Ortolan Makes MAGNET A Mix Tape

An ortolan is a tiny bird that can sing a sweet tune, and it makes a fitting namesake for this band comprised of three sisters and one sister-in-law from South Jersey. Ranging in age from 16 to 23, the members of Ortolan produce a lovely feminine sound woven into charming and strangely familiar melodies. The quartet’s debut full-length, Time On A String (Sounds Familyre), will be released March 9, and the record-release party will be held in MAGNET’s hometown of Philadelphia. This mix tape was a collaborative effort; each sister contributed her own set of songs, with a surprisingly cohesive result. Must be sisterly intuition.

“Sticky Situation” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/StickySituation.mp3

Isreal Kamakawiwo’ole “Somewhere Over The Rainbow”
Jill: It’s nostalgic, but fresh and as simple as Cheerios. When I hear it, I know that life is good. Video

Regina Spektor “Samson”
Brianna: Regina is one of my favorite artists. All her music is composed so well. This is a song I will never get tired of hearing. I sing to it every time it’s on. Video

The Animals “House Of The Rising Sun”
Lara: I just recently started listening to the Animals. I love them. Eric Burdon has such a strong voice. The way the song was written, it was just brilliant. Video

Johnny Cash “It Ain’t Me Babe”
Stephanie: Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash are both such great artists. To have a song with a little bit of Cash and Dylan, it just makes it such a wonderful song. I also just enjoy the simpleness of it. Video

Blind Melon “No Rain”
Jill: It takes me back to grungy flannel shirts and awesome MTV videos. It’s just fun. Video

I Was A King “It’s All You”
Brianna: This song has a great intro to it; the piano in the beginning is great. It’s the best when I listen to it as loud as possible.

Doris Day “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps”
Lara: You might laugh, but I really love this song. It’s from my favorite scene, in one of my favorite movies, Strictly Ballroom. Every time I hear it, I just want to dance. Video

Lisa Mitchell “Coin Laundry”
Stephanie: I enjoy finding new artists by looking at different band pages. That is how I found Lisa Mitchell; I bought her CD right away. She has such a unique voice, and this song is just so fun. No matter how many times I listen to it, I never get sick of it. Video

The Beatles “Hey Jude”
Jill: It’s beautifully sincere and powerfully moving. I get goosebumps every time I hear the “na-na-na-na”s. Also, my mom’s name is Judy, and my dad would sing it to her. Video

Priscilla Ahn “Dream”
Brianna: This was the second song I heard by Priscilla Ahn. As soon as I heard it, I fell in love. The lyrics are my favorite. Video

Cat Power “The Greatest”
Lara: She is such an amazing artist, and this song was written so beautifully. It just makes me sing every time I hear it. Video

Sigur Rós “Sé Lest”
Stephanie: One of the reasons I love Sigur Rós is because their music is so different and creative. I could just sit down and do nothing but listen to them and be so satisfied. Video

Ray Charles “America The Beautiful”
Jill: It reminds me that I’m part of something bigger; it’s honest and hopeful. It’s got soul and roots. Video

mewithoutYou “The Fox, The Crow And The Cookie”
Brianna: I’m a big fan of this song. Mostly because every time I listen to it, I literally picture the story he’s singing. It’s almost like a picture book. Video

Markéta Irglová “The Hill”
Lara: It is such a sad song, but it’s got such a sense of beauty and love to it. If you were to listen to my CD mixes, you would always find this song. Markéta’s voice is so incredible. Video

Camera Obscura “James”
Stephanie: This band is pretty rad. They somehow captured the “oldies” sound, while keeping a new sound, too. This song reminds me of sunny days or anything summer-ish: sundresses, sunglasses, sun tea and sunscreen. Video

Jars Of Clay “Love Song For A Savior”
Jill: It strengthens my faith and reminds me of how intimate my God is. Video

Cat Stevens “Where Do All The Children Play”
Lara: I love the live version of this song. (Not that I was there to hear it, but I watch it on YouTube all the time.) My mom was a huge Cat Stevens fan, so growing up, we would always listen to him. All my friends would be like, “Who?” His music just makes me smile when I listen to it. Video

Eisley “Marvelous Things”
Stephanie: I have liked Eisley for a pretty long time and never grew tired of them. This song is so whimsical. It just makes me happy when I hear it. Video