Sound Field

Arts and Music Series / 5 Seasons

Arthur Buckner and Linda Diaz are accomplished musicians and music teachers exploring the music theory, production, history and culture behind our favorite songs and musical styles.

8m 2s

Is Blues the Mother of All Modern Music?

S1 E21 / 11m 35s

We explore where the blues came from and how it went on to influence many modern genres of music. From Delta Blues pioneers like Robert Johnson and Son House to Chicago Blues icons like Muddy Waters and B.B. King. We breakdown how this genre can be heard in everything from heavy metal to country music. Later Nahre and LA take the elements of the blues to create their own unique track.

From the Church to the Charts: The Influence of Gospel Music

S1 E22 / 15m 57s

LA and Nahre travel to Chicago, the birthplace of gospel music. There they meet gospel artist, Donald Lawrence and LA introduces Nahre to drum shed culture at a shed session on the south side. Later LA travels to Orlando to meet singer Tye Tribbett at his church. They talk about the shared exchange between secular and non secular music.

Why Don't Classical Musicians Improvise?

S1 E23 / 11m 40s

Bach, Mozart, Clara Schumann and Chopin all improvised as part of their performances. Today, classical musicians rarely improvise. So what changed? Nahre Sol and LA Buckner improvise together while talking about the reasons why classical musicians no longer improvise. It's one big jam, that ends with tips on how to improvise better in your own playing.

Behind the Seductive Rhythm of Bachata

S1 E24 / 9m 29s

Bachata music comes from the Dominican Republic in the 1960's but thanks to newer acts like Romeo Santos and Aventura, has blown up internationally. We visited the Mexican-American band La Santa Cecilia to learn how they mix latin genres with pop and rock. Join Nahre in learning about this distinctly latin rhythm as she attempts to create her own bachata fusion song.

Where is the Funk? How Prince Created the Minneapolis Sound

S1 E25 / 11m 27s

The electro-funk style known as the Minneapolis Sound took over pop music in the 1980s and 90s. LA is in Minneapolis to meet with Jellybean Johnson of the Minneapolis Sound pioneering band, The Time, to find out how Prince and artists like Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis developed the sound. Jellybean also helps LA create his own Minneapolis-style original composition.

Why K-Pop Is More Complex Than You Think

S1 E26 / 10m 15s

K-Pop has become a global phenomenon. While K-Pop may seem like traditional pop music, it's actually more complex. It borrows from a variety of genres like R&B, EDM, and Hip-Hop while maintaining it's own distinct sound. Nahre Sol investigates why K-Pop is different from other styles of Pop music, speaks to K-Pop producer and songwriter David Amber and attempts to create her own K-Pop track.

Wait... Where Did Dubstep Go?

S1 E27 / 8m 56s

Dubstep came from UK garage music in the 90's, influenced by the syncopation of 2-step and the bass and reverb of Jamaican dub. What started off in London as an underground scene, became the soundtrack for popculture in the 2010's. So how did dubstep become mainstream, and where did it go? LA Buckner researches the roots of dubstep. Everything from Skrillex to Skream, Benga, and Burial.

What It's Like Busking in the NYC Subway

S1 E28 / 17m 47s

Busking, also called street performance, is the act of playing in public for donations. The tradition goes back to ancient history and has launched the careers of artists Robin Williams, Ed Sheeran, and Sheryl Crow. Nahre Sol visits the amazing musicians of the New York City subway to learn about why they busk. Later she gets tips from the pro buskers and attempts busking herself with her friend.

How To Make a Living as a Drummer with LA Buckner

S1 E29 / 8m 10s

LA Buckner is the host of Sound Field but also a professional drummer, producer, and teacher. LA tells us about his musical journey from drumming at 3-years-old to performing for audiences of 8,000. We visit LA at his church in Minneapolis, and even sit in on one of his music lessons with a young student.

Nahre Sol: How I Became a Classical Pianist and Youtuber

S1 E30 / 7m 48s

Nahre Sol is the host of Sound Field but is also known worldwide as a classically trained pianist and composer. As a soloist and chamber musician she has played across North America and Europe, and she teaches piano and music genres on her own YouTube channel. In this interview, she answers viewer submitted questions. She also shows us where she practices and gives us a behind the scenes tour.

Is Indie a Music Genre?

S1 E31 / 11m 14s

Independent, or "Indie" music, has a broad definition that can be applied across genres and regions. So what makes indie music indie? LA Buckner interviews Quinn Christopherson, an up-and-coming indie musician in Anchorage, Alaska and 2019 NPR Tiny Desk Contest winner, about what it's like to create DIY music. Together they create their own indie song that you can hear at the end of the video.

How Charlie Parker Changed Jazz Forever

S1 E32 / 11m 46s

LA Buckner spotlights the innovative style of Kansas City's own Charlie “Bird” Parker — a legendary jazz musician who has influenced many of today's genres and helped develop the genre bebop. LA interviews jazz saxophonist Bobby Watson and sound archive director Chuck Haddix while tracking down Parker’s influence on bebop, jazz and the rest of the musical world.

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