The Virgins exemplify the sound and style of downtown New York City in 2008. The band came together in 2006, the brainchild of songwriter, Donald Cumming. Having lived on New York’s streets since the age of 16, Cumming’s teen years were chronicled by photographer Ryan McGinley in his now-legendary debut solo show at the Whitney Museum of American Art. With Cumming joined by bassist Nick Zarin-Ackerman, guitarist Wade Oates, and drummer Erik Ratensperger, The Virgins began playing at downtown parties at such spots as St. Marks Church and 205. For their third show ever, the Virgins took Paris by storm, performing at designer Agnès B’s fashion week party alongside Patti Smith and Sonic Youth. The band’s connection to New York’s art scene is no more apparent than in their own album art, which features design and photography from Dan Colen and Terry Richardson.
Willie Nelson / Georgia I’ve been listening to a lot of Willie Nelson lately. This one is from an album of standards that I’m especially down with.
Comprised of the fantastically flamboyant, charismatic Argentinian frontman Sebastian Muravchik and British keyboard mastermind Ali Renault, Heartbreak have developed a growing gang of devotees thanks to their debut single, We’re Back, and electrically charged live shows, which blur the boundaries between live music and religious experience. Christened ‘metalo’, the pair’s unique sound combines the high drama and melodic charm of early 80s Italian disco (the European counterpart to New York’s movement) with the dark, brooding energy of metal bands like Black Sabbath, as reflected on their debut album, Lies [out now on Lex through Inertia].
Florio Time DJ / Time Out We first heard this on one of DJ Intergalactic Gary’s mixes a while ago. This is, in our opinion, a very special Italo disco track. It has a genius fretless-bass lick on it that makes you cry and a Euro-sounding rap that goes something like: ‘come on boys, come on girls, lets all dance to the music of your mouth’. At least, that’s what it sounds like.
70s disco queen Donna Summer may well be the hottest thing to appear out of that decade after Afghan Fur Trims and Cheesecloth Fabrics. Having already sold 130 million albums, Summer is back with a wonderfully sparkling new release, Crayons.
Rihanna / Umbrella It’s a very cool idea and such a fun song. Plus she’s very cute and classy.
My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website and weekly email publication. We invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs right now. These are their words on the music that inspires them.
