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Delayed Saxophones and the Downtown World of Dickie Landry

The saxophonist, composer, artist, and photographer Dickie Landry set out into the artistic world with the goal of crafting an individual sound unlike any other. From his distinctive stereo delay […]

November 27, 2022

The Fragmented Blues of Loren Connors

Drawing on inspiration from the abstract painter Mark Rothko to the delta blues stylings of Robert Johnson, Loren Connors crafted a sparse and wandering improvisational guitar sound unlike any other […]

October 28, 2022

“Ancient and Futuristic”: Robert Rutman and the US Steel Cello Ensemble

While the word “cello” may bring to mind a wooden instrument played by influential figures such as Yo-Yo Ma, the steel cello created by German artist and composer Robert Rutman […]

October 21, 2022

Torn Light Archives 10: Truly Needy, 1983

I felt like diving into the archives this week, bringing us to the tenth installment of Torn Light Archives. I was really digging in this week too, searching for something […]

October 14, 2022

“Laughing Too Much”: The Whimsical, Heartfelt Folk of Norma Tanega

“I never wanted to be a serious artist because I like to laugh too much.” Known for her off-kilter 1966 song, “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog,” folk singer-songwriter and experimental […]

October 7, 2022

Off The Wall 3: The Nurse With Wound List

For this edition of Off The Wall, where I typically discuss a few items from our specialty items wall, I’m taking a slightly different approach. Currently, Torn Light is developing […]

September 30, 2022

Valuing Serendipity: Joel Chadabe’s Interactive Music Systems

As I was browsing the website of electronic composer Joel Chadabe, I was drawn to a link on the homepage titled, “Advice: You Can Do Anything.” The last sentiment shared […]

September 23, 2022

Designed to Live On: Townes Van Zandt

Often with singer-songwriters, we assume a level of authenticity between the person and the music, that what they sing represents who they are and what they’ve experienced. Sometimes this is […]

September 18, 2022

Torn Light Archives 9: Take It!, 1981

This Sunday, it’s the second half of the two-part, late-1970s and 1980s punk magazine dive into the Torn Light Archives, which began last week with San Francisco’s Damage. The focus […]

September 11, 2022