Metaverse Muses: The Music That Inspired Some of Second Life's Best Artists (Introduced By Their Real Life Selves)

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:

Download the MP3 here and listen in its entirety, preferably with a glass of wine and the speakers booming.

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?

• Dizzy Banjo: Steve Reich - "You Are" (Variations)
• AM Radio: Tycho - "The Daydream"
• Klink Epsilon: Gabriela Robin - "Some Other Time"
• Oberon Onmura: Steve Reich - "Come Out" (edit)
• Man Michinaga: Beats Antique - "Scratch Tail"
• AngryBeth Shortbread: Art of Noise - "Close" (To the Edit)
• Adam Ramona: Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force - "Planet Rock"
• Juria Yoshikawa: Cornelius - "Drop"
• Tanith Catteneo: Bjork - "All is Full of Love"
• Misprint Thursday: Cyndi Lauper - "Time After Time"
• Nebulosus Severine: David Sylvian - "I Surrender"
• Gore Suntzu: Forneria Marconi - "Sea of Memory"
• Sabine Stonebender: Testament - "Return to Serenity"
• DanCoyote Antonelli: Jimi Hendrix – "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"
• Penumbra Carter: Bob Dylan - "Mr. Tambourine Man"
• Tuna Oddfellow: The Residents - "Everyone Comes To the Freak Show"
• Selavy Oh: Les Reines Prochaines - "Opfer Dieses Liedes"
• Arahan Claveau: The Cure - "Fire in Cairo"
• Dekka Raymaker:Penetration - "Don't Dictate"
• Douglas Story: The Romantics - "What I Like About You"

Comments

[Nebulosus Severine]

Thanks for the great article, Hamlet. I'm psyched to have been a part of this amazing broadcast, and to be a part of Arthole Radio in general.

Arahan's idea paid off well, indeed. I'm glad there was such an enthusiastic response, from both the artists who contributed, and from the listening audience.

I loved hearing all of the stories and music. I had no idea what to expect, and I have to say that the show exceeded my already-high expectations. It was amazing how well each song fit the person who chose it! (I think my favorite story was Tanith's, though that is a very tough choice.)

Arahan and I had a talk later about it, and how it really engendered in us a sense of community with our fellow artists.

Arthole Radio will keep striving to produce compelling art-related broadcasts for the amazingly diverse art community of Second Life -- including more shows of this nature!

[Sunshine Kukulcan]

Hearing voices of the artists and their stories....deep, moving and entertaining!

Dear Arahan, please make this a yearly experience???

(fav artist story: Juria Yoshikawa; fav music AND stories:Selavy Oh and Dekka Raymaker)

[Arahan Claveau]

Much thanks Hamlet, it's great you enjoyed it so much, I hope many more people listen and find it equally informative and entertaining.

There were many more artists I wanted to ask but there had to be a limit, maybe I can continue the concept in a future broadcast and include some of those that were missed this time.

The artistic community in Second Life is often so fragmented not least because everyone is understandably usually very busy, so this was a chance to take a breather, find some common ground and a unifying theme. I found it a very positive experience and I hope all the participants and listeners will feel the same.

[Persig Phaeton]

Every time I wander through a build by AM Radio, I hear the music of Claude DeBussy in my head. I listened to DeBussy a lot as a child and it has always evoked a reflective and slightly surreal impression, not unlike the works of AM Radio.
I haven't listened to this MP3 yet but I'll be intrigued to give it a listen when I get home from work.

Persig

[Gore Suntzu]

Was a great Show, with amazing tunes and stories! my fav intros were the ones from Tanith Catteneo and Dekka Raymaker, fav songs Steve Reich "Come Out" and Testament "Return to Serenity".
Def a great idea Arahan!
Ciao
Gore

[Arahan Claveau]

Hi Hamlet,

The link for this and all our Arthole Radio shows have now changed.

You can find this show here.

Thanks a lot!

Arahan

[Arahan Claveau]

This recording is still available on Soundcloud, or as part of the full ArthOle Radio archive on iTunes.

-Arahan-