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Schulich Release Radar: January ā€” May 2021

Releases from our talented community to add to your playlists

Lots of music on offer, with albums spanning multiple genres.Ā Explore the diversity and intersectionality of our Schulich community through music. Scroll down to read more!

Lavender People ā€“ Dolly BlondeĀ 
Released January 4, 2021Ā 

Album Cover for Lavender People: Dolly BlondeLavender People is a journey downĀ the Towerā€ÆArcanaĀ in processingĀ trauma and guilt through music.Ā The Tower Arcana, an iconic tarot card,Ā represents crisis, adversity andĀ revelation.Ā Dolly Blonde dives headfirst into the destruction of the Tower Arcana ā€”Ā whether it be pop, disco, or jazz-hybrid, each song is a confession andĀ absolution. With the help of someĀ amazing featuredĀ artists including fellow Schulich alumniĀ ø鱚²ŌĆ©±šĢż³Ū“Ē³ę“Ē²ŌĢż(µž²Ń³Ü²õā€™18),ĢżEdwin deĀ GoeijĀ (BMusā€™19) andĀ Conor NickersonĀ (BMusā€™19), Dolly Blonde sings of how community often raises us up, even in our darkest days. Lavender People was also funded by ā€Æ,Ā forĀ which Dolly BlondeĀ (Charles Lowe, BMusā€™21)Ā was selectedĀ in 2020.Ā 


Visions ā€“ “³±š²¹²Ō-²Ń¾±³¦³ó±š±ōĢż±Ź¾±±ō³¦Ā 
ReleasedĀ March 5,Ā 2021ā€Æā€Æ

Album Cover for Visions by Jean-Michel Pilc

Working in the liminal space between imagination and reality,Ā Schulich ProfessorĀ “³±š²¹²Ō-²Ń¾±³¦³ó±š±ōĢż±Ź¾±±ō³¦Ā creates an unforgettablyĀ beautifulĀ and nuancedĀ atmosphereĀ with his solo piano improvisationsĀ onĀ Visions.Ā "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,ā€ shares Pilc.Ā ā€œThe wordĀ ā€˜Visionsā€™Ā 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."Ā Let this Jazz EP transport you.


Imaginary Landscape ā€“ StefanĀ HussongĀ 
Released March 17,Ā 2021ā€Æā€ÆĀ 

Album Cover for Imaginary Landscape

German accordionist Stefan Hussong displays his mastery of contemporary works on his latest album. Out of several commissioned pieces, two are written by Ćå±±Ēæ¼é alumni and husband-and-wife composing duoĀ Hope LeeĀ (MMusā€™81) andĀ David EagleĀ (MMusā€™81). Leeā€™s work, "Imaginary Garden V" (2016), explores contrast through seven distinct scenarios illustrating her mastery of stylistic diversity. Eagleā€™s captivating "Refracted Tones"Ā (2016) employs a hallucinatory 24-tone octave that bends and warps the ears in his beautiful composition. Both pieces are sure to enthrall.Ā 


Intimate Impressions ā€“Ā AnalektaĀ 
Released March 26, 2021Ā 

Album Cover for Intimate Impressions for two guitars

A powerhouse duo composed of Steve CowanĀ (DMus'19), guitar instructor at Schulich, andĀ “”»å²¹³¾Ģż°ä¾±³¦³¦³ó¾±±ō±ō¾±³Ł³Ł¾±Ā (BMus'10), current doctoral student at Schulich, they use their impressive talents on classical guitar toĀ transposeĀ some of the greatestĀ worksĀ of the 20th Century includingĀ piecesĀ byĀ Debussy, Ravel, Jolivet,Ā MompouĀ andĀ Tailleferre. Exploring the stylistic differences of every composer as well as infusing the recording with their charm and lyricism,Ā Intimate ImpressionsĀ creates exactly what the title promises ā€” an intimate listening experience that sounds ā€” and feels ā€” fantastic.Ā 


Catharsis ā€“Ā GeneviĆØve SalamoneĀ 
ReleasedĀ May 28,Ā 2021Ā Ā 

Album Cover for Catharsis_GeneviĆØve SalamoneStemming from her journey in confronting PTSD after 15 years of childhood sexual abuse,Ā GeneviĆØve Salamoneā€™s (BMusā€™15) debut original album,Ā Catharsis, featuresĀ powerful violinĀ and synth instrumentals as well as work from SchulichĀ alumĀ Renee BrechtelĀ (BMusā€™16). 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.Ā 


Thatā€™s all for our Release Radar! Donā€™t forget ā€” if youā€™re part of the Schulich community and are looking forward toĀ a July,Ā August, or September, let us know to be featured in upcoming months'Ā Release Radars! Email us atĀ publicity.music [at] mcgill.ca

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