What music inspired some of Second Life's best artists? Metaverse artist Arahan Claveau had a genius flash for Arthole, the SL podcast show/live Internet show he co-produces. "I asked some of the most influential SL artists to choose a favorite piece of music," he explains, "but instead of me just playing the music, they will be introducing each track using their own voices. I had a very enthusiastic response from the artists, the introductions they’ve recorded are a fascinating mixture of amusing, provocative and downright weird. It’s a unique opportunity for listeners to hear the artists actually speaking and gain some revealing insights into their personalities."
Arahan is correct to say so, but he's actually under-selling his accomplishment. This is an inspiring, profoundly moving audio compilation of great music and voices, artists from around the world of every age, offering insights into how they became the creators they are today. You'll be awed by the eclectic diversity of the music, everything from an avant garde composer from the 1960s to a contemporary Oakland hiphop group with belly dancer accompaniment, and the stories told by Residents from Japan, the US, the EU, Australia, and elsewhere. Sometimes there's a direct line from the music to their Second Life work, sometimes the connection is more subtle. In either case, it's one of the very best things to come out of the metaverse art world, audio testimony to a vibrant community, and the soundtrack that helped make it real:
Full list of tracks and avatars after the break. You'll surely notice well-known creators like AM Radio, DanCoyote Antonelli, and Dizzy Banjo, but you're just as likely to discover others that amaze you. Please share in Comments -- what's your favorite introduction, and song selection?