Metropolis Radio
Garnet in 2020
I’ve had a personal project for a year or so of making playlists based on cartoon characters. It helps me understand my interpretation of the chosen character better, and materialize them in some small way in the world.
Garnet is one of the crystal gems from the cartoon Steven Universe (a personal favorite, and a show that has come to feel like an old best friend) voice acted by the artist Estelle. Sonically she is often accompanied by funky psychedelic/futurist music that solidifies her link to the cosmos and rivers of time. Garnet is one of the most thoughtfully developed characters in the show, so I’ve been excited about making her playlist for some time.
This playlist is an investigation of things popular, soulful, ancestral, and futurist. Vocalists and performers who know exactly how to play with their voice, producers carving new paths for sound, and composers pushing us forward with their bold and assured grasp of their pasts are all present here. If you’d appreciate a suggestion for listening, I would say to not play this on shuffle. Go with the waves of energy, and enjoy the variety of powerful artists you’ll find.
—Darian Donovan Thomas
this week’s curator: Darian Donovan Thomas
Darian Donovan Thomas is a Brooklyn based interdisciplinary artist interested in the intersections of medium, genre, and audience. He uses violin, electronics, and extra-musical materials in his works to discuss matters of racism in the US, uphold ancient indigenous stories, and create abstract nature-scapes. Darian is currently touring with Moses Sumney and Balùn, and is a Bang on a Can Summer Festival Composition Fellow, Sō Percussion Summer Institute Fellow, and New Amsterdam Records Composer Lab Fellow.
about metropolis radio
Welcome to Metropolis Radio, our new ongoing series of curated playlists from the next generation of composers and performers. In addition to providing direct support to our artists for creating these playlists, we hope they serve as a connection to listeners during and after COVID-19, as well as promote a sense of community and discovery among Metropolis artists and beyond. New playlists dropping every Friday!
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