Musical Tangents

Loui and Valerie continue discussing award shows to recognize certain artists inconveniently.

Loui and Valerie discuss their opinions about art award shows including the Oscars Academy Awards.

Valerie initiates the conversation of 20th-century classical composer Charles Ives. Loui and Valerie discuss how the past and trends from the past pressure the current musicians from progressing music into the future.

Valerie and Loui returned with Season 2 and they begin the season by catching up. Valerie shares activities that she did during the Winter holidays and breaks. Loui also shares them.

Valerie and Loui return from their break since Season 1. Are you ready for them?

Valerie and Loui recorded their last episode of season 1 before their break. They discuss imagination, music, listening, and different memories of the Christmas and holiday seasons in this episode.

As season 1 approaches to its end, Loui and Valerie discuss various topics like the Punk music scene in Lexington, KY, promoting music, the importance of radio/decline of radio with an introduction to TV, and visual/auditory imagination.

Loui has some curious cases of composers who overcame their adverse psychological conditions and channeled their energy into acts of creativity. Famously, Rachmaninoff suffered from depression; Ravel suffered a detrimental neurological condition; and Schumann was lovesick of Clara Wieck. Loui also has a warning for those who might think that any adverse psychological conditions lead people to be more creative and warns the listeners to never equate correlation with causation.

VALERIE IS BACK WITH US! Valerie once told Loui that she struggled a lot mentally when she had to perform in front of a crowd of any size. Loui, who majored in Psychology and has been interested in mental health overall, suggested that they discuss the relationship between music and mental health. This is an interesting discussion as it is one that will never end.

In the second part of the conversation between Loui and Shigeko, they continue to discuss concepts of performance, artistic experiments, and the spiritual nature of any performing arts. Shigeko begins with the harsh history of the United States when the founder of LaMama theatre, Ellen Stewart, began working. Along with it, Shigeko explores how there are endless opportunities if people seek to catch them.

Loui visited NYC in October. While in NYC, he had an opportunity to talk to Shigeko, who is Loui's father's former colleague and a dear friend. As a working, professional actor who has been in numerous productions including her work at the MET, Shigeko offers different perspectives on music and performing arts in general. They explore topics related to La Mama Experimental Theatre company, her journey to working at the MET, and her journey as a minority actor in NYC.

Another musical theatre giant is Andrew Lloyd Webber (ALW). Although Loui cannot deny the influence Webber had on him as a musician, he has developed many mixed emotions about Webber as an artist. He shares a few aspects of Webber that he admires and a few that he disdains.

As Loui continues to introduce his musical idols, he explores the impact that the pianist Vladimir Horowitz had on him as a musician. Loui explains how he was introduced to Horowitz when beginning to take piano lessons and how he was captivated by how Horowitz interpreted others' works.

Valerie is out of town! So, Loui brainstormed about a filler episode that won't take a lot of effort, and he could just talk for a long time... Thus, he decides to discuss a few musical influences of his that impacted his musical journey. This episode is about Stephen Sondheim and how he influenced Loui as a musician.

Valerie and Loui along with Amelia continue their discussion about listeners and their opinions on music based on their inherent values and their opinions on the artists' personal lives. Should people appreciate music based on music's inherent values, or should they appreciate based on what they like about the artists' personal lives? Should they care to share the opinions...?

Loui and Valerie have a featuring guest to their show for the first time! They along with Amelia discuss how standardization has affected musical world in general. Has it pushed the music as an art form to its limit? Or... has it limited the artists from pushing the boundaries?

Music is closely tied to originality and creativity. However, are they same? Moreover, even if they are related, is one more important than the other? Do originality and creativity affect how artists promote their work? Valerie and Loui ponder upon these challenging topics in this episode.

Many artists live in a world where they have to be their own promoters of their work. Exposure brings audience, but there is a catch; the work must be original. Is originality crucial, or is it based on what academia believes to be moral? Does originality truly exist in music? Valerie and Loui ponder upon the difficult topic in this episode.

Some famous musicians have said that "music is a universal language." Maybe for many people, this sentiment can be true. But how true is that statement when we use it in our practical reality? Does it still hold the same amount of truth? Valerie and Loui ponder upon this question in this episode.

Loui & Valerie are the two hosts for Musical Tangents, but who are they? Why are they hosting a podcast discussing music? This episode explores both of their upbringings, backgrounds, and growth in music.

The trailer for the podcast is here! Loui composed the original theme for the podcast series, and Valerie came up with the intro comments.