STACK #121 Nov 2015

MUSIC

FEATURE...

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Whether via CD, vinyl or streaming, the way we enjoy music is constantly evolving. But bigger is still better: music booming through a room takes some beating. STACK drops in on Bertie Blackman to find different sounds in every room of the house. By Jonathan Alley.

ith audio systems now capable of directing specific music content all around our houses, we thought we’d drop in on a noted musician, sign them up with a JB Hi-Fi NOWmusic streaming subscription, hook up a Sonos multi -room hifi system, and see how they liked it. As STACK arrived at Bertie Blackman’s light, airy, well-ordered, inner-Melbourne abode, the newAlt-J album This Is AllYours is floating though the house. Her cat is sitting comfortably among various delectable cookbooks, a Korg synthesiser and a FenderTelecaster copy sit quietly in the corner. Vinyl is stacked up near her turntable (Bowie’s Changes One taking pride of place). After a solid week of press promoting new album The Dash , Blackman is happy kicking back to talk music; not just what she’s listening to, but how she’s listening to it. “I’ve been enjoying the multi-room play – my studio is in my bedroom,“ she says. “I was in there, building a desk. I had music on, and Felix (Blackman’s brother, who makes his living as an architect) had music on in his room. I was listening to Nils Frahm, a pianist I’ve discovered; he’s really beautiful. And Felix was listening to Jill Scott. I didn’t know if it would be distracting having two different kinds of music playing at

opposite ends of a small house – I had my door open – and it didn’t bleed out at all.” While Blackman takes both making music and listening to music seriously, she knows how to have fun with it. So she used the combination of Sonos and JB Hi-Fi Now to amusing effect when entertaining friends recently. “We played a ‘music association’ game on Sonos going through JB Hi-Fi Now.You put on a song and then the next person has to play something connected.We did ’90s rounds:The Offspring, Alanis Morissette. I put M.C Hammer on at one point! I wouldn’t have done it without a wireless connection.” As for The Dash , Blackman has put the emotional turmoil that shaped 2012’s Pope Innocent X behind her, working with a variety of producers and co-writers includingThe Presets’ Julian Hamilton,

and John Castle, to create an unashamedly joyous pop record. “I went away from ’creating worlds’ to find the thing you’re supposed to do, where you’re not self-consciously listening to all the voices around you.There was a great immediacy: I gave myself the challenge to write in two-day stints, with different writers. It really stirred up the energy.”

The Dash by Bertie Blackman is available now via Warner Music.

Fancy being able to stream from a selection of over 20 million tracks for multi-room audio playback? With this amazing prize from Sonos and JB Hi-Fi NOW, you can! We’ve got a SONOS PLAY:1 (valued at $299.00) and a JB Hi-Fi NOW subscription (valued at $99.00) to give away. The SONOS PLAY:1 is mini but mighty. It fits anywhere and rocks any world with symphony sound – no other wireless speaker packs so much grunt into such a compact design. Streaming from JB HiFi NOW to any room in your house, you’ll get crystal clear highs and thundering lows at any volume.

Photo credit : Rebecca Rowlands for www.theurbansparrow.com

I’ve been enjoying the multi-room play… I was listening to Nils Frahm, a pianist I’ve discovered. And (my brother) Felix was listening to Jill Scott.

Enter at stack.net.au!

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