Keeping It Fresh

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 a bit of a sadder and commemorative post. This past weekend, we lost a music legend. Avicii was one of the most venerable DJ's and artists of our time. Many DJs have cited him as their muse. Many others have expressed their love and awe at his skills and artistry. And as listeners, we have Avicii to thank for spearheading a shift in what we consider EDM. He completely changed what it meant to be and EDM artist. He redefined dance music and paved a pathway for the rise of the DJ. To be honest, it is hard to wrap the mind around what Avicii has done for musicians and artists because he was a trailblazer and innovator. Above all though, Avicii was an artist who did what he loved- making music. Despite the health issues he experienced within the past few years of his life, Avicii never stopped making music. He never gave up his passion, the one thing that made him happiest. For many, Avicii created a transcendent connection which spread love and support to all music liste...

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...

It has been quite some time since I posted anything electronic or EDM related, so I thought that would be a fun way to start up today's post. So today, I have some music for you by one of my favorite electronic artists, Flight Facilities. As we all know, EDM tends to be a wide but really fun genre of music. There are so many subgenres and sounds that are under the umbrella of EDM, and today we are going down the path of house and disco. I think the first thing I have to address when talking about this song, is Flight Facilities as a music duo. This is one of the most risk-averse artists to listen to because you will always find something to like. You may not like every song, but there will be a few that you can definitely jam to. This is all because of the musical style with which the duo has defined for themselves. I think many producers easily give this duo a nod of approval because of how dynamic the music is. Everything is so well polished, even when Flight Facilities aim in ...

Today I have the latest release by the DJ known as Jonas Blue. This DJ happens to be one of my favorite secrets, one of those artists who isn't as popular yet but is on the way to stardom. Why? Because every single track I have heard by Jonas Blue is euphoric. His music tends to be uplifting and hopeful with his music. Even when talking about something like a breakup, Jonas Blue somehow still makes it possible for us to feel good and full in our souls. This track is a bit different compared to the other work we have heard by Jonas Blue. While a lot of Jonas Blue's work is made to dominate our summer playlists, this track is a bit more heartfelt and soulful. In the track, Jonas Blue explores the idea of romance and falling in love. He takes on the journey that a passionate and fiery relationship can have- falling in love after the first date, being happy and in love, only to eventually leave each other heartbroken. And while this seems like a rather dreary topic, Jonas Blue ex...

As most of you know, I haven't been posting as frequently as I normally do. But I wanted to thank everyone who has stuck with this blog for as long as you have, and welcome all those who are new! I realized that we have made it to the close of five years, and have started the sixth year of this blog. It is crazy to imagine that five years ago I published my first post. And I am really proud of how far the blog has come along! I've even happier that I've been able to share so much music with so many of you readers, and am really grateful that you all have joined me on this ride! And now to the music at hand. I was recently introduced to an Austrian rapper by the name RAF Camora. I was immediately hooked to the song within the first few bars. The production of the track is phenomenal, and though I don't understand the lyrics, I do appreciate the lyrical style and rhythm. Stylistically, RAF Camora enters creates a soundscape that is starting to become popular within th...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer that isn't very well known despite his wickedly good music. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out, and even now I still have the dancing bug. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked songs. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up i...

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....

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 a really fun and happy song for you by the electronic trio known as Autograf. Now when we talk about underground artists, Autograf definitely fits into that category. This is a trio that is not well known and has created their own blend of sounds to create something that we like to call future house. This genre in itself is not a very well known genre either. But this is a very peacefully and energizing kind of sound. It is one that makes you feel really good and fills your body up with positivity. This is the kind of music that is crafted for summer evenings on the beach or night time drives. This is the kind of music that is created for those moments that you really get to relish and enjoy and let loose. There is a genuinely unique and artistic sound to Autograf's music, and I love how completely out of sync it is with the rest of the electronic stream. There is a really smooth mix of tropical sounds in this song, and that gives the song that more relaxed vibe. It fe...

Today I have some music for you that is rather new and quite important this year. This song is a collaboration done by Steve Aoki and One Direction's Louis Tomlinson. Now we have already seen one member of the famous boy band go out on his own and start a brand of himself completely. Last year we also saw Niall Horan release his first ever single, which mind you, is quite endearing. But what makes this song and this year important is that it officially marks the solo releases of each One Direction member. Over the course of the year, each remaining member of One Direction is releasing a solo project whether it be a single or album. This song is on that list of releases! Now this is a very interesting collaboration in my opinion. Steve Aoki has always been this fiery ball of energy and fun and craziness. It is weirdly fitting that Louis Tomlinson is the featured vocalist on this track because his nature is quite similar. Wild and goofy for sure, you can tell that there is chemistry ...

Today I have some music for you by the DJ known as Jonas Blue. I thought that on a cold wintery day like this, a little reminder of some sunshine and beach time would be welcome! And that is exactly what we get with Jonas Blue. This is a DJ that really pulls off that tropical and tiki kind of vibe. His musical style is definitely different yet similar to Kygo's which is really cool. With Kygo, we get that tropical house sound which is fun and soft and carefree. We hear that same kind of sound with Jonas Blue, however it is taken in a different direction. Instead of focusing more on the house part, Jonas Blue takes his music towards the tropical sound. He takes it in the direction of that Caribbean and Hawaiian kind of tropical sound, which is something unique and refreshing! Jonas Blue is actually a great introduction to the genre of tribal house. This is definitely similar to tropical house, however focuses more on live instrumentation rather than synths. These are the kinds of s...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer I hadn't heard of till very recent. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked song. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up into the strong powerhouse vocals of Mariah Carey while ...

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 one of the world's biggest DJs and an artist who has produced one of the biggest dance anthems of recent years. Steve Aoki is an artist who is all kinds of creative genius, with a little bit of madness thrown into the mix for extra flavor. Collaborating alongside Steve Aoki is Behm and the band Walk The Moon, a band who's biggest single is one of the most popular pop-rock anthems of recent years. This song is one that captures part of the electronic dance message and culture so well. This song is all about returning to something you love. It's about going home to someone you love, someone who means the world to you. And in a way, that is what EDM is all about. It is about feeling at home in a world of music that is wild and free. We get to hear that sense of freedom and excitement and vivacity in this song. This song is a splendid meeting of the minds, bringing together this dance-pop track. Steve Aoki provides us that upbeat and fun and e...

Today I have music for you by an artist who absolutely killed it at his concert this evening. I had the chance to see the South London DJ by the name Troyboi, and man did he do an amazing job. Troyboi has a very different electronic style of music. It is a style that could have only been brewed in the underground, and that is exactly where Troyboi comes from. He is one of London's closely guarded secrets, an artist who has won over the electronic world. His work is something that is indescribably unique. Troyboi doesn't fit into a certain genre because his style is one that he has created on his own. Troyboi is an incredibly versatile musician, one who has blended different genres and sounds together so that we get a sound that is full of textures and dynamism, branding Troyboi as an artist who is extraordinarily unique. Troyboi has created songs that are anthems and songs that are transcendent. They key stylistic element to his music is the way he creates a song with a slowed...

Today I have some good, solid electronic house music for you. In particular, I have some Dutch house for you, by the one and only Afrojack. What is Dutch house you ask? In a nutshell, Dirty Dutch is that electronic music style that incorporates a lot of Latin beats and rhythms, with less emphasis on the bass and high pitched synths. Actually when you listen to Dutch house, we don't really hear that high pitched and squeaky synth that we get from other genres. Which I am not complaining about because that gets to be way too much for me sometimes. But this song is actually the remix done by R3hab, another Dutch house artist, and Dyro. This remix is a fast paced, action packed song. I mean this is the kind of song that can keep you pumped up for hours, especially when on the workout grind. This is actually on my workout playlist because if is so full of energy and has that relentless thump that makes it nice and rhythmic. R3hab is an artist who has dabbled in different styles of music...

Today I have some really cool music for you from the musically inclined lands of England. This song is by the band Rudimental, and features the vocals of Ed Sheeran. I have had this song stuck in my head and it is one of those few songs that you don't get tired of because it really is that good. Now this song is actually really well done and has an extremely original sound. Rudimental is the kind of group that is known for having a distinct style, one that often includes a lot of synthesizer work and house beats. But this song is very different in both sound and instrumentation. This is a song that is piano heavy, opening the entire song with a piano melody. But when you listen to the song as a whole, the way the piano is used also kind of changes. At the beginning it feels like an accompaniment for Ed Sheeran's voice. But once the synths are thrown in, the piano helps give the song a more ambient and euphoric sound. But while the song has that ambient background, there is also...

Today I have such a great, euphoria song for you all by Jus Jack. This song has everything you need for a great trance song-awesome melody, great transitions, and incredible vocals. This does have a Tiesto feel to it, but I really enjoy this song and I was definitely fist pumping in my room and mentally fist pumping in the gym. It is one of those songs that takes you to another state of being which is just the most amazing feel in the world. This is the kind of song that you know will have some wicked remixes and would spend a lot of time being played at clubs and dance venues. This song has this strong festival kind of feel to it, which is always perfect for the summer time jam sessions Jus Jack definitely is a smaller name in the electronic music world, but it s a name that could start to take off, especially if we keep hear anthems like this. Today's instrumental song is by Tiesto and by putting these two songs together, you might hear why I find them having similar styles. This...

Today I have some music for you by Alex Clare. What I absolutely love about this song is how he mixed a harder rock sound with electric, and then combines that with reggaeton! I have never heard anything so sick like that before and it makes me excited to hear that experimentation! This song has awesomely catchy beats and a great melody that just sounds so brilliant with a reggaeton beat! This song really has a cool sound to it because while it does have that Latin American beat, there are still distinct sounds of Western electronic music. This song was actually produce by Major Lazer which I found really cool. This is a different direction for Alex Clare, but it is also a different sound for Major Lazer. Both artists did a phenomenal job with this song though and I am super pumped by this song. Alex Clare has a really awesome voice for this song because he is able to make the song sound a little edgy and reckless. However, he also sings with a certain accent, one where he stresses the...