FLOOD
Flood: season 2
About the critical mass, musical movements, and soundtracks of current affairs
A new season of the Vloed podcast is approaching. While the first season was based on isolation and island feeling, the second series focuses on the critical mass, which would be the festival theme in 2020.
When does an idea gain enough weight to cause a turning point? How do movements arise from individuals? And what role does music play in that? "Every revolution and every change has a soundtrack," Van der Valk explains. "Musicians not only sing about that change, they also help determine its direction."
Episode 1: Black Lives Matter
In the context of critical mass, the first episode of the second season of Vloed can actually only revolve around one movement: Black Lives Matter, responsible for the largest anti-racism protests since the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Partly through music, the movement reaches a critical mass: artists like Run The Jewels and Akwasi are not only inspired by Black Lives Matter, they create the soundtrack of the movement, demonstrating that music can be more than entertainment.
Episode 2: Autotune
Now, autotune has become a fully-fledged instrument. The correction software has changed the vocal sound of the 21st century and is often associated with the mainstream. However, autotune has a long history that hasn't always followed the path of least resistance. In this episode of Vloed, Leendert van der Valk explains how the development of voice modulation can be traced back to World War II, how the robotic voice from electronic pop music is connected to Beethoven, and what autotune has to do with one of the first public figures to come out as transgender. Featuring music from Kraftwerk, 2Pac & Dr. Dre, Cher, Stevie Wonder, and Ronnie Flex.
Episode 3: The Banjo
Is the image of the most American instrument of all instruments based on historical distortion? And what does that have to do with Suriname? In the third episode of the second season of Vloed, Leendert van der Valk tells the story of the banjo, the iconic instrument that unites four continents. With plenty of music from Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops), The Dubliners, and Mumford & Sons, but also with a song you would rather not hear.
Episode 3: Self-Isolation
In earlier episodes of Flood, musicians were central who found themselves dealing with isolation against their will, whether because they live on an island, come from a war zone, or have been in prison. Now, the podcast focuses on musicians who actually enjoy that loneliness. Spinvis, for example, who debuted at the beginning of this century with an album full of home-crafted pop, made in his attic room in Nieuwegein.
Episode 4: Mainstream hip hop
Hip hop arose from resistance and fought for recognition for many years. As large an audience as there was, it received very little airplay. Thanks to streaming services, hip hop has now become the dominant genre in pop music. What remains of the resistance? Also in this podcast: rap from 1937.
