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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

There have been quite a few albums which have dropped over the past few days. One such album comes from the ever elegant Florence + The Machine, and as per usual, the album is stunning and haunting. Florence + The Machine is always such an interesting artist for me to discuss for a number of reasons. For starters, each album tells a deep and powerful story about life and the human condition. Each track on every individual album has such a strong purpose and grandeur, that the story being told is so completely clear while leaving much room for interpretation. Florenc Welch does an exceptional job of creating open conversation, allowing her music to connect the thousands around the world. Her latest album is the most introspective, personal, and vulnerable piece of work. There are so many feelings and sentiments which resonate with the idea of being a human and overcoming the struggles life has thrown. This album is like an artistic autobiography. We get to hear the personal narrati...

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...

So, rock music for anyone? It has been too long since I last discussed rock music, a shame if I am to be honest. But I thought today and going forward, I can talk about more rock music, whether it be rock n roll or modern rock. Starting today with a band out of Japan, ONE OK ROCK. Now I only recently started listening to their music, and it took me back to my rock roots. I will say ,ONE OK ROCK tends to take a little bit more of a punk sound with this song, but it really works for them. One of the things I really have to appreciate about ONE OK ROCK, is that each album sounds different. The band is not afraid of trying out new sounds and vibes each time they put out an album, and I respect that both as a listener and as a musician. You can also really tell who has influenced the band. Some albums are almost like an homage to ONE OK ROCK's favorite and most inspiring bands, but they are still able to make each album sound like their own. Now the album which this song comes from i...

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 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 we are continuing with the African themed music. But today's artist is a British-born Nigerian artist by the name of Maleek Berry. One of the reasons I find his music so intriguing is because despite growing up in England, Maleek Berry has been able to grab hold of that contagious Afro-pop energy, and has harnessed it to create music which is so rooted in his Nigerian roots. There are a lot of artists out there who are able to do that, but for some reason, it really struck me with Maleek Berry's work. Not only is the instrumentation and soundscape reminiscent of African pop, but he even sings in that pidgin style of speaking which is found in Nigeria. The first thing you tend to notice with Maleek Berry's music is the beat. He takes it straight from the world of Afrobeats, giving way to more traditional and African leaning percussion to set the tone of the song. He gets us prepared for the style and sound he is trying to accomplish, from those initial beats. And it...

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...

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 ...