Music Genre

William Ogmundson Interview on Nagamag.com

Categories: Features, Interviews, Neoclassical Features, Neoclassical Interviews, The Latest|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

William Ogmundson
Interview

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

William Ogmundson:
I draw from so many styles...classical music has always been my primary influence, but I've worked quite a bit in musical theater, and also play ragtime, stride piano and early jazz. I take all of my influences and try to channel them into the neoclassical/solo piano genre.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

William Ogmundson:
It was only a couple years ago that I started taking my career as a recording artist seriously. Before that, I was a working musician for about 20 years. I did accompanying, played piano and organ in churches, taught lessons, performed locally, and composed primarily for the theater. I never made it "big" but got to perform in some pretty neat places along the way, including Notre Dame and the Vatican. I was nominated for an EMMY for a children's TV show I composed for, and one of the musicals I composed for was published by Dramatic Publishing.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

William Ogmundson:
My first experience was picking out an Icelandic folksong "A Sprengisandi" on the piano. I couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old at the time, but I had that sudden revelation that wow, I could really do this-I could make music. I could be one of those people.

Nagamag:
What is the strangest song you've every written?

William Ogmundson:
I had written a pretty little solo piano ballad, but couldn't think of a good title, so I shared it on facebook and asked people to help me come up with one. I got many predictable responses like "Lover's Last Kiss" or "Passion in the Rain", but none of them did anything for me. Then one wise guy suggested calling it "Squirrel's Last Crossing" and immediately the wheels started spinning! I sat down and wrote a new song to go with the title, and it's been a hit with audiences ever since.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

William Ogmundson:
Eminem "Lose Yourself"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

William Ogmundson:
Greg Maroney "Breathe"

Discover & Listen to William Ogmundson

William Ogmundson on Spotify

William Ogmundson's Signature Track

William Ogmundson on Social Media

William Ogmundson's Website

Paul Haslinger – Berlin 86-11 (Spotify)

Categories: Audio, Neoclassical, The Latest|Tags: , |

Paul Haslinger – Berlin 86-11
(Spotify)

On Paul Haslinger's forthcoming LP Exit Ghost, the Tangerine Dream alumni has put together a solo offering that’s a world removed from the explorations of the seminal electronic outfit, as well as the recent sonic trips of Neuland. It sees him in a more reflective territory, from organic ambient constructions a la Colin Stetson to inward looking piano pieces a la Hauschka. All material emanated from a grand piano, and expanded outward from there.
Exit Ghost is his long thought out opus, a moment caught in time, flicking through reference points, taking an ethereal excursion that permeates musical genres as it becomes awash with intricate sounds and cross-pollinating rhythms. It’s out on new label Artificial Instinct on February 7th, 2020.

Ryuichi Sakamoto – The Staggering Girl (Spotify)

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Ryuichi Sakamoto – The Staggering Girl
(Spotify)

On his score for Luca Guadagnino's (Suspiria) The Staggering Girl, acclaimed visionary composer Ryuichi Sakamoto says, “When approaching the score for The Staggering Girl, I wanted to incorporate the tactile sound of Valentino's fabrics. So I asked them to send me some samples and utilizing special sensitive microphones, I experimented ‘playing’ the fabrics. I love the sound and how it forces one's attention to a sound all around us, yet almost entirely ignored.” Score details at Pitchfork.

Thomas Jackson – Den inre skogen (Spotify)

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Thomas Jackson – Den inre skogen
(Spotify)

Thomas Jackson has directed and made the music for the documentary ”Den inre Skogen” (Inner woods) which is now showing on Swedish national television and selected cinemas. The soundtrack will be released on Flora & Fauna in February 2020.
It is a film about our relationship to nature and about how our preconceptions shape how we see everything around us. The documentary features Swedish artists and activists such as Lars Lerin, Britta Marakatt-Labba, Helena Granström, Eirik Havnes, Helene Schmitz and Pella Thiel.

Thomas Jackson’s acclaimed films have been shown around the world at Berlin Film Festival, Toronto Hot Docs and San Sebastian Film Festival amongst others, and at art institutions such as MOMA Tokyo and Bonnier konsthall.

John True – One. (Spotify)

Categories: Audio, Neoclassical, The Latest|Tags: , |

John True – One.
(Spotify)

One is a minimal piano meditation. Written at the start of the new year with a lot on the horizon, John created a piano piece that is striking and memorable. With sparse production - a few reverbs & the occasional reversed sound, the music is impactful in its simplicity. Let the beauty of each moment and intentionality behind each note capture your imagination and bring you a sense of comfort amidst the chaos around our world. Inspired by Nils Frahm, Jonny Greenwood, and Arvo Pärt, John is composing a year long series of piano music, with One as the first installment of his 2020 project.

Omar Raafat – The Portrait (Spotify)

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Omar Raafat – The Portrait
(Spotify)

"The Portrait" is one of the singles in the album " A Way Home" by multi-instrumentalist and music producer Omar Raafat. The album blends piano, guitar and electronic synths with a classical string quartet bringing a modern cinematic approach with intimate and organic sounds. Written and recorded in Victoria, BC, the album was heavily influenced by the beauty of the nature in the area. Spending a lot of time in the wilderness fuelled the inspiration and themes of the songs. A melancholy and intense emotional journey from start to finish draws us into an inward reflection. The album also features hidden soundscapes recorded at several special outdoor hiking spots around Vancouver island.

Fransoafran – Hearthside (Spotify)

Categories: Audio, Neoclassical, The Latest|Tags: , , |

Fransoafran – Hearthside
(Spotify)

Inspired by musicians such as Rolf Lovland, Olafur Arnalds, Yanni, this track was initially composed on the piano. The violin and cellos came naturally in the piece as the warm feeling of a "hearthside" was evoking to me both the comfort of a refuge and warm fire in winter, but also the company of friends and family in our lives. It was recorded in studio in Vietnam - the cello part is performed by Tran Duc Minh, violins (several different types of violins are used) and piano performed by Francois Mathian (Fransoafran)

Umeå Bodø – Sunken Dreams (Spotify)

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Umeå Bodø – Sunken Dreams
(Spotify)

New Age piano music. Inspired by the deep sea, Scandinavian landscapes and composers like Yiruma, Joep Beving, Ólafur Arnalds and many others. Umeå is a city in eastern Sweden, known for its museums and cultural institutions. Bodø is the capital of Nordland county, Norway. It is located just north of the Arctic Circle

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