I CARE IF YOU LISTEN
@icareifyoulisten.bsky.social
Award-winning multimedia platform for living music creators powered by American Composers Forum.
Advocating for marginalized artists & racial equity.
https://icareifyoulisten.com/
Advocating for marginalized artists & racial equity.
https://icareifyoulisten.com/
“Quiet as it’s kept, the banjo is an instrument of the African diaspora.”
Have you read our concert review of Shawn Okpebholo’s Grammy-nominated Songs in Flight yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our concert review of Shawn Okpebholo’s Grammy-nominated Songs in Flight yet? Check it out at:
From African Diaspora, New Song Cycle by Shawn Okpebholo Takes Flight
Donna Lee Davidson reviews the world premiere of Shawn Okpebholo’s song cycle "Songs in Flight" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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November 27, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Quiet as it’s kept, the banjo is an instrument of the African diaspora.”
Have you read our concert review of Shawn Okpebholo’s Grammy-nominated Songs in Flight yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our concert review of Shawn Okpebholo’s Grammy-nominated Songs in Flight yet? Check it out at:
“Our goal with Mayrig was [...] to try to evoke the fragmented way in which our family histories intersect with our present-day lives.”
Have you read our interview with Lembit Beecher and Karen Ouzounian yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Lembit Beecher and Karen Ouzounian yet? Check it out at:
5 Questions to Lembit Beecher (composer) and Karen Ouzounian (cellist, composer)
Christine S. Escobar chats with Lembit Beecher and Karen Ouzounian about creating as a couple and their upcoming project, "Mayrig."
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November 26, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“Our goal with Mayrig was [...] to try to evoke the fragmented way in which our family histories intersect with our present-day lives.”
Have you read our interview with Lembit Beecher and Karen Ouzounian yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Lembit Beecher and Karen Ouzounian yet? Check it out at:
“Debts are temporary. But I could live with these pieces forever.”
Adam Tendler on the works he commissioned for his Grammy-nominated album “Inheritances.” Check out the interview at:
Adam Tendler on the works he commissioned for his Grammy-nominated album “Inheritances.” Check out the interview at:
5 Questions to Adam Tendler (pianist)
Anne Goldberg-Baldwin chats with pianist Adam Tendler about his new album, "Inheritance," out Dec. 11 on New Amsterdam Records.
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November 26, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Debts are temporary. But I could live with these pieces forever.”
Adam Tendler on the works he commissioned for his Grammy-nominated album “Inheritances.” Check out the interview at:
Adam Tendler on the works he commissioned for his Grammy-nominated album “Inheritances.” Check out the interview at:
“Most composers don’t know where the floor starts, where it should start, or how high the ceiling goes.”
Have you read Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei’s essay, “This is a Failed Study on Pay Transparency for Composers” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei’s essay, “This is a Failed Study on Pay Transparency for Composers” yet? Check it out at:
This is a Failed Study on Pay Transparency for Composers
Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei on pay transparency and why it needs to be part of an open conversation at all professional stages.
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November 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“Most composers don’t know where the floor starts, where it should start, or how high the ceiling goes.”
Have you read Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei’s essay, “This is a Failed Study on Pay Transparency for Composers” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei’s essay, “This is a Failed Study on Pay Transparency for Composers” yet? Check it out at:
“The album nods to the role of the percussionist as ‘timekeeper’ while showcasing dream collaborations and long-time friends.”
Have you listened to Third Coast Percussion’s Grammy-nominated “Standard Stoppages” yet? Check out our review at:
Have you listened to Third Coast Percussion’s Grammy-nominated “Standard Stoppages” yet? Check out our review at:
Third Coast Percussion's "Standard Stoppages" Honors Two Decades of Innovative Music-Making
Michelle Hromin reviews the new album from Third Coast Percussion, celebrating two decades of musicmaking, out Apr 11 on Cedille Records
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November 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“The album nods to the role of the percussionist as ‘timekeeper’ while showcasing dream collaborations and long-time friends.”
Have you listened to Third Coast Percussion’s Grammy-nominated “Standard Stoppages” yet? Check out our review at:
Have you listened to Third Coast Percussion’s Grammy-nominated “Standard Stoppages” yet? Check out our review at:
“The cultural and spiritual power of our sacred traditions, when engaged and aligned for the good of our people and not profit, is undeniable”
Have you read our interview with Mark Lomax, II yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Mark Lomax, II yet? Check it out at:
5 Questions to Mark Lomax, II (composer, percussionist)
Katie Brown sits down with composer, percussionist, and pedagogue Mark Lomax following the Oct. 2 premiere of "The Unity Suite" in Columbus, Ohio.
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November 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“The cultural and spiritual power of our sacred traditions, when engaged and aligned for the good of our people and not profit, is undeniable”
Have you read our interview with Mark Lomax, II yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Mark Lomax, II yet? Check it out at:
“Her works often center the voices of people affected by violence and displacement.”
Have you read our interview with Grammy-nominated composer Mary Kouyoumdjian yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/xGwWsNq
Have you read our interview with Grammy-nominated composer Mary Kouyoumdjian yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/xGwWsNq
Composer Mary Kouyoumdjian Meets Discomfort with Empathy
Amanda Cook interviews Mary Kouyoumdjian about the impact of her long history with ACF spanning multiple commissions and a term on the board.
icareifyoulisten.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“Her works often center the voices of people affected by violence and displacement.”
Have you read our interview with Grammy-nominated composer Mary Kouyoumdjian yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/xGwWsNq
Have you read our interview with Grammy-nominated composer Mary Kouyoumdjian yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/xGwWsNq
“The hundreds of new works Yarn/Wire has commissioned to date challenge audiences to rethink what it means to make music and what it means to truly listen.”
Have you read our interview with Yarn/Wire yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Yarn/Wire yet? Check it out at:
After 20 Years, Yarn/Wire is Still Driven by Curiosity and Innovation
Tristan McKay sits down with Yarn/Wire, who reflect on their 20+ years in new music and their upcoming projects.
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November 23, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“The hundreds of new works Yarn/Wire has commissioned to date challenge audiences to rethink what it means to make music and what it means to truly listen.”
Have you read our interview with Yarn/Wire yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Yarn/Wire yet? Check it out at:
“Their sensitivity to each composer’s intention [...] results in articulate, potent, and masterfully proficient performances.”
Have you listened to Mivos Quartet’s album, “May Our Centers Hold” yet? Check out our review at: icareifyoulisten.com/2025/10/mivo...
Have you listened to Mivos Quartet’s album, “May Our Centers Hold” yet? Check out our review at: icareifyoulisten.com/2025/10/mivo...
Mivos Quartet Takes Us Through a Gallery of Musical Portraits on New Album
Kathleen McGowan reviews "May Our Centers Hold" from the Mivos Quartet, out October 30 from Sideband Records.
icareifyoulisten.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
“Their sensitivity to each composer’s intention [...] results in articulate, potent, and masterfully proficient performances.”
Have you listened to Mivos Quartet’s album, “May Our Centers Hold” yet? Check out our review at: icareifyoulisten.com/2025/10/mivo...
Have you listened to Mivos Quartet’s album, “May Our Centers Hold” yet? Check out our review at: icareifyoulisten.com/2025/10/mivo...
“Many of the sounds on the album actually come from field recordings—from Peru, Brazil, Ghana, Chile, Bulgaria, Indonesia, the U.S., to name a few. I was drawn to recontextualizing these sounds and experimenting with new forms.”
Check it out our interview with Raimundo Atal at:
Check it out our interview with Raimundo Atal at:
5 Questions to Raimundo Atal (composer, environmentalist, economist)
Forrest Howell chats with composer-environmentalist Raimundo Atal about their practice and new album, "Otros Principios," out now.
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November 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“Many of the sounds on the album actually come from field recordings—from Peru, Brazil, Ghana, Chile, Bulgaria, Indonesia, the U.S., to name a few. I was drawn to recontextualizing these sounds and experimenting with new forms.”
Check it out our interview with Raimundo Atal at:
Check it out our interview with Raimundo Atal at:
“[...] these philosophical questions of ego and belonging [...]. For Choegyal, this includes the loss of his country, and the urgency of bringing Tibetan culture to the rest of the world.”
Check out our interview with Tenzin Choegyal:
Check out our interview with Tenzin Choegyal:
Tenzin Choegyal Brings Tibet to the World with "Be the Sky"
Christian Kriegeskotte chats with Tenzin Choegyal ahead of the release of "Be the Sky," out Nov. 14 on Orange Mountain Music.
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November 21, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“[...] these philosophical questions of ego and belonging [...]. For Choegyal, this includes the loss of his country, and the urgency of bringing Tibetan culture to the rest of the world.”
Check out our interview with Tenzin Choegyal:
Check out our interview with Tenzin Choegyal:
“The overall theme is revolutionary music of America.”
Have you heard Brandon Lopez’s ListN Up Playlist yet? Check it out at:
Have you heard Brandon Lopez’s ListN Up Playlist yet? Check it out at:
ListN Up Playlist: Brandon Lopez (September 25, 2025)
Brandon Lopez shares a playlist of resistance, featuring Afro-Cuban repertoire, and selections from Eddie Palmieri, Luigi Nono, and more.
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November 20, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“The overall theme is revolutionary music of America.”
Have you heard Brandon Lopez’s ListN Up Playlist yet? Check it out at:
Have you heard Brandon Lopez’s ListN Up Playlist yet? Check it out at:
"I also enjoy music that brings me closer to an unexplained force and elicits deeper meanings. I like music that simply sounds good, and I like music that is interesting and makes me use my brain."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/list...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/list...
November 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
"I also enjoy music that brings me closer to an unexplained force and elicits deeper meanings. I like music that simply sounds good, and I like music that is interesting and makes me use my brain."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/list...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/list...
“Like many non-Western composers, I have always wondered 'how far is too far?' when it comes to fusing various traditions with classical music."
Have you read Hamed Erfani and Yasaman Seif’s article “Blending Global Folk Traditions with Western Classical Music” yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/UmhG23Q
Have you read Hamed Erfani and Yasaman Seif’s article “Blending Global Folk Traditions with Western Classical Music” yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/UmhG23Q
Blending Global Folk Traditions with Western Classical Music: How Far Is Too Far?
Composer Hamed Erfani and cellist Yasaman Seif share strategies to retain authenticity when merging Iranian and Western classical styles.
icareifyoulisten.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Like many non-Western composers, I have always wondered 'how far is too far?' when it comes to fusing various traditions with classical music."
Have you read Hamed Erfani and Yasaman Seif’s article “Blending Global Folk Traditions with Western Classical Music” yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/UmhG23Q
Have you read Hamed Erfani and Yasaman Seif’s article “Blending Global Folk Traditions with Western Classical Music” yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/UmhG23Q
“[A]lmost every composer has done nonmusical work — yet this alternate path simply does not exist for everyone.”
Have you read James Díaz’s Money Matters essay, “You Must Only Make Music” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read James Díaz’s Money Matters essay, “You Must Only Make Music” yet? Check it out at:
You Must Only Make Music: Rethinking Access, Work, and Belonging of International Composers in the U.S
In this Money Matters essay, James Diaz highlights the barriers for international musicians pursuing a career in the United States.
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November 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“[A]lmost every composer has done nonmusical work — yet this alternate path simply does not exist for everyone.”
Have you read James Díaz’s Money Matters essay, “You Must Only Make Music” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read James Díaz’s Money Matters essay, “You Must Only Make Music” yet? Check it out at:
“I knew from the start that this album needed to reflect the full palette of sounds that make up my world.[...] It acts like the overture and the introduction of characters of sound, before I bring the other influences in.”
Check it out our interview with Zara Hudson-Kozdoj at:
Check it out our interview with Zara Hudson-Kozdoj at:
5 Questions to Zara Hudson-Kozdoj (cellist, composer)
Dalanie Harris interview Zara Hudson-Kozdoj ahead of the release of her album, "Remember Who You Are," out Oct. 10 on Platoon.
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November 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“I knew from the start that this album needed to reflect the full palette of sounds that make up my world.[...] It acts like the overture and the introduction of characters of sound, before I bring the other influences in.”
Check it out our interview with Zara Hudson-Kozdoj at:
Check it out our interview with Zara Hudson-Kozdoj at:
"An anonymous survey was carefully written to elicit detailed responses on pay conditions from professional composers working regularly in the United States... when it comes to composing, there is a pervasive silence in our community on pay."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/this...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/this...
November 19, 2025 at 4:08 PM
"An anonymous survey was carefully written to elicit detailed responses on pay conditions from professional composers working regularly in the United States... when it comes to composing, there is a pervasive silence in our community on pay."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/this...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/this...
“[...] I definitely saw something of myself reflected in their journey. Tecciztecatl first appears as a masculine deity who volunteers to be sacrificed in hopes of becoming the sun.”
Have you read our interview with Lu Coy yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Lu Coy yet? Check it out at:
5 Questions to Lu Coy (mixed media artist)
Yaz Lancaster chats with Lu Coy about "Becoming the Moon," part of the 22nd Annual New Original Works Festival at REDCAT Nov. 20-22.
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November 18, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“[...] I definitely saw something of myself reflected in their journey. Tecciztecatl first appears as a masculine deity who volunteers to be sacrificed in hopes of becoming the sun.”
Have you read our interview with Lu Coy yet? Check it out at:
Have you read our interview with Lu Coy yet? Check it out at:
“Each member builds on anotherʻs energy, and Frey’s compositions create space for the quartet to push deeper into each section and for us to get the wheels turning.”
Have you listened to Carrie Frey and The Rhythm Method’s “Seaglass” yet? Check it out at:
Have you listened to Carrie Frey and The Rhythm Method’s “Seaglass” yet? Check it out at:
Carrie Frey and The Rhythm Method Explore Shared Consciousness on "Seaglass"
Connie Li reviews "Seaglass" from The Rhythm Method, featuring new works by Carrie Frey, out today on Gold Bolus Recordings.
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November 18, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Each member builds on anotherʻs energy, and Frey’s compositions create space for the quartet to push deeper into each section and for us to get the wheels turning.”
Have you listened to Carrie Frey and The Rhythm Method’s “Seaglass” yet? Check it out at:
Have you listened to Carrie Frey and The Rhythm Method’s “Seaglass” yet? Check it out at:
"At a time where there’s vicious debate around belonging and who can claim certain spaces as home, the LA Phil continues to lead the charge in inclusive programming for American orchestras."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/ange...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/ange...
November 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"At a time where there’s vicious debate around belonging and who can claim certain spaces as home, the LA Phil continues to lead the charge in inclusive programming for American orchestras."
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/ange...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/ange...
“Collaboration is honestly just one of my favorite things.”
Have you read our interview with Macie Stewart yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/H6S4mOK
Have you read our interview with Macie Stewart yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/H6S4mOK
November 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“Collaboration is honestly just one of my favorite things.”
Have you read our interview with Macie Stewart yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/H6S4mOK
Have you read our interview with Macie Stewart yet? Check it out at: buff.ly/H6S4mOK
“[S]omewhere, deep down, the quiet voice of self-doubt that usually stays in the background begins to make itself heard.”
Have you read Lana Suran’s new essay, “Do We Truly Celebrate Each Others’ Success” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read Lana Suran’s new essay, “Do We Truly Celebrate Each Others’ Success” yet? Check it out at:
Do We Truly Celebrate Each Other’s Success? On Envy, Empathy, and the Illusion of Merit in Classical Music
Pianist Lana Suran looks at the issue of success as a "zero-sum" game, and how individual achievement can be a team effort.
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November 17, 2025 at 3:51 PM
“[S]omewhere, deep down, the quiet voice of self-doubt that usually stays in the background begins to make itself heard.”
Have you read Lana Suran’s new essay, “Do We Truly Celebrate Each Others’ Success” yet? Check it out at:
Have you read Lana Suran’s new essay, “Do We Truly Celebrate Each Others’ Success” yet? Check it out at:
“Amongst many emotions, the music carries me to places I can’t physically go — like Tibet. Yet Tibet resides within me. This album is a meditation, a return, and a way to stay connected ....”
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/tenz...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/tenz...
November 13, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“Amongst many emotions, the music carries me to places I can’t physically go — like Tibet. Yet Tibet resides within me. This album is a meditation, a return, and a way to stay connected ....”
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/tenz...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/tenz...
“Debts are temporary. But I could live with these pieces forever.”
Back in December, we sat with Adam Tendler to talk about his 2026 Grammy-nominated album, Inheritances. Check out the interview at:
Back in December, we sat with Adam Tendler to talk about his 2026 Grammy-nominated album, Inheritances. Check out the interview at:
5 Questions to Adam Tendler (pianist)
Anne Goldberg-Baldwin chats with pianist Adam Tendler about his new album, "Inheritance," out Dec. 11 on New Amsterdam Records.
buff.ly
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 PM
“Debts are temporary. But I could live with these pieces forever.”
Back in December, we sat with Adam Tendler to talk about his 2026 Grammy-nominated album, Inheritances. Check out the interview at:
Back in December, we sat with Adam Tendler to talk about his 2026 Grammy-nominated album, Inheritances. Check out the interview at:
"There is no longer a need to travel to learn about music...However, one critical question remains: how far can traditions blend before losing their identity, especially when two musical languages share little in common?"
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/blen...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/blen...
November 12, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"There is no longer a need to travel to learn about music...However, one critical question remains: how far can traditions blend before losing their identity, especially when two musical languages share little in common?"
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/blen...
icareifyoulisten.com/2025/11/blen...