Browsing Tag

classical

An-Ting 安婷 keyed into the plaintive slips of optimism in our first pandemic summer in her classical composition, LAST JUNE

Posted on 15 June 2022

Taiwan-born, London-based pianist-composer, An-Ting 安婷 is set to release her first original LP, Songs from My Room, a compositional narration of the complex emotions that manifested during the pandemic times, featuring the standout single, LAST JUNE.

Not another lockdown release, I hear you cry – but this instrumental score operates far beyond the power of the written word by keying into those striking plaintive slips of optimism as the powerlessness in the situation conflates the ennui. LAST JUNE also takes the mixed feelings that transpired from the BlackLivesMatter movement with an overarching sense of uncertainty that amassed around the state of our polarised society.

An-Ting has performed as a concert pianist at Southbank Centre, LSO St Luke’s, King’s Place, Newbury Spring Festival, Deal Festival, Cheltenham Town Hall, and the Akademie der Künste Berlin (Academy of Arts). She also has a broad background which includes a unique mix of science and art with a degree in Chemistry from National Taiwan University and an MMus and PhD in performance from the Royal Academy of Music.

Songs from My Room will be available to stream on all platforms from July 13th, 2022. Last June will be due for release on June 15th. Check out the video via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Hua-Hsuan Tseng shows us what true serenity sounds like with the exceptional instrumental, ‘Dreaming’

Posted on 9 June 2022

With her glorious elegance on full display and we find a marvellous visionary who is headed for the top, Hua-Hsuan Tseng might have your whole body in happy raptures with her new gem, ‘Dreaming‘.

Hua-Hsuan Tseng is a Taiwan-born, Los Angeles-based composer and sound designer who makes remarkable soundscapes for film and visual media.

”Her music blends a wide range of genres, including classical, electronic, Chinese, and pop. A dedicated collaborator, Hua strives to create a unique soundscape for each project by blurring the line between music and sound design to make a cohesive score.​” ~ Hua-Hsuan Tseng

After gaining respect from her graduation awards at the National Taiwanese University of Arts and Columbia College Chicago, Hua-Hsuan Tseng presents us with something rather dynamic and wrapped with intricate goodness that has taken her years to form in her incredibly innovative mind.

”Owing to her diverse musical background, Hua’s compositions cover a variety of genres, from orchestral scores to hybrid compositions.” ~ Hua-Hsuan Tseng

‘Dreaming‘ from Taiwan-born, Los Angeles-based composer and sound designer Hua-Hsuan Tseng is a slice of peace that has been missing from the world for too long. Urging us to open up our minds and to never give up from where we want to go in life, this is a a brilliant single that might have you smiling rather broadly.

Delightful music like this is exactly what the world needs more of.

Hear this lovely single on Spotify and see more vibes on the IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Italian classical pianist STEFANO FREDDI shows the world his unquestionable skill that is within his ‘Deep Soul’

Posted on 11 May 2022

After gracing us with ‘Five Notes Symphony the Murderer’s Tale‘ from April 2021, STEFANO FREDDI calms down everything like a true master of his craft to make sure we know where that ‘Deep Soul‘ has been hiding all this time.

STEFANO FREDDI is a Verona, Italy-based classical pianist who makes the kind of cinematic experience that certainly belongs in the movies when true emotion is needed.

”A pianist since he was six years old, the Italian composer describes composing music as fulfilling an intrinsic need for self-expression and is an essential part of his life.” ~ STEFANO FREDDI

With a tremendously cultivated effort that sends you into a tranquil state of affairs, STEFANO FREDDI takes our hand and guides us to that island of freedom that is miles away from anything that can damage your priceless mood. Each note has been carefully crafted with rare dignity, that should warm your intestines and get you breathing properly again.

”Always pushing himself to delve into different genres, Stefano Freddi has also composed soul music and he dabbled in house production.” ~ STEFANO FREDDI

‘Deep Soul‘ from the renowned Italy-based classical pianist STEFANO FREDDI is such a peaceful experience that you might get shivers pulsating down your spine to set you free again. This is an instrumental effort that contains so much beauty and skill, to bring you back to a place where you aren’t worrying about everything.

Great music heals you deeply if you listen intently enough.

Listen up to this fine new single on Spotify and check out more via IG.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

Freya Wolf knows that she is looking for more than a meaningless one-night stand on ‘Just Another Day’

Posted on 2 May 2022

Released with the world-class assistance of Remote Highway Music, Freya Wolf glistens rather brightly on her brilliant new release all about knowing your worth when others just greedily want you for themselves on, ‘Just Another Day‘.

Freya Wolf is a South Wales-born, Somerset, UK-based classically-trained pianist/singer-songwriter who is inspired by travel and the late great Nina Simone.

”Freya writes and co-writes her own material including her first two singles ”This Man is Mine” and “Meet Me at 8” both of which she co-wrote with U.S. Songwriter’s Hall of Fame member Ross Hemsworth.” ~ Freya Wolf

Showing us her present mindset that has evolved from the past and takes us on a voyage that so many need to hear on full volume, Freya Wolf sends a loud message to all those who don’t want to start something memorable with her. This is a motivated woman who is only here to dance the night away, as she pushes away the hungry men who just want her valuable energy for themselves.

”A taste for the fantastical and magical, the weird and wonderful. My life is my book, and I’m still filling the pages‘. ~ Freya Wolf

‘Just Another Day‘ by the fantastic Welsh artist Freya Wolf, is a track that shows us a strong soul who has seen and heard all the players before. She can see the games before they have even started on this let-down-my-hair gem that will have you grooving with delight. With a fabulous soundtrack of jazzy-soul melodies and that sassy smooth vocal ability that has made her known all over the world, this is a trip down memory lane for those who love that timeless sounding music that will last forever.

Hear this new release on Spotify and see more of her travels on Twitter.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

The floodgates open in Erica Pan’s contemporary classical composition, Torrent of Thoughts

Posted on 24 April 2022

If any young up and coming artist has the capacity to make you curse your misspent youth, it is the music composer, violinist and dancer Erica Pan. Despite being a high school student, her expressive talents have formed a resounding cohesion, as proven by her artful contemporary piece, Torrent of Thoughts.

Torrent of Thoughts is a stunning crescendo-filled piece. Though it may be simple, the minimalism makes efficacious use of the minor key melodies that flow through progressions which stand as a testament to her ability to convey emotion through orchestral strings and pensive minor piano key.

You can check her out via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The East and West coalesces in Yazan AL Hajari’s achingly profound classical composition, Suite for Orchestra No.2

Posted on 8 January 2022

Yazan AL Hajari’s most recent composition, Suite for Orchestra No.2, is achingly beautiful from the first quiver of the cello bow from the Budapest Scoring Orchestra. Like all of his work, this classical piece pays homage to his Arabic heritage while embracing his passion for freedom, peace and creativity.

The Damascus, Syria-born, New York-based artist wrote his first song at the age of nine before studying classical music, classical Arabic music, jazz, world music and film scoring. If anyone can break the monocultural moulds that shield us from truly embracing the beauty in all corners of our globally intertwined world, it is Yazan AL Hajari.

It’s infinitely harder to feel numb towards the atrocities relayed on Sky News once you have experienced the east and west intricately weaved together in such nuanced fashion where borders aurally dissolve and timelines intersect.

With every crescendo scored to crawl beneath the rib cage and every minor note placed to share the weight of our sickness-riddled world, this classical reflection of humanity is one of the rare works that proves the beauty we are capable of.

You can watch and hear Yazan AL Hajari’s composition come to life for yourself via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Alex Spencer has released his arrestingly sinister neo-classic score, Tachycardia

Posted on 20 December 2021

Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Alex Spencer, made his debut earlier this year with his neo-classically polyphonic instrumental track, A Brief Intro; with his latest release, Tachycardia, he’s moved into trepidation-laden Bernard Herrman territory.

With the unnerving strings and bleakly carnivalesque arpeggios, Tachycardia is almost enough to do what it says on the tin and elevate your heart rate through the arrestingly sinister progressions. After hearing it, the fact that Alex Spencer bounces from one style to the next is almost disappointing. Yet, based on Tachycardia, we’re pretty certain that anything he brings to the airwaves will be nothing less than phenomenal. He’s set the bar exceedingly high for himself. We can’t wait to hear what follows.

Tachycardia is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Discover your new metaphysical playlist staple with Basil Babychan’s ambient composition. Phantasm

Posted on 29 October 2021

Hans Zimmer fans will want to delve into the latest composition by Indo-Dutch artist Basil Babychan which extends his mission to create music from the soul for the soul; the concept behind the neo-classic ambient composition, Phantasm, is a lesson in philosophy. In his own words;

“Coping mechanisms are often subject to debate and scrutiny. They improve mental and emotional well-being by addressing anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, derived from painful real-life events. In many cases, one makes conscious or unconscious choices that enhances control over behaviour or gives psychological comfort by creating an alternate reality. Fantasy and Reality often overlap. We need Fantasy to survive our Reality.”

Phantasm unravels as the perfect soundscape to embrace our true reality, in all of its infinite metaphysical possibility and beauty. In the prelude, the intricate keys start tentatively ascending, as more layers amass in the meditatively textured single; Phantasm becomes a transcendental experience that reminds you, we’re all just energy constrained by our vision of a 4D reality.

Phantasm is due for official release on October 29th; you can check it out for yourselves via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Sonophonix have released their alternative orchestral bond theme, No Time To Die.

Posted on 30 September 2021

To correspond with the new 2021 Bond film, the breaking classical duo Sonophonix have release their ethereal spin on Billie Eilish’s theme song, No Time to Die.

With Eilish’s rendition becoming the most haunting Bond theme to have ever existed, it was hard to see how more intrinsic beauty could be pulled from the minimalist score. Yet, Sonophonix discernibly succeeded by amplifying the intensity of the soundtrack with far more prominent orchestral strings and a more cinematically sinister edge. I wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow if I was told the composition was Ramin Djawadi’s work.

You can stream No Time to Die for yourselves on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Orchestral composer Tony Manfredonia leaves us breathless with ‘Midnight’

Posted on 21 September 2021

Michigan-based composer and orchestrator Tony Manfredonia has released his Lost at Sea EP, featuring the modern masterpiece, Midnight. Even if you’re accustomed to listening to intense OSTs, Midnight is enough to leave you feeling like Alex in the infamous Clockwork Orange aversion therapy scene.

Tony Manfredonia spreads his talent between composing and orchestrating for video games, concert halls and the airwaves. His ability to command aural alchemy through colourful orchestration and emotionally charged narratives has allowed the artist to tour the globe with the Apollo Chamber Players, the Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra and the University of Cambridge Concert Band.

Like all of his pieces, Midnight is enough to challenge your existing perception of talent. The sheer ethereal artistry pulsating through this orchestral piece is enough to trigger your emotional responses; when you throw in the expression of passion in this striking score, you’ll be left breathless.

Midnight is now available to stream via Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast