Keeping It Fresh

Today I have music which comes from two different worlds of music- American rap and Bollywood. A seemingly interesting pair, the world of mashups and remixing has grown so much within the past few years. Now today's song is one that I have been pretty much obsessed with for a while, but for some reason, have never written about. Why, you may ask? I don't know. I genuinely have no good reason. So why not talk about it today! Let's start with the DJ himself. DJ BANED is an artist out of Dallas and has done some major work within the Desi Dance Network, an organization which connects Indian dance teams across the United States. The organization has flourished since inception, and this has left room for many aspiring DJs to test their skills and showcase their talents and mixes. Now BANED has been around on this circuit for quite some time, but I'd like to think he started his mixing career before this organization really took off. Stylistically, I have heard him remix m...

Today I wanted to share some Indian music with you all, as I happen to have traveled there a short while ago. Indian music comes in so many differnet flavors and sounds, but for today, I wanted to go with a song that is one of my favorites. Now this track is one that is not of the more stereotypical Indian songs. Though the track does come from a film, the song itself does not necessarily carry a lot of the same elements as your usual Bollywood song. This song is a bit darker for starters. There is a very special group of songs which fall into this darker category of songs because they outline tragedies in life and love. We do have our melancholy heartbreak songs, but this track is about losing a love to something more than just a breakup. There is so much sadness and almost even a sense of despair in this track. The song evokes a passionate yearning for a beloved who cannot be reached, a desperate call for them to be together just one last time. There aren't a lot of Bollywood ...

Today I wanted to take things to the land of Bollywood, taking on a track that I have not been able to stop listening to for the past few days. This track comes from a recently released film called Jab Harry Met Sejal. I haven't seen the film so I literally have no idea what it is about and can't really recommend whether or not to see it. However, the soundtrack is something that is definitely worth taking a listen to. For starters, the singer of this track is one of the most popular singers in Bollywood at the moment. Arijit Singh has made such an impression on Bollywood and Indian music since his debut in 2013. I have to say, I think his rising popularity has resulted in an interesting shift in Bollywood music. As every other style of music, Bollywood music has gone through another stage in evolution. The Indian origin songs are shifting towards a fusion of Western acoustic and Eastern instrumentation. The music is just as romantic, but the sound is very different. The acou...

Today I have some music for you out of South Korea. I know in the past I have talked about a couple of different Korean artists, but I realize that I have not spent as much time talking about this artist in particular. CL is one of the baddest women in music right now, and I honestly wish I had as much swag as she carries in her pinky finger alone. Though she is just now making her way stateside, CL has been a huge success in Asia between her solo work and girl band known as 2NE1.  CL is possibly the biggest female star in Korea, if not the biggest star they have. She has done some incredible work in her tenure with the Korean music industry, and definitely destroys all stereotypes associated with K-Pop. To be quite honest, she is basically the Nicki Minaj of Korean music. She has this incredible intensity to her entire persona. The way she looks, dresses, the style of music she produces, and the fact that she is a rapper. There is a tremendous amount of swagger and fierceness su...

Today I have a little bit of a shorter post, but I can promise you that it's a good one. Today I wanted to focus on ethnic music, particularly, Indian music. And I have music for you by an artist out of England by the name Zack Knight. Now this is a guy who has a really great thing going on in terms of musicality. In fact, this is something I have seen a lot more of, a nice resurgence of a style of music that definitely went underground for a few years before resurfacing. This hip-hop oriented music is a great style because it is a smooth fusion of Indian and Western music. I mean it is a straight flow between the two, switching between them and making sure the song gets some Hindi in there as well as English. Now this song, in particular, is definitely geared more towards English, with only a few verses done in Hindi and Punjabi, but I seriously haven't been able to get the song out of my head. I mean it has everything- a sick beat, a catchy chorus, and a really good vibe....

Today I have some more new music for you! This one is pretty interesting and I am very excited to share this one because of how awesome this mix is. We all know Ed Sheeran dropped an incredibly popular song, and it's pretty much everywhere. What a lot of people don't know, is that there is a Punjabi version of the song! Something I love so much is that we are seeing these kinds of remixes popping up more often. Hearing that cultural diversity is absolutely amazing, and a lot of times it adds this spice to the original music. To be quite frank, that is exactly what happened with this song.Twinbeatz came in and remixed this popular Ed Sheeran son, and it is pretty fun! This song has a completely different sound with this version of the song. A lot of times when we see remixes like this, producers just add a dhol drumbeat to the song and call it a "mixed" version of the song. Now while they technically aren't wrong, I am looking for something that is much more integr...

Today I have some Bollywood music for you since it has been entirely too long. This is a really moving song for a few different reasons. First, the way Papon sings this is saturated with emotion and longing. The basic lyrical translation of the song reflects a story of someone who has lost another. What is beautiful about this song is that it applies to any situation of loss. Whether it is someone who has moved away or has passed, this song is heart wrenchingly relatable. In the context of the movie, this song is for someone who's love has gone to another country. We can feel that pain and strife and the roller coaster of emotions with this song, and I love that so much. The multitude of emotions one can feel in the flash of a moment is well represented with this song. Which brings me to the second reason why I found this song so moving. A lot of times, Bollywood tends to favor slower and softer songs when it comes to emotional outpourings like this. However, every once in a while ...

Today I have some remixed and mashed up music for you! So this song is pieced together by a DJ who goes by the name Dr. Srimix. Now I have to tell you, out of everything that has happened since becoming a dancer on the Bollywood fusion circuit, discovering Dr. Srimix and the cohort of Bollywood fusion DJs is the greatest part. Dr. Srimix has a knack for finding Western and Bollywood songs that fit so well together. Somehow, he makes the songs become puzzle pieces, and manipulates them into fitting exactly the way they need to. Of course, this is nothing short of admiration and a testament to the incredible skill that he has as a DJ. The Indian dance community in the US is quite large, and Dr. Srimix is one of the most well known and popular DJ among the dance network. And for absolutely great reason. He has created mixes with songs that I never even thought to listen to on a regular basis, let alone use for a remix. But then again, I guess that is one of the great things about being in...

Today I have some music for you by a band out of India by the name SANAM. Not only does this band write and perform their own music, but the band also does some really beautiful covers of old and popular Bollywood songs. And for today's song, I have one of these wonderful covers for you. This song is one of those classic songs that people of all ages know and love and can sing word for word. This song is one that comes from the early 90s and is still such a favorite of so many people. Now the original song features a few more Indian instruments and musical production techniques. However, this version by SANAM is a stripped down, acoustic version of the song. And it is absolutely lovely. SANAM has a very sweet and soothing voice. His voice is one that is so soft and gentle and it washes over you so gracefully. The rest of the song consists of nice acoustic guitar renditions of the original song, accompanied by an acoustic drum. This version of the song is so raw and different from t...

Today I have some music for you from the world of Bollywood. This song is one of the more popular ones from the past few years. Now I like this song because it has a lot of Middle Eastern and Arab influence. There is a difference between Indian and Arab music, but the two blend so well together. We get to hear how the music writers for Om Shanti Om integrated the sounds together. We get a song that sounds very Middle Eastern, but features Hindi lyrics and melodic styles. This is a combination that I am a huge fan of because of how fun and almost sexy it sounds. There is a mysterious element to the song, and that makes it even more catchy. Bollywood is really changing the way they make music. That evolution is really awesome to hear because we get to see so many different sides of music within a single culture. This, being an older song, is kind of a throwback. This is a sneak peek as to what music used to sound like in Bollywood. There is so much energy and excitement and intensity...

Happy New Year to everyone! 2016 was a year to remember, whether it is for the great things that happened or the not so great things. Either way, 2016 is going to be remembered as and iconic year in history, and now as we usher in 2017, let's get jamming with some music. Now for 2017, there are a few ways I could go with this blog. I could talk about songs in general, or stay with posting about lesser known songs and artists. I want that choice to be up to you all! Let me know what you think in the comments below. But until then, I wanted to start the year off with some music out of the Indian-American music scene. Now this song is by the Punjabi artist Mickey Singh. I have to say, his style of Indian music has really grown on me. I like that Indian music now doesn't have to come just from Bollywood movies. We are seeing a growing number of independent Indian artists, and Mickey Singh is one of those original singers. His style is focused more on R&B and romantic ballads, b...

Today I have some music for you that comes from the world of Bollywood music. This comes from the movie Airlift, a new movie that is actually worth the time to watch. Unlike most Bollywood movies beforehand, this is a movie that is actually full of substance and is honestly a wonderful story line. This is a movie that is about the real world, the issues and dangers that are seen in the Eastern hemisphere. And for once, this is a Bollywood movie that is not centered on the romance, but on the actual meaning and significance of the movie. Now this song is sung by Arijit Singh, a man with a voice like pure honey. I mean this song is incredibly beautiful and the vocals in the song are just as melodious as the instrumental accompaniment. What I love about songs like this is that they are starting to embrace this wonderful acoustic kind of song, something that is more subdued and raw rather than bustling with energy. This is a song that is lovely and calming, something that makes you feel wa...

Well, it has been quite a trying week! We've seen a lot happen, and it has been nothing but a wild ride. However, I am so happy to be back with music for you all because quite frankly, sharing music is one of the things that keeps me sane! A part of why this week was extremely crazy for me, is because of dance competition that my university hosted. Now this isn't your typical dance competition. This was a Bollywood Fusion choreography competition. Not many people are extremely familiar with the Bollywood scene, let alone the fusion side, however, the Bollywood dance circuit has grown so large, and because of that we now host nationally acclaimed competitions! It was crazy and stressful and tiring, but absolutely worth it! We got to see teams from all over the country come perform to some the sickest dance mixes out there. The choreography isn't the only thing that is a fusion of styles. These mixes have been meticulously created to give us something that is not only hyped a...

Today is quite a big day for me and Indian people around the world. One of the world's most celebrated holidays also falls around this time. Diwali, or The Festival of Lights, is a holiday celebrated in India which has such a wonderfully intricate and beautiful meaning. Spiritually, this festival celebrates the victory of knowledge and wisdom over evil. That light of knowledge is enough to flush out the darkness. There are many different stories that accompany the festival, with roots in many different parts of India. But all of these stories point towards this brightness of self awareness and inner light, and how that triumphs over the spiritual darkness. But in more general terms, Diwali is a celebration of the Hindu new year, celebrated on the first new moon after harvest season. Diwali is a time of celebration and is one of the most lively and fun and energetic holidays of the year. Bright lights, colorful clothing, and rich food adorn households and bring the the community tog...

Today I have a very interesting song for you. This is a remixed version of a Bollywood song and I can tell you that I like this version a lot. Now I am going to say now that I am not condoning nor rejecting the use of hookah. You do what you need to. Now, this song has been very well remixed. It retains a lot of the original content of the song. If you go listen to the original version you can definitely hear what stayed the same and what was changed. For example, this remixed version is faster and maintains the same beat throughout. The original song has a period of time in which the beat is slowed down and it kind of breaks the song a bit. From the get go we get that Eastern feel while also clearly hearing the more European electronic influences. Especially the Romanian/Israeli/Middle Eastern style of electronic music. The way the the synth work is done has that Middle Eastern and Eurodance sound, that very Edward Maya sound. Honestly, I love that so much! Sometimes I find it way...

Today I had the opportunity to be in the presence of two of the most incredible singers I have ever heard live. Atif Aslam and Sonu Nigam are two Bollywood playback singers, and my oh my are they ridiculously talented. I have to say, out of all the concerts I have attended, this is one of the greatest shows I have been to. Each vocalist was stunning, singing their own hits as well as covers of others. They paid tribute to some of the trailblazers in Bollywood music, and all in all delivered performances that were breathtaking. What I find magical about Indian music, is that each song is sung with full heart and meaning. Hindi is a deep language, and the way that these singers perform completely conveys that depth of emotion. Atif Aslam has a deeper and stronger voice, a voice that is like molasses. Sony Nigam has a voice like birdsong. His voice is sweet and beautiful, playful and romantic. Both singers have incredible skill and technique, and because of that, every song seems effortle...

Today I have a song for you that comes from the wonderful world of Bollywood music. Now I know I have posted a variety of songs in the past regarding Bollywood, but this song is very different from most of the styles I have posted. See, this is a song that is all about the sadness of to being able to be with the one you love. And it doesn't seem that way because of how beautiful and almost light the song is. But in a way, the melody of the song is something that is reminiscent of the wonderful moments, the ones that you will always remember. Hindi lyrics are some of the most beautiful I have ever heard. When you understand what the song is saying, or go look up lyrics, there is this indescribable sense of truly loving someone. The words express the love for another in the most poetic way possible. One thing I have noticed about Indian songs in general is that they tend to use the sun and moon as focal points for these kinds of songs. The Sun represents one in the pair, while the ot...

Today I have some Bollywood music heading your way! It has been a while since I last posted anything from the world of Bollywood and Hindi music, and since I have had this song stuck in my head for quite some time, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to do some blogging on it! So this song is from a movie that recently came out, and is one of those songs that has weirdly caught on in terms of dance moves and popularity. In the Western world, we have songs that teach us how to dougie and how to hit the quan, but in India, this is the kind of dance anthem we get. What I love about Bollywood is that there is no one song that takes the prize for teaching dance moves. People tend to pick and choose the coolest moves form a variety of songs and then bring them all together to create something wickedly sick. This song is not one that is super high impact and energy, but is something that is more laid back. I wouldn't describe this song as being "chill" or calm, but there...

Today I have some music along the lines of emotionally beautiful. This first song comes from the Bollywood film Ashiqui 2. This is a movie that is a sequel to another Bollywood film that was released in the 90s. Not only was it one of the biggest blockbuster films, the soundtrack was positively splendid. This is the most famous song off the soundtrack, and I think it will be quite clear as to why once you hear it. The playback singer Arijit Singh is the man behind the vocals in the song, and let me tell you, his music is some of the most moving that I have heard in a long while from Bollywood. What I like about his voice is that is soft and low, but has a little bit of a gravelly sound to it. This makes him sound even more vulnerable than he does with just listening to the lyrics. And this song is all about feeling the vulnerability of love, and all the pain and hardships that come with life and being able to maintain that love. This is definitely a heartbreaking song, and is also one ...

Today I have some music for you out of the world of a cappella. This comes from a group out of Chicago called Chai Town. Now this group has to be one of my favorite a cappella groups out there for a couple of reasons. First of all, they are legitimately very good live. I have heard live performances of other a cappella groups and teams, but a lot of them fall short of their recorded performances. But Chai Town was phenomenal when I got the chance to hear them perform. Now another reason I really like this group, is because they like to mashup Bollywood songs with English songs and other Bollywood songs. We get to hear more Bollywood and Western mashups, but it was really cool to be able to hear two Bollywood songs get mashed up. Strangely enough, that is rarer to find. Now Chai Town is also very experimental with their mashups and performances, going for songs that are more different and less expected. I really like that, and it makes them more enticing to listen to. For example this s...