A Trinity Perspective on Musical Musings

In a St. Vincent interview, musician Annie Clarke spoke of music as being a rare form of energy that gives more than it takes from the listener. With this in mind, I was curious about the position of music in the lives of Trinity students.

In conversations with India McAlister, Angelo Gio Mateo, and Bosibori Moragia, thoughts were shared on everything from Ariana Grande, to the influence of hip hop, to the way that music is a form of not only artistic, but also social and political expression.

Talking to Bosibori about how success in the music industry today is as much about the music you produce as the image you create of yourself in the media, Bosibori is pensive. “These days, the way an artist conducts themselves in public makes a huge difference on how we perceive their art. Back in the day, when mixtape recordings were all you could get, and paparazzi wasn't much of a thing, we didn't care. That's what PR agents are good for right? It's so weird. Look at Jennifer Lawrence! People love her because she's goofy and shit, just like a 'normal' girl. Public perception definitely influences music.”

Music also has a tremendous ability to change perceptions and bring about social change. Hip hop in particular often speaks to issues of community.

“Run the Jewels’ latest album really speaks about a lot of social issues that America is going through, especially all the issues about race in America,” says Angelo. Elaborating on their sound, he says, “it’s introspective, it’s angry…but also witty. They dropped their album at such an important time. I can’t stop listening. It’s such a good production, such witty lyrics from Killer Mike and El-P.”

“It’s also supremely entertaining,” adds India.

Bosibori chimes in with some thoughts about the responsibility artists have to their community, first in the context of Kendrick Lamar. “I love his ‘voice of the people’ persona. I disagree with some of his messages for sure (like telling black people to respect each other before asking anyone else to respect us). But I love what he's trying to do.”

As for artists that leave her unimpressed?

Drake, in her eyes, often falls short. “While I can’t discredit his talent, I can’t get over his ego. My problem with him is that his work is very self-involved. I prefer a hip hop that speaks to issues of community, especially the Black community. I've found that most black people who are conscious don't rock with Drizzy and tend to go for J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar. Because they're pissed about systemic racial discrimination — aka real daily life — and so are we.”

Speaking more generally about how hip hop and rap are perceived in popular culture and on mainstream radio, Bosibori sighs. “Too often people’s mindset is that rap is just a stupid, feel-good genre that promotes a raunchy lifestyle. And yes, that's one aspect of it — that I love, by the way. But that's not all of it. A lot of rappers, who don't get as much airplay like Joey Bada$$, Childish Gambino, Vic Mensa, Omen, J. Cole, Chance The Rapper: they are poets. Like, POETS. Storytellers even. Rap is probably the most verbally intellectual music genre I know. It's just sad that more people don't see or hear this. It also shapes the way people view the black community, as we are the figure heads of hip hop.”

Changing gears a bit, I ask them about one of today’s big pop stars: Ariana Grande. India likes her; Angelo not so much. “There’s something about her music, something about the timbre of her voice and the way she enunciates that just makes you know it’s her,” says India. “Even though she’s not a super unique artist, you know it’s her. She hits a certain register that is comforting. Whiny, and also a bit nasal and raspy. It seems like she doesn’t have a personality as an artist, she’s kind of someone you project on.”

I ask if that’s a good thing. “I mean, it sells albums” replies India.

Angelo thinks that, as an artist, she has a long way to go: “She has some really great producers that are making really great production for her. She has a lot of potential but she’s just not there yet.”

Lastly, I ask them about their musical recommendations. “Listen to “Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet & “The Social Experiment” featuring Chance the Rapper,” says Angelo. “They say rappers shouldn't rap about their grandma. Well this whole song is about Chance going to church with his grandma. I love it. Then there's Sia's “Chandelier”.”

“The one artist I’ve liked for a really long time is Paolo Nutini,” says India. “His newer albums are really really great, his older stuff is really good too. More people should listen to it if you’re into James Bay, George Ezra, that kind of new British invasion of folk rock.”

Bosibori, continuing on the theme of how music and questions of identity are so interwoven, recommends listening to “Black Star Elephant” by Nico and Vinz. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get into the Afrobeat genre.The album is a mix of Western and African influence, like it's creators. Which is a happy medium for some of us in the "New Africa" generation who've been toeing that line since birth. It's beautiful in the sense that it explores both worlds, virtually getting rid of the middle space, and telling the listener that it's okay to be the product of both cultures.”

Trin, put your records on: it’s time to discover some new music.