Keeping It Fresh

Wow, it has been some time since my last post. It feels odd to not write for so long! But I'm back again today and have some really fun and interesting music for you. I know I have spent ample time discussing music from around the world, especially focusing on Indian, Korean, and Latin music. And a travesty for us all, I haven't spent a lot of time discussing music from Africa. Now, this seems such a shame since there is so much music today which has taken influence from African music. But this week, I wanted to talk specifically about artists who are from Africa and have gained their popularity there. And so, today I am starting with an artist out of Nigeria who goes by the name Mr. Eazi. Now I really wanted to talk about African artists, because this group represents up and coming artist. African music has been the source of inspiration for so many musical movements, and most notably, the Afrobeat movement. The profile of African artists has started to skyrocket within the...

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 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...

Wow, okay, it has been an awful long time since I last posted a song. Hopefully we can get back to some normalcy! And today I wanted to start out by introducing you all to some folk and acoustic music. And before I really jump into this song, I wanted to clear up a question that I have gotten multiple times in the past. Whenever I talk about music with people, I somehow always get asked the question "what is the difference between folk and country?" And I won't lie, at first I didn't have a definitive answer. It was always something I could hear in the music, an automatic distinction and difference between folk and country. But it took me quite a few times of trying to explain myself, before I actually was able to start verbalizing a good explanation as to what those differences may be. The first main difference, is that the term "folk" music, can apply to any style of music which is culturally traditional. It is an umbrella term which describes the music...

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 ...

It has been quite some time since I have sent some Spanish/Latin music this way, so today is all about those reggaeton beats. But this time around, it isn't the pumped-up dance music that I normally like to talk about. Today I have Latin music which airs more on the romantic side. Now this song does not have the long, drawn-out notes which accompany many romantic songs. This song still has a lively energy and a fun sound, while maintaining a sweetness which will make anyone blush. To start off with some introductions, this song is by the Colombian singer-songwriter, Sebastian Yatra. And his voice is absolutely beautiful. There are so many things I love about Latin singers. First of all, every singer has their own signature catchphrase. Whether it is a cool way to say their name or some kind of signature sound effect, you can often tell who has created a song based on these highly unique and identifying sounds. Second, Latin singers sing their lyrics with a plethora of romantic p...

Alright, now that we have officially kicked off the new year, I wanted to talk about a throwback song. I know, I know, the new year should mean new music. But to be fair, we have had exactly one day of 2018. And I also wanted to kick off the new year with a song that had a fun and retro vibe. So here we go! This song first came out in 2002 and is by the British singer, Craig David. It's hard to imagine that 2002 was technically sixteen years ago! Oddly enough, it doesn't seem that far off. But songs like this have really defined the millennial generation. I mean, these are the songs that we grew up with! These are the kinds of songs we jammed out to, the songs we played at parties. These are the song of our not-so-distant-past childhoods.  And this song was an anthem for not only the dance floor but was the iconic song for some of the hottest toys out there. But that is beside the point, isn't it? This song is what we could call a "club banger. The early millennia...

Hey everyone! I have been a bit MIA for the past week, I know. I was traveling for a bit and wasn't able to keep posting, but since I am back I am ready to start talking about some music! And to start us off, I wanted to post music which originates from the place I spent my last week - Korea. This is always an interesting style of music for me to write about because of how little yet incredibly well known Korean music is. Recently, we have seen the explosoin of Korean boy band BTS, as they have made their American debut and more. But, while this music is super hype and very well done, there are many other styles of Korean music out there other than K-pop. Which is what I have for you today! Korean rap has to be one of the greatest styles of rap I have ever heard. There is so much that goes on throughout the song, from incredibly clever lyrics to sick beats. One of the things that Korean rappers do very well is flow changes. There are always some interesting beat and flow swtiches...

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 from a movie that was so incredibly well done. The Little Prince is a movie I recommend everyone to see. It doesn't matter how old you are, what you are doing in life, or where you are, this is a film that speaks to your inner child and your soul. While this movie is definitely social commentary on the status of society, it is such a beautiful message and a magically done movie. The film has different styles of animation that are tastefully done and structured in a way so that the stories that are told really do come to life in their own unique way. And because The Little Prince is based off a French novel, the soundtrack features a few French inspired pieces. This particular song is one of those adorable French songs, with a wonderfully comforting and warm atmosphere. It is a bubbly and lively song, full of happiness and an overall sense of contentment. This is a song that reminds me of kites flying high and bubbles floating through the air. This ...

So apparently, none of my posts have been posting the last few days. Awful on my part, you would think I would have figured out how to properly schedule drafts. But today I wanted to share some music with you which comes from the world of Korean music. I know I have spent some time in the past talking about how Korean music often times is nothing like everyone imagines it to be. Just like the rest of the music world, Korean music has genres and styles of music that span a variety of sounds and vibes. And today, I wanted to talk about an artist who comes from the Korean rap world. To start things off, I want to emphasize how incredibly awesome foreign rap is. Recently, we have seen a spike in the popularity of foreign pop, but still it isn't as popular as Western pop usually gets. So one can only imagine how unsung foreign rap can be. A shame to be honest because foreign rap is some of the coolest stuff I have heard. And Korean rapper, Rap Monster,  does a really good job of ...

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...

Today is one of the most patriotic holidays of the year for those of us in the United States. Given the obstacles we have faced withing the past year, as a country and as a part of the world, today was extremely special for me. There have been many disheartening moments within this past year, not just for me, but for so many others around the country and the world. But despite the political, social, economic, and moral hurdles we've faced, today was a beautiful display of what the Fourth of July means. It was so wonderful to see so many people from all walks of life come together to celebrate the day which symbolizes our nation. Seeing everyone together, united as a common people, well it was something incredibly hopeful. And in light of Independence Day, I thought I would be a bit patriotic with my posting. As per tradition, this first song is the national anthem, because what kind of Independence Day would it be if the national anthem wasn't played? This particular rendition ...

Today I have some music by an artist we haven't really heard from recently.  Gotye was at a tall peak of popularity a few years ago with a hit single that was heard all over the world. But, I am not here to talk about a song that pretty much everybody seems to know. Gotye is an artist who has a very interesting an unique style. While none of his songs sound the same, there is this commonality in the way they are produced and performed, which makes them stand out as clearly one of Gotye's. Whether it be a more energetic or a subdued song, there always seems to be an underlying motif that connects all the songs together. Gotye creates music that can be seen as a bold move in the realm of pop music. He is not afraid to make the music completely his and totally out there. This is one of my favorite songs off the album for that very reason. This song in particular is incredibly intriguing because it has this intense energy to it that kind of captivates and holds you tight in its g...

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 music for you from a musical that was adapted from a movie. The Hunchback of Notre Dame is an extremely fantastic movie, one that talks about a lot of things without us even realizing it. Now last week helped bring in a new wave of Broadway shows, so I thought it might be interesting to write about the music from one of these shows. I am completely spellbound and speechless with this soundtrack. There is a special kind of beauty that comes with a choir and orchestra. Now what is cool about this song and the album as a whole, is that each vocalist is a character. They still have the lines of their original characters, and their collective voice is what makes the choir. This is the first song that appears in the movie and in the musical, and it is still my favorite. Even the narrator has a singing version of the narrator lines. And each person has something fantastic to offer. Whether it is the character line they are providing or a part of the choir, each voice is so beau...

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 ...

Today I wanted to explore a completely different realm of music, one that is often overlooked or never really seen at all. This song is a composition that was made by one of the greatest Indian composers I have had the privilege to hear. Many of you know A.R. Rahman as the man who brought you the score of Slumdog Millionaire. However, as someone who has grown up in the culture of Bollywood, A.R. Rahman is the composer who has brought about some of the most beautiful and unique sounds to both Indian, Eastern, and Western cultures. This song is no different and blends together three worlds which would usually not seen or heard together. In this song, we get to hear an entirely different spin on the phrase "world music." A.R. Rahman is known very well for bringing us beautiful music, with a hint of a religious and spiritual flair. He brings that same flavor to this composition. A.R. Rahman brings together Jordanian, traditional Buddhist, and Indian music to create a truly uniq...

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 have music for you by an artist that has some absolutely incredible and moving music. Aquilo is a musical duo out of London, and they are kind of new to the larger music scene. While they have been making music together for a few years now, they didn't drop a debut album till recently, and I am so proud to see how far they have come from their first released single. Aquilo is one of the music industry's best-kept secrets. Their underground nature and lesser known status keep them open to creating the kind of music that they do create. Finding artists who are good at created this kind of emotional and haunting and soulful music is so difficult. The heart-wrenching nature of the music is somehow eerie and moving at the same time, and the rarity of that sound makes the music even more bewitching. Aquilo pulls it off with ease and grace, giving us something that sounds like magic. If there were an award given out for the most moving and melancholy songs of the year, this ...