It was the most insane mosh pit I’ve ever been in.
Music blasted and neon lights flashed from the stage. The crowd was jumping, dancing and screaming like the world was going to end the next day.
In the center sat a singular pianist: Ethan Bortnick.
I went to his concert this past summer, and the experience was indescribable. That concert was my introduction to the concept of alternative piano.
Bortnick is a mastermind of the piano; at the age of 5, he was featured in broadcast journalism programs because he could play honored classic pieces. Now, he’s developed a style that’s fast-paced, electronic and poetic. On the tour, I witnessed his album “Hide N’ Seek,” which covers his endeavors in trying to cure his mental illness while accidentally encountering a love life along the way. It was an artistic masterpiece.
Experimental piano isn’t always a standalone genre; in fact, it’s often included in genre-spanning pieces, which brings me to a singer and songwriter named Will Wood. I was introduced to him when I was in eighth grade.
Will Wood spans varying genres, one of which is experimental piano. My favorite songs by him that include experimental piano pieces are “2econd 2ight 2eer,” “The Main Character” and “I/Me/Myself.”
I highly recommend “The Normal Album” by Will Wood altogether. Every song in the album is an alternative artistic masterpiece with different takes on how the piano can be played. Some songs, like “Memento Mori: the most important thing in the world” have strong personal connections to people struggling with mental health issues that make them relatable and comforting. =
Instruments should be played in different fashions. Although the slow and the classic are beautiful, it doesn’t hurt to stretch the boundaries and experiment with instruments. It creates memorable, thoughtful pieces that the human could never dream of by sticking to the same rhythm.
