Devonté Hynes And Philip Glass Compare Notes

'When You Gonna Get A Real Job': Philip Glass And Devonté Hynes Compare Notes
by THOMAS HUIZENGA
At first glance, Devonté Hynes and Philip Glass might appear like musical opposites. Hynes, the 31-year-old British producer and songwriter who performs under the name Blood Orange, makes hit records with Solange and Carly Rae Jepson. Glass, the 80-year-old Baltimore-born New Yorker who writes operas and film scores, is one of classical music's legendary artists.
But walk into Hynes' third floor loft in New York's Chinatown and you'll find a photo of Glass on his piano. Hynes, it turns out, is a fan. He discovered Glass' music by chance as a London teenager, when he bought the 1982 album Glassworks on the strength of its crystalline cover image alone. What he heard after he brought it home transfixed him. Today, he says Glass' influence "seeps" into his music - the interlocking marimba parts in "Best to You" or the feather light ostinato that ignites "Better Than Me." Last year, he surprised a few ears when he played excerpts from Glass' solo piano suite Metamorphosis during a live session on SiriusXM.
This spring, Hynes invited Glass to his apartment where they sat at a piano, compared chords and traded stories. Ninety minutes later, their wide ranging conversation had touched on the pulse of New York City, the pains of striking out on your own as a musician, what role the arts play in society today and Hamilton. Plus about a hundred other ideas.
Perhaps the most potent virtue Hynes and Glass share is an instinctive ear for collaboration. Glass has worked with everyone from Ravi Shankar and Paul Simon to dozens of filmmakers, dancers, poets and visual artists. Hynes moves adroitly, too. These days he pairs up with Sky Ferreira, FKA Twigs, Haim and ballet dancer Maria Kochetkova, but in his teens he joined a dance-punk band named Test Icicles, then moved on to the quirky folk-pop of Lightspeed Champion.
Maybe it's that willingness to let something unknown percolate into a new idea. And maybe that's why these two musicians, some 50 years apart in age, decided to meet on a cloudy April afternoon in Chinatown to let yet another intriguing collaboration blossom.

[@JustinTan23]

“I never took a job that I couldn’t quit very easily”

[@alariclopez4460]

For a musician those are words to live by, right there.

[@sometime.somewhere]

I think thats good advicw for everyone, always have options otherwise you'll feel like a slave to your job

[@josegabrieldeoliveiraneto1547]

C'est lá vérité

[@BrianAndersonPhotography]

NPR Music never fails to deliver the best journalism and music on the Internet. More proof of this right here.

[@TheDobbleD]

"When things get out of balance, the arts come in and bring the human side back. Without that, our societies would be prisons. They wouldn't be able to renew themselves." -- Philip Glass

[@myprsnlaccnt]

Legit

[@george4467]

Hencewhy major labels are corrupting artists integrity.

[@averyjs.9030]

Last night I literally ran into Dev Hynes at my local deli in Manhattan. We chatted for a bit, he was super positive and light hearted and it really raised my spirits running into him. Anyways, this vid popped up for me after I watched the video he released today. So I'm thinking "wow, what a cool insight into the lives of two artists I look up to" and come to find out this was released on my birthday??? I'm thinking Dev Hynes might be my spirit animal.

[@quinnthereaux7719]

dope story :) happy birthday tomorrow

[@averyjs.9030]

thank you!!!

[@rakimhinds8080]

Lucky Bastard

[@mbedj1974]

*God's Plan starts playing*

[@GrumpyStormtrooper]

i met him too in florence at like 1 am in some small side street. didn't have the time to chat cause i had to catch a bus, and wouldn't be able to have a normal conversation since i was slightly tipsy.

[@WombieFerguson]

Love Glass and can't wait to hear his 3rd piano concerto. This guy is a living legend, folks.

[@Niaaal]

Witness him

[@kelvinsmith6854]

Philip Glass is always a joy to listen to, no ego, very warm and genuine man....

[@LucidRobYT]

These types of raw, honest interviews are beyond the most enjoyable; and also convincing in my opinion. By convincing I mean that the message and/or knowledge that they are sharing resonates the best with those listening -- at least with me personally. Wonderful video and story. It's amazing how much people can relate to each other, even with so many years between their similar experiences.

[@j.fetrange8951]

Two amazing musicians just talking. I need this daily. Beautiful!

[@LucBoeren]

This is so very inspirational, thank you, mr. Glass, for having lived your life as you decided to do, and also NPR Music and Devonté for this great content!

[@caiosouzaart]

"When things get out of balance, the arts come in and bring the human side back." Wow. Great video

[@dalangwersonst]

very interesting interview thank you for that.

[@beatrizmendonca7165]

I love so much both of them! Devonté is amazing, and glass is a genius. That's the best crossover ever

[@behappyandsnappy1]

Wow I love both these artists. Amazing pairing. Thanks NPR for producing this! I especially love what Glass had to say about the importance of the arts in our society.

[@karakamen]

Blood Orange and Philip Glass together, in one video chatting? And at least one is a big fan of the other? What a holiday!

[@ImTooAbstract]

I just discovered Glassworks because of this, thank you!

[@cmooreHD]

Great conversation! And the last 2 sentences is definitely timeless...

[@SandroLendler]

great... big thanks

[@vernalist2869]

Lovely humans, superb artists ❤️

[@SofiaFP]

Both are music icons. Love this, thanks NPR!

[@areyes4231]

Wow I didn't even know that I needed this

[@WorldWideWong]

ditto

[@davusito]

thanks for this npr

[@julianreme]

Two of my favourites

[@SuperCutiepie1012]

i’d love to see devonté in the city somewhere and have a chat. he seems really kind

[@aaronswank]

there has to be a longer piece somewhere...i need more

[@greagandev]

Aaron Swank kzbin.info/www/bejne/onjEeGiMf9aakMk

[@dennisrochat7747]

George Reagan u

[@jesusmora6336]

2 of my favorite artists

[@Jacksonfkk]

I need this complete interview

[@sierramclaughlin1324]

fantastic

[@mo___sun]

Dope interview 🔥

[@perrydelavega7505]

amazing

[@luismoreles7455]

so good

[@mauryroblovich]

love love love!

[@farrowixtopaz]

my two icons i love this

[@blunterwun]

Ohhhh this is why I’m subscribed to NPR

[@pianoboi4842]

Their chemistry is unreal

[@grooveunlocked]

two legends

[@Jason-andTheArgonauts]

thanks

[@miguelamadio9685]

I love music but to me it is like a hobby not a career, hope to release an album or ep someday, dev is a huge influence I believe he's a modern genius

[@suppohkram]

Philip Glass is also a huge inspiration of mine

[@c.a.savage5689]

I want MORE. Where can I get MORE ??

[@ximenaximenaxime]

I began watching this video because I'm a Philip Glass fan and finished it leaving a Blood Orange fan lol For those who don't know, the song at the beginning and end of the video is called I Know by Blood Orange

[@VaisakhSomanath]

Love and Respect. Philip Glass

[@jonburgermanvideos]

two GOATs !

[@Lyndanet]

I love you Mr Glass 💕

[@jimmym5262]

This is so cool, glass is my favorite "alive" american composer. Does fantastic work.

[@ChadEditorZ]

3:15 that transition holy shit fuckk damn

[@user-ic3vm3kt4j]

i love blood orange thts all😩💞💞💞

[@Sicamor1]

I did not know who is Dev Hynes, until now. I came to watch what Philip Glass said. Interesting to see who are the current inspirations of other musicians.

[@davemckay4359]

i cant remember how i started listening to pg

[@gustavoserrate595]

Philip Glass is a monster! Thanks for that.

[@joannak1334]

💐💐💐

[@naarvmaan]

Dogg whatever he said about art and humanity I've always thought... so dead on

[@maxwell_young]

wow

[@deepfault]

Man, that last part that Phillip mentioned was so true.....

[@rollercoasteris]

Does anyone know the model of the sandal dev is using? i love them.

[@randomgetrankehalter4909]

what a combination

[@randomhandle6]

NPR Music: you should pull some strings and get Devonte a ticket for Hamilton.

[@benmacintosh9843]

Vibrating voice 5:23

[@selvanegrra]

What are the songs in this video?

[@Theunkhfactory]

REAL TALK!

[@QuadryHolloman]

Phillip glass is a genius ❤✊🏽

[@iLikeTheUDK]

Whew, Philip Glass liked Hamilton quite a lot from the sound of things! Wonder what Lin-Manuel Miranda would think about that. We'd have a feedback loop of two great masters just congratulating each other all the time.

[@adrianaiello1608]

those ana kras chairs! the colors! everything! ahh!

[@everycoLor_312]

hug

[@lilotaku3801]

I like devs hat I want one 😭

[@boogeytrack]

2:43 Philip: "he didn`t say this is the good music and this is the bad music or this is the classical music. we never used those words. it was all just music" 5:40 also Philip: "i said,oh,maybe Jefferson was like that. maybe Jefferson was a hip hop guy" LOL

[@23istate]

what is the song that plays at the beginning

[@sage4288]

TWO CREATIVE PEOPLE WHHAA

[@kimiko8796]

anyone know what shoes dev is wearing?

[@MRLCHM]

where's the rest of it??

[@Butterflybreakfast]

album covers you say? :D

[@q.o.m.q.o.m.9697]

What is the name of the piece at 4:42

[@jayr2225]

Philip Glass would be any musicians wet dream

[@karin1253]

what film or theater is philipp talking about towards the end? i can't make out the name.

[@atcquentin]

Hamilton

[@An-br7hb]

Music at 5.10 please?

[@hisroyalblueness]

Enjoyed it but what's with the pink rat at 3:11?

[@joshthorsteinson3035]

hisroyalblueness New York is famous for having lots of rats

[@yosoyleus]

Oh, that's you!

[@pottingsoil]

It is somewhat sick to think that when things are bad, artist then rise to fill the void.

[@hellbooks3024]

Juilliard wasn’t at Lincoln Center when Glass said he told his mother he was going there. There was no Lincoln Center at that time. Juilliard was uptown.

[@jawapaw]

if you have never listened to Glass’ Einstein on the Beach...do your self a favor and do it rtfn

[@lachlanmacpherson9426]

any1 know what brand Dev's shoes are?

[@rollercoasteris]

I wish I could know too! did you find it?

[@ybuzz]

Chancla

[@rollercoasteris]

@@ybuzz do you know the brand? haha

[@sometime.somewhere]

People always say that they casually came to new york when they're from another country, I'm thinking it's not that easy, is it?

[@darienbragg4826]

thechampionessa for musicians signing deals with New York based labels, it can be, potentially

[@setphaser]

To short!

[@pietateip]

Looks like Wes Anderson did the edit 😀

[@TheDriftingsmoke]

53 minutes too short

[@jackdolah2031]

even hans zimmer look for inspiration from the great philip glass

[@leonelsilvera9456]

This guy will never be at the high level of Philip Glass. Never.

[@janpaulwolff9310]

so pop is wider than classical music now? haha

[@gracebarrington7436]

yo this interview bullshit man I j tryna hear by boy D talk to my boy PG for hours on E

[@Si-Al-Ti]

He’s 21.....? Fôck

[@ihavenoidea64]

He said he came to New York when he was 21

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

kungmat 31 rather

[@yseson_]

Ten years ago

[@TheRedverb]

Who the frig is Phillip Glass?

[@cometcourse381]

it's not very hard to use the internet and find out, there is no excuse to be ignorant in 2018

[@TheRedverb]

@@cometcourse381My comment wasn't a genuine question, it was a passive aggressive jab at Phillip Glass.

[@callisto6292]

​@@TheRedverbpetty

[@aphexon.]

Usa is pretty close to a prison though.

[@DerogatoryMess]

this was a bad chopped up edit, shame on NPR

[@shuttie92]

mmm actually I reckon Dev Hynes found Philip Glass's music on a blog or youtube and then illegally downloaded a few albums before buying the records (could be wrong)