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Weekly Audio Tour

Artist: Fischerspooner
by Rhea Boyd

    Fischerspooner is a New Yorker electroclash duo who is leaving their mark on pop culture with their original music, art and fashion.
    When I first listened to Fischerspooner in 2005, I was intrigued by their interesting sound and lyrics. The first song I ever heard of Fischerspooner’s was Emerge. It was a clear example of what Fischerspooner was all about: repetitive electronic beats and lyrics laced with a unique mixture of funky vocals. The singer, Casey Spooner, has an impressive vocal range. The sound is soft and lyrical, surprisingly clear for a male lead, and never fails to reach the high keys. Although many songs and albums by electronic artists end up running together because they are so alike, Fischerspooner has a profoundly unique sound. As soon as the song begins they are easy to identify because of their electro beats, vocals and energetic pace. Read more

Weekly Audio Tour

Artist of the week: M.I.A.
by Rhea Boyd

    M.I.A. is a stage name for Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam, a British songwriter. Her music is considered to be a combination of many genres including indie, electro, hip-hop and dancehall.

    Although female rappers are not considered popular, the vocals in her song are unlike mainstream artists. This distinctive voice is aggressive and laced with a British (and a slight hint of Sri Lankan) accent which adds to the intriguing nature of her melodies.

    M.I.A. creates music consisting of deep lyrics and hard beats, which are both entirely unique and impressively original. The lyrics surround political issues and her personal views on the world. Many of the lyrics focus on war, famine, poverty, disease, poor political leaders, etc. They are powerful and she is unafraid to express herself through her songs. One of her biggest hits, Paper Planes, is based on her issues with the United States, “If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name,” she raps. The lyrics could be a message to the United States about how she should be allowed into the country (she isn’t because of her father’s alleged ties with supposed terrorist groups). The beats in her tunes are consistently catchy and interesting. Listeners are greeted with the sound of solid drums and several electronically enhanced sound effects. In Paper Planes, the chorus involves the sound of a gun being cocked and shot, which was considered risky and controversial. “It was clear to me that I wasn’t getting anywhere whether I followed the rules or not, so I thought I might as well release the song I want to release,” she told Radar magazine. Read more

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