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Music for...

‘Music for...’ is an Opera House Spotify playlist series where we asked visiting guests to curate playlists based on a theme of their choice: music for a particular moment, place or feeling. ​​​​​​

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Music for... Mali and Texas by Khruangbin

Take off on a musical adventure from Mali to Texas with this curated selection of sounds by globe-trotting trio Khruangbin.

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Music for... Road Trips by Bonobo

Buckle up and escape into the wild with this playlist by electronic wizard Bonobo.

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Music for... Your heart in the dark by Liz Martin

One of my favourite places to listen to music is in the cinema, wrapped in darkness... Ahead of her Liminal concert, Liz Martin has curated a playlist of songs featured in films by Pedro Almodóvar, her favourite filmmaker.

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Music for... Immersion by Deepfaith

It takes a special sort of playlist to work in Henryk Górecki, Deftones and Queen and still make perfect sense... This is a listening experience like none other, courtesy of Daniel Stricker and the team from DeepFaith.

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Music for... Writing a pop musical by Yve Blake

When Yve Blake was creating FANGIRLS, she knew that she wanted it to sound like no musical she'd ever heard before. This playlist, curated by Yve, is a salad of songs that lead her to the sound of FANGIRLS. Prepare for chaos.

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Music for... The new Australia by BLESSED

A musical enigma on the verge of superstardom, Ghana-born Sydney-sider BLESSED brings his singular mix of hip-hop, punk rock and soul to the Joan Sutherland Theatre for his Sydney Opera House debut as part of Liminal. To mark the occasion, BLESSED has curated a playlist of emerging local talent in the R&B and hip hop space that will blow your mind.

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Music for... Getting through by Maina Doe

Alongside her Opera House gig for Liminal, the local rising star has curated a playlist of tunes that echo the fluctuations of lockdown – tracks to help push through the direst of circumstances, comprised of the genres she knows best: R&B and hip-hop.

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Music for... Painting a dragon on a cloudy day in lockdown by Ninajirachi

Ahead of her set for our new digital music series Liminal, Ninajirachi has curated a playlist of perseverance and imagination: “new and old(er) music that made me feel nice while i was stuck inside and soundtracked the creation of a dragon painting on a cloudy day.”

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Music for... Love by Budjerah

Teen R&B sensation Budjerah has themed his playlist around love, and all the daydreaming and sweet talking that comes with a budding romance. Listen in, then tune in to his exclusive Opera House show for Liminal.

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Music for... Turntabling by DJ Total Eclipse

This playlist by DJ Total Eclipse samples his many influences as a producer and DJ, spanning soul, funk, jazz and pop. It paints a picture of a kid growing up in Brooklyn playing with his father’s vinyl collection, before becoming a world-renowned turntablist, famous for cutting up and sampling some of these very tracks.

A young woman holding a basket.
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Music for... Storytelling by Steve Francis

Bangarra Dance Theatre's resident composer Steve Francis picks scores, soundtracks and compositions that are ripe for narrative that tell stories. Grab your headphones and settle into our newest playlist which promises to take you places, even if you're in lockdown.

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Music for... Tomorrow by Becca Hatch

Western Sydney singer/songwriter Becca Hatch curates a playlist of artists who represent the future and forward thinking through their own varied expressions.

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Music for... the journey ahead by Party Dozen

Sydney-based musicians Kirsty Tickle (Exhibitionist) and Jonothan Boulet of the experimental sonic project Party Dozen compiled their playlist 'Music for... the journey ahead' following the live performance of their track 'Play The Truth' recorded on a vacant Drama Theatre stage.

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Music for... a Coltrane state of mind by Godriguez

Drawing inspiration from John Coltrane’s personal entreaty to the divine in ‘A Love Supreme’, explore this curated collection of deeply spiritual, cathartic music from GODTET’s guitarist Godriguez, whatever God means to you.

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Music for... An Afro Future by Sampa The Great

Imagining a world of creativity and culture beyond the confines of colonialism, game-changing MC and poet Sampa The Great has put together a playlist for An Afro Future ahead of her exclusive performance at Vivid LIVE 2021.

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Music for... Rewinding by Gordi

Discover the songs that help Australian singer-songwriter and producer Gordi rewind and recentre two themes she explores in her latest record, Our Two Skins.

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Music for... Séances by Courtney Act

Let Courtney Act be your guide to getting witchy. A playlist for the next time you're trying to get in touch with the world beyond the veil.

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Music for... a mother and her son by Sharon Van Etten

Bond while you bop with your little one! Tune in and enjoy this curated playlist by Sharon Van Etten – inspired by her son’s favourite songs.

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Music for... Pride, Power & Protest by DOBBY

Indigenous rapper and drummer DOBBY compiles a playlist that represents a sample of “abundant blak excellence”. Essential listening representing intergenerational tradition and resistance.