Nonesuch Records releases pianist and composer Brad Mehldau’s Ride into the Sun – a songbook record of music by the late singer, songwriter, and guitarist Elliott Smith – on 29 August.
Featured musicians include singer/guitarist Daniel Rossen (Grizzly Bear); singer/mandolinist Chris Thile (Punch Brothers, Nickel Creek); bassists Felix Moseholm (Brad Mehldau Trio, Samara Joy) and John Davis (who also engineered and mixed the album); drummer Matt Chamberlain (Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Randy Newman); and a chamber orchestra led by Dan Coleman, who also conducted on Mehldau’s 2010 album Highway Rider.
Two album tracks, Tomorrow Tomorrow and Better Be Quiet Now, are available and can be watched below, together with an in-the-studio video of the musicians recording, directed by Matthew Edginton:
London-based, Australian-born producer, songwriter and DJ, HAAi (aka Teneil Throssell) has announced details of her highly-anticipated new studio album – HUMANiSE – out on 10 October 2025 via Mute on limited edition clear double gatefold vinyl and limited edition CD in eco card packaging.
You can watch the video for Satellite featuring Jon Hopkins, lead vocals by Obi Franky, plus ILĀ and TRANS VOICES, a crescendo of celestial glitch-pop that references early Kompakt records, 90s rave and 2-step, below. The accompanying visualiser is by Dobermann Ltd, who Teneil has been working closely with on the artwork.
Teneil goes on to say, “Satellite encapsulates everything HUMANiSE stands for: the importance of your people and the unique humaneness we offer one another in a rapidly changing world. I feel so lucky to have shared this track with Jon and Obi, ILĀ and TRANS VOICES.
This album is for my trans and queer family and our allies, to say thank you for lighting up every space you’re in. I will always be in your army.”
Talking about the track, Obi Franky explains, “Inspired by my father’s passing, I decided to write a message that I believe we share for each other. And this can apply to various situations for so many people including those that live far away from each other. Sometimes being reminded someone’s energy is there is enough to keep you going. We are all satellites and have the power to create a sense of unity, the power to receive and give what ultimately a human wants – love.’
HUMANiSE stands as an immense evolution from the debut, Baby, We’re Ascending, and arrives at a prolific time for the artist. Her BBC Radio 6 Music A-listed track, ‘Can’t Stand To Lose’ was reworked by HAAi and Tom VR and soundtracked a groundbreaking visual which premiered on the Outernet’s digital exhibition space for Women’s History Month. That was followed soon after by a collaboration with KAM-BU, Shapeshift, and recent (and forthcoming) DJ appearances that include Coachella, Movement, Glastonbury and helming her community-focussed night in London, UNiSON.
In all of her work, Teneil has always sought to conquer new frontiers in electronic music, and on the new album, she’s drilling deeper into the grid. HUMANiSE reckons with what it is to be human in an increasingly digital world, as AI threatens to eclipse everything and our screens separate us from each other. The result is an ambitious and thrilling epic: embodying a sonic step up, exploring the sweet spot between machine-led dystopia and emotion-filled utopia.
“Throughout the album, I kept thinking about a machine with a human heart,” she says. Where previously she’s been hidden by a laptop, or obscured behind the decks, more recently she was, “inspired to return to my songwriting roots and use my voice more in my own music.” “Throughout the album, I kept thinking about a machine with a human heart,” she says. Vocals are front and centre, stunningly delicate and giving a newfound dimension to her kinetic productions. “It took a long time to get there, it’s such a vulnerable thing to do,” she continues, “but for this album, it was important for me to allow this ‘human heart’ to be front and centre.”
The human heart has another focus on the album: unity and community. HAAi explains, “Even though HUMANiSE is about how the world is starting to change beyond our control, it’s important to keep a sense of togetherness and hope.” These ideas of community and a sense of belonging is of utmost importance, and she has returned to work with friends including Jon Hopkins, Alexis Taylor from Hot Chip, singer Obi Franky and rapper KAM-BU, artist Kaiden Ford, as well as poet James Massiah, who guests on All That Falls Apart, and two choirs: TRANS VOICES with choir leader ILĀ and a gospel choir led by Wendi Rose. But this is no clique, the community she surrounds herself with is inclusive, with ample space for the listener on a journey where you are suspended in dreamlike euphoria, drawing the most human part of you to the surface – the part where nothing matters more than family, friends, and togetherness.
HUMANiSE is out on 10 October 2025 via Mute on limited edition clear double gatefold vinyl and limited edition CD in eco card packaging. You can pre-order here
Summer Music in City Churches is a festival in the City of London. Founded in 2018, it presents beautiful music to engage, divert and inspire, in ancient and architecturally stunning churches in the Square Mile. Standing cheek by jowl with City offices, these churches are glorious settings in which to listen and reflect: oases of history, beauty and peace amidst the 24-7 hurly-burly of City life.
It’s only a month until the opening night of this year’s Summer Music in City Churches. If you haven’t got your tickets yet, don’t lose any time.
‘Eternal Light’ is a series of stunning concerts presented during evenings and lunchtimes from 18th to 27th June. Along with some of the great choral requiem settings (Fauré, Duruflé, Verdi), you’ll find an enticing variety of luminous music performed in beautiful, historic churches.
It is our pleasure to welcome back the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted this year for the first time by Sir John Rutter. Other returning festival favourites include string quartet Brother Tree Sound, Tier3 Trio, RPO Brass, and pianists Iain Farrington, Mark Bebbington and Viv McLean.
We are thrilled to feature a number of up-and-coming talented young musicians, including: duo Eleanor Grant (voice and double bass) & Gus McQuade (guitar); soprano soloist Hannah Dienes-Williams; organist Paul Greally; award-winning guitarist Jack Hancher; and the exquisite sound of Corvus Consort.
There’s a special chance to hear Lucy Parham‘s composer portrait of Debussy, ahead of a sell-out performance at the Wigmore Hall later in the year.
Finally, don’t miss Verdi’s immortal Requiem in the remarkable new version by Richard Blackford performed by the City of London Choir under Daniel Hyde.
Evening concerts take place in St Giles Cripplegate; at lunchtimes we visit light-filled St James Garlickhythe, St Mary Abchurch and St Botolph-without-Bishopsgate for the first time. Click below for full details and to book tickets.
As a subscriber to our newsletter, you can buy tickets to all concerts – lunchtime and evening – with 20% off by quoting KESEL20 when you book. Or buy a season ticket to the whole festival for just £100.
Vanessa Wagner has today revealed the next instalment of her forthcoming album release of Philip GlassEtudes, due for release on 13 July from the InFiné label.
“After more than thirty years spent playing, interpreting, and working on the great repertoire, Philip Glass’s music has, in a way, almost revolutionized my life as a musician,” confides Vanessa Wagner.
The label describe how “in Etude no.14, so often filed away as a mere “transitional” study, Wagner uncovers a central engine of Glass’s language: the art of turning motif into living gesture, pattern into emotion, structure into an open-ended form.”
The North Sea Radio Orchestra have announced a new album, Special Powers, to be released on Believer’s Roast on 30 May 2025. This is prefaced by a new single, All Alice Lake, described as “Craig’s attempt at a country waltz (perhaps the most ‘straight-ahead’ song he’s ever written), with string countermelodies and Chantelle’s voice to the fore.”
Summarising their career to date, the press release tells the story of how, “Way back in 2002 North Sea Radio Orchestra (NSRO) began rehearsing and performing in old churches, secreted away in the heart of the City Of London. At first their audience had to explore the lost alleys and lanes of old Londinium to hear their sounds. NSRO then moved out into the world at large; performing in venues diverse – from churches to clubs to Freakzone sessions to festivals, opera houses, libraries etc etc. NSRO are very much a part of the ‘Cardiacs Family’ of bands and musicians; having personal and stylistic ties (harmonically and melodically) to Cardiacs and the music of the late Tim Smith generally; other bands in the ‘scene’ include Gong (and Kavus Torabi), Lost Crowns, William D Drake, Spratleys, Crayola Lectern etc.”
Special Powers is their fifth studio album and as ever, all material is written and produced by band leader Craig Fortnam.
Arcana.fm 