Live Sessions that Inspire Us
Incandescent Sessions would not exist if we didn’t love watching live sessions as much as we love making them. Here are some of the live sessions that have inspired us to do what we do.
Theo Katzman Live At The Nest
Sometimes artists will keep a song’s arrangement exactly the same as it was on the album, but something about the live performance element gives the song extra impact. That’s exactly what happened with Theo Katzman’s live session performance of “Plain Jane Heroin.” This live recording made the song both more intimate at its quiet moments and more powerful at its peaks.
Theo Katzman – Plain Jane Heroin
NPR Tiny Desk Concerts
This video series is such an establishment in the music community that we reference it when we’re explaining what a live session is to someone who doesn’t know. If you’re reading this you’ve probably seen a fair share of Tiny Desk Concerts yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyW5Zz0w1zg
Sylvan Esso: Echo Mountain Sessions
Electronic duo Sylvan Esso reworked their minimalist synth-based tunes to incorporate a full band in this stunning session series taped at the beautiful Echo Mountain Studio in Asheville, NC.
Sylvan Esso - The Glow (Echo Mountain Sessions)
Triple J Like A Version
This Australian radio station has an interesting formula for their live in studio performances. They invite artists to perform one original and one cover, which really showcases the artist’s songwriting, performance, and arrangement abilities. Some covers are pretty straightforward, and others completely diverge from how it was originally envisioned, such as this cover of the Arctic Monkeys’ “Do I Wanna Know” by Chvrches.
CHVRCHES cover Arctic Monkeys 'Do I Wanna Know?' for Like A Version
Bon Iver Live At AIR Studios
Recorded at the legendary studio of Sir George Martin, this session showcases the expansive acoustics of the studio’s live room. You haven’t heard concert grand pianos at their full potential until you’ve heard them at AIR Studios.
Bon Iver - I Can't Make You Love Me (Live at AIR Studios) [HD]
AEA Sessions
This series has an ulterior motive: they’re trying to sell you their premium ribbon microphones featured in the videos. But when you watch them, it doesn’t feel at all like a commercial. Masterfully filmed and recorded, AEA has not-so-accidentally created an incredible showcase of some wonderfully talented musicians.
Madison Cunningham | Beauty Into Clichés | AEA Sessions
A Takeaway Show
This group films their sessions anywhere but a recording studio. If you’re looking for realism, this is as real as it gets. In this one, Mac DeMarco takes viewers through a Parisian park as he performs two acoustic versions of his original tunes.
Mac DeMarco - Still Beating & This Old Dog | A Take Away Show
Bikini Bottoms Superband Live At The Bubble Bowl
Ok this one’s not exactly a live session (more like a live concert recording) but we’d be lying if we said we weren’t driven to tears by this powerful display of sheer musical genius.