"If you tossed an electric blues band and a contemporary music ensemble into the blender and turned it to high, you might end up with something like NakedEye.”
– San Francisco Chronicle
NAKEDEYE ENSEMBLE
NakedEye Ensemble is an electro-acoustic octet with classical, rock, and jazz DNA on the forefront of cutting-edge and crossover music that defies conventional labels.
Founded and based in Lancaster, PA, NakedEye has developed a fluid repertoire reflective of its DNA, commissioning projects, institutional and artistic collaborations, and its mission to explore and innovate.
NakedEye commissions work from young emerging composers such as Angélica Negrón, Molly Joyce, Florent Ghys, and Monica Pearce, as well as established composers such as Jerome Kitzke, Randall Woolf, and Zack Browning. NakedEye is also fortunate to count among its core members the multi-talented composers Richard Belcastro and Rusty Banks.
Two albums reflect the group’s stylistic diversity. “Storylines Crossing” (Starkland, 2018) explores the group’s blues and jazz expressions. This CD received Global Music Awards’ Best Debut Album and Best Ensemble Album of 2018. The more recent album “Toy” (New Focus Recordings, 2019) takes the group’s focus on a miniaturist journey with original works featuring music for toy piano and toy instruments.
In addition to its regular season concerts in the Northeast, NakedEye has been featured at New Music Gathering, Queens New Music Festival, The Chamber Music Society of St Louis, The DCCC New Music Series, Pikes Falls Chamber Music Festival, Tribeca New Music, as well as schools and universities in PA and DE.
NakedEye Ensemble is led by pianist Ju-Ping Song and is supported in part by The Russo Family Foundation, PA Council on the Arts, The Amphion Foundation, and New Music USA.
More on NakedEye’s musicians here.
PRESS PHOTOS
(click on photos for hi-res download)
REPERTOIRE
Please visit NakedEye’s rep page for a list of composers and works. In addition to its programs below, the group has curated a wide-ranging set of commissions, arrangements, and iconic works, many of which are slated to be recorded very soon.
TOUR-READY PROGRAMS
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TIME’S ILLUSION – the sounds of time
A sonic dive into clock sounds recorded from the collection of time pieces at The National Watch and Clock Museum in Columbia, PA.. From kitchen utensils to glowing ceramic bowls and giant ticking metronomes, NakedEye explores the delicious complexities of time even as it slips by us, inexorable and merciful.
TWO-HEADED DRAGON – a collaborative pianist-centric project
An evening of masterful and disarming musical works inspired by two powerful pianists – Ju-Ping Song and Kathleen Supové – joining forces around one piano and supported by an electric ensemble. You’ll hear a unique assemblage of amplified bicycle, nineties Latin pop, deep grooves, toy instruments, extended duo piano techniques, and much, much more.
A SENSE OF EXISTENTIAL DREAD
A heavy-hitting, high-octane experience featuring NakedEye’s heart and soul of avant-rock, blues-inspired, politically-slanted repertoire. Showcasing iconic works like Andriessen’s “Workers’Union” (1975), Frederic Rzewski’s “Coming Together” (1972), and Frank Zappa’s “Sinister Footwear II” (1980), alongside a stunning array of original music from NakedEye’s critically acclaimed “Storylines Crossing” album!
THE ART OF TOY – when a toy is not just a toy
Tiny but mighty, the toy piano shines both as soloist and group player. Its distinctive, slightly off-key bell sounds are rich in overtones that pair well with NakedEye’s electro-acoustic setup. The instruments may be small but the music will deliver an intense experience you won’t soon forget. Setlist includes, and expands on, works from NakedEye’s album “Toy”.
ALBUMS
“STORYLINES CROSSING”
(Starkland, 2018)
"Full of gritty energy and wonderful stylistic feints." – The San Francisco Chronicle
“A large rock band that has a lot of fun with their programming and performances” – American Record Guide
“TOY”
(New Focus Recordings, 2019)
“This is one seriously wild excursion. Check it out.” – Midwest Review
“A staggering album.” –CTEBCM
BOOKING
Ju-Ping Song
juping.song@gmail.com
(917) 517-6960
LABELS
Starkland
Tom Steenland
info@starkland.com
New Focus Recordings
Dan Lippel
contactnewfocus@gmail.com