The Golden Age of Music Discovery

Happy September! We greet fall with joy and anticipation, but there are also things we need to say goodbye to. For example, the various boat rides at the Seaport close for the winter. We already missed getting tickets for the last weekend trip of the W.O. Decker, and there is not much time left for the Pioneer either. If you are in NYC and haven’t done a sailing yet, this is your chance.

Austra

Austra has a new song out! We have been following the Canadian synth-pop musician Katie Stelmanis since 2010, and it is good to hear that she remains at the top of her craft. Her new song, “Math Equation,” sounds fresh and full of new ideas, but it is still undoubtedly her. The track reminds me of the first song I heard of her, “The Beat and the Pulse,” which is a similar, energetic banger.

Starting out, Austra – Katie’s middle name- acted as a band. Other members included drummer Maya Postepski, who released one of my favorite albums, s u r r e n d e r in 2021 under her solo project Princess Century. Since 2016, Austra has been a solo project, and her last two albums, Future Politics, and Hirudin come with a more focused, personal message.

The signature element of Austra’s music is her bright, clear, opera-trained vocals. On her latest song, she scales back, though, and puts more vulnerability in her voice.

B of Briz

B of Briz is the project of an outspoken female rapper from Bristol, who does not reveal her identity. Next Tuesday, she releases her new EP, Solace. As usual, the lyrics pack a punch, and the creative beats go beyond what she calls “alternative hip hop.” She is also very active on BlueSky.

Five Songs

Listen to glamglare five songs on Spotify, Apple Music, or below on YouTube:

I discovered Austra through the Guardian Music Podcast, which was a primary source of discovery for many of the female artists that would shape what glamglare is today. Unfortunately, the podcast disappeared without a trace after it was cancelled.

Perhaps podcasts that showcase new artists stopped working for mass media when the music tastes of their audiences became increasingly fragmented. In the early 2010s, you could hear about a Canadian artist with a couple of songs out on a UK label on a British podcast and see her a few weeks later live in New York City. Those times are gone.

Here are five acts that played NYC live after The Guardian presented them. For three of them, we attended their first show.

• When the Guardian Music Podcast played “Undertow” by Warpaint, I knew I wanted to start a music blog, which eventually turned into glamglare. Talk about music that changes your life!
• Anna Calvi was hard to categorize when her first songs came out in 2010. Her music is rich and powerful, and she presented herself as a serious guitar shredder when we saw her live at Webster Hall.
• “The Beat and the Pulse” was the first song I heard from Austra Austra. We saw her later live in the basement of a club in Chinatown.
• AlunaGeorge, the duo of singer Aluna Francis and George Reid, were a hot ticket in 2013 with innovative, 8-bit inspired production and velvety vocals. We saw them live in a packed Bowery Ballroom. Since 2020, they have been on an “indefinite hiatus.”
• We did not discover Lana Del Rey on The Guardian podcast – we had “Video Games” on our blog before they mentioned her. But they predicted she would become a superstar, and they were right.

Song Pick of the Day

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• Icelandic indie rock band Oyama invites you to an atmospheric sonic walk through Reykjavík in "The Bookshop.”
• "It’s about crashing out and calling it healing," says Jean. Her new song "Spring Breakers" turns the movie into a way of life.
• "Even though she may never fully understand me, I still wanted her in my life." The NYC singer/songwriter Rorey reconciles with her mother in the beautiful song "Hurts Me To Hate You."
• Spoon could not wait any longer to share their upcoming album's first two finished songs. Listen to “Guess I’m Fallin in Love” and you know why.
• In her new song “Sun Tavern”, multi-media artist, composer, and singer Rosa Anschütz taps into pop sensibilities.
• Eli & Fur’s new single “Make Believe” is a dancefloor gem — celestial, emotional, and impossible to resist.
• Canadian synth-pop musician Austra returns to dance music in her new single “Math Equation.” Her fifth album, Chin Up Buttercup, is coming out on November 14.

Billion-Dollar Dreams, Priceless Weekends - 9 Photos

Last Friday marked the end of my time at Manhattan Summer Camp, where I had spent the long, hot weeks of summer. With early mornings and a tight schedule, I missed out on many of the season’s pleasures — but now I’m ready to indulge in everything fall has to offer, my favorite season anyway.

That same day, I spotted the “999 million” sign at the kiosk on our street. The digital display was stuck, because by then the Powerball jackpot had already climbed to 1.2 billion. Of course, Oliver and I wanted to be part of the frenzy and bought our tickets at a tiny vendor on Fulton Street (our kiosk was closed!). No luck, even after knocking on a door in Peekskill ;) — but we tried again yesterday when the jackpot soared to 1.4 billion. What would you do with that much money?

Something more attainable is a night at Peekskill’s Inn on the Hudson, complete with gorgeous river views if you book a terrace room and don’t mind the “quaint vibe,” as the property itself puts it. Here are some impressions from our weekend.