Keeping It Fresh

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 ...

After a few days of travelling, I have finally reached my destination! Hong Kong is so incredible, and I've only seen a very small portion of the region. But that is why my postings have been a bit slow and, well, absent the past few days. But to kick things off, I have some music for you by an artist known as Lapsley. Lapsley is a newer player in the music field, this song being one of the singles off her debut album. I was completely entranced by the song the first time I heard it. Instrumentally, there are so many wonderful things happening, so many beautiful sounds and harmonies that all weave together to create this magical sound. This song is like an emotional autobiography, one that really gets us inside the heart and head of Lapsley. She purposefully draws us in, so that we may share in those same emotions whether it be joy and ecstasy or pain and sadness. This ballad is a fantastically chilled out and mixed track. There are so many instruments being used in this song, ...

Today we go round 2 with foreign music, with the artist of the day coming all the way from Spain. Alvaro Soler is one of the best breakout artists of last year, but no one really knows who he is here in the States. Alvaro Soler is a wonderful singer-songwriter who really knows how to make music feel free and alive. His themes tend to revolve around being happy go lucky and carefree and overall feel good. But he does it in a way that isn't "in your face" nor is it overly enthusiastic. He hits that sweet spot of being fun and exciting without being over the top. 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. This song is so contagiously fun, full of this incredible energy and complete liveliness. There is also this constant sense ...

Seems like we have a couple of exciting days this week, that I definitely wanted to make note of. Yesterday, we celebrated the official day of Star Wars. And today, Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo. This has always been such an interesting holiday and day of commemoration because of how misunderstood it is. For many people, Cinco de Mayo is also known as Cinco de Drinko. Now I don't know about you, but I'm not of Latin descent and I'm still offended. Quick summary for you, but Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico's unlikely victory over the French in a battle called The Battle of Puebla. Well now look at that, we got a history lesson in and some fresh music! In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I wanted to discuss a little bit about Latin music. For starters, there are many different styles of Latin music. You've got reggaeton, bachata, salsa, soca, and merengue just to name a few. Nowadays Latin music has started to equate Latin pop and billboard songs. However, there is a wea...

Today I am keeping things a little bit on the shorter side, so bear with me on that! But it dawned on me today, that I have never made a Star Wars related post on this particular day. That's right. On this iconic day in every calendar, especially for geeks and nerds like me, no Star Wars jokes were made. Why you may ask? I legitimately don't have a good answer. So in honor of today's date and for the sake of the awesomeness that is Star Wars, I have two pieces of music from the franchise. Now, this first song is hands down one of the most recognizable compositions to come from a film. This is a song that has been used in all kinds of pop culture references and remains the butt of many jokes. But in a way, I love that! This song represents Star Wars in a way that most people forget. There is a light-hearted goofiness to the song which reminds us of how much personality is in the films. I won't deny, I do find most of the characters to be a bit somber and emotionally st...

Today I have some music for you that comes from a band that has so much nostalgia attached to it. Last night, Panic! At the Disco played a show in Austin. Now many of you who have been following the blog for a while now, know that I like to report on the concerts I have been to. You probably also know that I frequent a lot of concerts. Keeping those thoughts in mind, I have to say, Panic! At the Disco was one of the most incredible and well-done shows I have ever seen. The lead singer, Brendon Urie, is one the most incredible and talented entertainers of our time. Not only can the man write songs and sing, but he can play multiple instruments and dances incredibly well. To top it all off, the man can perform so many different genres, and it is absolutely fantastic. So when I say that Panic! At the Disco was one of the greatest shows I have ever seen, it isn't a joke. Even before the show started, there was a theatrical aspect to the show. From beginning to end, the concert was rive...

Today I have some music for you that comes from Latin America. Yandel is one of the more popular artists from the world of reggaeton. This has to be one of my absolute favorite genres to come from the world of Latin music. There is an infectious and fun and sexy energy that comes with reggaeton. What is cool about reggaeton music is that the genre itself is a mix of so many musical styles an influences. We hear Caribbean influences as well as Spanish and American hip hop influences. In fact, much of reggaeton now is influenced by this idea of Latin American hip hop, and it has picked up momentum quickly. This style of music is also rooted in the Latin American beat groove called a tresillo. This beat pattern is standard for Latin American music, especially reggaeton. In fact, this tresillo beat is what makes Latin American music so easy to recognize. Lyrics aside, this tresillo is that beat that every Latin American song has which makes it so unique in comparison to the rest of the wor...

Today I have some music for you by Mohombi. This song is just so damn catchy. This is one of those songs that makes you want to get up and dance. This song has an infectious energy to and it won't let you sit still. Mohombi has taken a great Latin and hip hop mix to make this song what it is. I think what makes this song even cooler for me is the fact that Mohombi is actually from Sweden, and this song could technically be classified as Swedish. That's right, I bet you didn't see that coming. But Mohombi is from Europe and more importantly, Sweden which adds this plot twist. Mohombi takes on those Latin and afrobeat and hip hop styled beats and is able to even nail down the accent when singing which makes this song sound absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, I think that in this song there is a very fine blend between Latin American and afrobeat sounds to the point where it can be a bit difficult to distinguish between the two. This song is such a great dancehall anthem which is...

Today I have some music for you by an artist all the way from the Spain. Alvaro Soler is a wonderful singer-songwriter who really knows how to make 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. This song is so contagiously fun, full of this incredible energy and complete liveliness. There is also this constant sense of freedom and adventure woven throughout the song, something that is pretty perfect considering the song is all about that. This song is just so up-tempo and bubbly and just an all around feel good track! And we get that sound from the get go. As soon as the song opens, we are gre...

Today I have some music for you by the English singer-songwriter known as Lapsley. She is a new player in the music field, this song being one of the singles off her debut album. I was completely entranced by the song the first time I heard it. Instrumentally, there are so many wonderful things happening, so many beautiful sounds and harmonies that all weave together to create this magical sound. This song is like an emotional autobiography, one that really gets us inside the heart and head of Lapsley. She purposefully draws us in, so that we may share in those same emotions whether it be joy and ecstasy or pain and sadness. This ballad is a fantastically chilled out and mixed track. There are so many instruments being used in this song, but at the same time, we get a good balance of some electronic work as well. The producer of this song also happens to be the producer of The XX, a band that focuses heavily on instrumentals and created the most ambient and precise sound. My absolute f...

Today I have some really cute and sweet music for you by the South African singer-songwriter Christoph Kotze. The first time I heard this song was in a movie called The Road to Your Heart. It was such a sweet movie, one that was easily predictable but still incredibly heart warming. This was the first South African movie I have seen, and the first movie to be spoken completely in Afrikaans. I thought that was super cool, and only enhance the movie to be something beautiful and wonderful. This is a sweet and adorable acoustic song, one that reminds me of some of my comfort artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz. This song has an overall feel-good vibe to it, making the song something that I really enjoy. While this song does sound like quite a few other songs out there, the thing that sets it apart from the rest is the lyrical content. I just found the words in the song to be very pleasant and endearing. Not to mention, I love how unique and darling the title of the song. It just gives ...

Today I have a remix of one of the most popular songs of 2015. But you see, I am not here to talk about the original song. That has been overdone and overheard for a while. No, today is all about how genius and well done this remix is. This was done by Balvin and Farruko, a duo of Latin American artists. Now what makes this remix one of my favorites is the fact that Balvin and Farruko totally embrace that Spanish and Latin American flair and add it to the song. What is great about this song is that Major Lazer made it a culturally ambiguous one. While it is clear that the instrumentals and beats are more inclined to one cultural style over another, there are a lot of these ethnic sounds that sound so great with the song. And because of this, having a Spanish remix is something that is new and innovative and very compatible. This has a really interesting twist of reggaeton in it, which makes it less noticeable because the original song is moombahton. A quick breakdown of moombahton, it ...

Today I wanted to post some music that comes from one of the biggest festivals in Latin America- Dia de los Muertos. This is a version of what we call Halloween which I find to be really awesome. On this day, the dead are celebrated for the life they lived and the families all partake in feasting together and visiting the resting place of loved ones. I find this tradition to be really great because it shows this kind of appreciation that these people have for those who have passed along. It allows you to remember and rejoice in the life that loved ones lived, rather than focusing on their absence. It is a time for families to come together and really be one. So in honor of that, I have some music that is devoted to Dia de los Muertos. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment! 

Today I have music for you by one of my favorite Latin artists/duos, Wisin y Yandel. This song is probably my favorite one by them for a multitude of reasons. First, this song has a sick beat and an awesome melody. It retains that traditional Latin sound with the pipes but also integrates the more modern electronic and bass sound to it. There is this perfect marriage between Western R&B and Latin beats which gives the song so much body and dynamism. T-Pain was a great addition to the song because of his extensive experience in the industry, producing and performing. Second, this song is a phenomenal dance song. Seriously. This song comes on and no one can stay still. If you are like me, you dance quietly in your room and if anyone ever walked in they would immediately leave or laugh because I go hard. But even in public, I have to sway a little or head bang, and of course I mouth the lyrics all the time. Which brings me to the next point. This song brilliantly fuses English R&B...

Today's song is by English grime rapper Wiley. This is the first song I heard by him, and I absolutely loved it! The rapping has a fantastic beat with a very Caribbean/Latin American sound to it. I have to say, he reminds me of Sean Paul! This is the kind of song that is meant to be energetic and fun rather than deep and meaningful. I won't lie, the lyrics are a little sparse in terms of actually being deep and thought provoking. However, this is the kind of song you would want to hear when you are at a pool party or hanging out on the beach or doing something totally fun and wild. It has that infectious osund and rhythm that makes you want to move and dance along to it. While I can't say anything else in terms of what this song makes you feel, I can tell you that this would be a great song to add to your summer playlist. Everything that goes with the vibe of a beach summer, is heard and felt in this song. I think that is pretty sick! Today's instrumental song is by Moh...

Today I have music for you by one of my favorite Latin artists/duos, Wisin y Yandel. This song is probably my favorite one by them for a multitude of reasons. First, this song has a sick beat and an awesome melody. It retains that traditional Latin sound with the pipes but also integrates the more modern electronic and bass sound to it. Second, this song is a phenomenal dance song. Seriously. This song comes on and no one can stay still. If you are like me, you dance quietly in your room and if anyone ever walked in they would immediately leave or laugh because I go hard. But even in public, I have to sway a little or head bang, and of course I mouth the lyrics all the time. Which brings me to the next point. This song brilliantly fuses English R&B and rap with the Latin style of music. A lot of people do fusions now, but when this song came out, I had never heard anything better than this. Even today I think this is one of the best fusions I have heard. This song is just so vivaci...

Sorry about yesterday's post! I had a religious event to attend and wasn't able to put out some music for you all. But, today I do have some! It has been an extremely long time since I have posted any Latin or Spanish music. So today, I have some music by the always incredible and one of my favorite foreign artists, Daddy Yankee. This is actually a pretty old song by him but I never get tired of it. This song has so much energy and such a great beat to it. This song cause infectious dancing and if you don't feel the need to get up and dance I bet you caught yourself head banging a little bit or even bobbing. I highly, highly recommend you listen to Daddy Yankee's other music because it is just as good! Today's instrumental song is some reggaeton beats. I love this beat so much, maybe because you can do so much with it. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!

Today I have music for you from Puerto Rico by a group know as Da'Zoo. These artists, they know how to turn up the party vibes. This song has everything from a sick beat to hot back and forth between the guy and girl. The lyrics to the song are a little dirty, no doubt about it. But what's wrong with a little bit to spice things up a bit? And seeing as most people don't even understand what the lyrics mean, it's all good! But this song has a really wicked dance beat to it that is so different than your typical Latin style music. For one, this song relies heavily on the use of electronics and synth to make the awesome sounds. This group makes great use of the electric bass and there is this organic fluidity to the way the song sounds. There is definitely repetition but it doesn't feel like it because there is something slightly different in every verse. The lyrics stay the same but the way they are presented is different. For example, the last verse is the only one t...

It has been such a long time since I have posted a cultural song. So today's song is a song by Luis Enrique, and I have to say, it is such a great song! This has a very Latin American feel with the trumpets, and that specific percussion beat. But it also has a very tropical feel to it, and that tropical feel mixed with a Latin American background makes quite a good combo. I really like this song, especially the chorus, and if you understand Spanish, you will hear how great the lyrics and how meaningful they are. Today's instrumental song is from the movie The Mask Of Zorro. This song is also a very typical Latin song, especially since it meant as a tango song. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!

Today I have some music for you by Mohombi. This song is just so damn catchy. This is one of those songs that makes you want to get up and dance. This song has an infectious energy to and it won't let you sit still. Mohombi has taken a great Latin and hip hop mix to make this song what it is. I think what makes this song even cooler for me is the fact that Mohombi is actually from Sweden, and this song could technically be classified as Swedish. That's right, I bet you didn't see that coming. But Mohombi is from Europe and more importantly, Sweden which adds this plot twist. Mohombi takes on those Latin and afrobeat and hip hop styled beats and is able to even nail down the accent when singing which makes this song sound absolutely phenomenal. Honestly, I think that in this song there is a very fine blend between Latin American and afrobeat sounds to the point where it can be a bit difficult to distinguish between the two. This song is such a great dancehall anthem which is...