It’s easy to romanticize the lives of famous musicians. From larger-than-life rock stars to groundbreaking…
Diversions
All of the Times Manneken Pis Dressed Up Like a Musician (We Think!)
If you’ve ever been to Brussels, or know much about Belgian culture, you may already be…
Composer Erik Satie Was So Much Weirder Than You Realize
Erik Satie (1866-1925) is praised by historians for helping to provide the pre-war pathway to minimalism in…
Why Every Piano You’ve Ever Played Is Too Small
Beautiful, versatile, and astoundingly complex, the piano holds a key place in nearly every form of music.…
The Legacy of the Super Bowl Shuffle and the History of NFL Pop Music
So let’s start where this article deserves to be started, with one of the greatest…
The Peculiar Sonic Possibilities of a Strange Japanese Toy Instrument
By Aaron Martin What do you do when a bizarre, smiling toy instrument from Japan shows up…
How to Record an Album in an Abandoned Grain Silo (Plus a World Premiere!)
Earlier this year, I was delighted by a dynamic new solo piano album called The…
8 Hip-Hop Songs to Help Your Hanukkah Hangover
Hanukkah occurs over eight nights in December, and sadly, this year’s Festival of Lights has…
What Happens When You Replace Microphones with Turkey Legs?
The holidays provide a unique opportunity for musical reflection. With all that spare time on our hands and…
The Most Comprehensive List of Songs About Laura… Ever
So many singers have crooned over her in the last sixty years. What’s the deal…