Annika Connor shared her slice of artistic quaran-time via Zoom conference on Thursday night. The virtual gallery tour featured thoughtful watercolor and oil paintings, some of them still in progress, a waterfront view, a barking dog, and many reflective moments.
Delacey, pop hit-writer for the likes of Halsey and The Chainsmokers, dropped the album last Thursday night via a quarantine-friendly Livestream. The characteristic moodiness of her existing work evolves into something much more personal in the 13-song debut titled “Black Coffee.”
Daria Price’s new documentary, Driven to Abstraction, intrigued and impressed the audience at the Art Students League of New York on Tuesday evening.
“Aggie” is director Cat Gund’s affectionate tribute to her mother, philanthropist and arts patron Agnes Gund, and an understated challenge to the world’s wealthiest to do more with their money.
Griff performed an intimate, polished 10 song set at Popshop at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn this past Monday. A soon-to-be star in the UK, the songwriter, musician, vocalist, producer, clothing stylist, and visual artist has what it takes to make her mark in pop, or wherever she chooses.
You wouldn’t necessarily know that from chatting with her casually. She’s pleasant, not overly bubbly, and just a little bit sardonic. And she prefers doing over talking.
The burgeoning 19-year-old pop artist only started releasing music after she completed her schooling, largely keeping that part of her life hidden from schoolmates. Sarah Griffiths at school, Griff in the studio.
“I wanted to keep it separate because you just you don’t know when things happen. Things take time and it just never felt right to be like ‘I sing!’ to loads of people. I didn’t know if my singing was ever going to take off.”
She spent most of her non-school time honing her musical abilities, picking up all the skills she needed to write music and produce her own songs. Griff instinctually understands the great gulf that exists between talking a big game and bringing it.
“I just think a lot of people don’t get it until you show them what you’re doing, do you know what I mean? Just talking about it, people don’t get it. So I never liked talking about it.”
Griff doesn’t spend a lot of time talking during her set either. She beamed at the audience and thought out loud about how she never expected to make it from her bedroom in Kings Langley to a stage in NYC. Cool and aloof as she seems in promo photos, Griff is warm as a performer.
She moved naturally onstage in a high-necked bridal-style dress and combat boots, her signature bubble ponytail trailing behind her. We heard the entirety of her Mirror Talk EP plus a couple others including an affectionate cover of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and a heartfelt unreleased track we can’t wait to hear recorded.
Griff has a rich smooth voice that shines through her performances, and a strong rapport with her audience, even singing happy birthday to one lucky fan in the front. These are table stakes for a pop artist, but Griff’s songwriting and multi-disciplinary talents set her a cut above. Her songs are simply produced and sparse, leaving space for nuanced lyrics and melodies. They also leave space for her sound to develop in any number of exciting directions.
Despite her early success, Griff sets high expectations for herself and looks forward to topping her personal bests in the years to come.
“I’m looking forward to writing better music. It sounds probably kind of weird, but I want this time next year to feel like I wrote the best songs I ever wrote.”
You can check out her music here.
American Factory wowed audiences at a special screening at the Whitby Hotel this past Wednesday. An refreshingly fair take of US-Chinese cultural clash, the film’s grander message zooms out to refocus our attention on a more threatening conflict.
After 85 years serving as Harlem’s world-famous music hall, and the breakout stage for countless performers, The Apollo receives a definitive telling of its history from academy award-winning director Roger Ross Williams.
The special limited-run shop, presented by Sony Music’s The Thread Shop and Apple Corps, Ltd., closes on December 22 so get your holiday shopping in while you can.
As you stride past the storefronts on 10th Avenue in the cold you see in one a tall Black woman in a swimsuit and cap, eyes closed, leaning against a pedestal with her hand resting on a volleyball. Normally you’d keep walking, but you can’t help but wonder…is she real?
If you’re on the fence about a subscription to Apple TV Plus, let Servant’s unsettling plot, captivating performances, and brilliant cinematography push you over the edge.