Keeping It Fresh

Today I thought we could go back in time, relive some of the glorious 80s and get some old school music back on the map. And to start off, I thought it would be cool to take a look at different artists across various genres in the 80s. Think of it like a series dedicated to the age when big hair, punk rock, disco, and new wave all had a spot in the spotlight. The 80s were a time where bands were starting to embrace instruments like synthesizers and keyboards, where rock music was starting to evolve and change to include these “unconventional” instruments. New wave band, Modern English, was no exception.  It’s interesting to note that Modern English is actually an English band – as were many popular bands during the 80s. I think a little background might add some context on why that is a cool tidbit. Let’s start with the genre – new wave. This is a genre which encompasses some pop music styles and punk rock to create a deliciously catchy dossier of sound. New wave was a shift a...

Hello, hello! It has been quite a while since I last dropped a post on the blog. I want to go ahead and send a huge shout out to everyone who has been patient with me, and the more sporadic nature of my writing. Everything is a work in progress, and continuing to write about music remains in “progress” mode. Moving onto the music, I would be remiss if I didn’t include this particular song. Why? Because it may just be one of the single greatest musical moments to come out of the world of Game of Thrones and television as a whole.  As you all may know, Florence Welch is a singer I am completely in awe in. She has harnessed something so magical in music, something so enchanting that you cannot help but be enamoured by it. Her voice has the power of a tidal wave, soaring and crashing as she chases the high notes and smashes the lower notes. But her voice can also be gentle and deep, like the calm waves of a splendorous ocean. The versatility and depth with which she can sing made he...

Big news! Last weekend was the first weekend of Austin City Limits! Now ACL is one of the biggest music festivals in the South, and rightfully so! The festival claims six days over two weekends and over 200 artists, which is pretty nuts! I was lucky enough to be able to go, and I wanted to share my experience with you all. Which is why I thought it would be great to talk about some of the artists I got to see who completely surprised me! So let ACL Week begin! Today I want to talk about an artist who blew me away within the first 10 seconds of their performance. Greta Van Fleet is a band I had never heard of and probably wouldn't have come across in my music discovery paths. But thanks to ACL, I have been exposed to such a riot of a band, and I am excited to be able to share their music with you. This band sounds like a modern y Led Zepplin, and when the lead singer opened his mouth and let out the first note, I was hooked. It wasn't so much a note as much as it was a growli...

Today I have some music from the ever exciting and moving city, Los Angeles. This duo likes to go by the name MIKNNA, and they are shaking up the underground music scene one track at a time. Fusing retro sounds with hip-hop and some electronic work, MIKKNA gives us music to bounce to. MIKNNA is made up of two very important components - a producer and a vocalist. One member brings the instrumental and musical skills to the table. In fact, the producer, Ken Nana is a talented musician and plays multiple instruments. The vocalist, Mike B, also serves as the rapper of the duo and brings words to the song. The two of them together are able to breathe life into tracks like this, giving the song body and filling it with sensation. MIKKNA's sound could be described as "electro-soul," a gorgeous blend of an older style with a newer one. This song is definitely on the slower side, but that doesn't mean the song lacks funk or groove. This song can hold its own when it come...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it has been a very long time since I last posted. But I'm really happy to be back and I have honestly missed writing about music so much. And to kick things off I wanted to go ahead and start with one of the newer symbols by Disclosure which recently came out. Let's get right into it! Disclosure is very well known for having really catchy beats and complex harmonies and melodies. Fortunately for us, that doesn't change with their newer single and in fact, the duo takes on a very interesting type of sound in this track. We don't normally get to hear Disclosure go for something a little bit more old school so this is a very nice fresh change and it's a sound that works really well with Disclosure's style.  I think one of the biggest things in this track that is worth noting is the way the vocals are presented. I wouldn't necessarily say that they are very clear and distinct and crisp, but it's still easy enough to unde...

Tonight was a night for concert goers and music lovers. And the opening act is a name that has become extremely well known across the world. Logic has managed to move people, impact the masses, and spread the message of peace, love, and positivity. But I am not here to talk about Logic's performance. Yes, it was incredibly energetic and pumped. Yes, he is an absolute nerd and shows that side of him with a carefree ease which is almost intoxicating. And yes, Logic loves engaging with the crowd. But today, I want to show a little love to one of the opening acts. NF is an artist that I have had the privilege to watch from the early releases to now. And of course, I feel like a proud mom and am so thrilled to see him ascend through the ranks. But something I noticed while at the show, was that there were still so many people who had no idea who NF was, and was pleasantly shocked to hear him perform. And that is why I write this blog. To elicit that reaction from people, to show ot...

I wanted to go ahead and use the beginning of this post to get a little personal. I haven't been posting as much or as frequently as I used to. For years, I had written posts daily, without fail. Even if it meant staying up late to put music out there, I would do it. And within the past few months, my frequency of writing and posting has decreased dramatically. With so many things going on, I found it hard to continue to post every day, and it got to a point where I just didn't care to. But things have changed, and I am back to writing as much as possible. And even though I won't be posting content every day, I will try to do so a few times a week. And that being said, let's get to today's music. I recently heard this song and was captivated by it quickly. Everything about this song has a vibe that you cannot help but enjoy. This song is a joint effort of the band known as The Strike and rapper, SiDizen King. This doesn't seem like the likeliest of duos, but ...

Today I have some music for you which has a unique origin. There are so many styles of music, coming from all over the world and across time periods. One such style of music that we rarely get to hear from is called Pinoy rock. Essentially, this is a brand of rock that was born in the Philipines. Interestingly enough, Pinoy rock is an umbrella term to refer to any kind of Filipino rock, whether it is alternative, ska, heavy metal, punk, or more recently, indie. This is where our band of the day, IV of Spades, comes in. A rather new band who made their first appearance in 2014, IV of Spades represents a new ear in Pinoy rock. The indie band brings something refreshing and beautiful to not only the Filipino stage but the global one as well. The band is incredibly unique and has an individuality which shines through their music and performances. IV of Spades is heavily influenced by the 70s both musically and as a band. Their looks always tend towards some groovy 70s vibed outfits,...

There have been quite a few albums which have dropped over the past few days. One such album comes from the ever elegant Florence + The Machine, and as per usual, the album is stunning and haunting. Florence + The Machine is always such an interesting artist for me to discuss for a number of reasons. For starters, each album tells a deep and powerful story about life and the human condition. Each track on every individual album has such a strong purpose and grandeur, that the story being told is so completely clear while leaving much room for interpretation. Florenc Welch does an exceptional job of creating open conversation, allowing her music to connect the thousands around the world. Her latest album is the most introspective, personal, and vulnerable piece of work. There are so many feelings and sentiments which resonate with the idea of being a human and overcoming the struggles life has thrown. This album is like an artistic autobiography. We get to hear the personal narrati...

So, rock music for anyone? It has been too long since I last discussed rock music, a shame if I am to be honest. But I thought today and going forward, I can talk about more rock music, whether it be rock n roll or modern rock. Starting today with a band out of Japan, ONE OK ROCK. Now I only recently started listening to their music, and it took me back to my rock roots. I will say ,ONE OK ROCK tends to take a little bit more of a punk sound with this song, but it really works for them. One of the things I really have to appreciate about ONE OK ROCK, is that each album sounds different. The band is not afraid of trying out new sounds and vibes each time they put out an album, and I respect that both as a listener and as a musician. You can also really tell who has influenced the band. Some albums are almost like an homage to ONE OK ROCK's favorite and most inspiring bands, but they are still able to make each album sound like their own. Now the album which this song comes from i...

Today I have a song for you which is a cover of an incredibly beloved and popular song. The song is originally by Tracy Chapman, and has seen many versions. But this today's version is one of my favorites. Michael Collings was one of the earliest performers on Britain's Got Talent. He performed his rendition of this beautiful classic and left us all completely spellbound. There is something incredibly special and important about this track. I think part of what makes it so special is how powerful and moving the lyrics are. Not only are they relatable, but the lyrics tell a story that isn't often told. The song tells the story of a young woman in a low-income household who is trying to run away. It tells the story of a young woman who experiences the life of low-income and wants nothing more than to get in her car and drive. It paints the picture of what life is like when surrounded by hardships, and more importantly, it shows us what it really feels like to be in that ki...

Today I have some smooth and groovy music for you by the duo known as The Electric Sons. What I find so interesting about this duo, is that neither of them really started out in music. In fact, both of the members have backgrounds in design and illustration. One of them even went so far as to be an illustrator for the ever popular show Archer. But now we have two guys who have come together to make music, and my word is it good. The Electric Sons tends to be more of an alternative and electronic group. Their melodies aren't of the pop variety and they certainly don't fit into the world of EDM. Their music tends to have a more indie and alternative melody and energy while utilizing the electronic instruments available to them. We hear this style of music a lot nowadays. The beautiful and seductive blend of electronic and R&B, soul, and even jazz elements has become a popular direction for musicians and artists. And I understand why! This style of music allows artists like...

Today's song is very interesting one. It isn't often that I talk about heavy metal groups or heavy rock groups in general. While it is common to hear rock bands cover each other, it isn't necessarily common to hear covers done the way that Bad Wolves has covered this iconic song. Bad Wolves created a cover of The Cranberries' most iconic and classic song. And the way they did it is not only an incredible performance but a moving tribute to Dolores O'Riordan who sadly passed away this year. I hadn't heard of Bad Wolves until I heard this cover get released. And I have to admit, I was so humbled and moved by this version of the song. There are quite a few things that are going on in this song, which makes me love it even more. One of the things which makes this song so powerful is that the vocals are incredibly ferocious while displaying and a graceful and emotive sound. Tommy Vext delivers a growling performance about a topic that is sensitive and political an...

Today I have a nice and fun, genre-bending song for you by REMI.  Now I know it has been a while since my last post, and I will hopefully be able to start posting more frequently. But since it has been so long, I thought it would be fun to kickstart it with a song like this. What I love about this song, is how unconventional of a track it is. This is a style of hip-hop that does not conform to the normal standards of radio style and urban hip-hop. This is a style that we see quite a bit from the underground community since it is more on the "freelancing" side of music. A lot of times with hip-hop, we find artists that carve out their own niche style and sound. These artists don't necessarily fit the underground vibe, but they also don't conform to the radio either. And these in-between styles of hip-hop are starting to show their colors more and more. We are starting to hear this kind of music in more places, whether on streaming platforms, commercials, movies, and...

Today I wanted to bring up some music by one of the greatest voices of our time. Jessie J is such a powerhouse, and I find that her music is either underappreciated or underwhelmed by the radio. But I wanted to take today's post to chat about how incredible she is, not only as a vocalist but as a lyricist as well. The British singer has an incredible amount of talent and pedigree to her name. One of the things I love about Jessie J, is that her musical and performance style is rather unconventional. She has this incredible way of blending soul, contemporary, R&B, hip-hop, pop, and electro-pop all into one song. Her music has is a unique blend of so many genres, yet somehow, she is able to pull it off and do so with fantastic amounts of style and power.  In this track, we hear Jessie J tackle a mix of contemporary, soul, and some 90s styled hip hop beats. While this may seem like an odd combination, Jessie J has brought them together in a way to make all the sounds mesh ...

Today I have some music for you by an artist all the way from Spain. And this is a bit of a nice detour, especially since much of the Spanish music I talk about is from Latin or South America. But I would like to introduce you to an artist who has brought the vibrancy and playfulness of Spain to the music world. Alvaro Soler is a wonderful singer-songwriter who really knows how to make the music feel free and alive. This song is his most famous song, but Alvaro Soler still remains a rather underground artist, especially here in the States. So there are two versions of this song- one in Spanish and one in Spanglish. But today, I want to talk just about the Spanish version of the song. There is this incredible richness to the way Alvaro Soler sings in Spanish, something that cannot be fully expressed in English words and verses. There is a specific energy and atmosphere which can only be captured by singing this song in the native language of Alvaro Soler, and that is what makes this ...

Today I have some music for you which comes from the world of Vine. Now, I have to admit, this was one of my favorite platforms for a little while. You can't go wrong with funny! But it is so cool to see how we have seen many artists and singer come about because of vine. In fact, today's artist comes from the world of vine. And you may know him from his popular cleaning + WOP videos. Trey Kennedy has been a very low key singer since the inception of vine. Recently, there have been some singing videos which have popped up with him in it, and that eventually led to him creating and releasing his own music. This track is an absolute bop. The energy is level headed and has a fantastic vibe associated with it. Overall, this track is a great one to just relax and lounge around to, just soaking in the atmosphere and sounds. It's cool to hear this song and how influenced by the early 00's it is. The grooviness that we hear in the track, is partially attributed to the use ...

One of the highlights of SXSW was to see the plethora of hip hop artists from around the world. And this was quite a shift for SXSW considering there is usually a heavier focus on rock music or related genres. But this shift in music content for SXSW only reflects a shift in the way we listen to music in the US. And one of the cool things about the music festival this year, is that we got to hear hip hop and rap from all around the world. Previously I spoke about a group of rappers out of China. Well today, we are shifting to another part of the world. Today is all about Korean-American rapper, Junoflo. Junoflo started out on the South Korean rap show called Show Me The Money. Now I have to admit, I think this is one of the coolest things ever. We have shows like The Voice and American Idol, which focus primarily on singing capabilities. But Show Me The Money is all about whether or not you can spit bars, and if you can, how well can you do it. Needless to say, Junoflo is a man who ...

Today I have music for you by another artist I had the opportunity to watch at SXSW. Marco McKinnis is an artist who has taken R&B to new levels of seductive and creates music that is incredibly refreshing. This track is a dangerously sultry one. Marco McKinnis pulls us in with his vocals prowess and delivers an R&B ballad which proves that he really is in his element. The song is effortlessly smooth, drenched in a seductive soul and passion. I love that we can hear the old school soul influences throughout the track. The way Marco McKinnis holds his voice tells us how sure he is about his sound and style. There is a confidence there which makes this song sound and feel organic and natural. His voice is silky smooth, with the texture, richness, and sweetness of molasses. Marco McKinnis immerses this track in his deeply soulful and yearning voice. There is tantalizing tease in his voice, yearning and arms outstretched to welcome us into the embrace of his music. Marco McKinni...

Today, I want to talk about an artist who has really captured my ears and attention. Bazzi has spent a lot of time under the radar, writing and performing his tracks with a magnificent and seductive gentleness. From the first few moments of listening to Bazzi, I knew I was absolutely in love with his voice, and just had to talk about him here. So Bazzi is a singer-songwriter out of Michigan, and is one of the most exciting new talents that I have come across. He is on the younger end of the talent pool, but you can already start to hear his versatility and potential. I have been impressed by all of Bazzi's work so far. He brings a seductive charisma to his music, making the tracks have different kinds of intimacy. I actually found this to be a very interesting concept. Personally, I feel like there is a sense of intimacy present in all of Bazzi's tracks. But the kinds of intimacy, and way he portrays that intimacy, vary from song to song. For some tracks, we get a more roman...