The purpose built next generation interstellar Dawn Richard thread

"The club is the street where we know dance music, when we hear bounce, that's where we do it anywhere—whatever moves us, we dance" —Dawn Richard@crystalleww talks w/ @DawnRichard about her new album Second Line, dancing, electronic music, moms, & more!https://t.co/dRwEWR2vsx

— Tone Glow (@toneglow) May 19, 2021

I liked that interview

we had rehearsals for our Live performances and I decided we should dance on water and wear Mugler while doing it. When the dress rehearsals turn into a movie. Thought I’d share the process. ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/wx0M65KrFr

— DAWN (@DawnRichard) June 3, 2021

too short!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgjQJTeCjWQ
Dawn Richard • Bussifame (Felix Da Housecat & Dave The Hustler Remix)

Happy birthday, girl!

live show at BAM last night was overwhelming in the precision of stagecraft and choreography but WAY too much sound for a relatively small house like seeing an arena show in ballroom. there were numerous songs that took me ten seconds to go "oh yeah, i know this track" simply because they were so overwhelming. Dawn sounded great (though I could've done with less vocal effect work throughout. It was an efficient tsunami, done in 70 minutes, ran through maybe 18 songs like it was nothing. Glad I caught it but I'd really prefer to see her in a less vegas setting next time.

this was the closer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybGtEMgdBwE

new album with spencer zahn out in october

https://dawnrichard.bandcamp.com/album/pigments

“New Orleans dynamo Dawn Richard and multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Spencer Zahn announce Pigments, their debut collaborative album, out October 21st on Merge Records. Today, the pair presents the first movement: “Coral,” “Sandstone,” “Indigo,” and “Vantablack,” which is accompanied by an official video and marks Richard’s directorial debut. Pigments tells the story of finding one’s self through dance, self-expression, and community through the lens of New Orleans’ contemporary arts scene. Not strictly classical, jazz, or ambient electronica, but rather a body of “movements,” Pigments is one long composition guided by Richard’s stripped-down vocals. Following her acclaimed Merge debut, Second Line, Pigments reveals a new facet of Richard’s limitless talents and her entry into the contemporary classic world, and provides a fresh introduction to Zahn, whose intimate, sprawling soundscapes play with principles of open space and motion.”

wow the four released tracks are immensely beautiful, what a unique discography she's making

I don't know anything about Zahn though, is there a good project to check out first?

yes, this is beautiful stuff

I mean, it’s so easy to take the beauty for granted when people consistently make great work over a long period of time, but this really is incredibly beautiful. “Vantablack”, wow…

She was one of the Pitchfork Festival's highlights.

This is so cool. Not sure I know of anything similar?

Movement 2 came out this week, consisting of four more tracks.

it's more of the same but that's welcome

Wow, this is really great.

Zahn isn't an artist who's been on my radar before. I'm going to check out some of his earlier work - he did a record with Dave Harrington of Darkside guesting on guitar, which seems like a promising premise for a collab.

did a sort of panel with her last month, what an lovely person she is

“Cerulean” is insane. Loving this so hard.

wowwww

she has a nice feature on a softer garage house number from luuk van dijk called "love you". on beatport and junodownload but afaict nowhere else, maybe spotify idk.

Dang the layers of woodwinds/strings/vocals on "Saffron" -- this is rather majestic stuff, but not at all stuffy or overwrought.

Just went back to 1 and "Vantablack" is stunning

holy shit crimson

This is the post-ECM jazz art-pop record we need right now. Soooo fucking good.

Agree Crimson is incredible.

for some reason this didn't interest me when the first few tracks were released but now i think they're fantastic?

This gets really good in the second movement!

Yeah wow, excellent record. Pop and num-nummy froth-jazz pulling one another towards something v deep and charming

really love the cover art on this

where's it at?

https://dawnrichard.bandcamp.com/album/pigments

heh. the cover photo. none of the press seems to say.

https://i.imgur.com/RXMYy7F.jpg

just a spot of ice golf y'know

Totally magical album

It's currently leading my aotd (day) rankings, although the Dry Cleaning got off to a v promising start that I've had to curtail continuing until tomorrow

I think the most magical thing for me is that I listened to and mildly enjoyed the first movement a few weeks ago, but listening to the whole thing was a revelation - as ufo says above, it just opens out and deepens to an unbelievable degree for such a brief album

Agreed, I stopped listening to the first movement because I was anticipating the album so much. Glad I waited. It's best taken as a whole, and it's wonderful.

Made me check out Sunday Painter by Zahn, which is also exquisite.

took me a few listens to notice how amazing Umber is

is it philistine to wish the vocals were a bit less treated

still this is very good

I feel the same about the vocal treatments. On the other hand, a more naturalistic treatment would further expose some of the lyrical weaknesses.

The vocals are very much part of the wash of sound, as on the Cocteau's Victorialand (in particular).

more background on the dozen things she's doing (a food truck?)
https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/musician-and-multimedia-artist-dawn-richard-on-creating-opportunities-for-yourself-and-others/

new single/twerk anthem "Bubblegum"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWyTq_9GdUA

oh hellllll yeah

I like those apparent "sell-outs" where the aloofness and left-field sounds keep the supposed hit song in its own elusive territory. Like creating a bridge and creating gaps at the same time. It's very credible. Retains her "aquatic" sound.
Only critique is that it's a bit over in an instant.

i am *really* enjoying this.

Dawn was great at the PopCon keynote, BTW; had a chance to chat with her almost by accident beforehand. A personable soul.

Uh...nobody posted this yet?

https://dawnrichard.bandcamp.com/album/the-architect

I'm listening to Goldenheart for the first time in a long time. Still holds up!

What else is worth hearing (and/or avoiding) in her discography? I haven't kept up with any releases since Goldenheart, including the jump to Merge Records.

Goldenheart is the one I would tell people to avoid, so not sure how valuable this will be to you. But I would simply proceed chronologically from there: Blackheart, Redemption, new breed, Second Line. I wouldn't avoid any of them, though Blackheart is probably my favourite