The Hope Littwin Podcast

Aliya Ultan — cellist, composer, singer, community builder — joins Hope from the hollers of eastern Kentucky, a beautiful conversation follows. They talk about what conservatories won't tell you, why the box-checking version of a music career is a trap, and what it actually costs to be a woman in underground art-making. About mushrooms, animal medicine, the year of the horse, streaming, scarcity, and choosing the slow road. And at the center of it all: what does it mean to live your art — not perform it, not sell it, but live it? Aliya's new album Looks Far Woman drops June 26. Release show at Roulette Intermedium, NYC, June 24. Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

In this episode, Hope guides listeners through the ceremony she led at the Salt House in Hopewell, New Jersey,  a healing space where she was invited to build a series of gatherings for a community experiencing overwhelm and creative stagnation.  This episode includes: Opening the 4 Directions — an elemental invocation honoring East/Air, South/Fire, West/Water, and North/Earth The Equinox / Threshold — a meditation on the energy of the Spring Equinox, balance, and what is emerging in your life The Egg Meditation — a somatic, symbolic guided meditation using an egg as a living symbol of renewal, rebirth, and what is quietly beginning in you How to Prepare If you'd like to go all in, have a physical egg ready to hold during the Egg Meditation. If not, choose any object that carries personal symbolic meaning around rebirth or new beginnings. About Hope Hope Littwin is a musician, composer, and ceremonialist currently completing her PhD in Music Composition at Princeton University, where she is also interning at the Center for Theological Inquiry. Over the last year, she has traveled extensively gathering practices, philosophies, and experiences around ritual, ceremony, and music. This podcast is her way of making that body of work accessible. Mentioned in This Episode The Salt House, Hopewell, New Jersey Creative Fire Retreat Spring Equinox ceremony and its energetic significance Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

What this episode covers I. Beauty as a fundamental human need Theaster Gates' Stony Island Arts Bank, and the idea that a healthy creative ecosystem is one where we are all artists — not a pyramid with a few at the top.   II. Beware the seduction of the archive Why archives alone cannot cultivate community and why the "you had to be in the room" experience is irreplaceable. A meditation on dialogue, presence, and the sensual world.   III. Artistic linguistics The artist as translator and wisdom keeper. Language as an early technology. How Hope's collaborations at Princeton pushed her toward a new language of musical leadership.   IV. Sanctuary Studios Hope's vision for a school and production company rooted in community, social-emotional pedagogy, and the belief that people support what they create. Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

This episode explores the work of French composer Éliane Radigue, whose devotional approach to sound and deep listening challenged Hope to reconsider the role of the composer entirely. Drawing on the writing of Julia Eckhardt, the vision of composer/director Heiner Goebbels, and the sonic world-building of Maryanne Amacher, Hope traces a new paradigm: composer as curator, as beekeeper, as ambient host of experiences that bypass the thinking mind and land somewhere deeper. Featured references: Éliane Radigue, L'Île Re-Sonante Julia Eckhardt, Intermediary Spaces Heiner Goebbels on artistic experience Maryanne Amacher on episodic work Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

I discovered Kaki King in high school, spending hours at Borders Books with headphones on, cycling through the CD listening stations. A woman making experimental solo guitar music felt like a conceptual rarity then, and in many ways it still does. Kaki has encouraged so many women of my generation to explore the guitar with courage and curiosity. Her voice on the instrument is unmistakable: double-hand tapping, intricate fingerstyle textures, and lyrical melodic lines that twist and unfurl in unexpected directions. There’s a sense of play and architectural precision at once. Meeting Kaki for this episode was a joy. She was playful, quick to laugh, and completely open to improvisation. She also introduced me to some new music that I’m still thinking about. I hope you enjoy this episode of Three Songs Podcast with guitarist and sonic explorer Kaki King.  Spotify Playlist for 3 Songs podcast Season One https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Tq...  Follow Hope Littwin on Instagram @hopelittwin  Thank you for joining us on this episode of 3 songs. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

Mary Lattimore is a harpist and composer who travels the world sharing her incredible gifts. She visited the Esalen institute in Big Sur California while I was there and we connected so beautifully. We watched the sunrise from the hot springs and talked about life and music and humanity. She is such a generous artist, and human. I was so moved by her steadfast commitment to build a more gentle world. I hope you enjoy this episode of 3 songs podcast with the magical Mary Lattimore. Timecodes for Songs: The Cure - Plainsong 00:52 Kurt Vile - Say the Word 18:30 Symphony No. 3 Op. 36 II. Lento e Largo - Tranquillisimo - Henryk Görecki 38:43 Spotify Playlist for 3 Songs podcast Season One https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TqIyr2dU5sZ0CZh2azump?si=31b46322ae6b44e8&pt=5c5634f703df41f3d4deb3d81c1cd63e Follow Mary Lattimore on Instagram: @maryoverthere Subscribe to Mary Lattimore's Youtube Channel: @marylattimore2121 Follow Hope Littwin on Instagram @hopelittwin Thank you for joining us on this episode of 3 songs. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

I met Laraaji at the Esalen institute in Big Sur California this winter. He is a powerhouse of light and laughter, a deep yogi and a pioneer of ambient music. I had the honor of improvising with him, attending some concerts of his and having some beautiful meals with him and Arji Oceananda, his music partner, during their week long stay at Esalen that I will not forget as long as I live. I hope you enjoy this episode of 3 songs podcast with the one, the only, Laraaji Timecodes for Songs: Why Do Fools Fall In Love - Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers 00:52 Young At Heart - Frank Sinatra 16:47 I Want To Hold Your Hand - The Beatles 26:33 Spotify Playlist for 3 Songs podcast Season One https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TqIyr2dU5sZ0CZh2azump?si=31b46322ae6b44e8&pt=5c5634f703df41f3d4deb3d81c1cd63e Follow Laraaji on Instagram: @laraaji_official Follow Hope Littwin on Instagram @hopelittwin Thank you for joining us on this episode of 3 songs. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

Edi Kwon graced my life this year when she started as a fellow through the Lewis Arts Center at Princeton. Her course “The Ceremony is You” which explored Korean Shamanism and ceremonial performance practice, was phenomenal. Additionally, getting to know her these last few months has been one of the highlights of my year. Edi is a deeply caring, phenomenally gentle being who is full of love, creativity and playful curiosity about the world and its humans. I hope you enjoy this episode of 3 songs with Violinist, improviser, songwriter, shaman and beautiful performance artist, Edi Kwon. Timecodes for Songs: Guitarmy - The Blood Brothers 01:16 Sweetness of Candy - Eyvind Kang 31:06 William - Sybille Baier 42:32 Spotify Playlist for 3 Songs podcast Season One https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TqIyr2dU5sZ0CZh2azump?si=31b46322ae6b44e8&pt=5c5634f703df41f3d4deb3d81c1cd63e Follow Edi on Instagram: @edikwon Follow Hope Littwin on Instagram @hopelittwin Thank you for joining us on this episode of 3 songs. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

This week on 3 songs, I had the grand honor of sitting with my teacher and mentor Tyondai Braxton.  Tyondai is a composer, guitarist, and electronic musician who thinks about music in an expansive and refreshing way. He became well known for his work in the band Battles, but his work has gone far and wide beyond that into vast and unexplored realms, most recently into the sandbox of orchestra and electronics with his recent release “Telekinesis”.  We’ve had some amazing conversations in lessons this semester that have gotten me really fired up about some of the more conceptual ideas I'm exploring in my recent work… I'm really happy that he has recently joined the faculty at Princeton University and glad that you will all have the chance to sit with him in this episode of 3 songs as he shares a bit about his influences. I hope you enjoy 🫶  Time Codes: Violin and orchestra (Morton Feldman) 23:35  Things Will Never Be The Same, Black Dice 56:36  Lonely Woman by Ornette Coleman 1:16:06  Follow Tyondai Braxton on Instagram @tyondaibraxton  Subscribe to Tyondai's youtube Channel  @tyondai   Say hi on socials: Facebook: / hopelittwin Instagram: / hopelittwin  Listen to Hope’s Music here: iTunes: / hope-littwin Spotify:hope-littwin Official  Website: http://hopelittwin.com/  About Hope Littwin: American Composer and Music Producer Hope Littwin grew up in dance and theater before she took to music, first as a singer-songwriter then as a classical singer and now as a composer and music producer. She loves to collaborate with artists of all kinds on embodied, expressive works.  Hope’s compositions fuse Chamber Music, Vocal Music, Electronics, Choreography and Storytelling. She has been commissioned by Choirs, Chamber Ensembles, Theater and Dance companies to lead the creation of original works that pull from the idiosyncratic desires and abilities of the ensembles that she is engaged with. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Music Composition at Princeton University.  The Daily Princetonian says Hope Littwin's music explores the “euphoric realm, where the physicality of musical expression is fully embraced — where music is not only something we do, but something we are.”  Hope’s original works are available for streaming on band camp and YouTube, her Albums (can be found on Spotify/iTunes. Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com

Shahzad Ismaily, where do I even begin. This is a very special soul of near infinite layers. I think one place to begin is that Shahzad, who knows quite literally everyone in the music industry and has played on something like 400 records has a beautiful recording studio in Brooklyn called Figure 8 around which many, many musical souls orbit. Shahzad is honey for experimental/soulful music butterflies. He’s also a bassist, producer, and has more hustle than most people I’ve met combined. I hope you enjoy this episode of 3 songs podcast with Shahzad Ismaily. Timecodes for Songs: Where Will I Be - Emmylou Harris 25:38 Slide - Low 40:04 U2 - With Or Without You 50:55 Spotify Playlist for 3 Songs podcast Season One https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1TqIyr2dU5sZ0CZh2azump?si=31b46322ae6b44e8&pt=5c5634f703df41f3d4deb3d81c1cd63e Follow Shahzad on instagram @ectoderm88 Subscribe to Shahzad's Youtube Channel @figureight9251 Follow Vijay on instagram @vijayiyer Subscribe to Vijay's Youtube Channel @sonocentric Follow Hope Littwin on Instagram @hopelittwin Thank you for joining us on this episode of 3 songs. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com Thank you for joining us on this episode of The Hope LIttwin Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation please consider liking and subscribing to this channel and remember to turn on the notification bell so you can be updated when new episodes are published. This is an interactive project aimed at building a meaningful musical community here online I would love to hear your thoughts and musings or even a song recommendation in the comments below. If you’d like to connect you can find me or @hopelittwin.com