Ichiko Aoba has the power to bend space around her, pulling listeners from reality and surrounding them in the comforting fabric of her imagination. She’s been casting these spells since her debut at 19 years old, making picturesque dioramas with only her voice and guitar. But in recent years, she’s turned a corner and let a new process take hold. The Japanese singer, songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist tapped into the full breadth of her ability, marrying the classical guitar of her earlier work with lofty orchestral sweeps.
Read MoreA vivid and literal strain lies at the heart of Owen Pallett’s work. From the recordings they first released as Final Fantasy, to those under their own name, Pallett’s albums are an expression of their rare musical gifts that have grown more autobiographical with each successive release. The breadth of Pallett’s creativity extends across the writing of operas, composing music for ballet and Oscar-nominated scores and soundtracks.
Read More