EAVESDROPPING: What Harvard's Playing

GENEVA M. ROBERSTON-DWORET SAYS:

I’d heard Joanna Newsom played on my favorite radio station KCRW for a long time and hadn’t been impressed by her little-girl warbling routine, but a friend recently dragged me to see her in concert and she was fantastic. I’ve reformed and am now a big fan. I recently fell in love with Keren Ann’s song “Que N’ai-Je” from her Nolita album. The unfortunately-named Keren Ann is an Israeli-born French singer/songwriter and her voice has a totally sexy vulnerability reminiscent of her fellow countrywoman Carli Bruni. I love the variety of styles she pulls off successfully—from the Radiohead-like “Que N’ai Je” to the bluesy feel of “Road Bin.” My favorite record right now is German producer Ulrich Schnauss’ new record Strangely Isolated Place, which is filled with buzzy, mysterious melodies that sound like an electronic version of My Bloody Valentine.

—Interviewed by Lucy F. V. Lindsey