Lots of music on offer, with albums spanning multiple genres. Explore the diversity and intersectionality of our Schulich community through music. Scroll down to read more!
Lavender People â Dolly BlondeÂ
Released January 4, 2021Â
Lavender People is a journey down the TowerâŻArcana in processing trauma and guilt through music. The Tower Arcana, an iconic tarot card, represents crisis, adversity and revelation. Dolly Blonde dives headfirst into the destruction of the Tower Arcana â whether it be pop, disco, or jazz-hybrid, each song is a confession and absolution. With the help of some amazing featured artists including fellow Schulich alumni žé±đČÔĂ©±đÌęłÛŽÇłæŽÇČÔÌę(”țČŃłÜČőâ18),ÌęEdwin de Goeij (BMusâ19) and Conor Nickerson (BMusâ19), Dolly Blonde sings of how community often raises us up, even in our darkest days. Lavender People was also funded by âŻ, for which Dolly Blonde (Charles Lowe, BMusâ21) was selected in 2020.Â
Visions â Žł±đČčČÔ-ČŃŸ±łŠłó±đ±ôÌę±ÊŸ±±ôłŠÂ
Released March 5, 2021âŻâŻ
Working in the liminal space between imagination and reality, Schulich Professor Žł±đČčČÔ-ČŃŸ±łŠłó±đ±ôÌę±ÊŸ±±ôłŠÂ creates an unforgettably beautiful and nuanced atmosphere with his solo piano improvisations on Visions. "Music, to me, is as much about seeing and telling a story as it is about hearing sound. It relates to all senses in a way that is quite mysterious and unique,â shares Pilc. âThe word âVisionsâ embodies, better than any other, what I feel while creating a piece of music in the moment. Improvisation becomes an out of body experience, and you are projected into a different realm altogether. You see everything for the first time, and you will never see it again the same way." Let this Jazz EP transport you.
Imaginary Landscape â Stefan HussongÂ
Released March 17, 2021âŻâŻÂ
German accordionist Stefan Hussong displays his mastery of contemporary works on his latest album. Out of several commissioned pieces, two are written by șÚÁÏÉç alumni and husband-and-wife composing duo Hope Lee (MMusâ81) and David Eagle (MMusâ81). Leeâs work, "Imaginary Garden V" (2016), explores contrast through seven distinct scenarios illustrating her mastery of stylistic diversity. Eagleâs captivating "Refracted Tones" (2016) employs a hallucinatory 24-tone octave that bends and warps the ears in his beautiful composition. Both pieces are sure to enthrall.Â
Intimate Impressions â AnalektaÂ
Released March 26, 2021Â
A powerhouse duo composed of Steve Cowan (DMus'19), guitar instructor at Schulich, and ŽĄ»ćČčłŸÌę°äŸ±łŠłŠłóŸ±±ô±ôŸ±łÙłÙŸ±Â (BMus'10), current doctoral student at Schulich, they use their impressive talents on classical guitar to transpose some of the greatest works of the 20th Century including pieces by Debussy, Ravel, Jolivet, Mompou and Tailleferre. Exploring the stylistic differences of every composer as well as infusing the recording with their charm and lyricism, Intimate Impressions creates exactly what the title promises â an intimate listening experience that sounds â and feels â fantastic.Â
Catharsis â GeneviĂšve SalamoneÂ
Released May 28, 2021 Â
Stemming from her journey in confronting PTSD after 15 years of childhood sexual abuse, GeneviĂšve Salamoneâs (BMusâ15) debut original album, Catharsis, features powerful violin and synth instrumentals as well as work from Schulich alum Renee Brechtel (BMusâ16). Each piece of music reflects a different emotion or memory experienced along her trauma-recovery journey, creating a breathtaking tapestry of resilience, hope, and perseverance in the era of #metoo and #MMIW.Â
Thatâs all for our Release Radar! Donât forget â if youâre part of the Schulich community and are looking forward to a July, August, or September, let us know to be featured in upcoming months' Release Radars! Email us at publicity.music [at] mcgill.ca
