So, who is your musical muse?

low.pfile · « **on:** 15 May 2010, 08:17 pm »

Which singer makes you go "Ahhh!"?

Mine is Yukimi Nagano.

I first heard the band Little Dragon, just last year, on either XM radio or KCRW, no idea which. I immediately bought the bands CDs. Then I saw the band in concert the same week in Santa Cruz. I was mesmerized.

I later found out that the lead singer, Yukimi, provided the vocals for a very cool song by Koop that I liked back in the day, Summer Sun. Well she is a hot commodity everything from Jazz to Hip Hop want to collaborate with her.

She has a soft but powerful voice that just appeals to my ears. There is a soulfulness that is deep. Strangely, her music evokes a tension and calming effect simultaneously.

I just ordered vinyl of the Little Dragon albums I already have on CD as well as a few other CDs on which she makes a guest appearance, mostly rare/imports. Wow, still smitten.

Yukimi's Band Little Dragon...
Listen to a great display of Yukimi's sound on Little Dragon - Twice (a great recording by Blackroom Sessions). And a more uptempo song..... Constant Surprises.

Just some of her collaboration performances....

Electronica:
with Koop, Summer Sun
with Hird, I love you my hope

Jazz:
with Sleep Walker, Afloat
Yukimi with Jafrosax

Hip Hop:
Nobody Beats The Beats

My photo below is from the first time seeing Little Dragon in Santa Cruz. I hope to see them again soon.

Who is your musical muse?

pjchappy · « **Reply #1 on:** 15 May 2010, 08:38 pm »

David Gilmour. His voice is always so soothing. The duets with Waters, such as Mother or Comfortably Numb, emphasize his voice even more, contrasting with Waters' somewhat harsh voice.

Also, emotion comes through so well through his voice and his guitar. He definitely inspired me to pick up the guitar. . . and to make my own music.

Paul

eclein · « **Reply #2 on:** 15 May 2010, 09:22 pm »

Annie Lennox comes to mind!!
Enya

HAL · « **Reply #3 on:** 15 May 2010, 09:55 pm »

Pat Benatar

drphoto · « **Reply #4 on:** 15 May 2010, 10:12 pm »

The term "Muse" implies (to me) someone who inspires your own musicianship. For me as someone who plays the guitar for my own amusement, right now, it would also be Dave Gilmour and Steve Hackett, formerly of Genesis. Both are very lyrical players. I'm working hard to learn that sound and especially Gilmour's unique sense of time.(maybe the hardest part to copy) I love how he essential took blues licks and twisted it into something completely new.

Mark Knopfler and Chet Adkins would be two others, but I can't play fingerstyle to save my life.

Of course, there a dozens of great guitar players out there to inspire. The guy who's maybe my favorite musician of all time, Neil Finn, is a hell of a player though no one would ever cite him as a guitarist. (more known as a songwriter) He plays a lot of crazy ass split chords, and his solos, while not fancy are just right.

I've posted about this idea before, but playing, even at a rudimentary level makes me appreciate real musicians even more.

I dunno if this was what you were talking about or not.

low.pfile · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 May 2010, 10:51 pm »

Drphoto, your definition is most common--inspirational entity. But I was thinking more of the poetic variation. Furthermore, I use words incorrectly all the time!

I was going to write: "Who is your musical muse/crush? but forgot to add that.

But all responses will work. I wish I played something to utilize an inspiration.

Noseyears · « **Reply #6 on:** 18 May 2010, 06:02 pm »

Ann Wilson is a great rock singer!! Love her.

hum4god · « **Reply #7 on:** 19 May 2010, 04:46 am »

Joanna Newsom

http://www.youtube.com/user/peachplumpeariffic1#p/u/1/RJurxN0Gd9Y

JoshK · « **Reply #8 on:** 19 May 2010, 01:11 pm »

Lately mine has been Muse.

sts9fan · « **Reply #9 on:** 19 May 2010, 01:43 pm »

Wesly Willis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0AcpqdF00M&feature=related

davidrs · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 May 2010, 01:46 pm »

Low.phile,

Check out Vienna Teng. Not a muse for me, but in the ballpark.

Here is some early information on her.

http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/139667_viennateng16.html

And thanks for the post - I will check out Little Dragon

- David.

davidrs · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 May 2010, 01:58 pm »

Low.phile,

Good stuff - Little Dragon is.

Just added to my Pandora desktop list and enjoying Never Never as we speak.

- David.

BobM · « **Reply #12 on:** 19 May 2010, 02:10 pm »

I like too many different styles of music. One muse would just limit me. Even one muse in each general category would limit me, since so many have traits that I greatly admire.

Maybe I just can't make up my mind.

davidrs · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 May 2010, 12:55 am »

A Muse harem!

You're right, we need to make this a muse harem.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #14 on:** 21 May 2010, 01:00 pm »

Quote

Vienna Teng

- good one, she is cool.

Bjork for me, love her older stuff including Sugar Cubes.

davidrs · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 May 2010, 03:58 pm »

Mark,

If you enjoy Bjork, you will probably dig Emiliana Torrini. Here is some information on her, as well as connections with Bjork. If you have not heard her, hope you enjoy her voice and take on delivery.

http://www.pandora.com/music/artist/emiliana+torrini

- David

davidrs · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 May 2010, 09:03 pm »

Give Bic Runga a 'drive'

irishsammy · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Jun 2010, 01:22 am »

Eva Cassidy. A voice from heaven...and it's an awful turn of events that she went back there so early.

satfrat · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Jun 2010, 01:46 am »

Emilie Claire-Barlow, this Canadian jazz vocalist doesn't get much recognition but she is my absolute favorite female jazz artist whom I could listen to all day long and I own every one of her albums. Her voice is my happy place within my system's sound stage.

edit: Eva Cassidy get honorable mention and who's only fault is that she passed before her time & with a limited library.
Cheers,
Robin

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Jun 2010, 03:37 am »

Teresa Teng. Samples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tPAddMqNLM&feature=related