# BLACK DOG STRING QUARTET Release Emotion-Packed ‘A Thousand Times Brighter’

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/black-dog-string-quartet-release-emotion-packed-a-thousand-times-brighter/
- Published: 2023-05-02T16:00:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Black Dog String Quartet’s ‘A Thousand Times Brighter’ Out Now**

#### **Watch Video for “Two”**

Vancouver’s **Black Dog String Quartet** showcase a hybrid of stylistic and thematic
approaches rich with meaning on _‘deeply personal’ _new album _**“A Thousand Times
Brighter”**_, out April 28, 2023 on streaming platforms. This discerning collection
of nine new compositions finds the seasoned musicians diving into a rich reservoir
of shared dreams and collective wisdom. Musically drawing from a web of connected
disciplines ranging from contemporary classical, folk and fiddle music to chamber
pop, _**“A Thousand Times Brighter”**_ distills **Black Dog String Quartet**‘s powerful
artistic vision into a cohesive, emotion-packed experience – yearning, somber, graceful
and transcendent. 

[⌊Black Dog String Quartet⌉⌊Black Dog String Quartet⌉[

_“These songs present the quartet in an unique role: the quartet as a band, forming
the energetic core of the music, with support on some tracks from upright bass, 
drums, and brass instruments. The composition reflects our collective interests 
in contemporary composition, fiddle, folk, and pop music. Recognizable pop forms
are mixed with extended instrumental sections, unexpected textures, and extended
string techniques. There are stylistic elements borrowed from fiddle music, contemporary
classical, Romantic-period art song (especially German Lieder), contemporary folk,
and Balinese gamelan.
The album’s primary thematic material is ecology and the natural
world. The songs explore specific western Canadian environments such as the interior
plateau, the coastal rainforest, and the prairies, as well as our human relationship
with these places. Woven through this imagery is a narrative of deeply personal 
reflections on mental health, intimacy, and dreams.”

During the production of _**“A Thousand Times Brighter”**_, **Black Dog String Quartet**
experienced a significant tragedy when their producer/engineer, **Olivia Quan**,
passed away suddenly and unexpectedly of natural causes at just 25 years old. She
had nearly finished mixing the album at the time – the final adjustments were done
by her colleague, **Tom Dobrzanski**. 

_“Olivia was a young audio engineering phenom, having already worked on multiple
Juno-nominated recordings, and the BDSQ considered her a friend. We had specifically
selected her to work on this project with us after having worked with her as a session
quartet on multiple other artists’ albums.”_

Olivia’s colleagues and family set up the **Olivia Quan Award for Audio Excellence**
through **Music BC** in her memory. The remaining fees we owed her at the time of
her passing were donated to this scholarship fund for promising young engineers.**“**_**
A Thousand Times Brighter”** _is dedicated to Olivia and the olive tree imagery 
on the cover is a nod to her (as the name Olivia means _‘olive tree’_). 

[_**Watch the official music video for “Two”.**_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj_kJkcHLCg)

[_**Stream “A Thousand Times Brighter” on Spotify.**_](https://open.spotify.com/album/5rVjPzwSosOSkmI5GUCFlb?si=LWoxE9zHT0Ce09mzsW7zIQ)

Black Dog String Quartet - Two (Official Video)

[⌊Black Dog String Quartet - Two (Official Video)⌉⌊Black Dog String Quartet - Two(
Official Video)⌉
Watch this video on YouTube

**More Info:**
Artist Name: Black Dog String Quartet Location: Vancouver, BCRelease
Title: A Thousand Times BrighterRelease Date: April 28th, 2023Label: IndependentProducer
Name(s): Olivia QuanSimilar/RIYL: Owen Pallett, Joanna Newsom, Andrew Bird, Afiara
Quartet, Brodsky Quartet, My Brightest Diamond, The End Tree, Gentle PartyGenre(
s): art song, folk, chamber pop

**Musician Names/Instruments:** 
Elyse Jacobson, violinMolly MacKinnon, violinJohn
Kastelic, violaDoug Gorkoff, cello (with John Kastelic, Chelsea Rose, and Naomi 
Kavka on lead vocals) 

[⌊Black Dog String Quartet⌉⌊Black Dog String Quartet⌉[

**Artist Biography: **
Formed in 2007, the Black Dog String Quartet is made up of
some of Vancouver’s finest musicians. The group has appeared on the recordings of
artists such as 54-40, Marianas Trench, Bleeding Through, and many others. Individual
members have performed live on stage with some of the world’s top acts, including
Rod Stewart, Kanye West, Sting, Michael Buble, Mariah Carey, The Trans-Siberian 
Orchestra, and Video Games Live.

The quartet’s excellent playing and reputation have landed them in recording studios
with producers like Warne Livesey (Midnight Oil, The Matthew Good Band), Dave Genn(
54-40), and Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad). Recent performance highlights 
include opening for Sarah McLachlan at the SPC Global Conference, a concert with
soprano Measha Brueggergosman at the Chan Centre, and an appearance at the Shambhala
Music Festival.

Consistently delivering performances with “conviction and imaginative sensitivity”(
Vancouver Classical Music), the Black Dog String Quartet appears regularly at various
public and private events, including classical chamber concerts, weddings, and corporate
functions, as well as on film and television scores and other studio recordings.
They’ve been a featured ensemble at the Quartetti Festival of String Quartets, Sonic
Boom Festival of New Music, and Classical Revolution Vancouver, and all four members
play regularly with multiple symphony orchestras.

Their solid classical background, high skill level, and collective open-mindedness
set the Black Dog String Quartet apart as one of Vancouver’s most unique and versatile
ensembles. A Thousand Times Brighter is their first album of their own original 
material. 

**Social Media:**
[Website](http://blackdogstringquartet.com/) | [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/blackdogstringquartet)
| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/blackdogquartet/) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@blackdogstringquartet9867)

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