Artwork for Press Play At Home episode with Theon Cross performing "Panda Village"

Theon Cross

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Press Play At Home: Watch Tubist Theon Cross Navigate Rhythmic Dimensions In Performance Of "Panda Village"

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In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, tubist Theon Cross performs a tectonic version of "Panda Village"
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Jun 10, 2021 - 11:06 am

The tuba may have been the sole bass instrument in early New Orleans jazz, but in the ensuing decades, it took a serious backseat to the saxophone, trumpet and other horns. But as JazzTimes noted in 2018, the unwieldy device is back in a big way—with contemporary artists both honoring its history and pushing the instrument forward.

"Nothing is hotter than the tuba right now," tubist Marcus Rojas marveled in the article. "Everyone wants to get a sousaphone, everyone thinks it's the coolest thing. There are two tuba players on late-night TV: Tuba Gooding Jr. in the Roots and Ibanda Ruhumbika on 'Stephen Colbert.' That would have been unheard of 15 years ago!"

Watch: Tubist Theon Cross Performs "Panda Village"

Enter Theon Cross, the tuba virtuoso in crossover jazz favorites Sons Of Kemet, and his killer ensemble. In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, watch them stretch out on a seven-minute version of "Panda Village," a track from Cross' 2019 album Fyah. The clip features Chelsea Carmichael on sax, Nathaniel Cross on trombone, Nikos Zarkias on guitar and Patrick Boyle on drums.

Check out the muscular performance above and click here to watch more episodes of Press Play At Home.

Press Play At Home: Robert Glasper & Denzel Curry Blur Black American Genres With An Urgent Version Of "This Changes Everything"

Press Play At Home: Monsieur Periné

Monsieur Periné

Photo: Ernesto Linneman

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Press Play At Home: Watch Monsieur Periné Perform A Bubbly Version Of "Mundo Paralelo"

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In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, watch Colombian band Monsieur Periné perform a merry version of "Mundo Paralelo"
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Jul 12, 2021 - 11:52 am

Ever hear the axiom "Music is a universal language"? Sure, it's a cliche, but for good reason.

Take Monsieur Periné, a Colombian band who sings in Spanish, French, English, and Portugese. But you don't need to know any of those languages to feel the welcoming vibe of "Mundo Paralelo."

In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, let the Bogotán ensemble—led by Catalina García—sweep you away with a performance of "Mundo Paralelo" that exudes radiance and group solidarity.

Watch Monsieur Periné Perform "Mundo Paralelo"

"[It's about] the simple things in life," García told Rolling Stone about the song upon its release. "Walking on the grass barefoot, feeling the rain, and having fun with your dog."

"Mundo Paralelo," a collaboration with Pedro Capó released last May, is a follow-up to Monsieur Periné's 2018 album Encanto Tropical, which was nominated for Best Latin Rock, Urban Or Alternative Album at the 61st GRAMMY Awards in 2019. (The group won for Best New Artist at the 16th Latin GRAMMYs in 2015.)

Check out Monsieur Periné's lighthearted performance of "Mundo Paralelo" above, and click here to enjoy more episodes of Press Play At Home.

Press Play At Home: Watch Laycon Perform An Earthy Version Of "All Over Me"

Artwork for Press Play At Home episode with dodie performing "Four Tequilas Down"

dodie

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Press Play At Home: Watch Dodie Perform A Morning-After Version Of "Four Tequilas Down"

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In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, singer/songwriter dodie conjures a bleary last call in a hushed performance of "Four Tequilas Down"
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Jun 24, 2021 - 8:38 am

"Four Tequilas Down" is as much a song as it is a memory—a half-remembered one. "Did you make your eyes blur?/So that in the dark, I'd look like her?" dodie, the song's writer and performer, asks. To almost anyone who's engaged in a buzzed rebound, that detail alone should elicit a wince of recognition.

Such is dodie's beyond-her-years mastery of her craft: Over a simple, spare chord progression, she can use an economy of words to twist the knife. "So just hold me like you mean it," dodie sings at the song's end. "We'll pretend because we need it."

In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, watch dodie stretch her songwriting muscles while conjuring a chemically altered Saturday night—and the Sunday morning full of regrets, too.

Watch Dodie Perform A Bleary "Four Tequilas Down"

Check out dodie's hushed-yet-intense performance of "Four Tequilas Down" above and click here to enjoy more episodes of Press Play At Home.

Press Play At Home: Watch Yola Perform A Rock-Solid Rendition Of "Stand For Myself"

Press Play At Home: Yola

Yola

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Press Play At Home: Watch Yola Perform A Rock-Solid Rendition Of "Stand For Myself"

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In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, four-time GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Yola declares her independence with a simple, strong performance of "Stand For Myself"
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Jun 17, 2021 - 12:47 pm

After years of "vibes," it's official: Songs are back. No matter how much production wizardry you throw on a track, the world seems to be remembering that songs are only as good as their foundation. 

In her song "Stand For Myself," the gifted, four-time GRAMMY-nominated singer/songwriter Yola seems to doubly allude to this axiom and her own self-containment.

Over a handful of first-position chords, Yola lets loose her mighty voice. "I understand why you close your eyes/Why you deaf your ears/I realize now, you wanna feel nothing," she booms. "Just like I was, a coward in the shadows/No view from above."

Yola Performs A Rock-Solid "Stand For Myself"

In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, Yola shows she's the opposite of cowardly. With the simple and strong flavors of an acoustic guitar, a stripped-down ensemble, and her inimitable voice, she proves she can stand tall on her own accord.

Check out Yola's self-assured performance of "Stand For Myself" above and click here to enjoy more episodes of Press Play At Home.

Press Play At Home: Watch Omah Lay Elevate A Room While Performing "Can't Relate"

Press Play At Home: Omah Lay

Omah Lay

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Press Play At Home: Watch Omah Lay Elevate A Room While Performing "Can't Relate"

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In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, Nigerian wunderkind Omah Lay performs "Can't Relate" in a carpeted room with a tour bus, psyching up listeners for the return of live music
Morgan Enos
GRAMMYs
Jun 3, 2021 - 8:04 am

With a colossal amount of artists announcing tours for this summer and fall, big-room live music is so close, we can practically taste it. 

And whether intentionally or not, Nigerian Afrobeats artist Omah Lay is psyching up music fans with his performance of "Can't Relate," which sees him captivating a carpeted room with a vintage bus parked inside.

In the latest episode of Press Play At Home, watch the singer born Stanley Omah Didia and his band fire an indelible hook into the ether from within four walls.

Whether it's a coded dispatch or just a vibe Lay liked for the clip, the message nonetheless rings loud and clear: See you on the dance floor soon.

Check out Omah Lay’s vibrant, hopeful performance above and click here to enjoy more episodes of Press Play At Home.

Press Play At Home: Techy Fatule Performs A Charismatic, Otherworldly Version Of "Tu Me Quieres Más"