Alien Maps and Radiohead

Underscore

Derek Stein (Vitamin String Quartet, gnarwhallaby, wild Up) is a cellist with the ability to extract exciting, unusual sounds from his instrument. On this episode, he demonstrates his favorite sounds, reveals which audition he bombed, and joins us for a discussion on whether cell phones belong at concerts.

Playlist

Here is a Spotify playlist to pair with Underscore Episode B3! Co-hosts Chrysanthe and Thomas collaborated with our guest Derek Stein to curate an hour of tracks featuring ice-skating music, electronica, spoken word, microtones, and strange cello sounds.

Guest

Derek Stein is a cellist with the ability to extract exciting, unusual sounds from his instrument. He is a member of the Vitamin String Quartet and several contemporary classical groups, including gnarwhallaby and wild Up.

• T'filat ha-Derech by Marc Lowenstein (Soundcloud)
• Burn the Witch by Radiohead, performed by Vitamin String Quartet (iTunes / Spotify)
• Vox Balaenae - Voice of the Whale by George Crumb - (YouTube video with masked performers)
• Capriccio per Siegfried Palm by K. Penderecki (YouTube / Spotify)
• a thing made whole by Andrew Greenwald (Soundcloud)

Find Derek Stein online:

• Website
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Soundcloud

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Lightning Round Questions

• What genre is your music?
  Bizarre, confusing, mind-opening
• Performance ritual?
  Wild Up ensemble gets in a circle, puts their hands together, and does a chant before each show.
• A modern/technological tool that’s extremely helpful to your practice?
  iPad Pro
• What failure that turned out for the best?
  Bombed his Eastman School of Music audition (so did Thomas)!
• Something besides music that you’re obsessed with right now?
  The new Marvel comic book movies; he enjoyed every moment of Black Panther.
• A piece of art that changed your life?
  Penderecki Capriccio for Ziegfried Palm

Counterpoint Topic

Do cell phones belong at concerts?

Something Old

Quarter-Tone Pieces by Ivan Wyschnegradsky (iTunes / Spotify)

Something New

Vicky Chow’s recording of "Sonatra" by Michael Gordon (Bandcamp / Soundcloud)

Something Borrowed

We’re New Here by Gil-Scott Heron and Jamie xx (iTunes / Spotify)

Something Blue

Chrysanthe hasn’t been connecting with most musical selections in Olympic figure skating. On the bright side, Kaori Sakamoto’s free skate to Yann Tiersen's Amélie selections was stellar.

Credits

• Hosts: Thomas Kotcheff and Chrysanthe Tan
• Guest: Derek Stein
• Script: Chrysanthe Tan
• Recording engineer/editor: Mark Hatwan
• Produced by USC Radio Group
• Podcast theme: “Playground Day” by Chrysanthe Tan (iTunes / Spotify)
• Old New Borrowed Blue transition: "Part and Parcel" by Thomas Kotcheff (Soundcloud)

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Connect

Facebook group: Join our Facebook group, Underscore Society, to nerd out on music, tell us your favorite songs, and debate our Counterpoints!
Email list: Sign up for our mailing list to receive Underscore updates, offers, and opportunities to connect with other music aficionados.
Socials: We’re @underscorefm on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Email: Thoughts, questions, suggestions? We’re at [e-mail]
Thomas is @thomaskotcheff on Twitter and Instagram.
Chrysanthe is @chrysanthetan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.