Keeping It Fresh

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...

Today I have a song for you which is a cover of an incredibly beloved and popular song. The song is originally by Tracy Chapman, and has seen many versions. But this today's version is one of my favorites. Michael Collings was one of the earliest performers on Britain's Got Talent. He performed his rendition of this beautiful classic and left us all completely spellbound. There is something incredibly special and important about this track. I think part of what makes it so special is how powerful and moving the lyrics are. Not only are they relatable, but the lyrics tell a story that isn't often told. The song tells the story of a young woman in a low-income household who is trying to run away. It tells the story of a young woman who experiences the life of low-income and wants nothing more than to get in her car and drive. It paints the picture of what life is like when surrounded by hardships, and more importantly, it shows us what it really feels like to be in that ki...

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 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...

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 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 wanted to discuss an artist who has had a very interesting progression within his career. Niall Horan is well known for being one of the members of the boy band One Direction. He's definitely had his taste of the high life of being a musician, achieving the fame and fortune that so many dream about for themselves. As the band members have now gone their separate ways, we are getting to hear what each member's musical style is. For Niall Horan, I had guessed it would be something more along the indie or folk side of things, going for acoustic guitar style music and coffee shop comforts. I wasn't disappointed either. Niall Horan's direction of music is one that I really like. We've heard a lot of different sounds from the members of One Direction, but Niall Horan has hit on a style that has a very classic sound. Above all though, this album is a romantic one. It is meant to be a vulnerable expression of the heart, with Niall Horan showing baring himself as a...

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...

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...

Today I have some slower, more soothing kind of music for you. This song is by the group known as Gungor. This is a group/collective that was started by the musician and composer Michael Gungor. In fact, he has been nominated for quite a few Grammy's for his work in songwriting and work with the group. Now one of the things that I love about Gungor is that they have a sound that can be a little punk, ut also have this wonderful acoustic sound as well. They are like a rock band that has decided to put on an acoustic show or coffee house set. There are other bands out there whose music can be compared to Gungor, I readily admit. But again, there is a different sound specific to Gungor. One thing I noticed immediately was the way they harmonize. It is not always easy to create intricate harmonies between male and female voices. But Gungor creates this wonderfully complex scale of harmonies, which at times, gives the song a slight punk sound. But it also creates so much depth in the ...

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 have some music for you that is by an artist I have been following for a little while now. Father John Misty seems to have broken through and is on a quiet but steady rise within the music world. What I really like about Father John Misty, is the depth he has both musically and lyrically. He's also a bit eclectic, which is always a plus! To kick us off, I want to talk about Father John Misty as a whole. He has taken on the artistic persona as someone who oddly fits a more folksy kind of sound. It is a neat progression because Father John Misty was a former member of a couple of indie bands, including Fleet Foxes. And with the latter band, we do get to hear some of that folk sound which seems to have translated over into Father John Misty's music. He also happens to be a singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer. Meaning, he has the capability to record and produce his own music. Which he does. The production of this song is absolutely incredible! From vocals to instru...

Today I have music for you by the duo known as He Is We and features the lovely vocals of Owl City. This song is a cute love song, one of those songs that make you smile because it is that adorable. This song has notable influences brought in by Owl City. That chime sound and the way some of the harmonies are done are very similar to the style that Owl City provides. It is quite lovely though! Because there are three vocalists, the chorus showcases really nice two-part harmonies to go along with the chorus. The vocals that Adam Young provides fit like puzzle pieces with the female vocalization. The female vocals are blusey and have a hint of country to it. However, Adam Young brings this special softness that only his voice has. It is a sound that can be passionate and energetic but still maintains this soft tenderness and slightly higher pitch. Usually, Owl City falls under some sort of electronic genre, but this song is completely acoustic. Adam Young blends in spectacular...

Today I have music for you that is so incredibly unique and weirdly riveting, that I had to share it with you all! This song is by the American gypsy punk band known as Gogol Bordello. Yeah, that's right. Gypsy punk. I can guarantee that this song is going to be on the stranger side of most people's musical taste, yet, it's the kind of music which you can't pull away from. Gogol Bordello is all about making music that intrigues you and leaves you hooked. The entire sound and reputation of Gogol Bordello hinge on this idea of unorthodox instrumentation and melodies. The vocal melody is just so catchy though that you get completely ensnared by the song and have to hear it out through the end. Even for those of you who don't find it to be your cup of tea, you can't deny the intrigue and odd attraction that the song has to the ears The song starts off with the plucking of a guitar in a melody that is clearly influenced by the common chord progression associated wi...

Today I have some really cute and sweet music for you by the South African singer-songwriter Christoph Kotze. The first time I heard this song was in a movie called The Road to Your Heart. It was such a sweet movie, one that was easily predictable but still incredibly heart warming. This was the first South African movie I have seen, and the first movie to be spoken completely in Afrikaans. I thought that was super cool, and only enhance the movie to be something beautiful and wonderful. This is a sweet and adorable acoustic song, one that reminds me of some of my comfort artists like John Mayer and Jason Mraz. This song has an overall feel-good vibe to it, making the song something that I really enjoy. While this song does sound like quite a few other songs out there, the thing that sets it apart from the rest is the lyrical content. I just found the words in the song to be very pleasant and endearing. Not to mention, I love how unique and darling the title of the song. It ju...

Today I have some more new music for you! This one is pretty interesting and I am very excited to share this one because of how awesome this mix is. We all know Ed Sheeran dropped an incredibly popular song, and it's pretty much everywhere. What a lot of people don't know, is that there is a Punjabi version of the song! Something I love so much is that we are seeing these kinds of remixes popping up more often. Hearing that cultural diversity is absolutely amazing, and a lot of times it adds this spice to the original music. To be quite frank, that is exactly what happened with this song.Twinbeatz came in and remixed this popular Ed Sheeran son, and it is pretty fun! This song has a completely different sound with this version of the song. A lot of times when we see remixes like this, producers just add a dhol drumbeat to the song and call it a "mixed" version of the song. Now while they technically aren't wrong, I am looking for something that is much more integr...

Today I have some music from you that comes from the world of Bollywood. We are seeing an interesting shift in the musicality of Bollywood cinema. On one hand, we have an evolution of music towards a more electronic and EDM based dance style. Many of the popular dance numbers today have that EDM base or some kind of electronic music base. And then we have music which takes another route entirely. This song is one of those. We are now seeing a new kind of music movement within Bollywood, which includes the use of guitars and typical rock band instruments. Lyrics are also becoming simpler, but convey the same kind of meaning. I will say, in the past, many romantic songs had lyrics that would simply take your breath away. I can't say the same for today's music, however, the overall musicality of the songs is what leaves you breathless. This evolution is very interesting to see because of how vastly different it is from the rest of Bollywood's music. I like this newer and emerg...

Today I have a different kind of song for you. Covers have become an incredibly huge phenomenon in  the music world, and more and more we are seeing cover artists who are gaining just as much, and sometimes, even more coverage than other popular artists. So when it comes to cover artists, I really enjoy how each person takes their own spin of the song. And Postmodern Jukebox took one of the most popular songs of the last few years and created a cover that is astonishingly good. We all know Beyonce, we all know what her music is like, and we have heard some interesting renditions of her music. However, this is a cover unlike I have ever heard. Normally, Beyonce covers are done in that same R&B style of feature something more acoustic. But this is definitely not that. Welcome to the world of modern swing music! That is right, Postmodern Jukebox took one of the biggest songs of modern times and spun it to have that classic swing and jazz song. Who would have though that hip h...