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 everyone! I’ve noticed lately that a lot of the songs I have written about lately have been more on the pop and chilled outside of things. So I thought it would be great to shake things up and go with an energetic and electronic-tinged track! In all honesty, calling this an “electric tinged” song is a bit of an understatement. In fact, today we are getting a much-needed dose of some good ol’ EDM. And before things get a little out of hand, I firmly believe a little electronic music in one’s life never hurt anyone, and is actually a nice addition to a music library. So without further ado, it’s time to jump in!  Today’s track is a bundle of energy and good times. Everything about the song is filled with vivacious energy and upbeat sound. There are a lot of things going on in this song that are fantastic and a lot of fun. There are even some parts that remind me a bit of other popular songs! As is common with many house songs or vocalist influenced EDM tracks, there is a wo...

Today I have some music for you by an artist that we all use to love watching perform on live television. He was the sweet and adorable kid with a beautiful and angelic voice on American Idol. He was also such a heartthrob when his first single came out. That's right, today we are talking about the wonderful, the magnificent, David Archuleta! Now if that name isn't a throwback, I don't know what is. But it seems as though after his ridiculously successful first single came out, he disappeared. In fact, he did take a break from music for two years. But he never really went away, he just shifted his focus. David Archuleta has been collaborating with artists, quietly putting out new music, and trying genres across the board. He even collaborated on an incredible pop take of a popular opera song! But today, I want to focus on his new music, specifically, a track from his latest album. When I first heard this song, I had to stop and listen. And then hit replay, again and agai...

Today I was feeling really inspired to go out there and find something new and fresh and exciting for you all. If I’m honest, I’ve been feeling a bit stale and stagnant on the “music discovery” front. But today’s song is definitely quite a banger but in the most laid back way possible. This song is dripping in swagger, provided by the beats which make up the song and the rappers who throw their bars on top.  Wiley is an English MC and rapper out of London and has released music under a variety of names, including Eskiboy. This song is actually a very interesting one because it provides some outlook on the nature of hip hop, grime, and riddim. In the song, Wiley takes the term which makes up the song title and gives it a different meaning. Instead of boasting outright as to what he is, who he is, and what kind of things he can buy, Wiley is able to be “Boasty” in a way that is tasteful. I found it quite entertaining to hear what Wiley was being boasty about. In one verse, he talk...

Happy New Year to all! I wanted to start the New Year by returning to this blog, one that I love so much but needed to step away from for a little while. For those of you who may be new readers and listeners, I took a hiatus from November till the end of the year. There were many things that I needed to take a look at, a lot of things I needed to work through and sort out for myself. But I couldn’t forget this platform, a place where I could safely share music and talk about what it all felt like. When I took my hiatus, I really started to understand how much pride I have in this blog, and how much I love being able to write about music. But, writing every night started to become too much. It sometimes felt as though the music was becoming an assignment, and not something I did because I loved it. So, I am so happy to be back here, posting maybe once or twice a week, but still talking about the thing I love- Music. And that being said, I am so ready to start discussing some incredibly...

It's been almost 2 weeks since my last post. And to be honest the reason I haven't I just haven't been feeling any inspiration. There hasn't been a song that has compelled me to write or an artist that makes me want to share their music the past couple of weeks. And it's not because there isn't any good music out there, we all know that there's plenty of good music. But it just felt kind of like a dry spell, until I came across this song. Now, I know the Hamilton mixtape was all the rage when it came out. And now that I have listened to it in full, I can definitely see why. This mixtape is such a beautiful piece of art because it attacks so many different issues across so many levels and does so in a way that is so incredibly relatable and catchy. One of the best parts of this mixtape though is that it features artists from so many different heritages. And this song specifically features work by rappers from various ethnic backgrounds. And what makes i...

Continuing with more ACL artists, today I am focusing on one of the electronic acts to hit the stage. What is interesting is that initially, this artist was not supposed to be listed. Due to some complications though, they were slotted and many of us got to experience Justice for the first time. And let me tell you, the show was absolutely mesmerizing.  A little background about the group, Justice is a French electronic duo who has been a strong and powerful underbelly of music. The duo has been nominated for multiple Grammy's and has even won for some of their remixes. Justice has a really great repertoire of sound and production. At times during their performance, I would get some serious Daft Punk vibes. There is something very meticulous about their work and in the intricacies of their music. There are definitely disco and funk electronic vibes, thrown in with a little bit of house as well. But what makes Justice stand out, even more, is that there are lots of influenc...

Today I have some very interesting music for you especially because it falls in a weird space between being older music and newer music. One of the most well-known events in recent hip-hop history is the legal battle that one of the most prestigious names in hip-hop was fighting. Lil Wayne has brought so much to rap and has influenced so many rappers. The creative differences and legal battle that Lil Wayne was going through is now over. And what this means is that he can go back to releasing and creating music. Now when this legal battle started Lil Wayne was going to release an album but was never able to since the legal battle was with his record label. And now that he has been released from any legal obligations, Lil Wayne has now been able to release that album after waiting almost 9 years. Needless to say, this is quite the triumph! This is also where the music gets very interesting because this album was recorded so long ago and maintains the musicality, structure, and rec...

It has been a long while since I have posted anything remotely close to old school electronic music. So I thought, why not today? Today's song brings back memories of driving in a car late at night, cruising with the windows down and enjoying the moment. This song transports us back to a different time in electronic music. It takes us back over 10 years ago, to the beginnings of progressive house. This song has been remixed by Adam K & Soha and takes on a completely different genre compared to the original. The original version is by Ercoa and Heikki, and the roots of the track can be found in drum & bass and a bit of house. However, today's remixed version takes on progressive house vibe. The remix is more subdued, softening up some of the more intense parts of the original and amplifying the melody. A lot of times with progressive house, the song is more about the melody and the atmosphere rather than bass and beats. We definitely hear that in this track, with the ...

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...

Today I have some new music for you by DJ that has consistently been tearing up the charts. Now I'm not talking within the past year two but over the past seven or eight years. Alesso has made a name for himself, with not only remixes but also incredible original tracks featuring incredible vocalists and producer is across all genres and music types. The song, in particular, is one of his newer tracks and it is one that I was hooked on from the first listen. So let's talk briefly about Alesso as an artist. He has done so much and his music style has progressed and changed over time. Obviously, this is to be expected from an artist, and Alesso's growth has been in a direction that is very different and interesting for the ears. But there's something to be said about a kind of consistency which can be heard in his music. He never really strays too far from Progressive house sounds or just house in general. And what is nice about Alesso is that it never feels like he...

Today I have a song that blends two different worlds of music. And what school is that because today's artists come from two very different countries they bring very different aspects and qualities to this song. We've got one from France and one from Spain and while both of them may be on the pop side of music each country has a different version of pop. So let's get into it! This song is originally by an artist from France who goes by the name Maître Gims. This is actually the first song that I've heard by him and if this is just a taste of what the rest of his music is like I'm very excited to have the chance to explore his musical dossier. This song is the Franco Spanish version of the French original. Now given that the title translates to "the same" I think it's beautiful that this song has a version that combines two different languages, two different artists, and two different worlds of music. The artist who sings the Spanish verses is non...

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...

This summer has been an interesting time for music. A lot of the new releases we have been hearing are not coming from big-name artists but from more of the lesser known musicians and artists. And that makes this such an interesting time for music because it is almost time to start deciding on the anthem of the summer. And though this track is a little late in the game, I think it has a fair chance in my book of being one of the anthems of the season. So let's get right into it! Louis the Child has always been such a fascinating duo. A lot of their inspiration is drawn from Asia and Eastern Asian cultures. This makes their melodies stand out more, distinguish the duo, and provide a nice respite from the string of pop songs we normally hear over the summer. This is going to be a fun song to talk about especially because it is the latest development in Louis the Child's extensive dossier of music. Though the duo is not as well known as DJs and groups such as Major Lazer, Dil...

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,...

Today I have a fun song for you by the artist known as Spark. Now I have to be completely honest, I don't really know much about the artist. The only thing I have been able to dig up so far is his name. But what I do know, is that this is an artist who has incredible respect for EDM and the music he makes. Now, this is going to be a rather interesting exploration, as all the material and thoughts I have are based on this song alone. So Spark. Though we don't know anything about him on a personal level or a level outside of music, there is a lot we can understand about him as an artist. And in order to really get that musical understanding, I want to start by discussing this track. This is a really good song. The musicality behind the track is fantastic and offers us, listeners, a lot of different characteristics which come together and creates a sonically solid and vibrant track. From the beginning, Spark sets a unique, enchanting, and fairytale mood which slowly incorporate...

Today I have some music for you by the DJ and artist known as The Magician. The Belgium DJ has been behind a number of different hits across the pond, but somehow, his name isn't as well known here in the States. One of the most unique and somewhat odd things about The Magician is that he legitimately does magic tricks while on stage. That concept blew my mind! I understand that a lot of artists enjoy putting on a performance along with a good show, but The Magician's idea of putting on a performance through magic tricks seems so odd but incredibly cool. And just like the magic he performs on stage, The Magician spins even more magic into his mixes. This song, in particular, is one of my favorite vibes. It is a cool, smooth, and catchy track. Unlike a lot of music we hear from festival DJs, this song airs on the lounge and chill side of electronic music. There are no throbbing bass nor thumping beats. Instead, The Magician favors more subtle sounds and less bombastic mixing....

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...