Some of the most captivating moments of UK chanteuse Anna Calvi’s live experience are when she pays homage to her musical influences. Her powerful re-workings of other artists’ songs are always striking and unforgettable. Most recently she’s been performing a rousing cover of TV On The Radio’s “Wolf Like Me” – a song that she says resonated with her the very first time she heard it.
“I love the desperation in this song- the original by TV On The Radio is relentless, and terrifying,” she writes. “I find the idea of losing control of oneself very provocative, and the way this idea is explored in “Wolf like Me” (the protagonist is turning into a werewolf) is humorous but dangerously effective. In my version I wanted to imagine the change is almost happening in slow motion – that there is no fight anymore, but a dreamlike embrace of the inevitable. I wanted the song to feel like a hypnotic prayer. I chose to omit the last verse of the original, and instead allow the guitar to take over, at the point where all control is lost!”
This performance of “Wolf Like Me” was recorded at Ancienne Belgique in Brussels in October, as part of Calvi’s European tour. She’s in Canada and the U.S. this month to finish up a string of dates. Find more info at annacalvi.com.
French duo Housse de Racket are taking their synth-pop sounds left of the Atlantic this fall with the release of their sophomore album, “Alesia,” and a tour with fellow Frenchmen, pop trio Yelle. De Racket, which translates in English to ‘tennis racket cover,’ are Victor Le Masne and Pierre Leroux, two highly sought-after musicians who have worked with the likes of Chilly Gonzales, Phoenix, and Air. Now, they’ve teamed up with French super-producer, Phillipe Zdar (Cassius, Phoenix, The Rapture) to create a collection of eleven electro-pop songs in the vein of the bands’ own wide range of musical influences, from Ennio Morricone to David Bowie. It’s been a hit in Europe and it’s sure to win over audiences here as well. Check out the music video for the song “Chateau,” off the band’s album “Alesia,” below:
When we first met Lissy Trullie some three years ago, she was the epitome of the New York “it” girl: part-time musician, part-time DJ, occasional fashion model and full-time muse. Whether she was spinning at a party, tearing up the stage or helping her friends design a clothing line, Trullie’s effortless cool and authenticity was evident to each audience. Now, it’s time for her to take center stage.
Trullie announced this week that she’ll be releasing her self-titled album on March 6th 2012. Produced by John Hill (Santigold, M.I.A., Shakira) and David Sitek (TV On the Radios, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Liars), “Lissy Trullie” is the follow up to her critically acclaimed debut EP “Self-Taught Learner.” The first single, “Madeleine,” is a lush and arresting introduction to the album, which fuses a brisk punk foundation with memorable pop choruses that are at once dark and swirling. Trullie’s voice and presence is commanding throughout; with her elastic singing, she comes across at times like a modern-day Chrissie Hynde. Expect to see a lot more of Trullie in the coming months as she promotes the new disc. In the meantime, listen to “Madeleine” below:
Rachel Yamagata is one of our favorite artists, and by that, we mean we’ve bought (multiple) copies of all her albums, been to a number of her concerts and — in the ultimate modern day act of fandom — we’re totally following her on Twitter. So imagine our thrill when we recently got to photograph and interview Rachel for our upcoming issue of Corduroy.
Rachel’s metaphorically locked herself away from the world for the past few years to write and record some deeply personal songs, the result of which is seen and heard in “Chesapeake” – her first studio album in three years. The album, which came out last month, was released through her own Frakenfish Records and features an eclectic collection of songs projecting Yamagata’s optimism and hopefulness, while showcasing her sultry and smoky voice, rich, layered harmonies, striking ballads and soulful grooves.
Her latest video off of “Chesapeake” is for the song, “Even If I Don’t,” and it’s a wonderfully weird and magical mini-movie, whose eerie childish qualities belie the unflinchingly real and compelling lyrics of the song. Check out the video below and look out for our interview with Rachel Yamagata in Issue 10 of Corduroy, coming soon.
We are approaching the end of October and another Fashion Week has come and gone. One of the annual institutions marking the end of a long week of fashion shows, air kissing and killer clothing is Operanation; an annual fundraising event benefiting the Canadian Opera Company’s Ensemble Studio. Now in its eighth year, the directive this year was the “Muse” in all its incarnations. Featuring custom creations from four of Toronto’s most promising design talents and a headlining performance from Rufus Wainwright, the night was certainly the perfect exclamation mark to another season of Toronto Fashion Week.
At the Four Season Centre in downtown Toronto, designers Ashley Rowe, Joeffer Caoc, Calla, and Arthur Mendoca all showcased their custom creations for the event, which showcased their interpretation of a “Muse.” Rowe’s modified trench-coat creation merged mystery with the clean effortlessness of an all-white ensemble. Caoc chose to take a more poignant route, with his printed shift dress serving as the perfect addition to the 20s flapper girl wardrobe we saw all over the international runways this season. Calla offered up a light and airy take on the classic wrap dress. And we loved Mendoca’s eggplant-hued interpretation of an old Hollywood evening gown.
The night came to a close with a performance by pop-dance group Austra, accompanied by COC stars soprano Ambur Braid and baritone Adrian Kramer. Some of Toronto’s scene fixtures including Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew (Broken Social Scene), Jimmy Shaw (Metric), as well as Liam O’Neil and Dave Hamelin (The Stills) enjoyed the clashing sounds, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and delicious cocktails. But the night belonged to Wainwright and the more than 1000 guests in attendance, whose generous donations helped the Opera Company raise more than $100,000. The power of a muse is rooted in the ability to inspire, in that respect, Operanation was the ultimate muse that night.
Those who have followed Esteban Cortazar’s still-burgeoning career knows that the fashion wunderkind and... Read More...
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