The music of Iceland-based American composer and pianist Dustin O’Halloran is pure and uncompromising. His latest album – Silfur – is a collection of fifteen pieces that both refine and expand upon the composer’s concepts of time — past and present — channeled through music. The new album, on German label Deutsche Grammophon, features new […]
The ‘godfather’ of neo-classical music, Ludovico Einaudi’s expressive and accessible style of romantic minimalism has inspired countless pianists and composers the world over. Composing from his home in Milano, Italy, Einaudi’s artisanal melodies have provided the perfect accompaniment to millions of rainy days and sentimental moments. Here are ZoneOut’s top 5 essential albums by Ludovico […]
Ólafur Arnalds — in collaboration with photographer Benjamin Hardman — has released a short film for his song ‘New Grass’, a cut from Ólafur’s 2020 album some kind of peace. Using a macro lens, the pair captured the microscopic, dance-like movement of Icelandic moss when exposed to water. Benjamin was introduced to the phenomenon by a […]
ARIA-nominated, multi-award-wining Australian pianist Nat Bartsch has always written music with the intention to comfort and soothe. Her new album, Hope (ABC Classic), took what she calls ‘a slight detour’ as she responded to the unexpected challenges of 2020. Here is Nat Bartsch, on Hope, in her own words. Hope, the new album by Nat […]
Pianist, producer, and composer James Francies has released the new single ‘713’, a vivid tribute to his Houston hometown. The track is the first single from his forthcoming album Purest Form, to be released 21 May on Blue Note Records. Stream ‘713’, the new single by James Francies ABOUT JAMES FRANCIES Since his debut album […]
“This project has this quality of unfortunately being relevant all the time,” says Max Richter of Voices. A major work inspired by and featuring text adapted from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Voices was broadcast with EBU and BBC 3 to 40 radio stations worldwide on 10th December for Human Rights Day 2020 and […]
South Korean pianist and composer Yiruma is celebrating 20 years since his debut album with a new recording, The Rewritten Memories, to be released on 26 March via Universal Music. The new album features brand-new orchestral arrangements of some of Yiruma’s best-loved works from the past two decades, including the globally popular ‘River Flows In […]
We review five albums Icelandic composer Ólafur Arnalds: ‘some kind of peace’, ‘re:member’, ‘Island Songs’, ‘The Chopin Project’, and ‘For Now I Am Winter’
Icelandic composer and producer Ólafur Arnalds has been at the vanguard of contemporary instrumental music for over a decade. A punk drummer turned ambient pianist (thanks in part to a supportive grandmother), Ólafur’s music has been streamed over one BILLION times (yes, with a B). Ólafur’s intimate compositions and organic production style have thrived in […]
