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موسيقي ليس لها طعم!

Mena Ezzat
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موسيقي ليس لها طعم!

أعلم أن الكثيرين قد يختلفون معي في تلك المقالة، والحقيقة هي ليست بهدف الترويج لنوع موسيقي معين أو حقبة زمنية معينة أو حتي بوضع رأي قاطع من وجهة نظري، لأني ممن يعتقدون أن تذوق الفن بصفة عامة هو أمر نسبي يختلف من شخص لآخر.

لاحظت أن نسبة كبيرة من الأصدقاء وبالطبع في من فوق سن الثلاثين بأنهم لا يميلون لما يعرض حالياً علي المنصات الحديثة. بالرغم من سهولة تواجدها والحصول عليها مقارنة بالخمسة عشر عام الماضية. علي سبيل المثال، في عام ٢٠٠٥  كان الموضوع اشبه بالمهمة المستحيلة لتنزيل أغاني جديدة، وذلك بالطبع لسوء سرعة الانترنت والأجهزة التي  
سوف تعتمد عليها لسماع تلك الموسيقي مثل الـ Walkman او الـ MP3 player وبالتاكيد الـ iPod لم أكن من المحظوظين بشرائه وقتها لغلو ثمنه مع العلم بأن مساحة التخزين به لم تكن كبيرة أيضاً بالإضافة إلى
العديد من الأسباب الأخرى.

فى حين تتطلب طبيعة عملي سماعي للعديد من الأغاني الجديدة أسبوعياً، مما قد يصل لأكثر من ٢٠٠ أغنية، مع العلم أنها متنوعة الأنماط ولا تندرج تحت لون موسيقي معين. ولكنى لاحظت بأن نادراً ما كنت أميل لأي منها، حيث كان من الوارد بأن يمر شهر كامل دون أن يلتصق لحن أغنية معينة بذهني مثلما كان يحدث مع أغلبية الأغاني القديمة. بالطبع، لن أنكر وجود العديد من الموهوبين منهم ولكن لم تنجح أياً من تلك الاغاني فى أن تجذب أذناى من النغمة الأولي، كما هو الحال حينما أستمع لفرق ما قبل الالفية أياً كان نوع الموسيقي المعزوفة.

الغريب أني لاحظت العديد من هم أصغر من سن الخمسة والعشرون، بأنهم يميلون لأغاني من التسعينيات وما قبلها أيضاً؛ لقد توقعت أن الموضوع يقتصر فقط علي من هم تخطوا سن معينة فيلجأون للحنين الي الماضي.   أما الآن أصبح كل شئ سهل، موسيقي وأفلام ومسلسلات متاحة علي منصات مختلفة ويمكن مشاهدتها علي أجهزة مختلفة وبأسعار زهيدة.

 وحتي طرق التسجيل لم تعد معقدة كما كان الحال من قبل، حيث تستطيع الآن تقوم بتسجيل الغناء والتكوين الموسيقي من منزلك، فقط نستعين بمهندس صوت محترف أثناء عمل المكس النهائي لمشروعك الغنائي، ولكن للأسف لا أجد أي طعم في تلك الموسيقي ولا أتذوقها أياً كان نوعها حتي ولو كان من المفضلين لي.

في الواقع ليس لدي إجابة معينة علي هذا الموضوع، فقط أحببت أن أعرضه لكم لأعرف اذا كانت المشكلة عندي فقط أم يوجد آخرون خارج دائرة الأصدقاء يواجهون نفس المشكلة….

وفي النهاية، ماذا لو اذا استمر الحال بلا تذوق فني؟!

هل سوف تؤثر علينا بشكل سلبي، أم أني فقط ابالغ؟!

شكراً علي القراءة وأتمني معرفة آراكم.

مراجعة كتابية: هاني نبيل

Right Back Again by Seanloui

Mariam ElKhatib
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Right Back Again by Seanloui

His songwriting has grown in high demand among LA and New York performers. As the year 2022 approaches, he is getting traction as a “talent to watch” in the music industry. Seanloui’s new single “Right Back Again” is a demonstration of his abilities to construct enticing melodies and develop them into a distinct sound, drawing inspiration from RnB and 80s Pop.

Already on the first listen, the mixing captured my attention. It’s a fun and intriguing mix of different eras of music, all tied together with masterful vocals and interesting transitions. The retro synth line almost reminded me of an 80s Michael Jackson record.  

The R&B aspects, as well as certain parts of that early 2000s pop/hip-hop sound, began to emerge on a second listen. It’s a well-crafted piece that sounds like a more mature and edgier 90s boy-band smash, complete with a stabbing synth keyboard that blends mature motifs with playful yet minimalistic production, resulting in a remarkably distinctive sound that almost feels like its own genre.

Edited by: Viola Karmy

Afterglow by De antiquis et novis

Nadine El Khatib
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Afterglow by De antiquis et novis

I’ll be reviewing De Antiquis et Novis’ new album, “Afterglow.”The genre of this album is electronic chillout music. After listening to this album once, I was very impressed at how calming and soothing it was. Despite not being an electronic music fan, this album brought calamity.

Hailing from Munich, Germany, De Antiquis et Novis has been around since 2020, releasing singles and albums and composing original electronic music, but I must say, “Afterglow” is not like any of their previous releases. It is much more buoyant than, say, their previous album, “Electronica”.

I think the overall theme for this album is sheer optimism. Songs are very exuberant, unlike previous releases.

My obvious favorite track, and the one that stands out the most, was “Afterglow.” It was 7 minutes of pure synth bliss. Absolutely perfect song for that scene in a movie when the main character’s life starts looking up.

Another favorite of mine is “Hang On to Your Dreams (Chillout Version).” Like its counterpart, it was very optimistic and positive. One of the tracks that weren’t necessarily my favorite would have to be “Bruises.” The melody was amazing, with jazz undertones, but the talking throughout the song was not necessary.

Overall, I think this album is now one of my favorite electronic albums. De Antiquis et Novis really outdid themselves with this album, even superseding their previous releases. I also love how they added edits and remixes of songs already on the album.

In conclusion, I think this album will really boost their career and will garner them even more views than the tens of thousands that they currently have.

Album: Desert Temple by Maury111

Mariam ElKhatib
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Album: Desert Temple by Maury111

Ruby was a former soloist in the children’s choir of the Opéra de Paris before coming to Berlin to further explore his new persona. To describe the music of Maury111, one might use the term “mysticosmic pop.” Featuring a blend of bionic noises and contemplative moods. 

It’s easy to pick up on the album’s desert- or more specifically, empty-space themes and moods just by listening to it once. The use of reverb in record production ensures that this is communicated to the listener. 

It seems to reason that a selected topic like this implies other distinct but connected concepts like loneliness, sorrow, and contemplation. ‘Indisla,’ the first tune, does just that. The reverbed beats accelerate and decelerate at varied intervals, accompanied by eerie vocals, creating a sensation of distance. The music then transitions from irregular to progressive drum rhythms, which, from a production standpoint, keeps the tune from becoming too boring too quickly. The use of effects in the voice and the hybridization of electronic and acoustic drumming effectively capture the sense of nothingness and space. 

Meanwhile, the second track, ‘Erased,’ quickens the tempo of the first by introducing a fast-paced baseline accompanied by a little DnB-esque percussion beat, with the echoing vocals shifting in and out of focus throughout the track. The framework of the tune is similar to that of a funk composition, but with more digitalized modern elements.  

Which brings me to the third tune on the album’s list, ‘Inner Temple,’ which is more smoother and slower paced than the previous two tracks but has the same voice effects and reverbs. Again, I notice some DnB influences in the tune that remind me of London’s electronic music culture in the 1980s/90s. ‘Sable,’ on the other hand, shifts from the slow-paced ‘Inner Temple,’ which has themes of ideas and introspection, into a sound combination of clocks, wind, and music that conveys a sense of urgency through the melody. The final track on the album, ‘Setsun,’ begins with a relaxing classic RnB beat with lyrics I can only describe as sorrowful, and finishes with a gospel choir that closes the album’s tale of death… or rebirth, depending on how you look at it. 

This album is not melodic or rhythmic, but rather tonal. Similar to the early Vaporwave producers of the 2010s, the emphasis is on the atmosphere rather than a specific melody or composition. The artist does an excellent job of attempting to create in the listener a world of wide, barren desert and isolation. Every song on the CD depicts the sensation of travelling alone on a spaceship in the depths of space. It is a solid 8.5/10 and an honest and direct portrayal of an artist’s feelings, something we don’t see as often as we once did.  

Edited by: Viola Karmy

EP: Becca Lynn Vol 2: Sage

Mariam ElKhatib
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EP: Becca Lynn Vol 2: Sage

Becky Ketelsen, a topliner/vocalist, and Adam Neilson, a producer, are a fresh new sync band duo. In early 2021, they began making music together and discovered their synergistic relationship in crafting catchy and entertaining indie pop/alt pop tunes. For the past several years, they’ve had their music included in a variety of television shows and commercials for fitness firms and TV season promotions. 

There is a contagious combination of Doo-Wop, 60s/50s era Rock & Roll (old school), and straight-up Pop elements throughout the album. For starters, ‘Why Not’ is a sixties throwback with a modern twist, creative instrumentation and vocals setting the tone for the rest of the album, which follows a similar upbeat theme. It’s smooth, bouncy, bubblegum pop tune with an intriguing blend of contemporary and vintage elements. It’s not only the singing style that gives this song a Sixties feel, but the bass and the chord progression as well. 

‘Isn’t that something’ has the quintessential teenage pop-anthem aspect that makes it the ideal opener for a coming-of-age film set in the early 2000s. The album’s final track, ‘You Make Me Look Good,’ begins with a funky bass line that matches the song’s brisk pace and an off-step percussion that accentuates the front woman’s distinct voice. 

Clearly, the album’s goal is to be a conventional “summer hit,” and in my opinion, it succeeds very well in this aspect; it has a summery vibe to it, a touch of sass, and a faint Sixties undertone. As a nod to 1950s/60s rock and roll, a sparse yet powerful arrangement of guitars and vocals supporting the bass motif is present throughout most of the five tracks. A general bubble gum pop rhythm created by the choice of instrumentation serves as the backdrop for this album. Furthermore, Becca’s voice effortlessly shifts from one octave to the next, much like the song’s tune.  


Edited by: Viola Karmy

EP: Land Before Us by Ali Neil

Ahmed El Tahan
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EP: Land Before Us by Ali Neil

We can say that British singer, Ali Neil, has succeeded in giving us a wonderful Alt-Country, Indie Folk, Alt-Folk, blend, titled “Land Before Us,” that works so well, we wouldn’t think it would be his first EP.

In “Land Before Us”, Neil distinguished himself with his calm voice, which derives its calmness from the coastal environment on the East Sussex coast, and in words, sweeter, purity, and diversity like seawater, similar to its fluctuations when it expresses the lyrical state that may be accompanied by violence that you almost feel.

Neil moved steps away from the long narration and relied on his lyrical confession to intensify the image, which carries many sincere, realistic, and polished meanings with romantic feelings. He confidently dived into a side rich in details to come up with 5 amazing tracks.

In “A Place Called Winter,” he succeeded from the beginning in entering your mind through the electronic vibrations accompanying the guitar tones, and did not take time until he made wonderful musical transitions and variations, but the rhythm of the drums was perhaps a little off. The conclusion could have been shorter. But this does not mean that it is not a unique piece.

In more realistic detail, Neil takes you down the path of “A New York” and puts you in the heart of the seasonal ups and downs of his love, but firmly in a memorable and nostalgic rhythm, aided by electronic music and guitar as well.

Continuing with “Edge Of Reason,” you find yourself in front of distinct images and similes, enhanced by the musical phrases that Neil placed in the middle, which appeared through the accordion, with the guitar tones being calm until the end.

“Damn Life” makes you feel from the first second that you’ve been lost from the flock in which you are flying through Neil’s songs, but once he starts singing, you know you’re still here in “Land Before Us” because his voice returns to control the force of the rhythm and hits with fast and smooth sentences at the same time.

We conclude with the peace of “Heart Of Man” to the beat of an Indie Folk, Alt-Folk, and Alt-Country blend that puts you in a calm and relaxed state that is heightened by the sound and the lyrics. So, Ali Neil can be your go-to singer when you want to listen to a comfortable sound.


Folklore by Dario Acosta Teich

Sarah Elzanaty
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Folklore by Dario Acosta Teich

Dario Acosta Teich is an immaculate player who comes from San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, and is fond of making sensational jazz & Latin American music. Dario is so talented that he played along with various legendary players who are admired by a lot of musicians.

He himself has an exceptional skill and enthusiastic talent that he plays for us a fantastic mix of Latin music on his records. He has finished a melodious album, “Folklore,” that was released on the 20th of May, 2022 with a total of 8 songs of a beautiful texture of guitar playing and collaborating with Franco Pinna on the drums, Julio Botti on sax, Alex Brown on the keyboard, and Fernando Huergo on bass. They added a great imaginative melody to this album.

The song that got my attention and totally got into my head is the one called “Como Antes,” which translates to “As Before.” It starts with a lovely guitar solo that lasted smoothly for a minute and a half and was mesmerizing.

Then comes the sax playing, which gets you into a groove and makes you feel in harmony, followed by the singing of a gentle vocal. The music composition is totally on point for me. It is worth listening to and having your anxious mind calmed. Dario has just released a video clip for “Como Antes” which features two special guests: Eleanor Dubinsky on vocals and Jaques Morelenbaum on the cello. The vocals of Dario and Eleanor, which were sung in a harmonically clear manner, are equally important to the work.

Dario comes from a talented family, as he exclaimed in a post that his cousin and musician, Beno Guelbert, has helped him with naming the piece “ Como Antes.” He has an amazing amount of support and love for his work from a lot of musicians and fans, such as myself.

My second favorite is “Encuentro,” as it gives me the same vibe as “Como Antes.” Listening to one piece after another gives you a great image of how the pieces seem to be linked to each other in a way. The album is worth listening to whenever you sit by the sunny window with the summer breeze in the air, imagining your city streets turning into green, wide fields with some Argentinian vibes. And if you already live in the country, embrace the divine beauty!

Edited by: Viola Karmy

Tunnel Vision by Alex Beck

Norhan El Sebaie
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Tunnel Vision by Alex Beck

Alex Beck is an up-and-coming electronic/pop artist who is based in LA, California. She released her first single in 2020 “Do it again” followed by “Born to Lie” and “Name Names” in 2021. Then released “Wishful thinking” earlier this year followed by her latest single “Tunnel Vision” released just a few days ago. The artist has gained the liking of her fans and has over 4.6K listeners on Spotify only every month. “Tunnel vision” is a pop track with electronic beats as the background of the song with synths sound effects, a simple guitar tune, and a soft yet determined vocal line with a very expressive style. The bridge is catchy with an upbeat chorus. The song was recorded in a studio in LA. The lyrics are about the heated and infatuating kind of love that sweeps you away with its magic. “I’m stuck in tunnel vision” is repeated throughout the song to explain how the world disappears when in such a mood and state of mind. Alex’s first show is on June 14th at Madame Siam in LA where she will be performing her old songs along with her newest release.

A New Sun Rising by Ge & Luke

Moataz Gwaily
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A New Sun Rising by Ge & Luke

Pop might be the easiest genre to execute, but it’s one of the hardest to pull off. Electronic music production apps are now so over the shelf that basically anyone with a smartphone can download one and get cracking.

With that said, it takes a special talent to take the generic and give it a certain sparkle, something to make it shine, if not even outshine the competition. Ge & Luke are a musical duo from Switzerland. Passionate about music since childhood, they stay busy collaborating with various vocalists and musicians worldwide to bring us a very fresh brand of fine Pop, Electronica, and EDM.

‘A New Sun Rising’ is their newest single, featuring Xtina Louise on vocals. The first thing you’ll collect from this outing is the dreamy ambiance, suggested by the chords and augmented by the choice of sounds from the synths. The able vocal delivery sings sweet and challenging melodies that are easy on the ear and equally attention-grabbing.

The drop for the pre-chorus features a crunchy guitar and a solid beat that gets quickened on the bridge until it explodes on the hook, played in half-time, to create larger-than-life vibes, accompanied by a beautiful synth melody that plays a minimal amount of notes to a great effect. The final chorus features a non-conventional guitar solo that’s buried deep in the mix and could have used a little boost in volume. It is, however, well-executed and focuses more on attitude than on prowess or note count as it soars above the rest of the instruments.

A New Sun Rising is a sweet, expertly crafted Pop gem. While it doesn’t necessarily pay any mind to breaking genre boundaries or exploring uncharted musical territories, it certainly pulls off all that it sets out to do and is a song I’ll be visiting again for days to come.

Interview with Monique Barry

Amgad Mahmoud
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Interview with Monique Barry

Frankly, I couldn’t let all of these questions off my head to ask Monique about the aspects of her music and the concepts which she put in her songs. A lot of questions popped into my head while writing ‘Time’ review and said “No, I’m not leaving before I get my answers” Haha!

So first of all, it is a great honor for us to be interviewing you and learn more about such veteran musicians, especially with your long history with music.

SIS: How did you start your journey with music? And what was the first thing you learn, Vocals or Piano?

It’s lovely to have the chance to speak with you. I grew up in a very musical household, with lots of sing-alongs around the piano at my grandparents house when we visited and at my home when we had

company.  I started taking piano lessons at age 7 and later took singing lessons in my teens.  My parents were quite traditional about music education so I studied classical piano and classical voice in the early years of instruction.

 

SIS: Do you play any instruments Other than the piano? If not, what is the instrument you’re most eager to learn?

I’m presently teaching myself to play the guitar.  Honestly, I’d love to play violin and bass guitar as well.

SIS: Why did you release your latest album in singles? And were the previously released albums released the same way?

This is the first album I’ve released single by single.

I decided to release this album single by single for a few reasons. Firstly, I noticed that social media was contributing to people having shorter attention spans and that doesn’t always bode well for a full release.  I felt that releasing one single at a time would give the project a chance to find an audience, allowing it a longer life.  The project is a journey from innocence to wisdom and I knew that releasing the project over time, the elements of evolution would be built in naturally.  Finally, it allowed me to have a meaningful relationship with each song.

SIS: Please tell us more about the story of ‘HAAK’ album.

As I mentioned, the theme is innocence to wisdom.  The first song on the album, Open Road, was written as a reaction to my daughter telling me she was going to leave home at 16 to become a musician – just like Ed Sheeran had done.  I was somewhat mortified and did what I usually do when I’m overwhelmed, I wrote a song about that very act from what I felt maybe her perspective as a teen leaving home.  From there I started writing each song as an emotional moment in that character’s evolution.  It’s been a very interesting project for me as each song is informed by what is going on around me at the time but has to still have a type of age/emotional transformation.  I like that the project is taking some odd twists and turns as does life.  It’s been very rewarding but also very challenging as it’s taking a while.  The album definitely seems to have a mind of its own at this point.

BTW, my daughter has become quite a wonderful musician and never did leave home at 16.  (haha)

SIS: Tell us about your previous releases.

I’ve released 4 other albums.  moody, Tripping, Carbon & Wake

I write in a lot of different styles.  It just depends on what style I feel suits the song.  All the albums have an ethereal quality with ambiance and some histrionics.

SIS: What is your favorite Monique Barry release? And why?

I don’t know if I have a favorite release.  I find that music is a type of therapy for me so I use it to compartmentalise certain experiences allowing for some type of control over the said experience. I appreciate each album for being a form of documentation of a specific time in my life.  I have songs that I love more than others for sure but feel I’m still trying to figure out how to be a better writer.

SIS: Who are your major influences?

Well there are lots and they may not seem related but I’ll name a few here:

Judy Garland, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Nancy Wilson, Brian Eno, Augie March, Sinead O’Connor, Beck, Bjork, Radiohead, Tori Amos, early Genesis, Elbow, Chopin, Terry Allen, Gaz Coombes, Fiona Apple ….to name only a few.

SIS: What is your favorite song of all time?

That’s an impossible question – off the top of my head presently:

Jigsaw Falling Into Place & Present Tense (Radiohead)

Stranger Strange & Father Jack and Mr. T (Augie March)

Old Man (Randy Newman)

Glitch (Brian Eno)

SIS: What style do you prefer to deliver as a musician, classic or modern ones?

Modern style with bits and pieces of everything, much like a collage.

SIS: If you could do a cover of a famously known song, what would it be?

Likely Fiona Apple’s ‘I Know’.

SIS: What is the story of the cold water swimming to you?

We shot a video for the 6th single Gone Eagles up north where I’m swimming for the first part of the song.  We shot it with a drone camera so it turned out to be quite beautiful.  A girlfriend of mine found some wild water swimming videos of some gals in Europe that reminded her of the video we shot and she sent them to me.  I realized these gals were swimming in water that was 10C and found that very intriguing.  I thought there must be some folks that swim in Lake Ontario when it’s cold and sure enough, I found a group of folks that swim all year round so I joined up with them.  I’ve been swimming with them for over a year.  It is wonderful and the cold water plunging is very addictive.

We shot the video for ‘Time’ in the middle of February with the air temperature -11 C and the water -1 C.  It was exhilarating.

Cold water swimming came at a time when things were very difficult during COVID.  Lots of loss and isolation.  It was a great way to safely socialize, to challenge myself and it’s very therapeutic.  It’s known for helping with anxiety and depression.  It’s not for everyone, of course, but I absolutely love it!

SIS: How do you write your music? Tell us about the whole process.

I don’t really have a set method.  My latest song came to me in a dream.  It really varies.  Sometimes the music comes first but not always.  I find I’m very inspired by drum patterns.  Long walks and swims often will instigate ideas as do certain chord progressions.

 

SIS: What do you do besides music?

I swim a lot.  I teach music, both piano, and theory.  I make my own line of natural skincare products.  I love to garden. And I’m a Mom to two very cool kids.

SIS: Lastly, a word to your fans.

I just want to say thank everyone for listening and watching.  I’m extremely grateful for the love and support!

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