Jeremy Zuckerman

  

Jeremy Zuckerman is an American composer and musician. His most notable works include Nickelodeon's Avatar the last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra. Other works include, Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness and most recently MTV's Scream. I really enjoy his music, because when I was young, one of my favorite shows was Avatar the Last Airbender. I think that the music behind Avatar and The Legend of Korra are very powerful. The music does an excellent job of conveying what emotions are being felt by the characters on the screen. When it's a happy, you know that the scene is a happy scene, and when it's sad you know it's sad and so forth. His music from the TV series Avatar and Legend of Korra, and Kung Fu Panda Legends of Awesomeness incorporates Asian-based instruments that are not typically heard in American made TV shows. Like any good musician, you can tell that a lot of time and thought went into writing and composing each sound track. His music is relaxing and soothing to listen to, making it very easy to listen for hours on end.

This is his main website where you can learn about his back ground and some of the works he has made and a few of the TV shows that he had written the musical scores for.
http://www.jeremyzuckerman.com/

This is a link to his soundcloud page where you can listen to his musical pieces including his works for Avatar and Korra along with other of his musical compositions:

https://soundcloud.com/jeremy-zuckerman

Here is a link where Jeremy talks about working on The Legend of Korra and how he got started in the music business:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AuGdzLucI

Kendrick Lamar

Named the King of hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar has stolen the spotlight in America and even in other parts of the world. I was first introduced to him back when I was still in high school. King Kunta was the first song I heard from him and it was appropriately while smoking a joint. The thing that struck me about him was the way he puts all the pain from his life into his wrapping while talking about modern day issues about race and politics. He's another in a long line of prodigy rappers coming from Compton in the last 4 decades but he's without a doubt the most popular and he deserves it. As someone who identifies with the struggle people of color face in America, his songs are a tribute to a remembrance of what has happened, what is happening, and what can happen in the future.

Biography of Kendrick Lamar:

This is a great place to start to hear a little bit about his story and the experiences that shaped him. I especially like the part where he meets Dr. Dre.

Interview:

Here's a really great interview with him. He talks about his creative process and also inspirations to him and about other artists.

Kendrick wins a Pulitzer:

And finally here is a recent headline that shows how far hip-hop has come and where it could be going. Kendrick and those before him and been huge in bringing social issues to the forefront of the American conversation and I can't wait to see where it goes!

Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish - Singer/Songwriter

Within the last year, the name Billie Eilish has began to surface in the media. At the age of just
16, Eilish is already making herself known as a successful singer/songwriter with popular songs
like Ocean Eyes, Bellyache, and My Boy.

My first exposure to Eilish was on youtube while I was looking for new songs to cover with my ukulele. Her stand-offish personality and quiet raspy voice immediately grabbed my attention; I had to learn more about her. As I spiraled into a tunnel of watching all of her music videos, I realized that my new found obsession with Eilish was due to the fact that she was different, and not afraid to be. She wasn't singing the typical high school love songs and trying to make herself look "appealing" to her audience. She just wanted to be herself - baggy clothes, gold chains, silver hair and all. She has become an inspiration to me musically, but also her position as a role model for the younger generation. She is not afraid to be different and stand out, which is a positive message young people should be receiving in this day and age.

https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/discovery-billie-eilish As a new artist, Eilish's story is still very fresh in the media. This article is about her journey to fame and her plans for the future. From writing songs about black holes at the age of 5 to composing her first hit with her brother at the age of 13, Eilish has always had a passion for the arts. Although she is a young artist, she is wise beyond her years and is not deterred by what others have to say.

https://www.wmagazine.com/story/billie-eilish-new-ep This article digs into the genre Eilish performs. Her music is dark and fictional, which is something most people wouldn't expect at first glance. Eilish emphasizes her desire to be different which is represented in the way she dresses, performs, and presents herself to the public eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBRi6aZJGj4 This page has the music video, Bellyache that was released in march of 2017. Eilish is seen in a yellow suite, walking in the dessert with a wagon and a bag full of money. One of the very first lines she says is, "My friends aren't far, in the back of my car, lay their bodies." Her fictional/dark genre is clearly represented here along with her creative ability to be different.

Lil Peep

For years, I have had such a fascination to explore the multiple genres of music and different artists. As I got older, I began to have a new sense of appreciation for music that not everyone may understand. Most recently, I have been listening to less well-known rappers and artists. One artist in particular I had a quick introduction to was Lil Peep, or Gustav Ahr. Born on November 1, 1996, he began releasing his mixtapes in 2015. Although much of his music was geared toward the struggle of depression and drug use, his vulnerability struck me when I saw him live at a small venue in Seattle. His music was geared toward a certain type of audience but seeing him live changed my outlook on him completely. I have never been to a concert quite like it; every song and lyric you could feel his passion in his music and his kind heart and personality become very evident through his music.

https://soundcloud.com/lil_peep

This website is where Lil Peep posted all of his released and unreleased track, and the outlet in which really brought him his fame.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/11/16/politics/lil-peep-death-opioid-epidemic/index.html

This is a really interesting article linked to the tragic death of the young singer, who died from a drug overdose just months ago. It has an interesting perspective on the use and problem of addiction in society.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/obituaries/lil-peep-dead.html

This obituary gives a little more insight of the life of Lil Peep (Gustav Ahr) and the backstory to the beginning of his career leading up to his tragic death.

George Balanchine

From a young age, I grew up in the world of ballet.  When I was old enough to begin studying the works of certain choreographers, no one stuck out to me (or stuck with me) to the extent than that of George Balanchine.  His choreography turned the conventions of classical ballet on its head; rewriting technique and musicality to create a new genre in the world of ballet.  His original works such as Jewels,  as well as his interpretations and reworked versions of classics such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, and many more led to a whole new generation of ballet dancers, with more freedom to explore the angles and sharpness often abandoned by classical ballet.


http://balanchine.org/balanchine/01/bio.html
This webpage describes Balanchine's early life & career.  How he began dancing, his background in music, and how he began choreographing are all highlighted.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/arts/dance/understanding-george-balanchine-jewels-new-york-city-ballet.html
This article by the New York Times gives a beautiful viewpoint into one of Balanchine's most famous works, Jewels.  Pictured right is Sarah Lamb of Royal Opera House performing "Rubies" from Jewels.

https://www.nycballet.com/Explore/Our-History/George-Balanchine.aspx
This post on the New York City Ballet's website again gives a brief biography of Balanchine, while also delving into the technical aspects of his work, and the amazing contributions he and his work have made in the world of classical ballet.