Ra Ra Riot
Upstate New York-based alt-rock ensemble Ra Ra Riot, founded in 2006, is comprised of Milo Bonacci (guitar), Alexandra Lawn (cello, vocals), Wesley Miles (keys, vocals), Gabriel Duquette (drums), Mathieu Santos (bass), and Rebecca Zeller (violin). The late John Pike (drums, vocals) co-wrote much of the group's 2007 debut release. Collaborations/shared stages include Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend), The Editors, and legendary New Wave unit Bow Wow Wow. With five releases to date, get "Winter '05," from Ra Ra Riot's 2008 project The Rhumb Line.
Buy
:
Genre
: Alternative
Ólöf Arnalds
Icelandic multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Ólöf Arnalds was born in the Reagan era. By the age of 8, she picked up the violin and classical singing and never put them down, studying music through grad school at the Iceland Academy of the Arts. After some finger-bleeding, Arnalds took off with indie-rock ensemble múm in 2003. Three years later, she recorded her solo debut with Kjartan Sveinsson (Sigur Rós) at the helm, earning Record of the Year in Iceland. Her sophomore set, also produced by Sveinsson, is set for release this year. Download "Náttsöngur," from Arnalds's Við og Við.
Buy
:
Genre
: Singer/Songwriter
Sarah Chang
Classical violinist Sarah Chang was born in Philadelphia of Korean descent. At age 8, she played for maestros Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti, leading to
her affiliation with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Juilliard. Collaborations include Pinchas Zukerman, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yefim Bronfman, Martha Argerich, Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Lars Vogt, and Isaac Stern.
Among her accolades are a chair in Yale's Sprague Hall (2005), the Hollywood Bowl's Hall of Fame Award (youngest recipient ever),Korea's Nan Pa Award, and the Avery Fisher Prize (1999). Download "Me'lodie," by Christoph Willibald Gluck, from Chang's 1999 release
Sweet Sorrow. Buy
:
Genre
: Classical
Laura Marling
Laura Marling was born in Southeast England in 1990, with old-soul musical wisdom. At the age of 3, she became enrapt with the guitar and has been performing ever since. Twice nominated for England's Mercury Music Prize, Marling is a former member of Noah and The Whale. Collaborations/shared stages include Mystery Jets, The Rakes, Adam Green (Moldy Peaches), and Jamie T. With two full-lengths and a near dozen releases to collect, discover "Devil's Spoke," from Marling's divine 2010 release I Speak Because I Can.
Buy
:
Genre
: Singer/Songwriter
Album: I Speak Because I Can
Beirut
Beirut is the indie-rock ensemble founded in the mid-aughts by New Mexico import Zach Condon (multi-instrumentalist, songwriter). Musical chairs include Nicholas Petree (drummer), Perrin Cloutier (accordion), Jason Poranski (guitar, mandolin), Paul Collins of Soft Landing (guitar), Jon Natchez (baritone sax, clarinet, glockenspiel, ukulele, mandolin), Kristin Ferebee (violin), Kelly and Tracy Pratt of Arcade Fire (trumpet, flugelhorn), and Heather Trost of A Hawk and a Hacksaw (violin, viola). Shared stages/collaborations include Grizzly Bear, The New Pornographers, and The Jimenez Band. With a handful of releases to date, start with the deliciously old-timey "La Llorona," from 2009's March of the Zapotec.
Buy
:
Genre
: Alternative
Album: March of the Zapotec
Muchuu
United Kingdom's Muchuu is brother and sister act Milky and George. Milky sings and writes the lyrics, and George writes the melodies, rocks the computer, sings backup, and plays the keys. After issuing a couple of singles, they just released their first full length. Get "When I Am Brave," from Muchuu's 2010 debut
Adventure We Go
.
It's groovy and whimsy filled.
Buy
:
Genre
: Pop
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
