Our 2023 End-of-Year playlist takes inspiration from our 17th season’s True North theme. Each of us at Art of Elan chose a piece of music centered around the idea of collaboration, creating a musical journey that inspires, uplifts, and grounds listeners. We hope you enjoy!
Kate Hatmaker
Executive and Artistic Director
My pick for our end-of-the-year playlist is The Formosa Quartet's arrangement of Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson’s 1966 Motown Records hit "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" for string quartet, virtuosically performed on Art of Elan's March 2023 concert at The San Diego Museum of Art. Talk about an uplifting piece! Listening to it puts a smile on my face every time--a nice reminder of the vital role music plays in all of our lives.
Formosa Quartet - Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Fiona Digney
Managing Director and Producer
I haven’t listened to this track in a long time but rediscovered it recently and was reminded of how much I love the floating timeless melodic lines over the flowing bass ostinato which fades and slows into a moment of stasis, reminding me to slow down. There’s also some nostalgia in the harmonic progressions for me which brings me back to my original home; Australia. At a time of year when I am far from family and old friends, this track brings me back to me in a weird way - it is a musical reminder of my True North.
The Sea by Jonathan Zwartz
Emily Persinko
Personnel Manager and Marketing Associate
I was able to see Dreamers' Circus play this live earlier this year and it stuck with me as one of my favorite live performances in 2023.
Dreamers’ Circus feat. Selene Muñoz - A Room in Paris
Anahita Pestonjamasp
Accounting & Donor Relations Coordinator
Djourou is the Bambara word for string or rope, which Sissoko further describes as “the link between me and others.” With Sissoko and Jobarteh's masterful kora playing, their individual parts blend into ethereal transcendence. This song inspires an energizing sort of peace, and the feeling that humanity connects us beyond the limits of language and physical barriers.
Ballaké Sissoko ft. Sona Jobarteh - Djourou
Vince Martinez
Graphic Design & Marketing
"Tres Hermanos," is a captivating collaboration by Ecuadorian guitar virtuosos and brothers, Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez of Hermanos Gutiérrez, and Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. Every time I listen to this song, it feels like I’m taking a transcendent journey though a moonlight covered landscape (much like the artwork for our True North season 😎). With Auerbach's soulful influence merging seamlessly with the Gutierrez brothers' Latin roots, the piece encapsulates a harmonious blend of cultures and sounds. Tres Hermanos has easily been the soundtrack of my year.
Hermanos Gutiérrez (featuring Dan Auerbach) - Tres Hermanos
Jason Boucher
Production Intern
This album, Mixing Colors, is the first full-length collaboration release by brothers Brian and Roger Eno, who have long been innovators in the ambient and new music world. The whole album is a bit special to me because of just how much I listened to it this year. Studying, relaxing, reading, driving, I listened to it a lot, and in that way it acted as a comforting continuity that remained unchanged during the many distinct changes this year brought. This is my favorite piece from the album, Celeste. I never get tired of the dreamy synths and the ethereal feeling it invokes in me.
"Celeste" by Brian Eno and Roger Eno