Today’s mix is inspired by Andrew Tasslemyer’s mix for Soundwave, my weekly ambient/classical/experimental/instrumentals show.
Andrew’s mix goes live tomorrow and includes Julie Byrne’s song, “Wisdom Teeth Song.” Julie is an amazing artist whose music is sometimes so heartfelt that it’s almost painful to listen to. If that wasn’t enough, Julie’s voice evokes memories of listening to songs of love and loss late at night on my AM radio in the 70s. Julie’s music hits me hard on many levels.
I’ve been sitting on a clutch of songs in a playlist for the last few years, and Andrew’s mix inspired me to share this mix with you. Expect to have a lot of feelings.
Sofia Nystrand introduced me to several fantastic musicians after sharing her Vargkvint mix on Soundwave (you can listen to it here). Jakob was one of those musicians, and after I listened to some of his releases, I invited him to guest deejay.
Jakob is an award-winning film composer based in Stockholm, Sweden. His most recent soundtrack is Ziba, a movie about an Afghan woman living in Sweden, struggling with the realisation that she has developed romantic feelings for another woman, and the consequences that will have for her marriage and family. Jakob’s soundtrack for Ziba will be released Thursday, May 12. You can listen to a single from the soundtrack here. It’s a beautiful, moving piece.
Speaking of soundtracks, I listened to Jakob’s mix while playing the Call of Cthulhu roleplaying game on Roll20. It lent atmosphere to the game and heightened the experience.
Jakob has some words about his mix below.
Before I leave you, Soundwave guest deejay Alex Haas has released his new album, STRING OF PIECES. His album has become part of my mourning routine as I start my workday. Listen to Alex’s mix for Soundwave here.
I’ve always found the duo constellation very interesting, as it’s so intimate. Whereas the solo work is the reflection of one vision, and a band can be everything from a fair democracy to a dictatorship, the duo is such a fascinating reflection of two combined minds, often resulting in a synergy effect. The mix contains some of the most inspiring duos I know (of), as well as a couple of examples where I myself have felt elevated by my collaborator.
I met Sean through Steve Targo (listen to his mix for Soundwave here). I asked Steve who he thought would share a mix on Soundwave, and he recommended Sean, who runs the Inner Islands music label. I spent an afternoon listening to some of the music from Sean’s label. Wonderful stuff! I sent out an invitation to guest deejay on Soundwave, toot suite.
Sean also records under under the names Ashan and Channelers, and is in the duo Skyminds with Michael Henning.
On today’s show, Sean showcases select tracks from his recordings as Channelers.
Last year I invited Klaus to guest deejay on Soundwave. It saddens me that Klaus was unable to appear on the show. I would have loved to have heard what music he finds essential. But we will always have Klaus’s music to experience and enjoy.
You can listen to a 7+ hour mix of Klaus’s music on Spotify.
The following pieces trace my (mostly) acoustic work as Channelers recorded on 8-track tape over the last six years. The pieces revolve around long live takes, minimal to no editing, and compositions that range from fully worked out to fully improvised, with most resting somewhere in between. This is in contrast to my electronic albums as Channelers, which have heavily relied on editing, loops, effects, and generally more post-production than playing. As the years go by, the tape pieces remain closer to my heart. There is a certain spaciousness and spirit to them that I still resonate with. They are more indicative of how I would like to carry on with the Channelers’ work.
When I launched Soundwave, I had no plans beyond releasing a weekly show dedicated to ambient, classical, experimental, and instrumental music to help cope with the stress and isolation of the stay-at-home self-quarantine during the first few months of the pandemic. If I had a plan, it was that I would wrap up the show once COVID-19 was reasonably under control. Soundwave will have fulfilled its purpose.
Week after week, I’ve shared fantastic mixes from guest deejays who are musicians, deejays, label owners, writers, etc. Each show is different; each show is a gem. But the pandemic isn’t over, and Soundwave hasn’t ended.
One of the unexpected delights of Soundwave over the last two years is the network of people that emerged who have participated in the show. I ask each guest deejay on Soundwave whom they know who would want to share a mix on the show. Soundwave has been around long enough that asking for someone to guest deejay on the show will branch out to three other guests. How far will it go as the year goes by?
I met Jacob Newman when I asked Innesti who should guest deejay on Soundwave. They recommended Jacob. After listening to his music on Bandcamp, I wholeheartedly agreed and extended an invitation to Jacob.
Ephemeralis Algorithmica
The music you’ll hear in Jacob’s mix captures the spirit of his own music. If you enjoy Jacobs mix, then you’ll definitely want to listen to his latest album, Ephemeralis Algorithmica. As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Jacob’s new album and paused to look up and see palm trees swaying in the breeze against a clear blue sky. The sense of peace and happiness of that moment was magic.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Inner Islands.
Shad shared a mix on Soundwave a few years back. Today he shares a mix no less remarkable. His mix explores immersion and isolation.
I’m writing this in the evening from my kitchen table. My patio door is open, and there’s a perfect cool breeze. Shad’s mix is playing in the background, and it feels like an ode to spring. I hope my neighbors are enjoying Shad’s mix as music as I do.
Shad marsh
Shad lives in the mountains of western North Carolina. His radio show 2000 Years of Radio can be heard Sunday mornings on 103.3fm in Asheville, NC, and on the web. You’d be doing yourself a favor if you tuned in.
Shad also shares a poem from William Carlos Williams , which you can find below. How nice is that? I may ask future guest deejays on Soundwave to share poems as well.
Speaking of guest deejays, next week features a mix from Jacob Newman.
I found Melissa while doing a deep dive in Bandcamp for new music to listen to. I spent the day skipping from musician to musician. I’d play a minute or two of a few of their songs. If it didn’t move or interest me, I’d move on to the next artist. I skipped across a lot of songs, and then I came across Melissa. Her music was compelling. I spent the rest of the day listening to her albums.
So of course I invited Melissa to guest deejay on Soundwave.
Melissa Pons
Funny thing. Earlier this week my friend and I were talking about ambient music. He’s a musician and he has strong opinions about his craft. He thinks ambient is nothing but a lot of loops, for example. I told him “My friend, I know.” Yes, that kind of ambient music exists, but that’s not the kind of music that the guest deejays on this show play. I told him how Melissa’s mix makes me smile. Melissa’s mix took me on a journey, and I’d take delight when I found myself in reverie.
I hope you’ll have the same experience when you listen to Melissa’s mix.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Shad Marsh.
I met Darren when I asked Soundwave guest deejay Gert De Meester (listen to his mix here), who he thought would share a mix on the show. Gert highly recommended Darren. After listening to a couple of Darren’s albums, I couldn’t agree with Gert more, and I reached out to Darren, who delivered today’s fantastic show.
I’m fond of today’s show because I listened to it while working from home earlier this week. It was a rare rainy San Diego, and while the rain pelted my rood and windows and the wind shook the palm trees, Darren’s mix played in the background, making it a magical day.
Darren McClure
Before I get out of Dodge, Gert is releasing his new Distant Fires Burning album, Inperspectycon Vol.2 Wednesday, April 6. I’ve been listening to the preview tracks, and Inperspectycon Vol.2 is quite the musical journey. I encourage you to give his preview tracks yourself and maybe pre-order his album.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Melissa Pons.
In the beforetimes, a friend posted a link to Heilung’s new album, Futha, on Facebook. I listened to a few songs and scoffed that Heilung was a Nordic version of Enya. But Heilung’s costumes captured my imagination, and I went back and listened to their album in its entirety and became a fan. So much so that I went to perform when they were in Los Angeles.
Heilung we’re excellent! I was transported to an age undreamt of for the next hour or so. Heilung looked like Nordic shamans and cheiftans. Aside from the band, there were a dozen warriors and shield maidens. Antlers adorned microphone stands. Some of the audience dressed almost as provocatively as I saw on stage.
Spotify started to serve up music much like Heilung on my Discover Weekly playlist within a few weeks. It dawned on me that what Heilung called amplified history was a genre.
Munknörr
And that’s how I came across Munknörr.
Munknörr means “the ship of the mind,” and this music on today’s show will transport you to other worlds and times. If you’re new to Munknörr, today’s show is an excellent place to start. Damián’s mix explores their many singles and albums.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Darren McClure.
I met Joakim through Sofia Nystrand, AKA Vargkvint. After showcasing her lovely mix during the summer (you can listen to her mix here) I asked Sofia who she thought would want to share a mix on Soundwave. I’ve found this a great way to be introduced to new music. Sofia went above and beyond and put me in touch with Jakob Lindhagen, Bonander, and Joakim.
We’ll hear from Jakob and Bonander in the next few months, but today we begin with Sofia’s recommendations with Joakim’s mix.
I’ve been steeping in Joakim’s mix the last few months, as I do with all the mixes sent my way. I often listen to the mixes while doing chores and errands such as walking my dog, doing dishes, folding laundry, etc. Joakim’s mix, however, has been my constant companion during the mornings. While I’m drinking my first cup of coffee and sorting through emails, and scheduling my tasks for the day, Joakim’s six plays in the background, the sun on my face. I’m on a riding a train with the landscape passing by my window in my imagination. Sometimes I can almost feel the train gently rocking to and fro.
It’s a magical experience. Please share where Joakim’s mix takes you if you’re so inclined.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Munknörr.
We have Kévin Séry to thank for introducing me to Nick. After Kévin’s mix for Soundwave I asked who he thought would share a mix on show he said I should contact Nick. I did what I aways do, which is dip into Bandcamp and Spotify to listen to get a feel for the artist’s music. After an afternoon spend listening to his releases as Tyresta, I understood why Kévin thought Nick should I have guest deejay on the show.
Good call, Kévin.
Nick’s mix has been my soundtrack for the events unfolding in Ukraine. Some of the songs Nick selected in his mix seem prescient and apocalyptic. But Nick’s mix takes unexpected turns and is, thankfully, at times joyful and triumphant. At least that’s what I got out of it.
Join us next week when our guest deejay will be Joakim Alfvén.
See you then.
Nick Turner, AKA Tyresta
The music on this mix has inspired me greatly in recent years and features artists that hold identities that are typically under-valued in ambient, drone, and experimental music.
