Keeping It Fresh

Today I thought we could go back in time, relive some of the glorious 80s and get some old school music back on the map. And to start off, I thought it would be cool to take a look at different artists across various genres in the 80s. Think of it like a series dedicated to the age when big hair, punk rock, disco, and new wave all had a spot in the spotlight. The 80s were a time where bands were starting to embrace instruments like synthesizers and keyboards, where rock music was starting to evolve and change to include these “unconventional” instruments. New wave band, Modern English, was no exception.  It’s interesting to note that Modern English is actually an English band – as were many popular bands during the 80s. I think a little background might add some context on why that is a cool tidbit. Let’s start with the genre – new wave. This is a genre which encompasses some pop music styles and punk rock to create a deliciously catchy dossier of sound. New wave was a shift a...

Today’s song is more well-known, but for some reason, I have been unable to get it out of my head. And so I figured, might as well write about it! This song is one for the heartbroken and can be understood by those who have been through heartbreak. It is a poignant and emotional track, guaranteed to stir up some feelings. This song is by Julia Michaels and features some vocal work by Niall Horan, as the two singers describe the pain of letting go of a love that once was. Now if this isn’t enough to give the song away, great! That just means you get to experience this song like it’s the first time. This track is hauntingly emotional, figuratively and literally. In this song, we are moved by the haunting beauty of the melodies and soulfulness, but the narrator is also haunted by a past love. Julia Michaels effortlessly translates that yearning and longing, the ghost of something that was, into the song.  Julia Michaels lends a voice that is simultaneously light and grounded, s...

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...

Today I have some music from the ever exciting and moving city, Los Angeles. This duo likes to go by the name MIKNNA, and they are shaking up the underground music scene one track at a time. Fusing retro sounds with hip-hop and some electronic work, MIKKNA gives us music to bounce to. MIKNNA is made up of two very important components - a producer and a vocalist. One member brings the instrumental and musical skills to the table. In fact, the producer, Ken Nana is a talented musician and plays multiple instruments. The vocalist, Mike B, also serves as the rapper of the duo and brings words to the song. The two of them together are able to breathe life into tracks like this, giving the song body and filling it with sensation. MIKKNA's sound could be described as "electro-soul," a gorgeous blend of an older style with a newer one. This song is definitely on the slower side, but that doesn't mean the song lacks funk or groove. This song can hold its own when it come...

I feel like it has been such a long time since I talked about a song that is romantically lovely. Today's song is by one a band that always seems to know how to tug at my heartstrings. Parachute is a band who makes music that I always love being immersed in. Their music takes me another place of calm and tranquillity, a place where the world is bathed in a soft and sunny glow. They always somehow know how to make everything feel alright even when the song may be sad. And this song falls right into that wondrous and simple side of music. This track, like many others by Parachute, is emotionally poignant and incredibly soulful. But Parachute is able to achieve this kind of sound in a way that is so beautifully simple and warming. This song tends to move a bit more away from the "band-like" sound that Parachute has been known to showcase. This is meant to be more of an acoustic piece, relying on very few instruments such as the acoustic guitar, a gentle keyboard, and the ...

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 some music for you which has a unique origin. There are so many styles of music, coming from all over the world and across time periods. One such style of music that we rarely get to hear from is called Pinoy rock. Essentially, this is a brand of rock that was born in the Philipines. Interestingly enough, Pinoy rock is an umbrella term to refer to any kind of Filipino rock, whether it is alternative, ska, heavy metal, punk, or more recently, indie. This is where our band of the day, IV of Spades, comes in. A rather new band who made their first appearance in 2014, IV of Spades represents a new ear in Pinoy rock. The indie band brings something refreshing and beautiful to not only the Filipino stage but the global one as well. The band is incredibly unique and has an individuality which shines through their music and performances. IV of Spades is heavily influenced by the 70s both musically and as a band. Their looks always tend towards some groovy 70s vibed outfits,...

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 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'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 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 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 ...

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 have some music by a band called The Afters. Now it has been an extremely long time since I have posted a song by this band. And it is actually a shame that it has taken this long for me to put up another incredible song by The Afters. The song I am posting today was actually used to open and present The Golden Globes on television. Now, this is really cool in my opinion, especially given the fact that they are not one of the more well-known bands in the popular music sphere. Of course,  I found it to b a bit ironic that most people have no idea who The Afters are, yet their music was used for one of the biggest televised events of the year. But to continue onto the song itself, this particular track comes from the fifth album by The Afters.  One of the most notable things about The Afters, something which makes them so great, is their ability to create music that inspires. So many of their songs are so inviting and incredibly inspirational, hopeful on all accounts ...

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 called Always Never. This is a super nice and chilled out song, something that I have been able to listen for days. It has a seductive smoothness to it, one that can catch you by surprise with its subtly lustful sound. I have to admit, I really like how Always Never has made the song to be so effortlessly smooth and even a but sexy. One of the things to note about this track is how it seems to fall into this newer and growing style of R&B. This emerging style relies a bit more on synths and electronic work to create an ambient sound, while the vocals hang onto a more soulful and R&B sound. Part of what makes this song really work, and one of the things I really like about this song, is that there is a darker undertone to some parts of the song. But this darker undertone is not menacing, melancholy, nor eerie It is an irresistible allure, the tantalizing call of an interaction filled with lust and seduction. Now I have to be hones...

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...