The words "Brooklyn" and "DIY" bring to mind images of young, intoxicated hipsters partying late in a Bushwick basement, to the notes of punky live music, while – a few floors upstairs – musicians record grating lo-fi music in their bedrooms. But the DIY modus operandi is by no means a prerogative of that scene. Self-defined "urban geek" multi-instrumentalist Michael Hearst (also in South Brooklyn’s own One Ring Zero) has also been recording his own unique orchestral music since the early aughts with admirable prolificacy. Definitely not part of "that" DIY scene, Hearst has slowly but surely fostered his career in DIY ways, networking with other musicians through collaborations which helped promote his talent as a composer and performer. This brought him as far as touring with The Magnetic Fields and performing one of his songs with Kronos Quartet at Carnegie Hall this past February.
After releasing the hugely acclaimed lit-rock gem "As Smart As We Are" with One Ring Zero, the man has developed a knack for concept albums, and he’s about to release his latest – entitled "Songs for Unusual Creatures" – as a solo effort. Inspired by such beastly oddities as the aye-aye, the magnapinna squid, the blobfish, the elephant shrew, and the blue-footed booby, this instrumental record celebrates some of the most bizarre animals on the planet, as well as some of the most bizarre musical instruments. Check out the very DIY video for Chinese Giant Salamander here.
Quite appropriately, the record release party will be held at the Brooklyn Zoo in Prospect Park on Saturday May 12 at 2 pm.