michael Conner - keyboards, strings, clavinet and synths; John Hansen - lead vocals and backing vocals; Michael Melgoza - drums; Randy Strauss guitars

Official Website

Storyteller | Stevie Cornell: Some Sweet Dream (Independent / 29 March 2024)

Storyteller
Stevie Cornell: Some Sweet Dream
(Independent / 29 March 2024)

Stream It On Spotify Some Sweet Dream is only the second solo album for Stevie Cornell, despite a half century spent as a fixture in the music scene on the West Coast, specifically Northern California's Americana scene. He's a native of Santa Rosa, Cali.

He mines the countrified surf rock slash folk of the late 1960s and 1970s, with influences that run from The Doors to Johnny Cash.

The tracks draw from a broad palette of North American genres of the era. He uses familiar elements in sometimes unexpected ways, blending idioms you never thought would meet 
He blends elements of Americana and classic 60s radio pop on Better As A Memory, the first track, with surf rock chords at the chorus. Courage, in contrast, has a more emotional, stripped down feel closer to the heart of Americana. Some Sweet Dream, the title track, adds four part vocal harmonies to the mix, along with a churchy organ in the background.

Other stick closer to their roots, like the sweet country waltz in Drunkard's Lullaby, complete with keening violins, or the twangy-guitar driven Don't Look Down.
One More Time is a stand-out track with a dark country swing to it.
It's country surf rock with a polished edge, and should satisfy aficionados of both country and Americana. Website: https://steviecornell.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/steviecornellmusic?mibextid=LQQJ4dInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevecornellmusic

Music Meets Meditation | Theda Phoenix: Crystal Calm Vol 2 (Independent / 22 September 2023)

Music Meets Meditation
Theda Phoenix: Crystal Calm Vol 2
(Independent / 22 September 2023)

Stream It On Spotify

Vancouver singing bowl performing artist and singer-songwriter Theda (Theeda) Phoenix has a recent release of meditative music -- along with an enviable multi-hyphenate persona as an artist.

She creates vibrational soundscapes with crystal singing bowls and dreamy vocals, along with natural sounds. It's music meant to evoke the sense of oneness that is the goal of meditation.

Theda was raised in British Columbia, in a float-home on the ocean of Echo Bay, Simoom Sound. Her connections to coastal culture and the unique natural environment are deep. It's a sensibility that fuels her music-making today.

"Shy and introverted as a child, I always had a strong sense of nature that nurtured my intuitive sensitivities. I discovered my calling early on, through a deep emotional connection to the beauty of music and a profound spiritual experience. I became passionate about the mind/body connection, holistic healing and self-development, and about music as a tool for healing. I love to sing intuitively, create songs in the moment and perform sound healing journeys that inspire others to access the healing power of sound and singing.",

The crystal singing bowls are made of quartz in various sizes that are tuned to different frequencies, i.e. pitches. Theda weaves the vocals and the sound of the crystal bowls together into music that is meant to cross the border between song and meditation. She also uses the sounds of water flowing in the Ganges River in India as part of the sonic stew.

The effect is quite pleasant and calming, the sounds immersive. There's some studio magic to add to the effect, but it's only in the service of the music itself, and not obtrusive. 

"I believe in the transformative power of music to transcend boundaries and touch the soul. With this music, I aspire to create a space for introspection, connection, and healing. I invite listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner exploration, with the sounds of ethereal vocals, Crystal Singing Bowls, flowing river waters and electronic pads that weave throughout."

'Crystal Calm Vol 2' isn't just music, it's a sonic gateway into a deep inner journey, a multi-layered creation utilizing unique binaural recording technology. Crafted with hours of attention to the subtle nuances of each sound. It guides you on a journey into self and the place where you feel a sense of oneness with all of life."

You'll enjoy the music as a companion to your inner journeys.

Online:

Official Website: https://ThedaPhoenix.comFacebook: http://facebook.com/intuitivesinger/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theda.phoenix/