I am a Los Angeles-based twentysomething. I have a profession, and I have a secret life in music, and this blog isn't about any of that. I like Blogger because I can't read what you're thinking.
Corinne Bailey Rae is joining Norah Jones at the Greek this summer. My adult-contemporary cortex just got a hard-on.
I've been absolutely hooked to Rae's album The Sea, more specifically the track "Closer."
Play this right now. Play it loudly. And make sure you have a rubber on 'cuz this shit gonna get someone PREGNENT. [sic]
This is what music is all about, folks. This is it.
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In related Rae topics, one of my students -- a 15-year-old girl whose lessons with me are really about piano pop accompaniment -- decided her next project is Rae's piece "Breathless." I was internally overjoyed.
I hate to say it, but she's my favorite student. She's so passionate about pop music and vocals that it's awesome to see a curious young artist grow. Our lessons don't even feel academic. They're like legit rehearsals. Her name is Layla.
LAYLA: I have a question about all this music stuff. I want to be a singer, right?
HUGO: If you want to, why not?
LAYLA: Well, this is the thing: A lot of people like She & Him. She & Him is cute, but the vocals are ...tacky. No range. No life. It's, like, meant to be cute, and that's it. But cute doesn't last forever...
HUGO: What do you mean?
LAYLA: Cute is a trend right now.
HUGO: ...well...
LAYLA: ...and pop/soul music keeps getting a facelift. And that's been around for, like, 50 years. I mean, doesn't anyone who want to stick around want music that lasts?
Did I mention she's 15?
Here's another conversation we had recently:
LAYLA: Why are most of America's greatest artists black?
HUGO: You've cracked the code.
She's pretty brilliant, and I hope you all get the chance to hear her down the road.