The joy of making music together may seem like a distant memory after ten long months of isolation and division. These unprecedented times go to show just how much we long for, need and love one another. Music is just one of the ways that love is shared within our community.
Here at Studio One, we're celebrating the many different forms of love during the Valentine's Special, a Tracks show airing at 2 p.m. on February 13 and 8 p.m. on the 14 that showcases love for partners, friends, the arts, the community and especially ourselves during these trying times.
Head over to IPR's Instagram page to share a musical virtual valentine with who or what you love, and your pick might make the airwaves on Valentine's weekend!
While we wait in anticipation for a time when more in-person musical memories can be made, these five Iowa collaborations demonstrate how music is best made — and enjoyed — together.
Jana West, Tim West, Kathryn Severing Fox, Rick Maly, Wade Krieg & Sherilyn Rittgers
Ankeny singer-songwriter Jana West wrote “ONE” towards the beginning of lockdown. She recorded a simple video of her on acoustic guitar and vocals that day and sent the piece to other local musicians, asking them to remotely contribute their part to the mix.
This video was the result. With her husband Tim on bass, Kathryn Severing Fox of The String Prophets on violin, Rick Maly on drums, Wade Krieg on lead guitar and Sherilyn Rittgers providing background vocals, “ONE” captures the emotions of being physically distant from others, but united in purpose and spirit.
Dana T, Michael Jarvey, Hannah Marks, Justin Leduc & Brian Lewis Smith
Dana Telsrow, the jack-of-all-trades artist from Iowa City, dropped two singles back in 2019 with a different sound than his usual synthpop or funk rock releases. “When I Trust The Written Word” and this track, “YouTube for Self-Help Idiot,” are two instrumental ensemble jazz pieces that harken to Telsrow’s roots in the University of Iowa School of Music.
Telsrow, under his stage moniker Dana T, composed and produced the track. It features accomplished local jazz musicians, including trumpeter Brian Lewis Smith, Michael Jarvey on keys, Hannah Marks on double bass and Justin DeLuc on drums.
MarKaus, Lily DeTaeye & SIRES
In 2017, Des Moines rapper MarKaus joined forces with singer-songwriter Lily DeTaeye and Waterloo band SIRES to create “Barely Breathing,” a track that seamlessly combines MarKaus’ punchy hip hop style with DeTaeye’s soulful crooning. Produced by local label Station 1 Records, this song is empowering, gritty and distinctly Iowan.
Madison Ray, Mr. Larry Moore, Dano B. Picasso, Tina Haase Findlay & Court the Poet
The last track on Madison Ray's 2017 album The Revolution, Vol. 2 is a collaboration between many talented local artists, including the lyrics of Dano B. Picasso and vocals by Mr. Larry Moore and Tina Haase Findlay. It celebrates the swagger and confidence of Black men as an empowering anthem for an ambitious generation.
"Black Tie Affair" ends with spoken word by Court the Poet, who urges, "Black boy, fly, and I promise your dreams will catch you."
Hawkeye Marching Band, Panther Marching Band & Pat Green
The Iowa Wave is a new and beloved local tradition. After the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital was built to overlook Kinnick Stadium, football fans and players began waving to the children inside after the first quarter of every home game.
Pat Green’s country song “Wave On Wave” has long been played at patriotic or sporting events. On September 15, 2018, the country artist paired with University of Iowa’s Hawkeye Marching Band and University of Northern Iowa’s Panther Marching Band to present a special version of the song, now the official anthem of the Iowa Wave.
