PITCHFORK: Pitchfork’s Recommendations for Music to Ease Self-Isolation
PITCHFORK: Pitchfork’s Recommendations for Music to Ease Self-Isolation
BY CAT ZHANG
“One thing that’s kept me alert is ‘Carrot Revolution,’ the adventurous string composition by the Bay Area artist Gabriella Smith. This is not the fussy classical music drilled into you by your stern orchestra teacher: It is startling and textured, with scratchy sounds coming from the strings that make it sound like the piece was improvised in a zipper factory. Inspired by Georgian folk music, Joni Mitchell, and more, the composition derives its name from a quote attributed to the Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne: ‘The day will come when a freshly observed carrot will start a revolution.’ Smith is motivated to look at old things in new ways; as self-isolation stretches on, we will also need to get innovative.”