Topic is proud to present our new live event series Topic Talks, in partnership with Pop-Up Magazine. First up is “Topic Talks: Music”, a night of music, stories and stories about music.
Featuring John Cameron Mitchell, creator of the iconic film and Tony-winning Broadway musical Hedwig And The Angry Inch, who will collaborate with special guest musicians to perform songs from his new podcast musical, Anthem.
The show will also feature contributors from music, film, radio and print journalism who will share profound and unexpected stories about the ways music shapes our lives.
Topic Talks will introduce you to a Harvard-educated artist pioneering the field of beatboxing research; a bird expert with a passion for sharing their songs; and an all-women protest choir built out of the Women’s March. You’ll look inside a Louisiana museum with a Britney Spears collection and learn the poignant story behind its creation; hear the world’s most dangerous karaoke songs; and explore Louis Armstrong’s own recordings of his life in a fascinating documentary by an Oscar-nominated filmmaker.
Featured Contributors:
John Cameron Mitchell directed, starred in & co-wrote the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch, with his Broadway production of the film winning a Tony Award® and earning John a special Tony® for his return to the role. He’s directed the films Shortbus, Rabbit Hole and How to Talk to Girls at Parties & starred in recurring roles in HBO’s Girls, CBS’s The Good Fight and Hulu’s Shrill. John also co-created the groundbreaking new podcast Anthem: Homunculus, available on Luminary.
Alison Fensterstock, a New Orleans-based radio producer and writer, will take you to the Kentwood Historical Museum, aka the Britney Spears Museum in Kentwood, Louisiana, to learn about the life of a young Britney fan who made donating his music collection to this small town museum his final act.
Sam Green, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for his innovative “live documentaries” that have rocked festivals like Sundance, will showcase his documentary on Louis Armstrong. It’s a deep dive into Armstrong’s obsessive recordings of his life, including an intimate window into his relationship with his wife.
Devon Guinn, a Harvard-educated award-winning beatboxer, works to bring established notation and a centralized base of knowledge to this music discipline that previously had none. He breaks down the elements of beatboxing on stage.
Britt Julious, a Chicago-based writer who focuses on the underground, the avant-garde and the underdog, will detail the story of how, in 2017, a group of women known as the Resistance Revival Chorus went viral in the months after the Women’s March. Britt will chart the rise of this revival and look at the history of protest choirs.
Brittany Spanos, a Rolling Stone writer who covers music, fandom and pop culture, will present a brief history of the world’s most dangerous karaoke songs that have actually driven people to murder—or at least extreme annoyance.
Jason Ward is the host of the video series, Birds of North America, and Outreach Coordinator for the National Audubon Society. Born and raised in the Bronx, Jason’s mission is to change the way the public views wildlife, and to blaze a trail for future generations of birders from underserved communities. As you learn Jason’s story, he will also teach you about the music made by birds.
Topic Talks is presented by Luminary. Original podcasts with original ideas for original people. Luminary is a premium podcast app that offers access to shows from top creators you won’t find anywhere else, plus the ones you already love. Get access to the 40+ original ad-free shows we’re launching this year on Luminary, including Anthem. Find out more at https://go.topic.com/luminary.