Keeping It Fresh

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 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 have a really sunny and lovely song for you by an artists known as Spencer Kane. Now this song is actually a cover of a Pentatonix original. Normally it is the a capella group that does the covers, but now we have the opposite happening which is a weirdly nice plot twist. From the moment the song starts. we are swept away into the adorably romantic and sweet sound, something that is happy and bubbly. The whole song has that really feel-good vibe to it, something which effortlessly shines with a warm brightness. Spencer Kane has a really smooth voice, but there is this nice underlying gravel to it, which kind of makes the whole thing sound complete. He also has quite a mature voice for his age, resonating with deeper octaves compared to the original. But that depth is so suitable for this song and adds envelops us in a sunny and light-hearted mood. He has a smooth falsetto that he transitions into at the end of some lines. Those nice little lilts are simple...

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...

Well, I'm back! It's been about a week or so since my last post, but I am so pleased about the music I am bringing to you going forward. This past week was South by Southwest, SXSW, which is a huge festival in Austin. For a week, we get to celebrate the most innovative and exciting new things coming up in technology, film, and music. I had the incredible opportunity to attend some of the SXSW Music events, and my goodness, it was spectacular. I've seen so many new artists and I am very excited to share these new players with you. So start off this exposé, we have an artist from New Zealand. Noah Slee is an artist who has been on my radar for a while, and I couldn't believe that he came to SXSW! Unfortunately, I was unable to see him perform, but that won't stop me from talking about his music. Noah Slee brought his cool soul to the SXSW stage, and I have to admit that Austin is so much better off by knowing his name. His musical style is not unfamiliar to us. N...

Today I thought we could go with something on the softer side of music. It has been a while since I've posted anything along the lines of folk or indie music, and this song just spoke to me. Today's music is by the artist known as My Life as Ali Thomas. This is a group out of Thailand, and they have absolutely swept me away. I will admit, music like theirs is not a phenomenon. We hear indie and folk music like this often enough if you know where to look. But what makes this group really stand out, is their brilliant command of instrumentals and composition. This track is a great example of their beautiful work. My Life as Ali Thomas relies solely on conventional instruments it seems. Nothing electronic or synthetic. And I won't lie, that is a really nice change of pace. All we hear are the gentle acoustic guitars, the quiet electric guitars, tapping drums and dreamy vocals. Everything is so raw and real in a way that we sometimes can forget given that so much music today...

Today I have music for you by the California duo known as XYLO. This is dark pop at its finest, a song that is slow and calculated. Every beat and chord has been purposefully chosen and placed. everything strategically put together so that we get something that is ethereal and dark and spectacularly somber. This is a track that is incredibly well rounded and is a fantastic way to debut XYLO's sounds. Their production is way beyond that which we would expect from an indie band. The music and instrumentals serve as the perfect harmonies to the vocals, and the layering of these synth notes gives the song a lot more musical depth and complexity. And that combination between the music and the vocals is what really capitalizes on this dark pop kind of sound. The vocals are haunting and strong, but they don't boom with power and robust vibration. The song drips in this dark melancholy, something that makes that gloomy indie sound burst forth. The whole song is just created in overc...

It's been a bit of a while, but back again with some new music for you! And today's track comes from an artist who has made quite a breakthrough this past year. The New York based singer-songwriter known as Lauv has been making waves out of the underground circuit, making his name and music known to a wider audience. I've talked about some of his music in the past, but I am particularly excited to talk about this song because of how different it is from the rest of the music we tend to hear from Lauv. As the creator and producer of his own music, Lauv has brilliantly created a stylistic sound for himself, one that makes him a recognizable artist among the rest. His music is characterized by soothing sounds, a hint of seduction, and emotion. The way these motifs are portrayed in the music is always different, but somehow the compositions still have a signature style. This song is unlike pretty much every track Lauv has released though. Of course, we still get those stylist...

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 by a band out of Los Angeles by the name Saint Motel. This is a band that really likes to play with different sounds and has produced music across the entire rock spectrum. While these guys do tend to focus more on indie music, they have been known to throw down some wicked smooth and fresh alternative music. This song is one of those seamless mixes of indie pop and alternative rock with a beautiful dash of old-timey music. This song is one of the more refreshing sounds I have heard in a while. There is so much energy in this song, from the first note we hear to the last. Saint Motel's sound is one that splurges on integrating old-school influences and the band seems to like mixing the older and more retro sounds with the newer and bolder kind of sounds. This song also has such a nice alternative sound which is highlighted by the bright and powerful sound we get from the horn section. What is really cool about this song is that there is such a wi...

Today I am taking things back to the chilled out and slower side of music. This song is one that I had on repeat for a while because of how smooth and calming it is. This isn't a very energized and hyped up song. Instead, we get something that is wonderfully chill and perfect for lounging around or just doing your own thing. This song is a synth pop breath of fresh air. In all honesty, we hear the same pop songs from all corners of media, but with this song, we get something that is such a nice fresh and unique sound. I will say, Dominique's original work with the song is really nice and still has that calmer and more relaxed sound. But Manotett took this song and remixed it, making this a song that is genuinely amazing and perfectly ambient. I would even go so far as to call this song beautiful. It is not one of those songs that is beautiful because of how moving it is. Rather, there is something mystical and a bit magical to the beauty surrounding this song. Kind of like a ...

Today I have some music for you by the artist known as VanLadyLove. The first time I heard this song, I had chills up and down my arms. This is a song that has a lot of feeling poured into it, but not the emotional kind of feeling. This is something that beckons the call of freedom and adventure and letting go and moving into the unknown. This song is something that is immersed in inspiration and makes us feel that sense of having our own wings to go forth and go on our own. But at the same time, the song addresses that we cannot live in the world of our dreams. We have to be able to bring all of those sentiments to the real world, and we cannot run away from everything that we have to face here.So when we look at this song, there are some really nice things that are going on to make this a completely feel good song. For starters, this song doesn't use guitars much, and opts for using a mandolin. I really enjoy the mandolin, with its oddly sweet sound. It is a stringed instrument...

Today I have an incredibly sweet track for you from the film Begin Again and is performed by an artist who has stolen our hearts away many times in the past. Adam Levine is most famously known as the lead singer of Maroon5, a band that is a worldwide sensation and has been for many years. What few people know is that in this film, Adam Levine actually covered this song which is originally performed by Kiera Knightley in the film. A bit confusing, I know. But I wanted to talk about both versions of today's songs because the performances are so vastly different, yet capture the song beautifully. One of the magical parts of music is that it has many interpretations and meanings, allowing us to see and feel the music as our heart and head choose. Kiera Knightley's original version of the song is one that really gets you in the heart. Purposefully simple and pure, her performance is one that is sweet and vulnerable. She strips the song down to its lyrical content and vocals, tyrin...

Today I have some music for you by a band that I haven't really talked about in an incredibly long time. I'm thinking its maybe been two or three years since I last talked about these guys. A shame for sure, but this song resurfaced among my playlists, and the memories made me come here to write about it. This song is by a band called Foals, a group out of England. This is a band who has been around for quite some time, and they have such an odd reputation to me. It seems like they are a band that everyone knows, yet nobody knows who they are. Foals has performed at so many huge festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and they have a good number of accolades under their belt. But at the same time, I have found that when I ask people if they listen to Foals, the answer is usually a no. But I kind of like it when bands have reputations like that. It makes the music so much real and pure to me. It's like having a well-kept secret that many others are also trying to keep se...

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 I have some really great music for you from some phenomenal movies. This first song comes from the movie Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. This movie was an absolutely beautiful movie for many reasons. First of all, the entire movie is all about the human experience, and what it means to be a human. It begins with the story of a man and woman who work office jobs, behind a desk, only to come home to a lonely existence. But as the movie progresses, the characters evolve, learning more about themselves and learning that there is so much to offer the world and that there is even more to receive. Even when things go wrong, or the unexpected arises, we have to look forward and keep our spirits high. Because at the end of the day, there is nothing more spectacular and wonderful than our own ability to believe. This is where the song of the day comes in. This song is the most perfect auditory description of this feeling. It is such an apt and charming and magical way to summarize the mov...

Today I have some music for you by a band that has been around for a little while and is a band that has been with me for quite a few years. Switchfoot has been a band that has jumped around from a lot of different genre labels. One day they are rock, the next day they are Christian rock, and the day after that they become a pop band. But despite these genres and labels and categories, I think it is important to point out how transcendent their music is. The thing is, while Switchfoot is capable of being a member of all these groups, there is one style of music that they will always be defined as for me- heartfelt music. Every song by Swtichfoot that I have fallen hopelessly in love with, has been a song full of soul and passion and heart. You can hear the joy of playing music, being musicians for the sake of creating something wonderful and beautiful and maybe even life changing. This song is another one of those special songs that always makes you really feel when you hear...

Today I wanted to do something a little different and talk about a style of music that absolutely bloomed and took off within the past few years. I realized that I have not posted music quite like the music I am posting today, in such a very long time. In recent years, a capella has become a huge part of youth and has entered the realm of pop culture. Acapella is the performing of songs using solely the vocal box, no other instruments are used to make the song. I think the concept of a capella is absolutely phenomenal because not only does it take great voices, but it also takes a creative genius to make the song work and function and sound as it should. A capella groups really started to make it to the forefront through social media sites like YouTube (thanks!) and film and TV and have really taken off. So many schools have a capella groups and the best thing about these groups is that it isn't that difficult to start. The pioneer a capell...

Finally back today, after a couple of days of being out and about. I want to go ahead and say right now I apologize for not keeping up with posting every day, but just a heads up, I may not be able to consistently keep up with posting every day. But I will definitely try my best! But today I have some music for you that comes from a famous singer, both because of his work with a boy band, but also because his debut album dropped earlier this year. And despite the fame and fortune, I have to admit I really do like this singer and how he has evolved his personal sound over time. Harry Styles is most notable for his involvement with One Direction, a group who supposedly is hitting the studio again (more on this later). I had found this song by him a while ago, however, I stumbled upon it again while I was shuffling through some of my old music. This song is with just him and no other band members. And it is absolutely lovely. This song showcases a completely different side of Harry Styl...

Today I have some really new music for you. In fact, over the course of the next few days, I want to bring a lot of new music to the blog, so stay tuned! But for now, I want to start with a recent release by one of my favorite folk and blues singers, George Ezra. I haven't spent as much time talking about him, which is just bad on my part. But I absolutely had to share this song going into this wave of new music. One of the things that make George Ezra such a special artist, is how simple and heartfelt his songs are. Each song is filled with incredible amounts of soul. And when I soul in this particular context, I don't mean "soul" as a genre of music. There is genuinely so much life and so much of George Ezra's personality that goes into each and every song. Every word that he sings is filled with meaning and belief. We hear that a lot in this song especially because it's all about facing personal battles. This particular topic has lead to some of the great...