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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

I wanted to go ahead and use the beginning of this post to get a little personal. I haven't been posting as much or as frequently as I used to. For years, I had written posts daily, without fail. Even if it meant staying up late to put music out there, I would do it. And within the past few months, my frequency of writing and posting has decreased dramatically. With so many things going on, I found it hard to continue to post every day, and it got to a point where I just didn't care to. But things have changed, and I am back to writing as much as possible. And even though I won't be posting content every day, I will try to do so a few times a week. And that being said, let's get to today's music. I recently heard this song and was captivated by it quickly. Everything about this song has a vibe that you cannot help but enjoy. This song is a joint effort of the band known as The Strike and rapper, SiDizen King. This doesn't seem like the likeliest of duos, but ...

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...

Today we're heading towards the EDM and electronic side of music. I recently went to a show where Mat Zo was the headlining artists, and my goodness was I blown away. As an artist, Mat Zo has been known to dabble in genres that are kind of all over the place. Specifically though, he started out with trance music, and that is exactly the kind of show we got. Electronic music has taken on this interesting evolution, growing and shaping into different styles all the time. And there are definitely some things I love about the electronic music scene now, and there are definitely some things I am not a huge fan of as well. Now Mat Zo takes us back more old school. His set list was full of the progressive house and trance style we had around 2008. The pronounced beats, runway style sounds, and smooth synths to polish it off. I mean this show had everything! And I have to admit, I thoroughly enjoyed jamming out to the kind of electronic music which made me fall in love with the genre in...

Today I have some music for you that may be a throwback for some, and a wave of nostalgic sounds for others. Basshunter. What can I say about the guy? His popularity has been an interesting trajectory and course. But somehow, his older work persists as a club classic. And it really has been a while since I listened to him or talked about him. Since I got a random listen recently, I thought it might be nice to take a trip down memory lane. So Basshunter is a phenomenal DJ and is incredible at pretty much every aspect of producing music. Every note and lyric is written by him. One thing which always used to make me chuckle a bit, are the lyrics. It's not that Basshunter is shallow with his lyrics. It's just so entertaining to hear how simple they are! For example, one of his songs is literally about playing a video game. Straightforward and to the point I suppose! But then again, I guess the focus for him is more the production and electronic aspect of the song. For this track...

Today I want to continue with my discussion of the soundtrack for Black Panther. Like I mentioned in the previous post, Kendrick knocked this soundtrack out of the park, releasing a powerful album in the wake of the release of Marvel’s most revolutionary film. This soundtrack is a masterful tribute to the film, African American, and Black power, and is the album we have needed from the mainstream film world. Today’s track features California’s Vince Staples and the popular South African rapper, Yugen Blakrok. One of the things I absolutely love about Yugen Blakrok’s verses is the creativity and ingenuity found in them. There is African imagery, homages to other superheroes, and a wildly raw theme to her lines. Not only that, it feels as though this track is hers and features Vince Staples, not the other way around. Though her time on the track is shorter, she seems to dominate the entire song. She is bombastic, proud, and incredibly effective at getting her point across. And it is a...

Today I have an absolutely incredible song for you all. Often times we hear covers of songs get done, with multiple covers of popular songs. And a lot of these times, the covers a wonderful tribute to the original song. The notes are beautifully reached, the melodies a beautiful flow like the original track. But what the single dimensional covers do, is create an extremely similar rendition of the original song. And then we get some rare covers which are stunning pieces of work. These covers tend to be extremely non-conventional and can change everything about a song. Today's track does just that. The original version of this song is incredibly popular, the girls' anthem for all the 90's and 00's girls out there. TLC is a musical staple - everyone knows them and at least one of their songs. This one is their most popular and it has been covered by many people. But no one has been able to turn the original into a completely new work of art the way Unlike Pluto has. Te...

Today I have a remix for you all, something to spice things up just a bit. This song is originally by one of my favorite R&B singers ever, Trey Songz. This is a guy who has some provocative and sexy songs, a sound that I admittedly enjoy. Honestly, sometimes when I think about how much I love songs like this, it makes me chuckle. But this song originally is one that people have been able to dance to and have a really good time with. Trey Songz has a silky voice that can really get you into a more seductive mood. He is the kind of singer that you automatically associate things like sensuality and intimacy with because of how we works his voice with the music. This song on its own is one of those songs that you can really get down to, no matter where you are. But this remixed version takes the song into a different direction. This version of the song gives us something more club worthy, something with more of a fast paced beat. Even though that is the case though, we still get t...

Today I have some music for you out of South London by an incredible producer by the name Tom Misch. This is an artist who creates masterpieces of sound by blending hip-hop beats with dance and electronic music. Now to me, it seems like this style of music is becoming more popular, or at least more prevalent. But what I do enjoy, is that each artist has a distinct way of making that chilled-out hip-hop track. And Tom Misch makes some really good textured beats while also providing his own vocals. Stylistically, there are always so many ways artists can go when it comes to chill-hop or electronic hip-hop. In this track, we get a more upbeat and friendly sound. It is a bubblier track, with only feel good vibes flowing through. Tom Misch does an incredible job of capturing this carefree atmosphere through his production and composition. I think one of the reasons the song flows this well, is because there is a dynamic array of instruments. Not only do we get the synths and electroni...

Today I have some music for you by an artist that I've spent some time listening to in the past, but recently go back into. It isn't often that we get female rappers on the scene, and it's equally as rare to see female artists who perform like today's artist does. 070 Shake is one of the most unique artists out there. Now to be completely honest, I was a bit confused about the name of the group, thinking the lead rapper's name is 070 Shake. Just to clear things up, the female rapper is known as Shake and the rest of this contemporary rap group is 070. Hence the project's name. But this has to be one of the most interesting groups to listen to because of how different they sound. The group is led by female rapper Shake, who has a voice that is incredibly recognizable and almost trademark. Her lower register, baritone vocals spit out some of the grittiest and grimiest realities of life. And it is cool to be able to hear how vocals like that can give such an emot...

Today I have some music for you by a very very interesting artist. This song is by the singer Tyler Carter. He started out as a metalcore band singer. He actually sang for the band Woe, Is Me which is a pretty hardcore band, I have to say. Now here is where it gets deliciously interesting. This song showcases the big surprise Tyler Carter sprung on us because his vocals make a complete turnaround. And when I say complete, I mean he jumped across the spectrum and has nestled himself on another side. Because in this song, we get to hear how sexy and seductive his voice can be as an R&B singer! It is quite the plot twist if you ask me. I have heard of punk going pop. I mean, there is even a series of albums that deal with that. But a metal singer going solo to sing R&B? That is so unheard of and rare to hear, and I absolutely love it! Tyler Carter is a beautiful example of the dynamism and surprise and utter talent that seems to get overshadowed or lost in the depths of the musi...

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 ...