Planetarium Sessions arrives as a bold new live performance series that reimagines hip hop and R&B through orchestral arrangement, and Say That (Orchestral Version) stands as a strong early statement of its vision. Founded by violinist and arranger Shawn Law Yone Gilad, the project bridges two worlds that have long shared quiet connections—classical string composition and modern urban music—while placing them in a shared cinematic space that feels both intimate and expansive. At its core, this release is less about reinvention and more about reinterpretation. Instead of stripping songs down, Planetarium Sessions rebuilds them from the ground up using live orchestral textures. Strings are not treated as background decoration, but as the emotional backbone of the performance. They swell, pulse, and respond like another voice in the arrangement, giving the track a heightened sense of drama and scale. The result is a version of Say That that feels elevated without losing its original identity. Hip hop and R&B rhythms remain present, but they are now framed within sweeping harmonies that bring a cinematic weight to the performance. This contrast creates a listening experience that feels both modern and timeless, grounded yet celestial.
What makes Planetarium Sessions particularly compelling is its artistic intention beyond the music itself. Inspired by stargazing and discovery, the project positions every performance as part of a larger universe—one where artists are “stars” being newly illuminated through orchestral interpretation. This concept is reinforced through its visual identity, which leans toward astronomy-inspired aesthetics and immersive live-session staging. The series also carries a strong curatorial ambition. By featuring emerging and established voices across hip hop and R&B, it creates a platform where discovery is central. Each session becomes a collaboration between artist and orchestra, rather than a simple live recording, reshaping familiar songs into something that feels newly composed in real time.
With growing attention across social platforms and early recognition from industry figures, Planetarium Sessions is quickly positioning itself as more than a performance series. It is becoming a reinterpretive movement—one that challenges how orchestral music can exist within contemporary culture. Say That (Orchestral Version) captures this mission clearly. It is atmospheric, expressive, and cinematic, showing how classical instrumentation can amplify modern storytelling without overshadowing it. In doing so, Planetarium Sessions opens a door to a wider creative space where orchestras and hip hop no longer sit apart, but instead move together under the same sky.
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