Off The Record: Lee Ranaldo and Raül Refree
NeueHouse is proud to introduce Off The Record – a music series integrated across the monthly rotation of programming events that invites artists and musicians to speak candidly about their works, followed by an intimate, behind-the-scenes performance to debut their latest sound. Through candid conversation and live performance, the series brings together musicians, artists and producers to deconstruct the process and showcase their genre-defying form.
For the inaugural event, former Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo and Raül Refree came together to explore the themes of their electrifying, experimental new album, Names Of North End Women. NeueHouse sat down with the artists themselves to uncover the collaborative rhythm between two musicians of seemingly disparate backgrounds. This collaboration represents a change for Ranaldo, who’s done all sorts of stylistic zig-zagging in recent years:
“We’re challenging ourselves to make this as experimental as possible.”
In the process, the two have found an emblematic rhythm devoid of the pressures of their pasts and previous records, launching them both into new sonic territory. The abrasive virtuoso that Lee once brought to the sounds of Sonic Youth are replaced with the marimba and a modified cassette machine, combined with the jazz and experimental rock influences of Refree’s musical productions.
