Welcome.

I guess this is my first post. I’m Danielle. I’m a musicologist, violist, and an educator. My scholarship primarily focuses on Pharrell Williams’ musical and cultural productions which are ever expanding to include, but are not limited to, a constellation of works by the Neptunes, Chad Hugo, N.E.R.D., Shay Haley, Missy Elliot, Timbaland, Tyler, the Creator and other artist collaborators within their orbit. You are welcome to join this exploration into the musicological meanings behind their tracks, their production techniques, performances, festivals and such. This is the space where I’ll be describing how listening practices, media, and popular culture collide in global contexts.

Much of my time is spent thinking about how to engage learners into thinking about sounds as socialized practice. My main way examining socialized listening, and performance is through the concert space. I take footage of concert experiences, interview audience members, and listening to sonic relationships between fans and artists.

Often I ask my students: What sounds do you like to hear? What musical experiences have you had? And which tracks would you choose to describe them? How would you introduce those sonic elements to someone who’s unfamiliar with them? And do you believe they shape your identity? If, so how?  Or if you’ve never considered music in that way, why not now? Whether we realize it or not sound does shapes us, and as humans we have the ability hear in a myriad of ways. When we sharpen our skill set to think critically about the manner(s) in which we know and sense sound, sometimes what we discover can be simply satisfying or saccharinely terrifying. And especially in modern times, developing critical listening skills is an ever important process and that looks different for everyone. So, my intention to use this online space is wade through that sonic dark matter with you. 

Please share with me the sounds and the vibes you’ve known: