Metropolis Radio
Quiescent Intensities
What intensities and multitudes are contained within this unprecedented stillness? I’ve highlighted the people and sounds that move me deeply, focusing on music that expands my senses and helps me feel the dynamic prism of stillness. This year has made us mourn in profound ways— for those who have suffered from and succumbed to the coronavirus, for the precious Black lives lost, for our frayed human connections, for our ailing democracy. Carried and refracted through these voluptuous atmospheres, metamorphosing textures, and singularly potent voices— the intimate intensities of this time feel necessary to learn and share. I offer this playlist as a balm for all of our yearning hearts, and as a soft catalyst for hope and resilience.
The tracks are arranged in a comforting arc— but explore, shuffle, meander… you might find beautiful new pathways of feeling. Some of the music is nostalgic, conjuring memories of listening and playing music with loved ones; others are relatively new discoveries for me. Together, they give me the feeling of having friends and family close by— of abundant, warm embraces. I hope they give you light for this dark time: we’re still here, let’s not forget to feel ourselves.
— Rajna Swaminathan
this week’s curator: Rajna Swaminathan
Mrudangam artist, composer, and scholar Rajna Swaminathan has been described as “a vital new voice” (Pop Matters), creating “music of gravity and rigor… yet its overall effect is accessible and uplifting” (Wall Street Journal). Experimenting with the undercurrents of rhythmic experience and collective improvisation, Rajna’s creative paths blossomed through a search for resonance and fluidity among aesthetic worlds. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Music (Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry) at Harvard University.
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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