Music – Page 7 of 8 – The Orbital

Frugal Fun: Free Events in London Over Summer

7Jun

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Frugal Fun: Free Events in London Over Summer

Hearing the word ‘free’ as a student is a blessing, especially during the summer months when the next loan instalment seems so far from reach. Fortunately, Egham is a stone’s throw away from the capital, home to a huge variety of events that won’t break the bank. In addition to the multitude of year round free attractions, with gems such as the National Portrait Gallery and Natural History Museum, this summer is host to events to suit everyone, from art tarts to party fanatics. Here’s just a snippet of the best free things London has to offer this summer: • Turntables Popup Party, Hackney Wick – Until 31st July Turntables debuted in London winter 2014, bringing a selection of mega international DJs such as San Soda, and mind blowing food to Hackney Wick. This summer, Turntables is back...

7Jun

By Jordan ThorneNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Brandon Flowers’ The Desired Effect

The Desired Effect is Brandon Flowers’ new solo album, released in the UK on Tuesday, May 18. Even if far from The Killers’ emblematic alternative-rock style, it shares with the band the same unpredictability, because it likes to play and experiment with all the nuances of rock and pop music, always with surprising results. In collaboration with the famous producer Ariel Rechtschaid, Brandon has created a composite and varied musical repertoire, a versatile collection of songs that covers an interesting range of the sub genres of pop/rock music. The instrumental beats of 80’s synth-disco alternate with a hint of 90’s reminiscences of new wave rhythms and the massive, driving presence of choruses reverberating through the whole album under Brandon’s clear and powerful voice. The upbeat, m...

26Feb

By Safi SyedNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Froot – review

The phonetically correct sounding tree offering titled song, Froot, is the latest release from marina Diamandis aka Marina And The Diamonds. Released on her birthday, she uploaded the lyrics to her Instagram a day before , naming the day “Frootmas Eve”. Co produced by marina herself, the song has been described as “dark disco”. Fans of marinas sophomore album effort , Electra Heart (charting top 40 in Americas Billboard Hot 100), will be pleased that in the this introductory song for the new album the upbeat and synth vibes are symonomous throughout. . Electra (her side character) is clearly not dead and her sound can be clearly heard in this song. Songs with hooks to rival We Found Love by Rihanna, Marina has a rare knack for producing brilliant dance music but with profound(i...

28Jan

By Molly HarrisNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Music

Who will be the next Bond music sensation?

With the release of a brand new James Bond film comes a brand new title theme song. Sam Mendes has revealed that the artist to perform the next title theme has already been chosen, but it is still being kept under wraps. Following in the footsteps of Adele and the legendary Shirley Bassey alike would be a daunting task for anyone - so who will be the next artist to take up the gauntlet? The bookie’s favourite as of December 2014 is Sam Smith, closely followed by Ed Sheeran. Sam Smith came into the limelight earlier this year, releasing his debut album and also winning the BRITS Critics Choice Award 2014. Adele also received this award in 2008, so perhaps this is a sign that he will be next Bond singer. If we look back at previous theme tunes it would be hard to ignore the musical leg...

28Jan

By Emma BradleyNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music, Theatre & Performance

Understanding Opera; Misconception & Snobbery

In its prime, opera was considered in much the same way as we now think of cinema. So what keeps so many young people away from opera today? Two obvious reasons are the initial uncertainty of watching entertainment in a foreign language, and perception of opera being exclusively geared to a wealthy elite. However, there are more subtle prejudgements surrounding the genre, such as how popular music today is linked to a more free and casual vocal style as opposed to the vocal precision and intensity of opera. With this in mind, how do we go about dealing with the issue of inaccessibility in opera? Is it more important to have an audience who can access and experience more of the work, or respect the composer’s original opera? Taking libretto (the operatic text) as an example; the composer...

28Jan

By Elisabeth CarltonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Music to Look Out For 2015

2015 is looking to become a year of music revival, with new talent entering the music scene and some classic bands emerging from retirement to remind the public what they have been missing out on. New names such as James Bay, winner of the Brits Critics award, Atlanta native Raury, and Nottingham born Indiana are set to take their genres by storm. With his lustrous locks and stripped back performances, Bay is a front runner for folk inspired music, his sound rivalling fellow Irish folk band, Kodaline, who are planned to drop their second album soon. Raury is making news and changing hip-hop with the cool vibes of a rebellious teenager, collaborating with SBTRKT and The Neighbourhood, Raury is bound to be a force to be reckoned with in both hip-hop and beyond. Indiana has moved from Notti...

28Jan

By Alana GradyNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

Holloway’s Music Scene…

With the arrival of Rebecca Miller, the music department has seen a great many changes and the forthcoming term is no exception. To start the term we have the second in our celebrity masterclass series, a flute masterclass with Juliette Bausor. Principal flautist of the London Mozart Players and of the Royal Northern Sinfonia, Juliette will be giving a masterclass to some of Royal Holloway’s flautists. This is generously supported by the Alumni Fund and is free to students. After their first term as Ensemble in Residence, the Badke Quartet are returning in a variety of events. They will be doing two masterclasses, one an open event to the public, coaching student chamber ensembles. Any group can take part and it is a wonderful opportunity to be coached by professional musicians. The Badk...

2Dec

By Lis CarltonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music

The Concert that Promises to Excite! RHULSO – Windsor Auditorium – 03/12/14 – 19:30

This Wednesday 3rd December, the RHULSO goes 'all funky' when they present Michael Daugherty's 'Motown Mondays' as their concert opener, a suave and colourful journey by pop-culture American composer into Motown, through the eyes of an orchestra. Chris Richards, one of Britain's most talented young clarinettists and principal of the London Symphony Orchestra, will whip his way through Weber's dramatic Clarinet Concerto no. 1. and the orchestra will bowl you over with Brahms' powerful and glorious journey from darkness into light - his massive first symphony. The Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas term concert vows to leave us feeling shaken, stirred, and mildly dizzy. Fresh from her debut at the BBC Proms, and renowned for her overtly passionate, super-energetic and full...

2Nov

By Lis CarltonNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Music, Theatre & Performance

“Boots on the Ground!” – The RHUL Symphony Orchestra, The Student Body, and Rebecca Miller

The Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra kicked off the new term in September with a concert that filled the Windsor Auditorium beyond its own doors. People squeezed into every last head space, perspiring in the heat, to get a glimpse of the Orchestra in its first event of the year, under the baton of RHUL’s new Fellow in Music Performance; BBC Proms 2014 accredited conductor, Rebecca Miller. With an audience pushing maximum capacity and an orchestra to match, swelling with fresh enthusiasm and pushing its own size limits, the year’s musical calendar began with a show of great skill that we are accustomed to seeing year-in-year out; only with a difference! Skill and success aside, it is unheard of to see Royal Holloway’s largest auditorium and concert hall filled out for a musical event. It h...

29Oct

By Michelangelo FanoNo Comments

Culture & Literature, Film & TV, Music

Hans Zimmer Revealed

There have been a handful of film composers whose scores have entered the public consciousness, becoming more than just scores but rather an entrenched part of modern culture. Hans Zimmer is one such composer, and on the 10th and 11th of October, he hosted performances of his work in London. He walked on stage to instant applause, picking up a banjo to pluck away the score to the recent Sherlock films, clearly using the opportunity to live out his dreams of being a rock star. He then introduced the score to Crimson Tide, mentioning how Tony Scott was the man who brought him to Hollywood for the first time. It seemed like a way for him to thank and honour the now tragically deceased Scott, a touching and subtle moment which made the lengthy playing of the superb, bombastic score that much ...