The author and trumpeter discusses his new book, which features intimate interviews with jazz greats from Bertha Hope to Robert Glasper. The book and its companion album shine a light on how personal history is cultural history. (Theme music is "You Made Me" by Sleeping Lion)

Sounds of Berklee

Jeremy Pelt's 'Griot' Reveals the Personal Side of Jazz History

There are three hashtags at the bottom of the YouTube page for the song "Outliers," by the band Aviations. The first two are #aviationsband and #progressivemetal—pretty standard. But the last one is a bit surprising: #cozymetal. In this episode of Sounds of Berklee, the band's drummer, James Knoerl B.M. '15 talks about why you might want to curl up with cup of tea when listening to this 11-minute prog metal epic . Take a listen.

Aviations Cozies up to Metal with 11-Minute 'Outliers'

Michela McDonagh B.M. '19, who goes by the artist name MHIC (pronounced “Mick"), remembers sensing the uneasiness in the air just before lockdown began in Manhattan, where she worked while living at home with her parents on Long Island. The ambient tension made her think about how her generation, the last to have a memory of 9/11, was brought up in an anxious world and is graduating into a particularly distressed moment.

MHIC Says Song "Fear" Reflects the Anxiety of a Generation

The Turkish guitarist and producer shares his musical arrangement of a poem by the great Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

Alper Tuzcu Translates Poetic Wisdom on 'Con Ella'

The long-time Berklee faculty member talks imagination, her opera 'Rumpelstiltskin,' composing without computers, and more. Note to listeners: this episode refers to a planned performance of 'Rumpelstiltskin' at the Kennedy Center that has now been canceled.

Composer Marti Epstein Makes 'Unimaginable' Music

The Berklee alumna discusses her shift from instrumentalist to singer/songwriter, her love of sad music, and how translating lyrics can be a metaphor for making music in general.

Recorder Player Tali Rubinstein on Translating Nostalgia

The Berklee student, already a successful jazz pianist and composer at 18, talks to the BIRN about exploring new musical territory.

Jazz Pianist Emily Bear Ventures into Pop

Amanda Addleman B.M. '09 always assumed she had stage fright, but after years of not being able to shake it she sought help and learned that she had something else: post-traumatic stress disorder. In this episode of Sounds of Berklee, she talks about how PTSD affected her career and how she used music, including writing a new album, to work through it.

How Amanda Addleman Used Music to Work Through PTSD

In this episode, Kris Davis breaks down her song, "Corn Crake," and how it brought together jazz improvisation, turntables, and the voice of Olivier Messiaen.

Kris Davis’s 'Corn Crake' Makes Difficult Music Easy to Like

The alumnus goes behind the scenes of some of 2019’s top releases, including Bon Iver's 'i, i' and Big Thief's 'U.F.O.F' and 'Two Hands.' We also asked Sarlo to curate a collection of some of the most memorable tracks he’s produced over the years. Listen and read see what Sarlo had to say about each track he selected on Berklee Now: https://www.berklee.edu/news/berklee-now/andrew-sarlos-big-year-producing-bon-iver-big-thief-and-more Theme music by Sleeping Lion.

Andrew Sarlo's Big Year: On Producing for Bon Iver, Big Thief, and More

Award-winning Chilean saxophonist Melissa Aldana B.M. '09 talks about the inspiration for her latest album, struggles she has faced in her artistic journey, and how she stays at the top of her game.

Melissa Aldana Explores Self-Identity on ‘Visions’

In this episode, Pedro Osuna talks about deadlines, working in L.A., and finding his compositional voice.

Film Composer Pedro Osuna Reinvents Himself with Each Score

Hawkins recruited a team of Berklee alumni, former students, and others to write and build the song "Champagne" using the online collaboration platform Splice. Here's how they put the song together.

Erik Hawkins and Team Build Dance Tune 'Champagne' on Splice

Take a moment to clear your mind with the alumna synth composer's organic, meditative music, featured on this episode of Sounds of Berklee. This episode features music from "Abstractions," “Tides VII,” and “Tides I” by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. For more information, visit touchtheplants.com.

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith’s Orchestra of Electricity

Leah Driscoll B.M. '03, director of Student Wellness Promotion and Services, and student Lyzz Zinn discuss mental health tips and resources for musicians.

Mental Health for Musicians

Listen to the stars of tomorrow…today, as well as Berklee faculty members, alumni, and a few legendary artists, coming to the college as visiting artists.

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Sounds of Berklee

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