Rob Moose, a violinist and composer who has arranged music for everyone from Miley Cyrus to Anohni and the Johnsons, collaborated with some of his famous friends on his upcoming first solo release, the EP Inflorescence. The latest single, “Extract,” finds him teaming with Sara Bareilles. The full EP comes out on Aug. 11.
The song feels like a cross between easy listening, as Bareilles croons, and orchestral new music. “To say at least I’m alive seems so melodramatic,” she sings as orchestra strings flutter behind her on the track.
The song feels like a cross between easy listening, as Bareilles croons, and orchestral new music. “To say at least I’m alive seems so melodramatic,” she sings as orchestra strings flutter behind her on the track.
- 7/14/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Every track on My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross feels like a Greek statue frozen in some tragic visage of horror. Anohni’s voice sounds delicate, angry, and exhausted, as she grieves track by track — for the unfulfilled promises of civil rights, for friends lost to drugs and depression, for the immolation of a world succumbing to ecocide. On one song, “Why Am I Alive Now?” her voice quivers and keens as she regards the discord closing in on her (leaves fall off trees, smoke chokes the air,...
- 7/10/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
A trio of trans artists, models, and actresses unite in a bare, industrial wasteland in the video for Anohni and the Johnsons’ “Why Am I Alive Now.” Hunter Schafer, one of the most prominent transgender actresses working today after portraying Jules Vaughn on HBO’s Euphoria, directed the clip for the mournful track, which appears on Anohni’s upcoming album, My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross. The album comes out Friday.
In the clip, Fashion — who describes herself as a “transsexual diva, designer, artist, and DJ based...
In the clip, Fashion — who describes herself as a “transsexual diva, designer, artist, and DJ based...
- 7/5/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Anohni’s career has been powered by and fascinated with change. On 2005’s “For Today I Am a Boy,” from I Am a Bird Now, she plainly sang, “One day I’ll grow up, I’ll be a beautiful woman,” anticipating her blossoming evolution as a transgender woman. The artist’s stunning 2016 album Hopelessness was outfitted with chilly, sumptuous electronic soundscapes that pivoted away from the neo-classical palette of her previous work. And My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, Anohni’s first full-length album in seven years, is another decisive permutation in her musical identity: a swerve into blues rock.
The 10 songs here feature some of Anohni’s most laidback and unfussy arrangements to date. The album’s sound is, like Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence, marked by minimalist, sometimes gloomy guitar strumming. My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross was produced by Jimmy Hogarth,...
The 10 songs here feature some of Anohni’s most laidback and unfussy arrangements to date. The album’s sound is, like Lana Del Rey’s Ultraviolence, marked by minimalist, sometimes gloomy guitar strumming. My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross was produced by Jimmy Hogarth,...
- 7/3/2023
- by Charles Lyons-Burt
- Slant Magazine
The recently-reunited Anohni and the Johnsons have shared “Sliver of Ice,” the latest single from the group’s upcoming album My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross.
A gentle, brooding ballad, “Sliver of Ice” comes with a heavy backstory: “A friend of mine expressed to me in the final months of his life that the simplest sensations had begun to feel almost rapturous; a carer had placed a shard of ice on his tongue one day and it was such a sweet and unbelievable feeling that it caused him to weep with gratitude,” Anohni said in a press release. “He was a hardcore kind of guy and these moments were transforming the way he was seeing things. I wrote ‘Sliver of Ice,’ remembering those words of his.”
Those words translate into powerful lyrics: “Now that I’m almost gone/ Sliver of ice upon my tongue/ In the day...
A gentle, brooding ballad, “Sliver of Ice” comes with a heavy backstory: “A friend of mine expressed to me in the final months of his life that the simplest sensations had begun to feel almost rapturous; a carer had placed a shard of ice on his tongue one day and it was such a sweet and unbelievable feeling that it caused him to weep with gratitude,” Anohni said in a press release. “He was a hardcore kind of guy and these moments were transforming the way he was seeing things. I wrote ‘Sliver of Ice,’ remembering those words of his.”
Those words translate into powerful lyrics: “Now that I’m almost gone/ Sliver of ice upon my tongue/ In the day...
- 6/13/2023
- by Abby Jones
- Consequence - Music
Anohni has announced My Back Was a Bridge for You to Cross, the first studio album under her Anohni and the Johnsons moniker in more than a decade. The LP is out July 7th via Secretly Canadian and Rough Trade, and features the lead single, “It Must Change.”
In a press release, Anohni explained that Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On was “a really important touchstone” while creating the new album, adding, “Some of these songs respond to global and environmental concerns first voiced in popular music over 50 years ago.”
Anohni began working on My Back Was a Bridge with soul producer Jimmy Hogarth in 2022, when they created a series of demos together before assembling a studio band including Leo Abrahams, Chris Vatalaro, Sam Dixon, and string arranger Rob Moose to record the project. Pre-orders are ongoing.
“I want the record to be useful,” Anohni said about the album.
In a press release, Anohni explained that Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On was “a really important touchstone” while creating the new album, adding, “Some of these songs respond to global and environmental concerns first voiced in popular music over 50 years ago.”
Anohni began working on My Back Was a Bridge with soul producer Jimmy Hogarth in 2022, when they created a series of demos together before assembling a studio band including Leo Abrahams, Chris Vatalaro, Sam Dixon, and string arranger Rob Moose to record the project. Pre-orders are ongoing.
“I want the record to be useful,” Anohni said about the album.
- 5/16/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Anohni and the Johnsons are reuniting for their first new music in more than a decade. Lead singer Anohni — previously known as Antony — made the announcement in an Instagram post teasing a new single dropping on May 16th that appears to be titled “It Must Change.”
“Anohni and the Johnsons,” she wrote in the caption. “It Must Change. new single May 16.” See the post below.
The last full-length released by the group was the 2014 soundtrack album, Turning, a collection of live recordings accompanying Anohni’s film of the same name. Before that, they released the 2012 live album Cut the World, which featured two previously unreleased songs: the title track and “Future Feminism.” Their last studio full-length was 2010’s Swanlights.
After going solo under her new name, Anohni released her 2016 debut album, Hopelessness, and an EP titled Paradise the following year. More recently, she shared the protest song “R.N.C.
“Anohni and the Johnsons,” she wrote in the caption. “It Must Change. new single May 16.” See the post below.
The last full-length released by the group was the 2014 soundtrack album, Turning, a collection of live recordings accompanying Anohni’s film of the same name. Before that, they released the 2012 live album Cut the World, which featured two previously unreleased songs: the title track and “Future Feminism.” Their last studio full-length was 2010’s Swanlights.
After going solo under her new name, Anohni released her 2016 debut album, Hopelessness, and an EP titled Paradise the following year. More recently, she shared the protest song “R.N.C.
- 5/10/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
Rufus Wainwright has announced his upcoming album Folkocracy will arrive June 2 and released its lead single “Down in the Willow Garden” on Monday. The track features Brandi Carlile, and is described by Wainwright as a “blatantly brutal and masochistic” folk ballad.
“I chose us a cheery little number — not! The song is so blatantly brutal and masochistic that I had to sing it with a woman. Sadly, we still live in a violent world,” Wainwright said in a statement. “The amazing thing about so many folk songs is that, content wise,...
“I chose us a cheery little number — not! The song is so blatantly brutal and masochistic that I had to sing it with a woman. Sadly, we still live in a violent world,” Wainwright said in a statement. “The amazing thing about so many folk songs is that, content wise,...
- 3/7/2023
- by Charisma Madarang
- Rollingstone.com
In the article series Sound and Vision we take a look at music videos from notable directors. This week we discuss Anohni's' Epilepsy is Dancing, directed by The Wachowski Sisters. A small caveat before we begin to discuss this week's entry: the song and music video in question were originally released under an earlier moniker of singer Anohni which includes her deadname. A deadname is a term commonly used in queer circles to the name that was used before the trans or queer person in question settled on their preferred name. Given that the music video was also made before the Wachowski Sisters publicly came out as trans women a lot of the press around the time uses the deadnames of the artists involved. I...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 2/20/2023
- Screen Anarchy
The Oscar category of Best Original Song seems to have a concrete group of four tunes anticipated to be selected as nominees for Tuesday’s announcement. They include Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award winner “Naatu Naatu” from “Rrr” (M.M. Keeravani and Chandrabose), plus “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”, “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”, and “Ciao Papa” from “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio”. That leaves at least one spot potentially open for a surprise nominee. When predicting the song category, it is best to keep in mind that the music branch clearly has their favorites, and that usually tends to fill up a couple uncertain slots. This year, two of those songwriters may have a better shot at another Oscar nomination than most people think: perennial nominees Diane Warren for “Applause” from “Tell It Like A Woman,” and J. Ralph for “Dust & Ash” from the documentary...
- 1/23/2023
- by Christopher Tsang
- Gold Derby
J. Ralph has debuted the music video for “Dust & Ash” — his original tune penned for the documentary The Voice of Dust and Ash, which has been shortlisted for the Best Original Song Oscar in 2023.
The feature directorial debut of Iranian-American filmmaker Mandana Biscotti tells the incredible story of the monumental artist and humanitarian, Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian. When Iran’s ayatollah banned music and performances in the entire country, instruments and records became contraband, and artists were exiled, imprisoned and executed. While the government crushed human rights and self-expression, Shajarian risked everything to confront the regime, singing truth to power and uniting the country in a chorus of millions strong.
While Ralph alone wrote the song “Dust & Ash,” he performs on the track with nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones and Shajarian’s daughter, Mojgan. The original idea was to have Maestro Shajarian himself sing on the track, though he tragically...
The feature directorial debut of Iranian-American filmmaker Mandana Biscotti tells the incredible story of the monumental artist and humanitarian, Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian. When Iran’s ayatollah banned music and performances in the entire country, instruments and records became contraband, and artists were exiled, imprisoned and executed. While the government crushed human rights and self-expression, Shajarian risked everything to confront the regime, singing truth to power and uniting the country in a chorus of millions strong.
While Ralph alone wrote the song “Dust & Ash,” he performs on the track with nine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones and Shajarian’s daughter, Mojgan. The original idea was to have Maestro Shajarian himself sing on the track, though he tragically...
- 1/12/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Before he started working on the song, “Dust and Ash,” for the documentary, “The Voice of Dust and Ash,” J. Ralph had never heard of Iranian musician Mohammad Reza Shajarian. He first heard about him from a very notable source. “It was actually Sting’s daughter, Fuschia Sumner, that turned me on to the project. She’s one of the producers and she said, ‘I gotta show you this trailer. I think you’d be really great to get on board,” he tells Gold Derby during our recent interview (watch the exclusive video interview above).
The experience of hearing Shajarian for the first time was nothing short of an eye-opener for him. “It’s this incredible revelation when you get to experience something of this magnitude. His heart and his humility and his talent is something that you very rarely get to see.”
See over 200 interviews with 2023 awards contenders
“The Voice of Dust and Ash,...
The experience of hearing Shajarian for the first time was nothing short of an eye-opener for him. “It’s this incredible revelation when you get to experience something of this magnitude. His heart and his humility and his talent is something that you very rarely get to see.”
See over 200 interviews with 2023 awards contenders
“The Voice of Dust and Ash,...
- 1/12/2023
- by Charles Bright
- Gold Derby
With U.K. dream-pop pioneers Cocteau Twins, singer Elizabeth Fraser’s appeal had more to do with the way she projected raw emotions (joy, worry, uneasiness) than the songs she sang. Instead of attempting poetry, she sang in tongues, shaping her feelings with crude but often beautiful vocal sounds, and a few occasional words in English, which entwined themselves around her bandmates Robin Guthrie and Simon Raymonde’s fantasias. (Did she really say “silly, silly saliva”?) You didn’t listen to Cocteau Twins so much as you felt them. Fraser...
- 6/20/2022
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
While queer musicians have always been around, representation often comes in the way of gay, lesbian or bisexual artists. Unfortunately, transgender artists have been especially underrepresented. These days trans, nonbinary, or non-gender-conforming artists like Sam Smith, Arca, Janelle Monáe, Kim Petras, and Big Freedia have been able to create space for transgender artists. However, back in the 1960s, one artist was already pushing music forward. Let’s look back at Wendy Carlos, her monumental record “Switched-On Bach,” and how it helped both her and the trans community along the way — while also winning three Grammys.
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2022
Wendy Carlos was always a genius. According to her bio, after mastering her piano skills she attended Brown University and double majored in physics and music. Afterwards she earned a master’s degree in music composition at Columbia University. With such knowledge, it’s no surprise she was working...
SEEBillboard Hot 100: Every #1 song of 2022
Wendy Carlos was always a genius. According to her bio, after mastering her piano skills she attended Brown University and double majored in physics and music. Afterwards she earned a master’s degree in music composition at Columbia University. With such knowledge, it’s no surprise she was working...
- 6/18/2022
- by Jaime Rodriguez
- Gold Derby
Neneh Cherry has tapped Sia for a vibey reworking of her 1989 song, “Manchild.” The track will appear on Cherry’s forthcoming album The Versions, a collaboration album of covers from her catalogue by an all-female line-up.
The 10-track album, out June 10, will feature Robyn, Sia, Kelsey Lu, Jamila Woods, Tyson, and more. All of the artists on the LP have a personal connection to Cherry and her music.
“Neneh was my favorite artist when she hit the scene,” Sia explained in a statement. “I saved my pocket money for red...
The 10-track album, out June 10, will feature Robyn, Sia, Kelsey Lu, Jamila Woods, Tyson, and more. All of the artists on the LP have a personal connection to Cherry and her music.
“Neneh was my favorite artist when she hit the scene,” Sia explained in a statement. “I saved my pocket money for red...
- 4/28/2022
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Former Cocteau Twins singer Elizabeth Fraser has formed a new group with her partner, Massive Attack’s Damon Reece, called Sun’s Signature, which will release an EP — Fraser’s first new original music in 13 years — this summer. “Golden Air,” the first song the duo is releasing, perfectly captures the dreamy aesthetic Fraser helped pioneer in the Eighties, as she flexes her soprano in both catchy and avant-garde ways over thick textures of baroque pop. Genesis’ Steve Hackett plays some of the guitar on the song. The physical release of the five-track,...
- 4/6/2022
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Anohni has reteamed with dance music project Hercules & Love Affair for the new song “Poisonous Storytelling,” the latest single off In Amber, producer Andy Butler’s first Hercules & Love Affair album in five years.
Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie also appears on the track, which marks the first time the former Antony and the Johnson singer has collaborated with Hercules & Love Affair since their 2008 self-titled debut album, which yielded the hit “Blind.”
“‘Poisonous Storytelling’ started as a song called ‘Sacral’ – the music evoked sacred rites, but the word ‘Sacral...
Siouxsie and the Banshees drummer Budgie also appears on the track, which marks the first time the former Antony and the Johnson singer has collaborated with Hercules & Love Affair since their 2008 self-titled debut album, which yielded the hit “Blind.”
“‘Poisonous Storytelling’ started as a song called ‘Sacral’ – the music evoked sacred rites, but the word ‘Sacral...
- 4/6/2022
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Bryce Dessner and Anohni have shared the video for the “string arrangement” version of her 2008 song “Another World,” with the new take featuring on the National guitarist and composer’s new classical work Impermanence/Disintegration, out Friday.
“The music for this album was written to accompany a dance piece choreographed by Rafael Bonachela for the Sydney Dance Company and performed by the incredible Australian String Quartet,” Dessner tells Rolling Stone. “The record also includes beautiful contributions from my friends David Chalmin on electronics and Anohni with a new arrangement of her timeless song ‘Another World.
“The music for this album was written to accompany a dance piece choreographed by Rafael Bonachela for the Sydney Dance Company and performed by the incredible Australian String Quartet,” Dessner tells Rolling Stone. “The record also includes beautiful contributions from my friends David Chalmin on electronics and Anohni with a new arrangement of her timeless song ‘Another World.
- 4/2/2021
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
The National’s Bryce Dessner has released a new piece, “Impermanence,” from his upcoming collaboration with the Australian String Quartet and the Sydney Dance Company, Impermanence/Disintegration. The album will arrive April 2nd via 37d03d, the label Dessner founded with his brother/National bandmate Aaron Dessner and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon.
While this marks the first time “Impermanence” has been released in full, half the composition arrived last year in a video featuring Sydney Dance Company dancers Mia Thompson and Riley Fitzgerald performing choreography by Rafael Bonachela. Clemens Habicht directed the video.
While this marks the first time “Impermanence” has been released in full, half the composition arrived last year in a video featuring Sydney Dance Company dancers Mia Thompson and Riley Fitzgerald performing choreography by Rafael Bonachela. Clemens Habicht directed the video.
- 3/24/2021
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Janelle Monae has made successful ventures into acting with the films “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures” as well as the Amazon series “Homecoming.” But she’s still probably best known for her work as a singer-songwriter. So it’s ironic that she could win her first Oscar this year while the Grammys keep giving her the cold shoulder.
Monae made the Oscars shortlist for co-writing the original song “Turntables” (watch the video above) with George A. Peters II and Nathaniel Irvin III for the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” which recounts the history of voter suppression in the United States and the efforts of Georgia politician Stacey Abrams to make the system truly democratic.
SEELisa Cortes interview: ‘All In: The Fight for Democracy’ documentary
This would be only the second Oscar-winning song from a documentary, following Melissa Etheridge‘s political anthem “I Need to Wake Up” from 2006’s climate change doc “An Inconvenient Truth.
Monae made the Oscars shortlist for co-writing the original song “Turntables” (watch the video above) with George A. Peters II and Nathaniel Irvin III for the documentary “All In: The Fight for Democracy,” which recounts the history of voter suppression in the United States and the efforts of Georgia politician Stacey Abrams to make the system truly democratic.
SEELisa Cortes interview: ‘All In: The Fight for Democracy’ documentary
This would be only the second Oscar-winning song from a documentary, following Melissa Etheridge‘s political anthem “I Need to Wake Up” from 2006’s climate change doc “An Inconvenient Truth.
- 2/23/2021
- by Daniel Montgomery
- Gold Derby
Anohni shared a new single, “R.N.C 2020,” a reaction to the 2020 Republican National Convention. The singer also penned an essay via The Guardian explaining the track.
The song features a distorted loop from a concert in New York City that Anohni performed in her early twenties. “Trump is on the rise,” she sings. “He’s gonna execute the dream.”
Anohni described the new single as “pretty rough.” “That’s me screaming in the past…for the present,” she said.
“I watched the Republican National Convention last week,” she wrote.
The song features a distorted loop from a concert in New York City that Anohni performed in her early twenties. “Trump is on the rise,” she sings. “He’s gonna execute the dream.”
Anohni described the new single as “pretty rough.” “That’s me screaming in the past…for the present,” she said.
“I watched the Republican National Convention last week,” she wrote.
- 9/3/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Anohni has released a new single featuring a pair of covers: Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” and an old live rendition of Nina Simone’s “Be My Husband.” Both songs are available digitally and will be released on vinyl October 2nd via Secretly Canadian.
In a press release, per Stereogum, Anohni said she recorded her version of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” a few years back with Kevin Barker. She’d been encouraged to try recording a few Dylan songs by producer Hal Willner,...
In a press release, per Stereogum, Anohni said she recorded her version of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” a few years back with Kevin Barker. She’d been encouraged to try recording a few Dylan songs by producer Hal Willner,...
- 8/3/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Climate change activism reached an apex over the last half-decade, and its urgency can be felt all over music, from the damning last words in Anohni’s “4 Degrees” to the apocalyptic queen’s wave of Lana Del Rey’s “The Greatest,” bidding adieu to Los Angeles as it turns to ash in real time. The 1975 brought on Greta Thunberg for the latest version of their self-titled track, calling for rebellion in the face of crisis.
Will Westerman’s contemplative new song, “Blue Comanche,” makes space for grief amidst imminent disaster.
Will Westerman’s contemplative new song, “Blue Comanche,” makes space for grief amidst imminent disaster.
- 1/15/2020
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
It was mildly confusing when Haim released an original song titled “Hallelujah” on Monday, but now they’ve officially dropped a Leonard Cohen cover — a rendition “If It Be Your Will,” included on the new Hanukkah+ album.
The final breath to 1984’s Various Positions, “If It Be Your Will” is an ethereal track that features Jennifer Warnes on backing vocals. “If it be your will/That I speak no more/And my voice be still/As it was before,” Cohen sings over faint acoustic guitar. “I will speak no more...
The final breath to 1984’s Various Positions, “If It Be Your Will” is an ethereal track that features Jennifer Warnes on backing vocals. “If it be your will/That I speak no more/And my voice be still/As it was before,” Cohen sings over faint acoustic guitar. “I will speak no more...
- 11/22/2019
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
Danielle Lessovitz’s feature directing debut—and Un Certain Regard entry—Port Authority follows Paul (Fionn Whitehead), who arrives at the titular bus station and quickly meets eyes with Wye (Leyna Bloom), a girl voguing on the sidewalk. An intense love blossoms, but when Paul discovers that Wye is trans, he is forced to confront his own identity. A love story set in the kiki ballroom scene—the Lgbt subculture that includes competitive performances and dance—it boasts Martin Scorsese as a producer via his company Sikelia’s joint venture with Rt Features to foster emerging filmmakers.
Lessovitz says Port Authority was inspired by a performance of Antony and the Johnsons she caught about 10 years ago. Lead singer Antony (who is now Anohni) “felt very clearly like the spirit of a woman in a male-presenting body. I wondered what a love story would be with Antony as the center of...
Lessovitz says Port Authority was inspired by a performance of Antony and the Johnsons she caught about 10 years ago. Lead singer Antony (who is now Anohni) “felt very clearly like the spirit of a woman in a male-presenting body. I wondered what a love story would be with Antony as the center of...
- 5/16/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Mary Ann Singleton is back at Barbary Lane, and the reunion is primed to inspire as many feelings as possible. Netflix is reviving the beloved queer show “Tales of the City,” based on the books by prolific San Francisco writer Armistead Maupin. The last time time she was seen onscreen was 1993, when Laura Linney played her for PBS. Linney returns — with her co-star from that production, Olympia Dukakis, as magical landlord Anna Madrigal — to the mythical house on Barbary Lane in which so many memories were made. The first trailer for the new series, below, is scored by Anohni’s gorgeous queer ode “For Today I am a Boy,” dialing up the tear factor to 100.
Per the Netflix synopsis, this next chapter of “Tales of the City” follows Mary Ann’s (Linney) return to “present-day San Francisco, where she is reunited with her daughter Shawna (Ellen Page) and ex-husband Brian...
Per the Netflix synopsis, this next chapter of “Tales of the City” follows Mary Ann’s (Linney) return to “present-day San Francisco, where she is reunited with her daughter Shawna (Ellen Page) and ex-husband Brian...
- 4/9/2019
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
When it comes to the Best Song category, you would think a live show like the Oscar telecast that has been bleeding ratings lately would benefit from showcasing the five nominated songs on the air. Who doesn’t like a good halftime show. But apparently the academy, which continues to waffle over its hosting issues, has now floated the notion that only two of the nominated five songs — “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born,” sung by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, and Kendrick Lamar and Sza’s “All the Stars” from “Black Panther” – will be performed live .
What would get left out in the cold? Jennifer Hudson, Oscar-vetted for wailing her way through 2006’s “Dreamgirls” for one. Its her voice that soars on “I’ll Fight” from the Ruth Bader Ginsburg doc, “Rbg.” Adding more interest is the fact that is written by Diane Warren, a 10-time nominee who is massively overdue.
What would get left out in the cold? Jennifer Hudson, Oscar-vetted for wailing her way through 2006’s “Dreamgirls” for one. Its her voice that soars on “I’ll Fight” from the Ruth Bader Ginsburg doc, “Rbg.” Adding more interest is the fact that is written by Diane Warren, a 10-time nominee who is massively overdue.
- 1/29/2019
- by Susan Wloszczyna
- Gold Derby
This World Heart Day, the British Heart Foundation has teamed up with world renowned photographer Rankin to launch an international art project with creatives from around the world, to raise awareness of the global fight against heart disease.
‘Heart for a Heart’ has seen celebrated artists, celebrities, photographers, and brands from around the world unite against heart disease by creating unique heart-themed artwork and uploading them to social media in celebration of World Heart Day.
The social media movement aims to raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease – the leading cause of death worldwide. In the UK alone, nearly 160,000 lives are lost to these devastating conditions each year, one every three minutes. Globally it causes an estimated 17.7 million deaths a year.
Among those taking part include actors Simon Pegg, Carey Mulligan, Anna Friel, Nicholas Hoult, Gillian Anderson, Sadie Frost, Ashley Margolis, Max Beesley, Noel Anthony Clarke, and Emma Pierson; TV personalities Holly Willoughby,...
‘Heart for a Heart’ has seen celebrated artists, celebrities, photographers, and brands from around the world unite against heart disease by creating unique heart-themed artwork and uploading them to social media in celebration of World Heart Day.
The social media movement aims to raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease – the leading cause of death worldwide. In the UK alone, nearly 160,000 lives are lost to these devastating conditions each year, one every three minutes. Globally it causes an estimated 17.7 million deaths a year.
Among those taking part include actors Simon Pegg, Carey Mulligan, Anna Friel, Nicholas Hoult, Gillian Anderson, Sadie Frost, Ashley Margolis, Max Beesley, Noel Anthony Clarke, and Emma Pierson; TV personalities Holly Willoughby,...
- 10/5/2017
- Look to the Stars
News of Todd Haynes making his first documentary should’ve come as something of a curveball, but it was reported that the “Carol” director is planning a non-fiction project about the Velvet Underground, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Haynes’ “Velvet Goldmine” is such a knowing, textured, and vividly remembered reflection on the glam rock era that it can be easy to forget that its story merely alludes to the likes of Lou Reed.
But the fascination the Velvet Underground holds for Haynes isn’t the only thing that makes this newly announced documentary feel like such a perfect pairing between subject and storyteller. With the landmark “The Velvet Underground & Nico” LP, Reed and his cohorts effectively forged a new language for countercultural expression, synthesizing the subversive pop stylings of Andy Warhol into a rock movement that had already been neutered of its rebellious beginnings. With films like “Poison” and “Safe,...
But the fascination the Velvet Underground holds for Haynes isn’t the only thing that makes this newly announced documentary feel like such a perfect pairing between subject and storyteller. With the landmark “The Velvet Underground & Nico” LP, Reed and his cohorts effectively forged a new language for countercultural expression, synthesizing the subversive pop stylings of Andy Warhol into a rock movement that had already been neutered of its rebellious beginnings. With films like “Poison” and “Safe,...
- 8/8/2017
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
Sergei Eisenstein. Leni Riefenstahl. Michael Moore. Steve Bannon? At an event entitled “Alternative Facts: The Steve Bannon Reality Show” on the opening weekend of the Copenhagen International Documentary Festival (Cph:dox), writer and host Lars Trier Mogensen argued that Trump’s chief strategist might just be the most influential filmmaker among these titans of polemical documentary. A year ago, that claim might have seemed far-fetched.
Back then, the young crowd now packed into the “Social Cinema,” a performance hall in festival’s new center Kunsthal Charlottenborg, had likely never heard of this alt-right auteur. Lounging on stylish sofas, they were willing to sit through nine tedious Bannon trailers and a two-hour analysis of populism and propaganda with a Princeton professor, political scientist Jan-Werner Müller, and artist Christian von Borries. Given Bannon’s disdain for factual integrity, it would be hard to claim that his 90-minute political screeds could even be called documentaries.
Back then, the young crowd now packed into the “Social Cinema,” a performance hall in festival’s new center Kunsthal Charlottenborg, had likely never heard of this alt-right auteur. Lounging on stylish sofas, they were willing to sit through nine tedious Bannon trailers and a two-hour analysis of populism and propaganda with a Princeton professor, political scientist Jan-Werner Müller, and artist Christian von Borries. Given Bannon’s disdain for factual integrity, it would be hard to claim that his 90-minute political screeds could even be called documentaries.
- 4/3/2017
- by Paul Dallas
- Indiewire
This is where I'm supposed to summarize the past year, find some overaching theme or thread running through my choices, spot trends, or something along those lines. Instead it's just another mea culpa for my continuing and accelerating estrangement from mainstream pop music. Don't mind me, I'm just a grumpy old fart. But these twenty new albums made me less grumpy.
1. Diiv: Is the Is Are (Captured Tracks)
I enjoyed their first album, and far from a sophomore slump, their second is even better. Sure, I'm heavily predisposed to love bands that conjure a moody '80s vibe with thrumming bass, chiming guitar jangle, and submerged vocals, but this is greater than the sum of those parts, simultaneously updating the sound while tapping into a new level of melodicism for this band.
2. David Bowie: Black Star (Sony)
I wrote about this at length. What can I add now that...
1. Diiv: Is the Is Are (Captured Tracks)
I enjoyed their first album, and far from a sophomore slump, their second is even better. Sure, I'm heavily predisposed to love bands that conjure a moody '80s vibe with thrumming bass, chiming guitar jangle, and submerged vocals, but this is greater than the sum of those parts, simultaneously updating the sound while tapping into a new level of melodicism for this band.
2. David Bowie: Black Star (Sony)
I wrote about this at length. What can I add now that...
- 1/18/2017
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
In the golden age of television, the New York Television Festival is quickly becoming the place to find the next crown jewel. Now in its 12th year, the festival continues to grow each year both in scope and prestige, boasting a record number of submissions, artists, and industry participation.
“It’s taken us a couple of years to get to this point, but we’re hitting our stride at a time where there is great creativity in TV and digital,” said Nytvf Founder and Executive Director Terence Gray, surveying the room bustling with pitch meetings on plush couches. “It’s fun, you see these incredibly talented people that are being given a shot to sit down with agents and managers and executives.”
Read More: ‘Arrested Development’ Creator Mitch Hurwitz’s Pitching Secret: Make ‘Em Laugh
Grey founded Nytvf twelve years ago, shrewdly filling an opening for a Sundance-like festival for independent television creators.
“It’s taken us a couple of years to get to this point, but we’re hitting our stride at a time where there is great creativity in TV and digital,” said Nytvf Founder and Executive Director Terence Gray, surveying the room bustling with pitch meetings on plush couches. “It’s fun, you see these incredibly talented people that are being given a shot to sit down with agents and managers and executives.”
Read More: ‘Arrested Development’ Creator Mitch Hurwitz’s Pitching Secret: Make ‘Em Laugh
Grey founded Nytvf twelve years ago, shrewdly filling an opening for a Sundance-like festival for independent television creators.
- 10/30/2016
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
We have just over 48 hours to go until the Oscars, and the diversity controversy is not going away. Al Sharpton is planning to lead a protest on Sunday night near the Dolby Theater before the show begins, while the decision by the producers to cut Best Original Song performances by Antony Hegarty (a.k.a. Anohni, the first transgender nominee ever) and South Korean soprano Sumi Jo, yet add Dave Grohl to the program, have the led to further outrage (read Hegarty's letter about why she's boycotting the show here). And that's only the most recent controversy. When the Oscar nominations were first announced, "Carol" landed six nods in some key categories, including Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay. However, the film's director, Todd Haynes, missed out, and the movie didn't land in the Best Picture field either. Read More: The Best Performances By The 2016 Oscar Nominees Speaking recently with.
- 2/26/2016
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Thanks for reading all year, dear Oscar freaks. I originally published these predictions in my column at Towleroad but the write-ups are expanded here with more details since y'all are movie freaks and I love you for it. Here we go...
From silly rumors of a bear “raping” Leonardo DiCaprio, to the critical fervor for a fourth film in a Mad and previously non-prestigious action franchise, to obviously gathering but non-impactful support of our years long anti category fraud crusade, to the internet rage and ongoing controversy over #OscarsSoWhite this has been an eventful and often surprising awards season. Will Oscar night continue that trend or feel like an anticlimax? Whichever way it goes, it all comes to an end this Sunday night on ABC when the 88th Academy Awards unspool.
The following predictions can be used to inform your Oscar party or office Oscar pool but fair warning: even...
From silly rumors of a bear “raping” Leonardo DiCaprio, to the critical fervor for a fourth film in a Mad and previously non-prestigious action franchise, to obviously gathering but non-impactful support of our years long anti category fraud crusade, to the internet rage and ongoing controversy over #OscarsSoWhite this has been an eventful and often surprising awards season. Will Oscar night continue that trend or feel like an anticlimax? Whichever way it goes, it all comes to an end this Sunday night on ABC when the 88th Academy Awards unspool.
The following predictions can be used to inform your Oscar party or office Oscar pool but fair warning: even...
- 2/26/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Oscar-nominated transgender performer Anohni has decided not to attend this year's Academy Awards ceremony. The artist, who has also gone by the name Antony Hegarty, penned an open letter in the Pitchfork Thursday, in which she expressed her disappointment in the Academy and her reasoning behind boycotting the ceremony. "I am the only transgendered performer ever to have been nominated for an Academy Award, and for that I thank the artists who nominated me," she started the letter. The singer, 44, is nominated for Best Original Song for "Manta Ray," recorded for the documentary Racing Extinction. Her Oscar nod makes her...
- 2/26/2016
- by Jodi Guglielmi, @JodiGug3
- PEOPLE.com
Anohni, a transgender singer and songwriter who was nominated for an Oscar for co-writing the song “Manta Ray” under the name Antony Hegarty, has published a wrenching essay detailing her “embarrassment and anger” at the Oscar producers’ decision not to include her song on the telecast. And while she does not claim that she’s being excluded because she’s transgender, she does call it part of “a system of social oppression and diminished opportunities for transpeople.” In an essay on her website, Oscar nominee Anohni — best known as the singer of the celebrated indie group Antony and the Johnsons — described.
- 2/26/2016
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
As a viewer it’s easy and arguably admirable to skip the Oscars. As a film writer, a disinterest in the Academy Awards can provide thoughtful commentary on the artistic and commercial priorities of our film business. But for those with more vested interest, not attending the Awards is a powerful statement. In the year of the Oscar boycott, this essay by Anohi (aka Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons), the first transgender performer ever to be nominated, is particularly bracing. Anohni, who was nominated for Best Original Song (“Manta Ray,” her collaboration with J. Ralph from the movie Racing […]...
- 2/25/2016
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Academy Awards have just erased the silver lining of an awards season that has been rightfully dominated by stories of omission and institutional injustice.
Lost in the justifiable furor over #OscarsSoWhite is the fact that a transgender person has received an Academy Award nomination for the first time since songwriter Angela Morley earned two in the mid-Seventies. Mercury Prize-winning musician Anohni (née Antony Hegarty) has been recognized for her song "Manta Ray," the J. Ralph duet she was commissioned to co-write and perform for the climate crisis documentary Racing Extinction.
Lost in the justifiable furor over #OscarsSoWhite is the fact that a transgender person has received an Academy Award nomination for the first time since songwriter Angela Morley earned two in the mid-Seventies. Mercury Prize-winning musician Anohni (née Antony Hegarty) has been recognized for her song "Manta Ray," the J. Ralph duet she was commissioned to co-write and perform for the climate crisis documentary Racing Extinction.
- 2/25/2016
- Rollingstone.com
On Sunday, movie fans will find out if Eddie Redmayne wins Best Actor for his performance as trans woman Lili Elbe in The Danish Girl. Should Redmayne be victorious, he'd not only score back-to-back Oscars but he would also become the latest in a long line of actors who have courted Oscar attention by playing the opposite sex, playing a trans person or in some other way playing a character whose gender differs than the one of which the actors themselves identify. Not that it comes without some criticism, of course. Also up for an Oscar this year is the...
- 2/25/2016
- by Drew Mackie, @drewgmackie
- PEOPLE.com
News just broke that performances of Original Song nominees Youth's "Simple Song No. 3" (read our interview) and Facing Extinction's "Manta Ray" have been nixed from the Oscar broadcast, the producers citing "time constraints" for the always lengthy show. Performances of the other three nominated songs by Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and Sam Smith are still in play.
Tfe must express rage at yet another stupid Academy blunder. This sends an incredibly bad faith message to nominees -- if you're not famous pop stars, your nominations are "lesser than". And in a year where the Academy has been the subject of immense criticism for their lack of diversity they've essentially excluded the sole trans nominee (Antony Hegarty of Antony & the Johnsons fame who co-wrote and sings "Manta Ray") from valuable air time.
As a longtime fan of Antony and as a member of the Lgbt community this enrages me. Diversity is...
Tfe must express rage at yet another stupid Academy blunder. This sends an incredibly bad faith message to nominees -- if you're not famous pop stars, your nominations are "lesser than". And in a year where the Academy has been the subject of immense criticism for their lack of diversity they've essentially excluded the sole trans nominee (Antony Hegarty of Antony & the Johnsons fame who co-wrote and sings "Manta Ray") from valuable air time.
As a longtime fan of Antony and as a member of the Lgbt community this enrages me. Diversity is...
- 2/19/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
By Patrick Shanley
Managing Editor
This year’s best original song front runner seems to be Lady Gaga and Diane Warren’s “Til It Happens To You” from the documentary, The Hunting Ground, which examines the prevalence of sexual assault cases on college campuses throughout the U.S. The song is very personal for both artists, as both recently opened up about their past experiences with sexual assault in a L.A. Times interview.
The song’s importance, and its resonance with audiences (the music video has over 24 million hits on Youtube) and Academy voters, lies in its social commentary. The four young women who are the subjects of the film (Annie E. Clark, Andrea L. Pino, Sofie Karasek and Kamilah Willingham) recently penned a letter to the songwriters thanking them and that “the release of your song will have an unparalleled impact on the culture of campuses nationwide,” as reported by Billboard.
Managing Editor
This year’s best original song front runner seems to be Lady Gaga and Diane Warren’s “Til It Happens To You” from the documentary, The Hunting Ground, which examines the prevalence of sexual assault cases on college campuses throughout the U.S. The song is very personal for both artists, as both recently opened up about their past experiences with sexual assault in a L.A. Times interview.
The song’s importance, and its resonance with audiences (the music video has over 24 million hits on Youtube) and Academy voters, lies in its social commentary. The four young women who are the subjects of the film (Annie E. Clark, Andrea L. Pino, Sofie Karasek and Kamilah Willingham) recently penned a letter to the songwriters thanking them and that “the release of your song will have an unparalleled impact on the culture of campuses nationwide,” as reported by Billboard.
- 1/28/2016
- by Patrick Shanley
- Scott Feinberg
Glenn here with a look at everybody’s favourite category – best original song! Okay, so, sure, even if this year’s roster for best original song doesn’t look like a vintage one for the category, there’s actually some fun to be had when you consider who will win.
Will Diane Warren finally win an Oscar on her eighth nomination? And how strange will it be to see her win for a song from a documentary about sexual abuse alongside Lady Gaga rather than one of the chart-busting hit-singles that her first six nominations were for (lest we forget, Beyond the Lights’ “Grateful” didn’t chart because, well, Rita Ora). Will an opera tune win for the first time? No work of opera has ever been nominated if my research is correct, which is kinda neat even though I think the song is dirge (albeit appropriately so for the...
Will Diane Warren finally win an Oscar on her eighth nomination? And how strange will it be to see her win for a song from a documentary about sexual abuse alongside Lady Gaga rather than one of the chart-busting hit-singles that her first six nominations were for (lest we forget, Beyond the Lights’ “Grateful” didn’t chart because, well, Rita Ora). Will an opera tune win for the first time? No work of opera has ever been nominated if my research is correct, which is kinda neat even though I think the song is dirge (albeit appropriately so for the...
- 1/22/2016
- by Glenn Dunks
- FilmExperience
Refresh your screen periodically for updates as this post will evolve
If you missed the Oscar nominations this morning you can check out the full list at our Official Nomination Index Page. The individual Oscar charts will take some time to update but should go up throughout the day. But while we're all gathered let's have so fun checking off some trivia and stats. This post is dedicated to the first timers in Oscar's club.
Feel free to contribute "firsts" in the comments!
First Time Lucky
Mad Max Fury Road is the first live action sequel ever nominated for Best Picture whose original wasn't nominated. In fact the entire Mad Max franchise had received zero nominations up until this morning. Mad Max is only the second sequel ever nominated for Best Picture whose original wasn't up for the same prize. The only other example is Toy Story 3 (the first...
If you missed the Oscar nominations this morning you can check out the full list at our Official Nomination Index Page. The individual Oscar charts will take some time to update but should go up throughout the day. But while we're all gathered let's have so fun checking off some trivia and stats. This post is dedicated to the first timers in Oscar's club.
Feel free to contribute "firsts" in the comments!
First Time Lucky
Mad Max Fury Road is the first live action sequel ever nominated for Best Picture whose original wasn't nominated. In fact the entire Mad Max franchise had received zero nominations up until this morning. Mad Max is only the second sequel ever nominated for Best Picture whose original wasn't up for the same prize. The only other example is Toy Story 3 (the first...
- 1/15/2016
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Sure, Coachella iscool, but we're pretty sure the hottest concert ticket of 2016 is actually going to take place on Hollywood's biggest night. When the Academy Award nominations were announced on Thursday, music fans might have been excited to see some major names on the Best Original Song list: The Weeknd, Lady Gaga and Sam Smith all have a chance of taking home the trophy on Feb. 28. Also nominated are David Lang for "Simple Song #3" from Youth and J. Ralph and Antony Hegarty (of the band Antony and the Johnsons) for their song "Manta Ray" from Racing Extinction. And even though,...
- 1/14/2016
- by Julia Emmanuele, @julesemm
- PEOPLE.com
Every week, members of the Vulture staff highlight the best new music of 2015. If the song is worthy of your ears and attention, you will find it here. Read our picks below, share yours in the comments, and subscribe to the Vulture 2015 Playlist for a comprehensive guide to the year's best music.Anohni, "4 Degrees" You likely know Anohni as Antony Hegarty, but she's using her new moniker to speak to the severity of climate change just as the world's biggest leaders have converged to debate the same issue. Hudson Mohawke and Oneohtrix Point Never co-produced this towering piece of music, which doesn't find Anohni preaching about how we let our world down so much as it has her shouldering some of the blame herself. "I wanna hear the dogs crying for water / I wanna see fish go belly-up in the sea," she sings, highlighting the disregard for Earth's creatures.
- 12/1/2015
- by Vulture Editors
- Vulture
Charles Atlas’ documentary Turning captures Antony and the Johnsons on tour in Europe in 2006, when the band was only part of the visual equation. Opposite Antony, 13 different women took the stage, revolving and acting out counterpoint emotions with their bodies. In this clip we have performance artist Johanna Constantine, an old friend of Antony’s since his first year at university. Turning hits DVD, CD and digital release on November 11 from Secretly Canadian.
- 10/28/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Charles Atlas’ documentary Turning captures Antony and the Johnsons on tour in Europe in 2006, when the band was only part of the visual equation. Opposite Antony, 13 different women took the stage, revolving and acting out counterpoint emotions with their bodies. In this clip we have performance artist Johanna Constantine, an old friend of Antony’s since his first year at university. Turning hits DVD, CD and digital release on November 11 from Secretly Canadian.
- 10/28/2014
- by Vadim Rizov
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
Not that Lou Reed would have recognized me (though I was introduced to him once, which I'll get to), but he and his body of work intersected my life in more personal ways than that of any other major rock star. So this isn't an obituary so much as a series of memories. For obituaries, check out Gary Graff in Billboard and Jon Dolan in Rolling Stone.
Lou was from Long Island and I was from Long Island. At the most basic level, this meant that, growing up listening to Long Island radio stations, I heard lots of Lou even when he was no longer especially fashionable (between about 1976 and 1981). Thus, while most of the world ignored his 1978 album Street Hassle, I heard much of it on Wlir and Wbab, and bought it – my first Lou album. He had started out underground in the Velvet Underground, had managed to claw...
Lou was from Long Island and I was from Long Island. At the most basic level, this meant that, growing up listening to Long Island radio stations, I heard lots of Lou even when he was no longer especially fashionable (between about 1976 and 1981). Thus, while most of the world ignored his 1978 album Street Hassle, I heard much of it on Wlir and Wbab, and bought it – my first Lou album. He had started out underground in the Velvet Underground, had managed to claw...
- 10/28/2013
- by SteveHoltje
- www.culturecatch.com
It’s been a banner year for Charles Atlas. In 2012, the filmmaker and video artist was included in the Whitney Biennial, opened his first New York solo show, “The Illusion of Democracy” (the inaugural show of Lurhring Augustine’s brand new Bushwick gallery, no less), had seminal, rarely-screened works revived care of keen programming at local NYC film series’ Dirty Looks and Light Industry, and is now unveiling his long-awaited collaboration with enigmatic singer/musician Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons), which opens today at IFC Center.
Turning, which had its New York premiere this past weekend at Doc NYC, is a feature-length documentary, and its Atlas’s first film to receive a traditional theatrical release. Part performance film and part backstage portrait, the film is a unique blend of the filmmaker’s entrancing visuals, Antony’s exquisite music and intimate interviews with the thirteen “models,” a diverse collection...
Turning, which had its New York premiere this past weekend at Doc NYC, is a feature-length documentary, and its Atlas’s first film to receive a traditional theatrical release. Part performance film and part backstage portrait, the film is a unique blend of the filmmaker’s entrancing visuals, Antony’s exquisite music and intimate interviews with the thirteen “models,” a diverse collection...
- 11/16/2012
- by Paul Dallas
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
It’s been a banner year for Charles Atlas. In 2012, the filmmaker and video artist was included in the Whitney Biennial, opened his first New York solo show, “The Illusion of Democracy” (the inaugural show of Lurhring Augustine’s brand new Bushwick gallery, no less), had seminal, rarely-screened works revived care of keen programming at local NYC film series’ Dirty Looks and Light Industry, and is now unveiling his long-awaited collaboration with enigmatic singer/musician Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons), which opens today at IFC Center. Turning, which had its New York premiere this past weekend at Doc NYC, is …...
- 11/16/2012
- by Paul Dallas
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
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