Acclaimed music maker, Christine White, released a lush new single Taken on October 27th. The second single and video from her upcoming multifaceted release, The Raven Project due for release on November 24th 2022, is an epic collaboration with over fifty musicians and artists including legendary composer John Psathas.

Taken, an eight and a half minute song, was written 8 years ago by White. Though written on guitar, the song had always been envisioned in the style of the lush ballad arrangements akin to those of classic recordings like Billie Holiday and orchestra.

Ok so now about the music. My suggestion is to close your curtains, turn off the lights and immerse yourself into this sonic space, just for a moment. I promise it will be worth it. John Psathas' arrangement, the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, and White's compositional style serve to challenge what it means to write a song, not just in terms of length (especially these days), but also in terms of texture, harmony, and ambition.

I could talk about my favourite moments, like the surprising move from Am to A major 26 seconds into the piece, musical prosody created by the harp with an arpeggiatic flourish over the word 'flamboyantly' at 45 seconds, unison glissandi by the string section 1m28 over 'stop pushing yourself away' (and other counterpoint heard in the strings). I could talk about the combination of diatonic harmony and secondary dominants, diminished chords, and surprising functional movement. I could talk about different parts of the orchestra holding the groove like the vibraphone (1m10s), piano (2m38s), harp (2m52s), then eventually the rhythm section at 5m08s. I could talk about the using of mixture of swung and straight groves heard together on occasion, and other tasteful polyrhythm, and string nuances that seem to arrive from nowhere. I could talk about the sense of journey that this piece provides, the relaxed assuredness that allows the message of a love gone wrong to be played out so assuredly and build so beautifully. But, if I talked about all of that too much then it might spoil the music, so instead of reading this why don't you go and listen to Taken, and let it take you on a journey, like it did with me, and maybe check out the album when it comes out later on this month.

• 1
  Anxiety Club
• 2
  Take Hold
• 3
  Coridian
• 4
  Devilskin
• 5
  Skinny Hobos
• 6
  L.A.B.
• 7
  Head Like A Hole
• 8
  Shihad
• 9
  Katchafire
• 10
  Written By Wolves

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  Macho Macho @ Otisfest, San Fran, Wellington - 14/04/2024

• 1
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 2
  BEAUTIFUL THINGS
  Benson Boone
• 3
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 4
  LIKE THAT
  Future And Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
• 5
  END OF BEGINNING
  Djo
• 6
  I LIKE THE WAY YOU KISS ME
  Artemas
• 7
  WE CAN'T BE FRIENDS (WAIT FOR YOUR LOVE)
  Ariana Grande
• 8
  STICK SEASON
  Noah Kahan
• 9
  TEXAS HOLD 'EM
  Beyonce
• 10
  LEAVEMEALONE
  Fred Again.. And Baby Keem

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