Converge Newsletter
Music and occasional podcasts.
Podcast
I've recommended lots of things by music producer Rick Rubin in this newsletter and here's another one – a podcast in which he interviews a wide variety of different notable folks from a broad range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Album by Billynomates
I'm really late to the music of Tor Maries / Billynomates who rose to fame during the pandemic, but I was lucky enough to see her perform at Glastonbury.
Podcast
A recent discovery, Tape Notes is a podcast about the art and craft of music production, featuring interviews with a wide range of super talented artists.
Single by Baril
Somehow missed this beauty from 2021 and Baril is also a new name to me.
EP by Yussh
Yussh is Bristol based producer and DJ, Jen Hartley. This EP pulls together four of her dialled in, atmospheric tracks.
Album by Overmono
Love this debut album from Welsh brothers, Tom and Ed Russell. Shades of Bicep in here in places
Live performance
I never cease to be impressed by Fred Again... hence this being his second appearance in successive issues.
🔗 npr.org
Album by Grandbrothers
Recorded in Cologne cathedral, this latest release from Erol Sarp and Lukas Vogel AKA Grandbrothers is a beauty.
DJ Set
Prior to seeing this, I had only streamed Fred Again's albums and hadn't seen or heard any of his live DJ sets.
🔗 youtu.be
EP
On first listen I was pretty captivated by this ambient, housey debut from NYC producer tape_hiss. Lots of lovely dubby, euphoric beat patterns really scratch the itch for me here. Great stuff.
Album
Love this new Avery album from the end of last year. It's full of melancholic chords and beautiful synth lines.
DJ Mix
Friend and former boss, Fred Deakin has put out another one of his fantastic mixes that he does at the end of each year. This one is excellent, full of soothing, bouncy basslines and uptempo positivity.
Album – Extended Edition
A great collaboration from the Animal Collective and Spacemen 3 founders, this one is a beauty. It’s quite off genre for me, but the mellow, psychedelic melodies and harmonies here have proper shades of the Beach Boys. And just look at that artwork.
Album
Can imagine this new one from Big Michael dividing crowds a bit as it’s quite a bit softer than his usual fare.
Album
I’ve had this on a loop since its release. It’s the fifth album from Los Angeles producer Jason W. Chung and definitely feels the warmest. Some amazing collaborations on here too, including Panda Bear and Toro y Moi.
Album
I haven’t listened to Phoenix for quite a long while. Then out of nowhere Apple recommended me Alpha Zulu, the French band’s seventh album. It was apparently recorded in the Louvre which is about as Phoenix as it gets. And I’m into it. As everything seems to fall apart around us, it’s great to have music as pure escape and for me that’s what this is.
Podcast
NY-based host, Charles Steinberg sits down with TV and movie score composers to chat about their work and process. I listened to the Nathan Micay episode this morning and it’s great. There’s lots of chat about Micay’s amazing Industry soundtrack, his influences like Vangelis and Pink Floyd, as well as his background playing viola. Who knew?
Spotify playlist
Jazz is not usually my genre, but I love stepping outside of my go-to and mixing things up a bit. This playlist by Sasha Frere-Jones (which I think I originally discovered through Russell’s lovely newsletter, Afternoon Slow) is a magic compilation of the genre and there’s enough great music to while away a good few hours.
Single
Can’t get enough of the very mellow, contemplative track Samba on Sama by Junior Boys. Taken from the Ontario duo’s new LP, Waiting Game.
Single
Currently on a loop while I'm working is Industry (Green Light/Fun Night Breaks Mix) by Nathan Micay.
EP
I’ve loved Jacques Greene‘s stuff for a while, first picking up on it with the sublime Another Girl back in 2011. The Canadian DJ / producer’s latest EP, Fantasy came out earlier in 2022 and also does not disappoint.
Single
Can’t get enough of this 2020 tune from German producer, Ludwig A.F.
Album
I can normally take or leave most of Max Cooper’s stuff without the accompanying visuals, but Unspoken Words from earlier this year has really stayed with me – it’s got great pace and tempo, a proper vibe. Exotic Contents and Symphony in Acid are such good tunes.
Album
One of my favourite bits of pop culture to come out of the lockdown in 2020/21 was Bo Burnham’s Inside (very worth a watch on Netflix first if you’ve not seen it). Assuming you have already, this recently released playlist is a collection of audio outtakes and previously unreleased stuff from the production.
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