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Amy’s Composition ‘The Driving Force’ performed in Beijing

Talented multi-instrumental group Three Shades Black, performed Amy’s composition ‘The Driving Force’, in a series of concerts in Beijing. The concerts, entitled Moving Scores combined experimental film and live orchestral performance, creating visual scores for ordinary things. A full house packed into Mao Live House, the hottest live music venue and punk club in town.

Contemporary musicians teamed up with local and international artists for the show, resulting in compelling soundscapes paired with often breathtaking imagery.

Languid strings, tinkering music boxes, and even kissy sounds were used to great effect, and though the visual aspect was sometimes self indulgent, and some might find the accompanying music to have been quite jarring, there were some beautiful moments.

3 Shades Black in performance Cubular Oceans

Finally, musicians take back the reigns on the future of the music industry

The Future Of Music

Article by Stephen Foxworthy, Strategy Director (www.reactive.com)

Fans and musicians have been pushing a massive shift in the way the music industry markets its product.

For years record labels have held tightly to their music product, closely controlling how consumers could access it, clamping down of bootlegs, recordings and performance and issuing take-down and cease and desist notices for those who tried to create their own assets or use the labels intellectual property in their own way.

Increasingly, however, musicians are striking out on their own and creating new and innovative ways to distribute their work.

This week, Beck Hansen (AKA just “Beck”) announced he will release his next album as simple sheet music, not as the more typical recording. The point being that you should play the music yourself, and interpret it as you will. Alternately you can pay to see Beck live in concert, where you’ll hear the artists interpretation.

Also this week, Gotye published a remix of his number 1 hit single “Somebody I used to know” as a mash up of fans playing his song on YouTube. Watch the Somebodies: A YouTube Orchestra

Read the rest of this great article on the future of the music industry, with some great creative ideas that are taking music in a whole new and exciting direction!

Butterfly Boucher Interview

butterfly-poster-image

Listen to Butterfly Boucher play ‘Warning Bell’ live in the studio

The interview continued…

Listen to the interview with Butterfly Boucher – Part 1
(Butterfly talks about growing up in a motor home and her first experiences of music)

Listen to the interview with Butterfly Boucher – Part 2
(Butterfly talks about the differences between playing in a band and being a solo artist)

Listen to the interview with Butterfly Boucher – Part 3
(Butterfly talks about her new album, her collaboration with Missy Higgins and sings “The Weather” live in the Joy 94.9 studios)

Listen to the interview with Butterfly Boucher – Part 4
(Butterfly performs “Warning Bell” live in the Joy 94.9 studios)

Amy reviews Butterfly Boucher’s latest self-titled album

Artist: Butterfly Boucher
Album:
“Butterfly Boucher” (self-titled)
Release Date:
13 April, 2012
My Rating:
6 / 5 AMAZING!

How often these days do you put an album on for the first time and instantly fall in love with every single track? I can honestly say that hasn’t happened to me for a really long time, but I can guarantee you that when you listen to Butterfly Boucher’s latest album, you are in for a real treat! All ten tracks are a masterpiece of musical design, featuring exquisite instrumentation that will intrigue, excite and provide you with an album you will listen to and love for many years to come.

The classical composer in me melted around the two-minute mark in the track “None The Wiser” where a gothic pipe-organ, Baroque harpsichord and toccata-style solo stopped me in my tracks and gave me the “holy shit!” goosebumps. The track “The Weather” is sassy and sexy, with just enough distorted guitar to give Butterfly a grungy edge in this track. The opening swirling organ of “Not Fooling Around” is exquisite and the rest of the track is full of twists and turns that will excite. The reflective “Warning Bell” is thoughtful and extremely beautiful, with it’s slightly jazzy guitar chords giving it a bluesy bite. The entire album really is exceptional, extremely clever and deliciously addictive.

If Butterfly lived in the 1840s, she’d be Beethoven. If she lived in the 1960s, she’d be John Lennon.

Boucher’s album is mature, hand-crafted, intimate, epic and thoughtful, all at the same time. If Butterfly lived in the 1840s, she’d be Beethoven. If she lived in the 1960s, she’d be John Lennon. I’m no fortune teller, but I tell you what, this girl has got something to say and if I had a million bucks, I’d bet it all on the fact that she’s the next musical genius of her generation. I think I’ve used just about every descriptive adjective I know in this review, but you know what…this album really speaks for itself. I give it 6 out of 5 kisses, if that’s possible. It’s my new favourite album and I guarantee you, it probably will be for a long while yet!

The title track 5678! has been out now since February and has already caused a stir. ‘5678!’ was declared iTunes Single Of The Week early in 2012. Her quirky music video for this track includes 20 seconds in the middle of the song where she says “So you think you can dance do you?” and swings her long lanky legs, twitches her shoulders up and down and struts across the screen showing off her not-so-amazing dance skills in the cutest possible way. I’m sure she really is a great dancer, deep down! She invites fans to the 20 seconds of pure dance challenge, asking us to upload our own 20 seconds of pure dance videos in response to hers. Many have already responded, including Butterfly’s long-tome friend and musical colleague, Missy Higgins, who uploaded a video with dancing even more ridiculous than Butterfly’s. If you feel inspired, why not take up the challenge too?

Get Butterfly Boucher’s new album! She’s done it all herself and is truly independent, so every bit of support you can show this incredible artist will give you good music karma forever. It is an album I can’t recommend enough and can’t turn off. It’s on continuous repeat at my house! Thanks Butterfly. You’ve made my week, if not my year!

Written by Amy Bastow for the Kiss My Arts Show on Joy 94.9 – All opinions are mine. Copyright 2012.

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