Neoclassical Suite is a column that will present 7 recent, distinctive tracks of the neoclassical-modern classical-contemporary -and beyond!- music field.
Note: All Bio/about sections provided/written by the artists.
The Players
Sam Miller
(neoclassical, solo piano)
A reflective solo piano piece by American multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter, composer and producer Sam Miller, which is a great taster from my upcoming full-length piano album, ‘Lilies’…
“Sam Miller is a man of unique talents. An American multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter, composer and producer, he has released two full-length lyrical albums, You Need To Hear It (2014) and In One Place at a Time (2019), along with several instrumental albums including, Bach, Human Arpeggiatior (2020), Phonometrographer (2020), and Piano Works (2020).
A rare musical soul who thrives in our modern day of synthesizers and microchips, but who would be equally content playing Bach fugues in a cathedral filled with orangutans. His musical output is driven by curiosity and exploration, noticeably lacking the self-aggrandizing spirit of so much pop music.
From the mysterious deserts of New Mexico, Miller is at once a songwriter, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a master storyteller, who walks a tightrope pitched between the beauty of life’s complexities and the abyss of the subconscious. His lyrics grow more dynamic and intriguing with each listen. An elegant love song is simultaneously a riddle that would tickle the ghost of Lewis Carroll.
One of the most impressive measures of Miller’s writing is how the melodic content of the songs carry the weight of his lyrics. His attention to detail in arrangement and production creates fully realized songs that arrive at a clear destination. There is a confidence and thoughtfulness that is applied to each composition. Clever melodic hooks manage to echo in your head for days, allowing the depth of the lyrics to slowly unfurl in your thoughts. Miller’s deep and resonant voice evokes Scott Walker, Nick Cave, and even Johnny Cash. At its climax In One Place at a Time is soaring chamber pop akin to Devotchka, at its most introspective it is indie pop held together by synths and drum machines. With a close listen, there are hints of Americana, traditional country, psychedelia, and even exotica.” (Sam Miller)
AMIMEA
(neoclassical, cinematic, solo piano)
A dreamy composition with cinematic ethos, taken from Dutch AMIMEAS’s recently released debut album ‘For Granted’. The light melancholic veil is ideally combined with a gleam of hope. We describe this as “melancholic optimism”!
“Being a restless and self-reinventing performer and songwriter, usually combining multiple instruments and literate lyrics in her projects, under this new moniker AMIMEA explores the very foundation of her love for music: the piano. Fascinated by the melancholic, yet hopeful beauty of stillness and solitude, her minimalistic songs either slow you down towards peace and quiet, or evoke images in your mind among which you can travel.“ (AMIMEA)
Vanessa Wagner
(Composed by: Ezio Bosso)
(neoclassical, minimalism, cover)
A composition originally written by enigmatic Italian composer Ezio Bosso, which French pianist Vanessa Wagner interprets in her own unique way, genuinely balancing between eerie minimalism & melancholic, neoclassical…
“Vanessa Wagner, a pianist with many faces, pursues a career in her own image, between classical repertoire and innovative projects. Her international career as well as her rich and open discography have been crowned by numerous distinctions and her place in the French musical landscape is now unique. After “Inland” released by InFiné in 2019, the details for her new album will be announced in a few weeks.” (Vanessa Wagner)
Mark Sutton
(neoclassical, solo piano)
An emotive solo piano composition, that makes us dream of the sweetest pirouettes ever achieved… Like a fairy-dancer in a “chocolate ballroom”!
“Mark Sutton is a composer and musician who creates background and theme music with a reflective and nostalgic appeal from his studio in Dorset. His masterful approach to digital orchestration gifts him the ability to compose to brief or to picture. For his non-commissioned work, Mark doesn’t set out with a mission to create a particular piece; instead, he arrives at his pieces, guided by his fingers and directed by his soul.
Since an early age, Mark has been a master of his piano and takes inspiration from an eclectic mix of modern and classical composers and artists, from Chopin to Coldplay, there’s something there for Mark to source from.
Mark’s work combines orchestrated and pure piano tunes, it’s the perfect ’study’ music, and guides the mind, body and soul towards feelings of contentment and peace during the times you wish to relax and unwind.
His 2016 album Quest of The Spirit, offers up 12 tracks of discovery, tracks that chart the evolution of the soul’s journey, an internal voyage everyone takes. Every note, every rise and fall in the music, maps out the way ahead as the sounds escort you on your quest to the very heart of your soul.
Mark Sutton’s music takes listeners on a journey, directed by a man who has masterful control over music and a deep, innate understanding of the human condition.” (Mark Sutton)
Alessandro Ligi
(neoclassical, meditative, solo piano)
A meditative solo piano piece with a wistful, heartfelt melody, ideal for focus, reading, atmosphere &…… daydreaming!
“Alessandro Ligi is an Italian born pianist and composer residing in Rome. His compositions are inspired by the new classical style of Ludovico Einaudi, Philip Glass and Max Richter. His works have been featured on playlists such as New Classical, Soundtrack and Music for Concentration. His songs have over 1,2M streams on Spotify. Under contract to the music label Believe since 2021. Some of his tracks have been part of the documentary “Abbattiamoli” ‘s soundtrack edited by Massimo Giletti and aired on the 10th of June 2021 on the Italian channel LA 7.
www.alessandroligi.com.” (Alessandro Ligi)
Kiki Cubb
(crossover classical, solo piano)
What we adore most of Kiki Cubb’s ‘Aurora’ is her vivid & flawless piano performance in this beautifully crafted ballad “to reflect the slow movement of the Aurora Borealis in the sky”… Unique!
“Kiki Cubb is an international composer who began studying piano in France at the age of nine. She continued to study music until her late teens. She moved to the United States and due to the day to day demands of life, she was distracted from her passion for composing music for some years. More recently, a tragedy prevented her from playing on her 100 year old Steinway for 3 years. After resuming playing and as a healing process, she discovered a new found passion for composing again.” (Kiki Cubb)
Vincent Boot
(neoclassical, solo piano, cinematic)
An arresting solo piano composition by the Dutch pianist & composer Vincent Boot, with stunning atmosphere to chill out during the cold winter nights…. Destined to warm (y)our hearts!
“Vincent Boot is a pianist & composer from The Netherlands who creates his own atmosphere in contemporary music. His music is a mix of Ambient, Chillout, Classical, World, Lounge and New Age music.
He creates healing music for Relaxation, Massage, Yoga, Mindfulness and professional music & arrangements for movies, documentaries and advertisements.” (Vincent Boot)
The Music
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Christos Doukakis