Relatively new to the synth-pop music scene in both Europe
and America is the band Chvrches. The three-person band formed in 2011 in
Glasgow, Scotland.
Iain Cook and Martin Doherty met in college and were both
involved in other bands before Chvrches. Lauren Mayberry, the lead singer, obtained a law degree and master's in journalism, freelancing for a few years in
her twenties.
The group premiered its music in 2011 after its formation
with the song “Lies.” In 2012, Chvrches released their first single, “The
Mother We Share.”
The band immediately began performing and touring throughout
Scotland and shortly after became known worldwide. Their songs have been ranked
on a variety of charts.
The band released its first EP Recover in early 2013 and
quickly launched its debut album, The Bones of What You Believe, by the end of
the year.
All throughout 2013, Chvrches made waves in the music world
performing on TV, speaking out on serious feminist issues and performing with
bands such as Passion Pit and Two Door Cinema Club.
Chvrches’ music is upbeat and synth-y. Mayberry’s voice
rises above most of the instrumentals, and many of the songs are reminiscent of
influencers Robyn and Kate Bush.
Along with touring throughout America and Europe, Chvrches
have also performed at festivals such as Firefly, SXSW and Sasquatch! The band
is returning to the US this spring for a short tour in big cities like New
York and Washington D.C.
The musician of the week is the adorable, but somewhat goofy-looking Belarusian, Alexander Rybak. The talented violinist is known for his sweet crooning and the unmistakable folk and baroque influence in his music. Although Rybak sings in both Russian and Norwegian, his most popular hits are in English.
His hit song, "Fairytale," won him the 54th Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow in 2009, also jumpstarting his career. His score of 387 points was a record for the contest, and soon after, Rybak released his first album, Fairytales. He then went on to tour throughout Europe, and even performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert held in December, 2009. Rybak is quite the "Aaron Carter of the '90s" for young girls in Europe, but unfortunately he has not yet made his way into American pop culture. But luckily he still has time!
The following year, Rybak released another big hit, "Europe's Skies," which is heavily influenced by traditional Russian music. The violin is stronger than ever, and Rybak sings of his love for Europe and his life filled with travel. Other songs of his have the distinct subjects of love and nationalism. His second album was called No Boundaries, which reached number seven on Norwegian charts even though it wasn't as successful as Fairytales. His only album written and performed in the Norwegian language was released in 2012.
Since then, Rybak has released a few music videos and new singles, but his most recent album was a Christmas album called Christmas-tales, all versions of traditional tunes sung in English. Other than singing and performing, Rybak has done some small-time acting and participated on popular shows such as the X-Factor in Romania.
Note: There is now a slight change to the format of International Bands of Mystery. Instead of highlighting the music of different countries, I will now be sharing information on various international musicians.
La belle of France, Carla Bruni is a multi-faceted little creature with stunning features, immense talent and a large heart. The Italian-born former model/musician/philanthropist has sure made a name for herself in Europe. Not to mention, she is the former first lady of France. Wow.
Bruni was first noticed by modeling agencies as a teenager, and quickly escalated to being one of the highest-paid fashion models. Her good looks and lanky figure earned her gigs with a multitude of high fashion houses, and she dated superstars like Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger.
Bruni dropped modeling in 1997 and began a career in music. Her debut album, Quelqu'un m'a dit, was released in 2002, winning her an EBBA award in 2004. A few of the songs were used in various films, most notably 500 Days of Summer, in which the title track is heard.
Bruni's second album, No Promises, is made up of different famous poems, including those of William Butler Yeats and Emily Dickinson, and it is set to music. Her third album, Comme si de rien n'était, was release in 2008, the same year as her marriage to the then French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Bruni decided that royalties going toward the album should be donated to charities.
On that note, Bruni has been involved in many other charities and causes. She supports many different charitable foundations, is the world ambassador for the protection of mothers and children against HIV and performed at Nelson Mandela's 91st birthday along with Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin.
Bruni's most recent album, Little French Songs, was released in April of 2013.
The singer/songwriter's music is gentle and for the most part very quiet. She is greatly influenced by her idols, Joni Mitchell and Serge Gainsbourg. Her songs are characterized by guitar strumming and simple piano riffs, while the main attraction is her soft, whispery vocals.
Australia has a strong history of folk music, and it became revolutionary in the late 1800s with a genre called "bush band music," which would later become country. This musical style began with convicts who were sent to Australia during the British colonization, and these people would sing mainly of the harsh conditions, using worker slang. Some of these popular songs within the working class include "The Wild Colonial Boy" and "The Drover's Dream."
Going into the 1900s, a huge wave of European immigrant music hit Australia. Celtic, English, German and Scandinavian sounds mixed in with the old ones and created new genres and new musical traditions in the country. The mid- to late 1900s welcomed a folk revival movement. One of the most prominent musicians from this period was Paul Kelly, who sang mostly about the vast and empty landscape of the country.
Country music is actually a major genre in Australian culture, but the Australian country sounds are quite different from the ones heard in America. Australian country has been influenced by folk traditions of the United Kingdom and Celtic folk sounds. Australians typically call country music, which is mainly based on Australian life and culture, bush band music.
Along with bush band music, there are more Americanized forms of Australian country music. This style adopted Western influence and was pioneered in the '30s by Tex Morton and Slim Dusty, who was famous for a song called "A Pub With No Beer."
Americanized country music is still popular in Australia today, and some of it has even seen international success. Musicians like Olivia Newton-John and Keith Urban, for example, got their start in their native Australia and went on to become world-wide stars.
Other genres of music are also quite prominent in Australia, including rock, alternative and electronic. Australia has a rich history in rock music, which became popular in the '50s and closely followed suit with America's rock history. Many Australian musicians and rock bands gained influence from America's Elvis Presley and Little Richard.
Rock bands in Australia in the '60s and '70s pulled influence from The Beatles, and some of the most famous–and even international–acts included Jethro Tull, The Easybeats and The Bee Gees.
Natalie Imbruglia
When discussing '90s music in America, Natalie Imbruglia is probably a name that will come up, but it doesn't really venture out of that decade. Well, in Australia it does. Imbruglia, born in Sydney, is probably one of the most prominent pop musicians of the last 20 years.
The musician/actress/model got her start in the early nineties, playing a character on an Australian soap opera called Neighbors. After that gig, she decided to pursue music and dropped her first album, Left of the Middle, in 1998 which included the hit single "Torn."
In her first few weeks as an up-and-coming pop star, Imbruglia's album went platinum, her single was number one on many charts (including Billboard) for multiple months, and her album broke the record of any female pop/alternative/rock artist in its first week.
After her successful debut, Imbruglia released three additional albums, of less notoriety, but she still manages to remain a household name in Australia today.
Other than her music, Imbruglia has also achieved many other successes. The natural beauty has modeled for L'Oreal and Sass and Bide to raise money for cancer research. She is also a strong supporter of many charities, as she is the ambassador for Virgin Unite and has publicly spoken to raise awareness about depression.
In 2004, the star was ranked sixth most naturally beautiful woman of all-time "inside and out," a poll topped by the late actress and icon, Audrey Hepburn.
Music of The Netherlands today is largely influenced by tradition in the UK and the US. Some of it is sung in English and some in Dutch, but most natives will listen to English-speaking bands and musicians.
Traditional Dutch music is not widely heard throughout the country today, but it still holds a place in cultural practices and tradition. The more traditional songs are called "Levenslied," which means "songs of life." The lyrics speak of day-to-day routines and struggles. They are usually very simple, Beatles-style songs about love, loss and loneliness. Traditional instruments used in the genre include the accordion and organ.
Much like Sweden and Germany, The Netherlands today offer a pretty grand techno/dance music scene. Some of the most accomplished musicians in the last couple of decades include DJs and house artists. Many of these musicians have even gained international recognition, including Tiësto, Armin van Buuren and Afrojack. Amsterdam hosts the world's most renowned electronic music conference and fest each year, called the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
Although the Dutch are very familiar with English songs and artists, many native pop musicians do sing in the Dutch language and gain popularity mainly just within the country. For example, the popular Dutch band Tambourine gained success in the '90s and still woos Dutch music-lovers with its native instrumentals and lyrics.
In addition to electronic dance music, another genre called Boerenrock has swept the Dutch nation and is popular within the country. In English, Boerenrock translates to "farmer's rock" and mixes rock and pop accompanying lyrics that resonate with rural life. Boerenrock is a more small-time genre and tends to be heard in smaller, grungier venues rather than concert halls. The musicians don't display large productions for their shows, but keep it simple yet rowdy.
Vengaboys
In America, Vengaboys are most likely known for the one-hit-wonder song "Boom Boom Boom Boom." What many people don't know is that this band is a popular Eurodance group based in Amsterdam.
The group enjoyed its first dose of international success in the early '90s with lighthearted, electronic pop hits that stole the hearts of teens everywhere.
Vengaboys are made up of two lead vocalists and two male dancers, making the pop/electronic/organized dance genre a serious thing at the turn of the century (i.e. Backstreet Boys).
Although the group's international popularity seemed to have ended by the late nineties, "Vengaboys are back in town," especially in Europe and The Netherlands. The group has received multiple awards as best-selling artists and an influential Eurodance group.
Today, Vengaboys are still making it big overseas with new singles, new albums and new tour dates.
Caribbean styles of music are some of the most popular and well-liked genres in the Colombian music culture. Cumbia is a Caribbean style that combines Spanish and African sounds. This type of music is reminiscent of the horrifying slavery before it was abolished in the 19th century.
Cumbia is very rhythmic, and when it originated, it included only vocals and drums. Recently, musicians have added other percussion elements such as keyboards, plus the saxophone and trombones. The unofficial Colombia national anthem is a form of cumbia called "Cumbia Cienaguera," which represents the flavor and atmosphere of Colombia.
Currulao is the most African-influenced genre of music specifically from the Pacific region of the country. This type of music is traditionally played by four musicians and the instruments include a drum, a shaker and a Colombian marimba.
One of the most contemporary styles of music in Colombia is the salsa. Salsa dancing has become a popular competitive activity, with Colombian dancers receiving awards every year from international competitions. Colombian salsa dancing has a particular style unique to other countries' salsa traditions, as they focus more on footwork while the upper body remains still.
Like every other country, Colombia has a pretty prominent rock scene, having dabbled in other genres like metal, alternative and ska. In other countries of Latin America, Colombia is known for its punk rock scene. Electronic music has also hit the country in recent years, leading to the development of raves and dance parties.
Pop music almost always mixes traditional Colombian sounds with more modern genres. The most prominent and successful Colombian musician is Shakira, who has achieved international success and began writing albums in English, making it to the mainstream radio in America. Juanes is another famous Colombian musician who has seen his songs top charts all over the world.
Sidestepper
One of the most popular bands in Colombia, Sidestepper is known for combining modern electronic sounds and traditional cumbian sounds, creating the genre "electro cumbia." The band has included many different musicians since its formation in 1996. It features guest vocalists and musicians who rotate in and out of shows and recording.
The band was created when Richard Blair, an English DJ, and Iván Benavides, a Colombian singer/songwriter, collaborated musically. The band has released five studio albums, the last one, The Buena Vibra Sound System, having been released in 2008 as a mix album.
Since then, Sidestepper has been without a record contract, but still working together minus Benavides, who moved from New York back to Colombia to work on a solo project. The band is currently working on a new album which is expected for release in 2013.
Sidestepper has found success inside and outside Colombia's musical culture. They are very roots-oriented with a modern flair. In 2004, the band played at Coachella, a major music festival in the United States.
Although it's pretty close to home, Canada's music is varied despite its strong influence from American culture. Other large musical influencers include France and Britain because of their histories with Canada.
When French settlers came to the country in the 17th century, they brought with them not only the language and customs of France, but also European instruments such as the flute and trumpet. In the 1700s, Canada was introduced to opera, and orchestral and chamber music also became popular. The music of European composers like Bach, Handel and Mozart was frequently played in concert halls.
At the start of the 20th Century, Canada began to see its musical culture expand with the creation of Canada's first record label, Compo Company, and its first radio stations, some of which were in French.
During the mid-century, jazz was the most popular musical form, and swing dancing followed suit. The first major mainstream band in Canada was The Royal Canadians, which received international recognition in the '20s.
After the second World War, Canadian bands began to sprout up all over the country, most of them being school bands and teen idols. Many Canadian artists ended up achieving success when thrust into the American music industry, but other musicians remained true to their Canadian roots.
In the '80s and '90s, musical genres expanded further in Canada, and the "youth culture" became ever-present. One of the most famous musicians to emerge from the country was French-Canadian singer Celine Dion, who quickly achieved international success.
Other mainstream Canadian artists to emerge in the United States include Michael Bublé, Alanis Morissette and Justin Bieber.
Diana Krall
Although Diana Krall has reached international fame for her musical talents like many other Canadian musicians, the British Columbia native stays true to the sultry jazz sounds of early 20th century Canada.
Other than her masterful piano playing, Krall is also quite recognized for her incredible contralto vocals. The singer has not only been named by Billboard as one of the greatest jazz musicians of her time, but she has also won two Grammy Awards and eight Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy).
At age 48, Krall has release 11 studio albums and has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, making her one of the best-selling artists of today.
Music is not only the best thing ever invented, but it can also be an eye-opening cultural experience. Every country incorporates different cultural elements into their music and stylizes it in a way that is unique.
Blogger, Nadia Kurtz’s goal is to diversify your music tastes, and expand your knowledge of different cultures.
