Artist : Calvin Arsenia
Album : Cantaloupe
Year : 2018
Genre : Pop
Source : CD
Label : Bullseye Records
Catalog :
Rls.Date : 2018-11-10
Encoder : FLAC 1.3.1
Quality : 44.1kHz, 2 channels
Size : 204.5MB
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1. Headlights 4:12
2. Tip Toe 2:30
3. Equally 3:39
4. Back To You 4:57
5. Toxic 4:23
6. Doomed 3:24
7. The Game 2:25
8. Palaces 4:08
9. Poseidon 4:24
10. Cantaloupe 4:37
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38:39
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Captivating in all ways, Calvin Arsenia transcends art and humanity.
Visually, lyrically, and sonically, Calvin commands attention at all times.
Although many will initially be struck by his considerable physical presence,
once his tongue has been unleashed and his first note has been plucked,
strummed, or struck, one will know that this is a supremely gifted
individual. Equally adept at guitar, banjo, and piano, CalvinÆs instrument of
choice is the harp.
Explaining his desire to express himself through something more than
ordinary, Calvin says he was drawn to the harp. Unable to secure formal
training due to finances and availability of proficient teachers, he
displayed his determination by watching countless hours of YouTube videos,
followed by endless hours of self-imposed practice. Any spare moment in the
day was spent studying, practicing, reflecting, and developing himself on the
instrument. One can almost imagine him riding his bike to work with his harp
strapped on his back. CalvinÆs work ethic is not to go unnoticed as he
matches his efforts to improve himself with his natural artistic abilities.
Calvin plays a traditional Celtic harp found in Wales, Brittany, Ireland and
Scotland (more on that later), but he also employs a modern Delta harp which
allows him to use cutting edge audio technology which expresses his urbanity.
Plus, the Delta allows him to project his full stage presence by allowing him
to tip-toe or bound about the stage. Calvin believes in the full sensory
experience during his performances (which includes scents and flowers strewn
across the stage), and his ability to move his significant frame would be
reduced without the Delta.
Calvin was raised in the fairly affluent community of Olathe, Kansas, which
also happened to be predominantly Caucasian. He identifies as being of
multicultural descent, and his family is a huge part of who he is and
provides complete support in his quest of self-discovery not only as an
artist, but as a human. His mother, Cheryl, is a regular presence at his
performances and works behind the scenes to make sure he is successful, doing
everything from clerical and logistical tasks, to providing the roadies with
home-baked goodies. He came of age playing acoustic guitar in evangelical
Christian churches while also receiving formal training in classical voice.
Calvin started playing the harp at age 20 and his desire to explore the
instrument, his spirituality, and the world led him to Edinburgh, Scotland
where he found a private instructor.
During the two years he lived there, Calvin honed his skills and began to
engage with the public through a series of collaborations with other local
artists. This forced independence accelerated an already developed maturity
and continued his empathy for others and awareness of the world around him.
CalvinÆs adventurous spirit has led him back overseas time and time again,
whether it has been in Scotland, Norway, Sweden, England, France, Greece, or
even Australia. Some would call this restlessness, but Calvin at heart is
someone who believes in experiencing the beauty of life in all parts of the
world, rather than simply romanticizing about exotic locales, or being
xenophobic and closing off different cultures due to ignorance.
This worldview has led him to bend traditional concepts of how musical genres
are defined, and his performances force the audience to reevaluate
established ideas of religion, race, and sexuality among others. Although it
may seem to teeter between sacred and sacrilege, Calvin takes traditional
subject matter such as romance and ceremony and presents them in a uniquely
Calvinesque manner. Calvin states, ôI feel that every story and life has the
right to be heard and understood. Issues of race, class, or sexuality should
not ever diminish the value of a life. We gain a greater understanding of the
world when we adopt and incorporate the views and perspectives of people who
are very different from us.ö For those who look upon this generation of
ômillennialsö with apprehension, this is a refreshing viewpoint that should
affirm oneÆs hope in a brighter future world. That being said, Calvin always
has an air of whimsy and does not take life so seriously as to try and tackle
all the worldÆs problems in one breath.
Have we mentioned CalvinÆs voice? Even though he is visually a feast for the
eyes, it is his prodigious vocal talent that is his true instrument. First
and foremost, Calvin is a vocalist. His range is hard to measure as it scales
several octaves. He can be found practicing breathing techniques throughout
the day and is constantly pushing the limits of how low or high he can go. A
guttural growl can rise to a shimmering falsetto in a matter of seconds,
taking the listener on an auditory adventure that is difficult to describe
without experiencing it.
Calvin is a gifted lyricist as well, and while tackling some of the
above-mentioned subject matter, he interprets his words in a unique way with
each rendition of his pieces. Much like a jazz improvisor or a talented
thespian, Calvin purposely aims to ônever perform a song the same way twiceö,
whether it be through his voice, lyrics, or instrumentation. In addition, he
is a great interpreter of other artistsÆ works, whether it be a classic like
GershwinÆs ôSummertimeö, or relatively modern RadioheadÆs ôFake Plastic
Treesö. His performances of these pieces leave audiences with mouths agape at
hearing familiar tunes receive the Calvin treatment. He accentuates and
burnishes his performances with his full sensory assault, and his empathetic
skills provide him the opportunity to collaborate with other artists from all
genres.
Awe-inspiring. Ageless. Boundless. Bubbly. Captivating. Commanding.
Determined. Dedicated.
We had better stop. Mere words do not do the man justice. It may seem that
this is full of superlatives and high praise, but until you have seen, heard,
or experienced Calvin Arsenia, words will have to suffice. You owe it to
yourself to invite him into your world and join him on his journey of
artistic and human exploration.