The Rise of Melodic Techno and Emotional House Music in 2023.
Electronic dance music (EDM) is constantly evolving and changing with the times, and in 2023, a new sub-genre is taking the scene by storm: melodic techno and emotional house. These styles of music are characterized by their focus on melody and emotional depth, as well as their use of atmospheric sounds and textures.
The rise of melodic techno and emotional house can be attributed to the growing demand for music that connects with listeners on a deeper, more emotional level. These styles of music offer a new take on traditional techno and house, incorporating lush soundscapes and intricate melodies that evoke feelings of nostalgia, longing, and introspection.
At the forefront of this new genre are several talented artists who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in electronic music. Some of the main artists producing melodic techno and emotional house in 2023 include:
Charlotte de Witte
This Belgian DJ and producer is quickly making a name for herself in the techno scene with her raw, powerful sound. Her music is characterized by its driving beats and intense emotional energy, making her a standout artist in the world of melodic techno.
Solomun
This German DJ and producer is widely considered to be one of the pioneers of melodic techno. He is known for his innovative sound design and emotionally charged tracks that seamlessly blend techno, house, and ambient elements.
Adriatique
This Swiss duo is leading the way in emotional house music, with their lush, dreamy tracks that are both beautiful and haunting. Their music is characterized by its intricate soundscapes and subtle, melodic lines that evoke feelings of nostalgia and longing.
Apparat
This German producer is known for his innovative sound design and atmospheric tracks that are both beautiful and haunting. His music combines elements of techno, ambient, and IDM to create a unique and emotionally charged soundscape.
In conclusion, the rise of melodic techno and emotional house music is a testament to the continued evolution of EDM and the growing demand for music that connects with listeners on a deeper, more emotional level. These talented artists are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in electronic music, and their work is sure to be a major influence on the EDM scene for years to come.
UFO Network continues to go from strength to strength as the most in-depth and global EDM news source for everything electronic dance music related. With an audience in over 125 countries, we are fast becoming a valued and trusted source for electronic dance music news, reviews, interviews and features for DJs, Artists and Labels alike.
Ahead of the release of their debut EP extra life, the duo discuss inspirations, secret enemies and their worst nightmares
crushed, in all the best ways, sound like your favourite song from a mid-90’s coming-of-age movie – something that makes complete sense when lead singer Bre Morell explains the band’s initial inspirations. “We said we should make a band that sounds like Natalie Imbruglia’s ‘Torn’,” she says over Zoom. The band’s new EP extra life (out February 10) serves as a fitting tribute to some of the finest pop tunes of the 1990s: lead single and standout track “waterlily” merges a trip-hop drum loop, aqueous guitar lines reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins, and chord progressions straight out of Loveless by My Bloody Valentine. The rest of extra life showcases a knack for crafting transcendent, melancholy alt-pop layered against lush soundscapes.
The duo came together in what turned out to be a “full circle moment”, according to vocalist Shaun Durkan. Having both been fans of each other’s work in previous bands [Soft Kill and Temple of Angels], Durkan got in touch with Morell to collaborate. “The thing that really stood out to me was her voice,” he tells Dazed. “I had a lot of song ideas, and things that I couldn’t do with the other bands that I was in, so I reached out.” We caught up with the band to talk about their inspirations, secret enemies and favourite artists.
Hey! I thought extra life was so great – how did you guys find the process of writing and recording your debut EP?
Bre Morell: What’s funny about these songs is that when Shaun and I wrote and recorded most of them, we hadn’t even met in person before. It came together with him in Portland and me being in LA. We had already written a handful of songs before we even met, we were just literally just talking online. We were just sending stuff back and forth, which was new for both of us.
What inspired the album, outside of musical sources?
Shaun Durkan: There are a lot of samples on the EP – we both play a lot of video games and so that informed a lot of it. We were absolutely obsessed with playing Elden Ring at the time we were writing and recording this – we probably talked 90 per cent about Elden Ring and then 10 per cent about the music when we were making the EP.
Bre Morell: Stardew Valley is another game that we started talking about before we even started writing music, we both really love that game. We included samples from both of those games in the songs, too.
How would you describe your sound?
Shaun Durkan: It’s hard to say because I think a lot of the music has this atmosphere that can be dark but romantic. It also has an optimistic and hopeful spirit to a lot of it.
Bre Morell: The meme Shaun made [see below] was perfect, that’s our answer. My two huge genres are Britpop and trip-hop. I feel like crushed intersects both things pretty well – it’s the lighter, fun poppier side of trip-hop like Sneaker Pimps, who I love a lot. I’ve always wanted to do a project like that, and I feel like we’re able to lean into that a bit here.
What adjective would you least like to be described as?
Bre Morell: The first thing that comes to my head is shoegaze. Also boring, I wouldn’t want to be called boring.
Shaun Durkan Retro.
Who is your nemesis?
Shaun Durkan: I can’t name them but I think I have one enemy; I made my first enemy this year. It’s an interesting and weird experience. Maybe I’ve been other people’s enemies and I just didn’t know it, but this is a very almost comic book-level rival. I can’t reveal the name.
Bre Morell: It would be sick if we did – they know who they are. They’re definitely gonna see this and read it.
If you could only listen to one musician for the rest of your life who would it be?
Shaun Durkan: First thing that comes to mind is My Bloody Valentine or also Kevin Shields’ soundtrack work – basically anything that Kevin Shields makes.
Bre Morell: The person who comes to mind for me is the person with the shortest discography: Jeff Buckley. I’ve pretty much been listening to Grace on repeat for 15 years. If I went for a longer discography, I feel almost the same way about Radiohead. If I wanted to be a little bit smarter, I might choose Radiohead but I could go either way. I could listen to Grace for the rest of my life and nothing else and I’d be perfectly happy.
What’s your weirdest internet obsession?
Bre Morell: I could just spend forever looking at stupid stuff on eBay that I’ll never buy, particularly Parappa the Rapper merchandise from the 90s that’s only available in Japan. I have a whole folder of saved shit that I’ll never buy, but I just enjoy looking at it.
Shaun Durkan: It’s usually just whatever video game I’m playing, I’m looking up whatever I can find about it on Reddit.
You encounter a hostile alien race and sound is their only mechanism for communication. What song would you play to them to inspire them to spare you and the rest of the human race?
Bre Morell: I don’t want to seem like I’m trying to be weird, but Shaun can vouch because I make everyone listen to this shit: it’s the Bulgarian Women’s State choir, the song is “Kalimankou Denkou”. It sounds like a good song to play for an alien. If you listen to it, I don’t know if you know it, but it’s such an incredibly beautiful song. Please listen to it, it’s so crazy. You’ll understand when you hear it – you’ll be like yeah, aliens would probably dig this.
Shaun Durkan: Aliens would love “Barely Breathing” by Duncan Sheik, it would soothe them!
extra life is out February 10
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Plus: The Brothers Kelce interview their mom. Hoagie Mania. And the Inquirer wants your heart data.
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Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who just won yet another Grammy at Sunday’s Grammy Awards and extended his contract with the orchestra (photo courtesy Philadelphia Orchestra)
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Philly Classical Music Scores Big at Sunday’s Grammy Awards
It’s not often that I’d lead Philly Today with a report about classical music. OK, I’ve never done it before and probably never will again. But, hey, last night was the Grammy Awards. If you didn’t watch the awards show, you are no doubt still aware they happened because of the wide-ranging debate playing out on social media over:
– Red carpet outfits – Whether the Sam Smith performance was total trash or total genius – Why the cameras wouldn’t go in for a closeup of Madonna – Trevor Noah’s rating as a Grammys host – The whole 50 years of hip-hop tribute (curated by Philly’s own Questlove, no less), which I thought was, as the kids say, fire
I could go on.
But let us turn to another side of the Grammys, one in which Philadelphia was actually a big winner. And that side is classical music.
Philadelphia’s fabulous choir The Crossing won the Grammy for Best Choral Performance for their latest album, Born. But where the Crossing really shines is in their live performances. Fortunately for you, they have some local shows this spring. Check their schedule here.
The Philadelphia Orchestra was part of two Grammy wins: Best Classical Instrumental Solo and Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
And, last but certainly not least, Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin was named in two Grammy wins: Best Opera Recording and Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.
You can read the full list of Grammy winners here.
And if you enjoy bumping into Nézet-Séguin at Parc, Talula’s Garden and Zahav, you’ll be happy to know that he just extended his contract with the Philadelphia Orchestra through the 2029-2030 season, so there’s plenty more of him to come. (You can read my recent interview with him here.)
Well OK Then
Eagles fans: The Inquirer wants your heartbeat data.
Speaking of the Eagles
The opposing Kelce brothers interview their mom on their podcast.
What Are You Gonna Eat Today?
Might I suggest a hoagie? But from where?! So many choices. Fortunately, we broke it all down for you in our February cover story.
What Are You Gonna Do This Week?
If you’re looking for the best events in Philly this week, we’ve got them right here. If I had to pick one and only one, it would probably be the musical Come from Away, which opens this week.
Is Winter Over?!
Not quite yet, but a pretty mild week ahead of us. It’s 9 a.m. and I’m sitting at my picnic table writing this, albeit in full sun. Good day to go out for a walk. All that said, I would definitely approve of one solid snowstorm before it’s all said and done. I’m not talking Blizzard of ’96 material. But enough that my kids can earn some bucks from the neighbors and have a good sled ride down the nearby hills.
Political Movements
Control of the Pennsylvania House is still undecided.
And from the Hmm-Then Sports Desk …
Let’s start with the good stuff. On Friday night, the Sixers were in San Antonio to play the Spurs, who I’m sure are very nice but don’t exactly field a host of familiar names. We, on the other hand …
Still, said familiar names got off to a sluggish start and didn’t score until two minutes in. But they settled in: With three and a half minutes left in the first, they took the lead — for a hot minute. On the ol’ seesaw!
All right then! A nice relaxing game for a change. Thanks, guys! Now on to the bad stuff. On Sunday night, the Sixers traveled to Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. It was the usual suspects for starters: Harden, Embiid, Tucker, Harris, Melton. A good sign, right?
The Sixers game was running parallel to Temple’s (14-10) rematch against number three Houston (22-2), and the Sixers’ early lead left plenty of leisure to click over and check that score.
76ers are up by 19 with only around 10 min of game time played… wow #76ers#Knicks
But the Sixers got their act together in the third — for a change — with an 8-0 run. And then the turnovers began.
@sixers are keeping the @nyknicks in the ballgame with the turnovers, four of them from @JoelEmbiid. @sixers still hold the lead over the @nyknicks 66-63 with 6:29 left in the third quarter.
Country music has been called “the white man’s blues” for two reasons: the blues had a huge impact on the genre, and it’s been dominated by white performers. However, there are many great black country singers who bring soul into the country music world.
Find out all about them on our list of the best black country music singers.
The Top 15 Black Country Singers
15. DeFord Bailey
Though not among the black country singers, DeFord Bailey is one of the first legendary musicians to grace the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, paving the way for the rest of the black country music singers on our list.
His career spanning from the early 1920s until 1941, Bailey was one of the very first performers ever to be announced on Nashville’s biggest radio station, WSM’s Grand Ole Opry.
He was also the first black performer to ever appear on the show and was the first musician to have his music recorded in Nashville.
The harmonica legend was the first black country singer to be inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Known as the “Harmonica Wizard,” the path he blazed is still remembered today.
Related: The 15 Best Male Country Singers of All Time: A Definitive List
14. Coffey Anderson
Coffey Anderson appeared briefly as a contestant in season 2 of American Idol and the sixth season of Nashville Star but is best known for his YouTube videos, which feature both original songs and cover performances.
He signed his first record deal with Dream Records in April 2010 and subsequently released his self-titled album Coffey Anderson in September of that same year.
The album made it on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart and featured singles such as “You Are All I’m After,” “Seek Your Face,” and “Sunshine.”
13. Cleveland Francis
Did anyone else’s heart skip a beat when they heard Cleveland Francis sing “Love Light” for the first time? Good thing he’s not just a singer-songwriter but a cardiologist to boot.
Francis recorded nine albums throughout his career, which began in the 1960s.
His singles have charted four times on the Billboard Hot Country Songs Chart, his most successful being “You Do My Heart Good” in 1992.
He seemingly disappeared from the music world for many years after returning to medicine but came back into the spotlight in 2022, releasing a remastered reissue of “Follow Me,” a folk album that he self-released in 1970.
12. Lesley Riddle
Some might ask: who are old African-American country singers? One of the best is Lesley Riddle.
Lesley Riddle first picked up a guitar in the late 20s, developing and mastering an original picking and slide technique that attracted other musicians whom he soon began collaborating with.
Although Riddle has several studio recordings under his belt, he is best known for his association with the Carter Family.
Riddle first met A.P. Carter in December of 1928, and the two soon ventured out on trips together to gather songs. While Carter worked on the lyrics, Riddle’s ability to memorize the melody got him dubbed the “human tape recorder.”
Examples of this collaboration include the Carter Family’s “Cannonball Blues” and “Lonesome For You.”
11. Brittney Spencer
One of the more recent black country singers to grace our list, Brittney Spencer has not wasted time since first coming onto the scene in 2020 after a video of her covering The Highwomen went viral.
She has since released her first E.P., Compassion, as well as multiple singles, most popularly 2021’s “Sober & Skinny.”
Her fame has only continued to grow as she’s graced the stage of the Country Music Association Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and more.
In November 2022, she signed with Elektra Records, making her one of the up-and-coming black country singers of 2023.
Related: The Best 15 Female Country Singers of All Time: Who Made the List?
10. Petrella Ann Bonner
“The first lady of country soul,” Petrella Ann Bonner has been a part of the country music scene since the mid-1980s.
She has recorded eight studio albums, with several singles appearing on the Top 100 Country Singles charts.
Bonner is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Association International and was named “Songwriter of the Year” by the Tennessee Songwriters Association in 1994 for her song “Living on a Shoestring.”
9. Chapel Hart
America fell in love with sisters Danica and Devynn Hart and their cousin Trea Swindle, aka Chapel Hart, when they graced the America’s Got Talent stage with their original song, “You Can Have Him Jolene,” a unique twist on the Dolly Parton classic.
The performance earned them a group Golden Buzzer from host Terry Crews and the AGT judges.
Although they ultimately finished in fifth place, they have since made their debut at the Grand Ole Opry and are featured on fellow black country music singer Darius Rucker’s single “Ol’ Church Hymn,” released in late 2022.
8. Rhiannon Giddens
Is there anything Rhiannon Giddens can’t do? As a founding member of the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops, she keeps busy as the lead singer, fiddle player, and banjo player.
She has also released two solo albums, Tomorrow is My Turn and Freedom Highway, and two collaborative albums with Francesco Turrisi, There is No Other and They’re Calling Me Home.
Related: The 50 Best Country Songs from Jimmie Rodgers to Morgan Wallen
7. Ray Charles
Although he’s known as the pioneer of soul music, you can’t deny Ray Charles’ contributions to the world of country music, particularly with his 1962 album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and its sequel released the same year.
Country living legend Willie Nelson has noted how Charles’ country albums “kicked country music forward 50 years” because of the latter’s coverings of Don Gibson and Hank Williams, introducing a whole new generation of fans to the legendary country crooners.
6. Jimmie Allen
Jimmie Allen is another up-and-coming black country music singer, having first appeared on the scene in 2017.
Signed to Stoney Creek, an imprint of Broken Bow Records, he has released multiple singles and three studio albums under the label.
Has a black singer ever won a CMA Award? Yes, in fact.
In 2021, Allen was awarded the Country Music Association Award for New Artist of the Year, only the second Black country singer to do.
5. Cowboy Troy
When it comes to the country-rap world, Cowboy Troy dominates.
He has recorded seven studio albums and charted twice on the Billboard country singles charts with “Loco Motive” in 2005 and “Black in the Saddle” in 2007.
Over the years, he’s been part of several collaborations with fellow country artists, including Big & Rich and Sarah Buxton.
4. Mickey Guyton
Guyton moved to Nashville in 2011 after being introduced to industry professionals Gary Borman and Steve Moir.
Soon after, she was signed to UMG’s Capitol Records Nashville, making her the only female black country artist to be signed to a top record label.
After doing “Nashville the Nashville way,” in 2019 she began writing music that told the story of her struggles as a black woman, her most well-known being “Black Like Me,” released in 2020.
Guyton performed the single at the Academy of Country Music Awards, the first female black country singer to ever perform during the show.
She reached yet another first when she became the first black woman to host the award show when she co-hosted with Keith Urban in 2021.
Related: The 21 Best Drinking Songs to Raise Your Glass To
3. Kane Brown
Kane Brown first began getting noticed in 2014 with his viral videos covering several artists, including Alan Jackson and George Strait.
He subsequently signed with the Zone 4 in 2014, releasing a few singles throughout that time. He then signed with Sony Music Nashville in January 2016.
Kane released his debut full-length album, Kane Brown, in December of that year, which opened at No. 10 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
His second single from the album, “What Ifs,” a duet with fellow country singer Lauren Alaina, has been certified platinum five times by the RIAA.
Brown has since released two more studio albums, Experiment and Different Man, the former becoming his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.
In 2021, he became the first black country singer ever to win Video of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for his single “Worldwide Beautiful.”
2. Darius Rucker
Darius Rucker broke into music as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, but when he left to pursue a solo career, country music is where he turned.
Rucker signed to Capitol Nashville in 2008 and has since released five studio albums on the label.
He found success quickly with his first single, “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” which reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart. It was only the second time a black country artist reached that feat since Charley Pride in 1983.
In 2009, he became the first black country singer to win the Country Music Association’s New Artist of the Year Award.
In 2012, he became the third black country singer to be inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry, following in the footsteps of DeFord Bailey and Charley Pride.
Since his first album, Rucker has consistently released No. 1 singles and is set to release his sixth studio album later this year.
Darius Rucker is definitely one of the black country singers of 2023 who isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Related: Garth Brooks Net Worth: How Did the Legendary Country Artist Make His Millions?
1. Charley Pride
Who is the most popular black country singer? That’d be Charley Pride.
The top black country music singer of all time, Pride was the first black country music singer to make it to the big time.
Pride’s biggest success came in the mid-1970s, during which time he was the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis.
Throughout his career, Pride had 52 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, with 30 of them reaching No. 1. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner and is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry.
Pride’s most well-known tune,\ “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’” was released in 1971. It sold a million copies and was No. 1 on the country charts for five weeks straight.
It became a crossover hit, peaking at No. 21 on the pop Top 40 chart and No. 10 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
The year of its release, Pride was honored with the Country Music Association’s highest honor, Entertainer of the Year, as well as the Male Vocalist of the Year Award in 1971 and 1972.
In 2020, he was awarded the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the 46th annual CMA Awards, performing his signature hit. It would be his last performance as he passed away from complications caused by COVID-19 on Dec. 12, 2020.
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“When I sit and play on this piano beside the window, I feel inspired and begin to compose my own music because it makes me feel more creative.”
It is not every day that an eleven-year-old boy says he has learned how to be patient; Justin Toutinji may just be an exception to that.
Toutinji’s family recently moved to Doha. In a country where he knew nobody, Justin found solace in music – and especially in playing the piano.
“I feel that music calms you down. Even if you mess up, you can redo it. The sounds encourage me to keep going, to never stop believing in myself and giving up. Playing the piano teaches me patience, and it allows me to express myself as I am,” Toutinji told Doha News.
After starting piano lessons at Yamaha Music School (YMS), the young student realized that his new home might not be so lonely after all. The school follows the Yamaha Music Education System, which consists of a 10-year structured curriculum aimed at preschool and school-aged children. It helps them express their creativity through performance and composition, all while allowing them to interact in a fun and collaborative environment.
A home made of musical strings
Parents often have an idea of what they’d like for their child to do when they grow up – and being a musician does not usually cut, compared to other occupations. Toutinji’s mother, Lama Zaarour, believes that watching her son play the piano, and the passion he’s developed for it, is also teaching her to adapt to her son’s needs.
“Sometimes, we have this perfect plan and vision set for our kids and their future, however, at the end of the day, what matters is observing what they are into and what they like, which might be completely different than what you have had in mind for them.”
Zaarour enrolled her son in piano classes at YMS after she saw his interest and eagerness. He’d started learning and playing off YouTube and TikTok tutorials whenever he’d come across a piano in public.
“When I saw the interest that Justin had in playing the piano, we started asking around about schools that offer classes. YMS was recommended as one of the best places in the country for teaching the piano and other musical instruments. We proceeded with the enrollment and liked it,” Zaarour told Doha News.
While playing music comes as a source of comfort for some, others grow and develop a love for it after being introduced to it by a role model figure.
To Viviana Honein, that figure was her father. Now eleven years old, Honein enrolled in piano classes at YMS four years ago, when she was just seven years old.
After going to school for four years, Honein feels that she has found a home there. “I always brag about how I go to YMS and how nice it is. I would surely recommend it to others.”
Artistic freedom
The students at YMS enjoy ample freedom when it comes to their musical expressions and preferable ways of practicing. The school understands that in some cases children might not have a piano at home for them to practice on, so they allow them to practice in their own time using the school’s instruments.
[A student playing in the Yamaha studio]
“Until we are sure of Justin’s will to pursue a more advanced journey in playing piano, YMS lets us come in and practice whenever the classes are available,” said Zaarour.
The curriculum at Yamaha Music School inspires students to develop their general musical skills through five major stages: listening, singing, playing, reading, and creating. This gives students the space to grow and express their true selves.
The school’s approach to artistic freedom and expression is no whimsical decision based on the teacher, but a deliberate policy focused on nurturing the student’s passion for music. Gabriel Alejandro, a Cuban instructor at YMS, started his music journey at the ripe age of 10 years old and explained to Doha News the reason behind his teaching techniques.
“I love to give my students the freedom of expressing music however they want and not how I prefer, which was the opposite of what I had learned as a student myself,” said Alejandro, who delved into the field of musical education to teach his passion the way he would’ve wanted to be taught when he was younger.
“I’ve always wanted to play “Für Elise” perfectly on the piano because my father loved this specific piece of music,” Honein told Doha News.
The 25th Bagatelle in one of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most well-known works is “Für Elise” in a minor for solo piano. It was not released during his lifetime as it was only discovered 40 years after he passed away.
Never too late to learn
While many people start learning young, the famous adage of it which is never being too late rings true for those who were not afforded the opportunity at a young age.
Alejandro recalled a 70-year-old student he had taught two years ago. “I remember when he asked me if it was too late for him to learn, as he had just retired from being a full-time doctor. However, he expressed that he wanted to be a musician all his life, and only now he had the time for it.”
He attended the school for two months, and he enjoyed learning and chasing the dream of his younger self. Alejandro watched him grow and develop with pleasure.
“I find that you can learn music at any age. It’s the same as learning any new skill. You don’t have to become a professional, but you can simply play your favorite tunes at home or even create your own songs,” Alejandro said.
With centers in over 40 countries, the Yamaha Music School was launched at the Music Square at Fifty One East, Lagoona Mall in October 2013. The full-fledged learning experience engages not only the children in class but also encourages interaction with their parents beyond it.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A parents’ plea for justice lives on nearly a year after their son, Herman Whitfield III, died after being stunned and handcuffed by Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
His parents are standing up for their son, an accomplished musician.
Whitfield’s mother, Gladys Whitfield, said police lost sight of her son’s humanity when they responded to the family home in April. His parents say, even though it’s hard to talk about their son in the past tense, they are proud to share some of his humanity.
There’s an uncomfortable quiet in the Whitfield home, but the silence of grief is extremely loud.
His father, Herman Whitfield II, said, “He used to serenade me on the piano all the time. He like to play different pieces and songs for me.”
Nearly 10 months have inched by since their son died, after police handcuffed him and used a stun gun on him. The sting of their loss hasn’t waned.
Glady Whitfield said, “Who knows what the limits would have been. He was preparing himself, and he was still studying. It also taken a music composition course.”
It’s been a trying journey but one the Whitfields boldly take. But, the love and memories they hold dear give them the fuel to push on. Rallying, fighting for justice, and now proudly sharing who they call “Tres” was. “He was just an amazing young man, and I am going to miss him.”
Glady Whitfield says she notice something in her son at 4 years old. His first piano teacher noticed it, too; he had a gift. From there, he evolved into a skilled musician, all before finishing high school. He won local and national Prelude music awards in composition and piano, and won multiple NAACP Act-So awards.
“It feels good that his music is out there. And people seem to appreciate it,” said Gladys Whitfield. “They’ve sent us lots of cards, and just little words of encouragement to say how much he left for the world.”
“I always told him he was gifted in the world is out there for him. Just go forward,” said Glady Whitfield.
Whitfield III’s accomplishments meant nothing, his parents say, to the police who responded to the family home April 25, 2022. Herman Whitfield II says his son had been disoriented. He’d previously had smaller issues, but nothing like this. Fearing a mental crisis, his parents called for an ambulance. Instead, police showed up. His mother asked early on, “They’re not going to kill him, are they?’”
Glady Whitfield now criticizes “the haste at which they acted.
“There was no emergency that called for them to act so quickly,” she said.
The Whitfields say their son was calmly moving through the home, but, as more officers entered, his anxiety spiked. The parents say they wished police had discussed with them possible actions, adding they didn’t realize he’d been hit by a stun gun until he was down.
“The officer that tased him, Stephen Sanchez. He was in the house for 1-1/2, two minutes, and he tased him,” Whitfield II said.
“I asked her (a responding police officer) more than once, ‘He’s not moving,’ and she said, ‘He’s OK. We only tased him a little bit.’ I didn’t know they had tased him.”
They say, while their son lie naked face down and cuffed, there was a loss in humanity. “When asked the other should we turn him over. And what was really heartbreaking he asked him should we turn him over? He said no. I don’t want him to get up. To me that was really terrible. Well, he got his wish. Yeah, he didn’t get up.”
The Whitfields say their son was a gentle soul, and the force he felt at the end is a wound that’ll never heal. But what he’s left behind for them and others, for now, will serve as a salve. “I’m hoping other people will inquire about his music and want to play it,” Gladys Whitfield said.
As the parents wait for the legal process to run its course, they’d like to work on establishing a scholarship in his memory.
In a recent interview, the co-composer for Forspoken talked about creating the soundtrack and perfecting the protagonist’s voice for the game. Garry Schyman, who composed the soundtrack for Square Enix’s latest fantasy tale alongside Bear McCreary, elaborated on the decisions and the influences that inspired him to create the fantastical melodies for Forspoken, citing his love for melodies as the cornerstone of his music.
Officially announced back in March 2021, Forspoken had a world of hype and anticipation behind it as players were intrigued by the flashy combat, seamless magic-infused parkour, and stunning visuals of the world of Althia. While the game’s reception has been lukewarm, players and critics have praised certain key features of the game. Forspoken‘s music direction is certainly one of those aspects where the game truly manages to deliver on the promise. As the game centers around a young woman who gets transported from New York City to a world of magic, the music in Forspoken also matches the tone in tandem.
RELATED: Forspoken Is Getting Review Bombed
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Garry Schyman explained in detail, the process of creating Forspoken‘s soundtrack and how he visualizes the music in video games. Schyman explains how the entertainment industry as a whole is generally following the trend of using ambient soundtracks as scores. He goes on to clarify that Luminous Productions wanted to deviate from the trend and go for traditional fantasy scores but allowed the composers to influence the music as they saw fit. Schyman talks about how he wanted a sense of mystery to permeate the music during action and combat. He focuses on the themes of Frey and Cipal, The Last Bastion. Cipal’s theme is very traditionally fantastical and mystical, featuring a lot of long musical statements accompanied by harps.
Garry Schyman speaks enthusiastically about Frey’s theme. Frey is a New Yorker who gets transported to a world of magic and has to make every effort to return home to her time and space, and her theme reflects her struggle. Schyman talks about experimenting with hip-hop beats and traditional orchestral scores to match the journey of the protagonist. He goes on to elaborate on how the vocalist India Carney, through her singing became a part of Frey’s voice just as much as Ella Balinsky. According to Schyman, both he and McCreary felt that India’s vocals were perfect for Frey, and it was almost intuitive to let her musical influences flow through the music.
Music in video games has become almost as important as narrative and gameplay. It is quite satisfying to hear a composer speak so passionately about their work, considering the dire situations Mick Gordon went through. With Forspoken‘s ending teasing a potential sequel and a DLC on the horizon, fans can only hope that both Garry Schyman and Bear McCreary can return to the franchise and bless fans with their stellar work.
Forspoken is now available for PC and PS5.
More: Forspoken: What Caused the War Between Rheddig and Athia
We’re always highlighting great new music added to the Double J playlist.
New to Double J? Here’s how you can tune in, no matter where you are.
Break out the glitter ball because Jake Shears is ready to dazzle.
The Scissor Sisters frontman is releasing his second solo album later this year, it’s called Last Man Dancing and he describes it as the “ultimate house party.”
“Electro-pop, tech-house, poppers-fueled disco, it’s MY afters and YOU just got the address,” he says. “We can be as loud and late as we want.” Sounds good, right?
Well, we already have an invitation in the form of lead single ‘Too Much Music’. It’s a big disco-pop banger, complete with a rubbery bassline, string stabs, a floor-filling groove and a Broadway-scale choir. And as you might expect, that song title is a bait-and-switch.
‘There can never be too much music for me‘ Shears sings, elongating that ‘be’ with his melismatic falsetto.
It’s a big, glamorous blockbuster of a track that fits snugly in step with the current disco revival (think Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Jessie Ware, our own Kylie Minogue) and doubles as a homage to the trailblazers of the ’70s and ’80s.
Speaking of Kylie, she’s one of several big names on the guestlist for Shears’ new album.
Alongside Ms. Minogue, you’ll hear from New Orleans’ Queen of Bounce Big Freedia (fresh from being sampled on Beyoncé’s ‘BREAK MY SOUL’), Amber Martin, Le Chev as well as cameos from Iggy Pop and Jane Fonda.
We’re anticipating some kind of spoken word segues or skits, with Shears saying the follow-up to his 2018 self-titled album has a bit of a narrative concept.
“Presented in two distinct halves, it chronicles a night’s journey from sing-along dance anthems into the deeper, darker corners of my living room.”
We’re also enjoying the album cover, ‘cos who doesn’t enjoy a visual gag.
Last Man Dancing is out Friday 2 June.
Check out Double J’s Best New Music playlists on Spotify and Apple Music for more great new tunes.
Winners of the 2023 Grammy Awards were announced Sunday
At last night’s Grammy Awards, Billy Crystal spoke of the award ceremony many years ago when he met Vladimir Horowitz, and after a short pause in the silence that followed, he told the audience, “Google him!”
Yes, classical music fan(atic)s are not the primary audience for the Grammys, but they must have responded to this news from the 2023 ceremony:
Six decades after he won the first of his 31 Grammy Awards from 74 nominations, Georg Solti has lost his improbable awards leadership in a race with pop artists who have otherwise always dominated this arena. Solti died in 1997.
Until now, second place was shared by Beyoncé and Quincy Jones, with 28 awards each, followed by Alison Krauss and Chick Corea, with 27.
Beyoncé’s 2022 album Renaissance
Long thwarted by the “Beyoncé paradox,” the singer led this year’s field with nine nominations, the latest of 88 during her career. She needed to win only four to become the most-awarded musician in Grammys history. Given the consensus about her album Renaissance, which was the vehicle for eight of her nine nominations, she seemed likely to take the record, but it was still a matter of suspense if she could do it.
She did, with Best Dance/Electronic Recording — “Break My Soul,” Best Dance/Electronic Music Album — Renaissance, Best Traditional R&B Performance — “Plastic Off the Sofa,” and Best R&B Song — “Cuff It.”
Hungarian British conductor Solti was music director of the Chicago Symphony for two decades and produced more than 250 recordings. One of his works, a complete set of Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen, published between 1958 and 1965, has been cited by critics and many publications as the greatest recording ever made.
In her acceptance speech, Beyoncé said, “I’m trying not to be too emotional. I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God.
“I’d like to thank my Uncle Johnny, who’s not here. But he’s here in spirit. I’d like to thank my parents — my father, my mother, for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three children who are at home watching.”
Among highlights in the Grammys’ history, the first awards in 1959 went to a classy group: Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Van Cliburn. This year’s 91 Grammys were handed out at a preshow event in Los Angeles and at the main ceremony at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday night.
The top award, Album of the Year, went to Harry Styles for his Harry’s House, which also won Best Pop Vocal Album.
First lady Jill Biden presented a new award, Best Song for Social Change, to the imprisoned Iranian musician Shervin Hajipour for his song “Baraye.” He wrote the song in support of last fall’s protests there led by women and young people against government oppression. The video was viewed 40 million times on social media in recent weeks.
Biden also presented the Grammy for Song of the Year to Bonnie Raitt for “Just Like That.” The 2023 Grammies also gave the rare EGOT status — an acronym for someone who’s picked up Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards — to actress Viola Davis.
“It has just been such a journey,” Davis, 57, said of her memoir Finding Me as she accepted the Grammy for best Audiobook, Narration & Storytelling Recording.
Both Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song went to Brandi Carlile for “Broken Horses.” Ozzy Osbourne won Best Metal Performance for “Degradation Rules” (featuring Tony Iommi) and Best Rock Album for Patient Number 9.
Winners in the classical music categories:
Time for Three’s Letters for the Future took home two awards
Best Engineered Album, Classical
Bates: Philharmonia Fantastique — The Making of the Orchestra, Edwin Outwater (conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Producer of the Year, Classical Judith Sherman
Best Orchestral Performance Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, Valerie Coleman, Michael Repper (conductor), New York Youth Symphony
Best Opera Recording Blanchard: Fire Shut Up in My Bones, Yannick Nézet-Séguin (conductor); Angel Blue, Will Liverman, Latonia Moore, and Walter Russell III (soloists); David Frost (producer); Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Best Choral Performance Born, Donald Nally (conductor); Dominic German, Maren Montalbano, Rebecca Myers, and James Reese (soloists); The Crossing
Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance Shaw: Evergreen, Attacca Quartet
Best Classical Instrumental Solo Letters for the Future, Time for Three, Xian Zhang (conductor), The Philadelphia Orchestra
Best Classical Solo Vocal Album Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene, Renée Fleming (soloist), Yannick Nézet-Séguin (pianist)
Best Classical Compendium An Adoption Story, Kitt Wakeley (composer); Starr Parodi (pianist); Jeff Fair, Starr Parodi, and Kitt Wakeley (producers); London Symphony Orchestra
Best Contemporary Classical Composition Contact, Kevin Puts (composer), performed by Time for Three, Xian Zhang (conductor), and The Philadelphia Orchestra
Best Music Film Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story, Various artists; Frank Marshall and Ryan Suffern (video directors); Frank Marshall, Sean Stuart, and Ryan Suffern (video producers
Hailing from Dripping Springs, TX, lead vocalist Mark Wystrach fronts Midland’s rich sound, rounded out with lead guitarist/vocalist Jess Carson and bass player/vocalist Cameron Duddy. Rooted in tradition in both sound and style, the trio initially garnered attention by playing clubs in the region. Their critically acclaimed sophomore album Let It Roll (Big Machine Records) earned the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Top Country Album Sales chart upon release, receiving praise from outlets such as Rolling Stone, Variety, NPR, and Entertainment Weekly, among others.
Wystrach, Carson, and Duddy all played an integral role in writing the 14-track album with Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. The album was produced by Dann Huff, McAnally, and Osborne and was a follow-up to the critically acclaimed, gold-certified debut album, On The Rocks (Big Machine Records).
Launching in 2017 with rave reviews, On The Rocks was declared “The Year’s Best Country Album” by the Washington Post. Their 2x Platinum-certified chart-topping debut “Drinkin’ Problem,” which offers an intentional nod to Country music reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s, earned the band their first GRAMMY® Awards nominations for Best Country Song and Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Midland was also named New Vocal Group of the Year at the 2018 ACM Awards and was nominated for Vocal Group of the Year at the 2020 CMA Awards.
Born in Hollis, Queens, he debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single “Holla Holla.” From 1999 to 2005, Ja Rule had several hits that made the top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, including “Between Me and You” with Christina Milian, “I’m Real (Murder Remix) with Jennifer Lopez, “Always on Time” with Ashanti, “Mesmerize” also with Ashanti, and “Wonderful” with R. Kelly and Ashanti. During the 2000s, Ja Rule was signed to Inc. Records, which was formerly known as Murder Inc. and was led by Irv Gotti. Ja Rule has sold over 30 million records worldwide and was the best-selling rapper in 2001.
Ashanti
Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, actor, and author burst onto the music scene with her smash hit, self-titled album, Ashanti. It landed the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and R&B album charts, selling a whopping 504,593 units in its first week. This set a SoundScan record as the most albums sold by any debut female artist in the chart’s history and granted her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Throughout her 20-year career, Ashanti has released six studio albums and received several illustrious rewards, including eight Billboard Awards, a Grammy, two American Music Awards, two Soul Train Awards, and six ASCAP Awards. she has reigned at the top as one of Billboard’s “Top Females of the Decade from 2000-2010” and continues to break Billboard records having a Hot 100 entry every decade in the 2000s, 2010s, & 2020s.
Pre-sale tickets for both shows go on sale Wednesday, Feb. 8, at 10 a.m. Stay tuned to Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel’s Facebook page for a special access code.
All other tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m.
Upcoming Entertainment
Chris Janson – March 24 The Clairvoyants – April 8 Midland – June 2 Lee Brice – June 23 Ja Rule & Ashanti – July 7
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