Recently, my 12-year-old daughter, Lyric, declared to a grown-up that I listen to music with “swear words.” "Even the F-word!" She testified enthusiastically. Sensing immediate judgment, Lyric proceeded to backtrack and articulated my philosophy: You should be able to express yourself fully through music. Well, actually, in...
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If you've been to a major festival in recent years, you probably noticed that music interpreters have become part of the overall experience. To a hearing person, an interpreter's movements might resemble a cross between pantomime, acting and interpretive dance. But, that's definitely not how they...
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In the early to mid-90s, drones of Radiohead fans packed venues demanding to hear the song, "Creep." During the anthemic chorus, the crowd sang in unison, "What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here. I don't belong here." Yet with paid ticket...
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Face-to-face interviews can awaken the highest form of mental precision. Like a hunter or a great three-pointer, the heart rate steadies itself and the eyes dilate a little. Time expands on the vertical axis when all of the senses are fully engaged and absorbing information...
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My friend Serene is from Lebanon. We used to work together in Chicago. When she moved back home (between Cairo and Beirut), we stayed in touch through Facebook. This summer, she recommended I check out a Lebanese band called Mashrou' Leila. They've been courting the...
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