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Jean Graham’s meaning of soul

January 21, 2009 Columns No Comments

Jean Graham is a DJ, Promoter and Manager, and has written for places of brilliance including Artrocker, The Guardian, and now Muso’s Guide. Her DJ sets take in psychodelia, trip-hop, ska, electro and indie, and she’s currently managing a hot new band called Dynamo Garage, described by XFM’s John Kennedy as “definitely worth a listen”. We’d described them with far more useful words, in a form similar to “a little bit like how you’d imagine a hybrid of The National, Beirut and At The Drive-In to sound”.

 

 

 

 
 

 

Anyhow here’s what Jean had to say on soul… … Continue Reading

Graeme from Dead Pixels’ meaning of soul

January 19, 2009 Columns No Comments

Graeme is the producer and lead guitarist of yet another band we love and have managed to acquire an opinion from – this time, it’s Dead Pixels. We’d say their music has a heart made from Robert Smith’s regurgitated candy floss, so watch out 2009 because they’ll be coming for you…

Here’s what Graeme had to say: … Continue Reading

Ten Kens’ Dan Workman’s meaning of soul

January 16, 2009 Columns No Comments

We like Ten Kens, so were understandably thrilled to hear what frontman Dan Workman had to say on soul. We’ve raved about this Toronto band’s live show Ten Kens, so were understandably thrilled to hear what frontman Dan Workman had to say on soul. We’ve raved about this Toronto band’s live show here, and done similar about their album here. Here’s what the singer had to offer to this melting pot:

… Continue Reading

Catherine Wilson’s meaning of soul

January 14, 2009 Columns No Comments

For me, soul lies solely (erk) within the human voice. Yes, musical instruments all have their own timbres, individual attributes that make you say, yeah, that’s a violin, rather than a trumpet. But it’s more difficult to assign human emotion to a bit of wood or a tube of brass, no matter how expressively it’s played. Soul is the subtle sadness in Smokey Robinson’s voice as he sings ‘Tracks Of My Tears’, or the sheer force of emotion on Ray Lamontagne’s ‘Trouble’. Jeff Buckley is particularly masterful in the operatic vocal field, and there are scores of examples that highlight this. ‘Lover You Should’ve Come Over’ has a line that says “She’s a tear that hangs inside my soul forever”, and it kills me every time I hear it. … Continue Reading

Ava Leigh’s meaning of soul

January 9, 2009 Columns 1 Comment

Set to take 2009 by storm the way that Adele and Duffy hit 2008, Ava Leigh warbles admirably over some damned enticing reggae-lite. Born in Chester, she recorded her debut album Rollin’ in Jamaica with some hot names including Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare – a far cry from her days winning a talent contest in Spain singing an Eternal song… anyhow, here’s what Ava had to say on soul: … Continue Reading

The Revelations’ meaning of soul

January 7, 2009 Columns No Comments

The Revelations are Annika Magnberg, Sarah Vitorino and Louise Masters, hailing from Sweden, Portugal and the UK respectively. They’ve been described by Alan McGee (jack of all trades… master of at least some) as “ABBA meets Phil Spector”, and their music takes in the simplicity, brilliance and grace of ’60s girl-group glamour. Here’s their thoughts behind music…

… Continue Reading

Natalie Shaw’s meaning of soul

January 5, 2009 Columns 1 Comment

Starting 2009 with all of the passion of 2008 and then some, take this series as your new year’s resolution; a move to think harder, do more, say more, and all the rest. For at 12 pm every week day for the next foreseeable future we’ll be giving you lucky readers the chance to get inside someone’s brain. Inside their brain specifically for the moment (and the indefinite period of time thereafter) they were asked the ultimate crux question, a question as intrinsic as the meaning of life: what is the meaning of soul? … Continue Reading

Meaning of soul – new for Muso’s Guide in 2009!

January 4, 2009 News No Comments

2008 was great or no-so-great, although don’t forget there’s still a few days wherein that could change. For us, it’s more likely the former – we’ve just discovered the local Pick & Save superstore on our desperate quest for a mango on Boxing Day, and as a result, the perils of bargainous multipacks of baklava, the joy of chili and lemon cassava sticks and the novel/exciting world of the okra. How very London.

In more musical news, we’re turning anachronistic Santa for you come January 5th. What’s happening on this day, I hear you wail? Well, it goes a little like this…

Music = fascinating. Thinking = great. Thinking about music = brilliant. Musing about thinking = even better.

Enticed but somewhat baffled? Allow us to elucidate further. It was a couple of summers ago when this writer started to drive herself a bit mental when pre-occupied with the state of the charts, the musical inclinations of Joe Bloggs, and why the world didn’t agree with her on some base level things. Some time later, she turned her thought processes into a piece for this here website. But still remaining a fascination for her, she continued to discuss her opinions on things originating from these pivots – and these sub-questions came to a head at a time akin to November 2008. This time, the focus was on soul.

What is soul? What the heck is it? How do you spot it? What does it mean? Where does it come from? When is it not there? Et al.

So she called on a few Bloody Interesting People and asked them what it meant. In no certain terms. She said to them, “hey guys, what does soul mean to you?” – or something of that ilk. She didn’t tell them how to reply, she just requested that they did. And by jove, they did!

Who are these people you talk of? (this is my favourite bit)

They include Rev. Vito Aiuto of The Welcome Wagon (yes, a real-life Reverend! produced by Sufjan Stevens nonetheless); members of Ten Kens, Vessels and Dead Pixels; some familiar Muso’s Guide writers; and some hotshot artists who we’re tipping for 2009 success, such as Ava Leigh and Julian Velard.

And how have they contributed? (this is a close second to my already-established favourite bit above)

Illustrations! Answers in the form of audio clips! Quasi-poetry! List-type things! Prose!

And when will I get to see this?

If you can contain yourself for a few more days, as we’ve suggested you should in the former of a teaser above, then it’ll be very useful for you to note that the fantastic series will begin on January 5th, like an delayed advent calendar for another world. And there’ll be a new response daily in our Columns section at 12 pm… Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next five weeks.

Now go have a run around the house to calm yourself down for the next few days, because this is a treat and a half!

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