Keeping It Fresh

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...

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,...

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 brings us an artist from Melbourne. Though she only has one single to her name, this debut single is one of the most talked about tracks from SXSW. G Flip made quite an impression at last week's festival, and begs the question, how can a full blown pop song with an irresistible chorus, be so far from generic? One of the most notable things about G Flip, is her ability to create a non conventional pop ear worm. The song gets you hooked from the get go, and doesn't really require much time to grown on you. And in a world where pop seems dominated by electronic rhythms and melodies, with very little room for live instrumentation, G Flip turns the table. Being a tour drummer herself, G Flip brings a lot of percussion and rhythm to her debut track. It is heavy and pounding, a wholesome rattling sensation which blows modern pop out of the water. The song even includes a drum solo, a part of music which we don't hear often in general but even rarer to be heard in pop mu...

Well, I'm back! It's been about a week or so since my last post, but I am so pleased about the music I am bringing to you going forward. This past week was South by Southwest, SXSW, which is a huge festival in Austin. For a week, we get to celebrate the most innovative and exciting new things coming up in technology, film, and music. I had the incredible opportunity to attend some of the SXSW Music events, and my goodness, it was spectacular. I've seen so many new artists and I am very excited to share these new players with you. So start off this exposé, we have an artist from New Zealand. Noah Slee is an artist who has been on my radar for a while, and I couldn't believe that he came to SXSW! Unfortunately, I was unable to see him perform, but that won't stop me from talking about his music. Noah Slee brought his cool soul to the SXSW stage, and I have to admit that Austin is so much better off by knowing his name. His musical style is not unfamiliar to us. N...

Today I have music for you by the artist Jay Hayden. It is very interesting that there is very little information out there about him. Jay Hayden is an artist who kind of popped up out of nowhere, or at least for me, this is a name I haven't seen around much. From what I have seen though, I think he started out on Vine which is pretty cool! In any case, the man can sing and definitely knows how to create some good music. Jay Hayden relies on a lot of synth work and keyboards for this track. There is a bit of an R&B element to this track, but there is also a really nice electronic influence as well. In a way, I would call this alternative R&B maybe. The entire vibe of the song is one that has energy but still maintains this seductive and sensual element. The synth pop nature of the song gives the track a bit of a bounce and a liveliness as well. But what is really nice, is that the song never feels overdone or over hyped. Nor does it feel overly sensual and sexy. There is...

Today I have music for you by the California duo known as XYLO. This is dark pop at its finest, a song that is slow and calculated. Every beat and chord has been purposefully chosen and placed. everything strategically put together so that we get something that is ethereal and dark and spectacularly somber. This is a track that is incredibly well rounded and is a fantastic way to debut XYLO's sounds. Their production is way beyond that which we would expect from an indie band. The music and instrumentals serve as the perfect harmonies to the vocals, and the layering of these synth notes gives the song a lot more musical depth and complexity. And that combination between the music and the vocals is what really capitalizes on this dark pop kind of sound. The vocals are haunting and strong, but they don't boom with power and robust vibration. The song drips in this dark melancholy, something that makes that gloomy indie sound burst forth. The whole song is just created in overc...

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 have a new track for you which features one of my favorite R&B singers to have surfaced within the past couple of years. I wasn't familiar with the artistic duo Whole Doubts until I heard this song. Well to be fair, I wasn't familiar with this side project called Whole Doubts. Interestingly enough, we have heard quite a bit of their work in the past as the composers of some of the biggest pop songs. But as a "solo" project, this is a fresh listen. This track is Whole Doubts' official debut track, and I am a huge fan. This track seems like a very experimental one, as Whole Doubts wades its way into an interesting a genre-bending soundscape. This track is a subtle banger. We don't necessarily expect to hear what we do, but it works in a way which is fun and vivacious, without being overly energetic or crazy. This song posists a gorgeous balance between art and popular music, focusing on sounds that are both liberating and catchy. There is a produ...

Today I have some music for you by a band out of Los Angeles by the name Saint Motel. This is a band that really likes to play with different sounds and has produced music across the entire rock spectrum. While these guys do tend to focus more on indie music, they have been known to throw down some wicked smooth and fresh alternative music. This song is one of those seamless mixes of indie pop and alternative rock with a beautiful dash of old-timey music. This song is one of the more refreshing sounds I have heard in a while. There is so much energy in this song, from the first note we hear to the last. Saint Motel's sound is one that splurges on integrating old-school influences and the band seems to like mixing the older and more retro sounds with the newer and bolder kind of sounds. This song also has such a nice alternative sound which is highlighted by the bright and powerful sound we get from the horn section. What is really cool about this song is that there is such a wi...

Today I have music for you by a band that goes by the name Clubfeet. This song has a really cool sound to it. When you feel like listening to indie style electronic music, this group is one that can satiate your desire, and do it with mad style. Clubfeet is a group which has such a smooth sound to it but the band falls on that psychedelic side of music as well. This song is one that is hard for me to describe because it sounds very familiar in the tonality and melodies but also sounds very original. The track has that independent and unique vibe and sounds that no one else can copy. I am a huge fan of the way the vocals are presented because it is done so with layers. It is never just one voice and one sound you hear from the vocals, but many harmonies and different ways of singing the same lines. Something about that is very much like Imogen Heap's style of vocal layering. I also like the fact that they do maintain the conventional band instruments while also incorporating all...

Today I have some music for you by a trio of musicians out of Australia. Glades is one of the most chill and smoothest bands out there right now, yet I feel like they haven't gained a huge following in the States. But that is why I am so glad to share this song with you all! Hopefully, you end up falling in love with their music the same way I have. Glades is a very interesting band to take a look at because their fundamental beliefs about the music they make is very different. When you listen to their music, they like to tell an emotion-driven story. In this song, we get the story of a relationship, a very common subject for musicians and lyricists. However, when you take a look at the pop scene, these songs seem to be rampant with overly sexual lyrics or innuendos. But Glades does not do any of that. Their focus is to tell the real story of what it is like to be in a relationship. The lyrics are about the emotional and mental relationship that you have with another person. They...

Today I have music for you by the band Echosmith, and possibly my favorite song by the band. This song is really sweet and romantic and it kind of reminds me of what I want in a man. I love the perspective of this song, as it clearly comes from a sad and even lonely heart. I think the first thing I paid attention to was the lyrics. There are a lot of songs out there that are girls telling guys what they should and should not do for a woman. But this is the first song that is about appreciation and love. Echosmith's lyrics are beautiful and moving and are more about bringing confidence and love into a relationship. As I mentioned earlier, the lyrics are from the perspective of a broken heart. And when I say this, I mean they come from a heart that didn't get what it needed. And this song is all about expressing what a heart craves and needs to survive. These lyrics mean so much more because of that. We can feel the emotion and reality in the words, which is what makes them eve...

Today I have some new music for you by a band that has not been very active the past few years. We all remember Foster the People as the band that sang about those cool shoes, but the song wasn't actually about having cool kicks etc. Well, Foster the People is back again after quite some time and have dropped a wonderful new album. This album is very interesting because it sounds exactly like Foster the People, but also sounds nothing like them. It is an odd concept to wrap your head around, but it also makes a bit of sense. For example, this particular song. It has to be one of my favorites by the band. Why? Because it has such a good vibe to it and it also reminds me of another good band- Tame Impala. It is very interesting because the musicality behind the song and the production style is very similar to what we have heard with Tame Impala, but it is also very characteristically like Foster the People. The groovy vibes and ethereal nature of the song is one that we are familia...

After a few days of travelling, I have finally reached my destination! Hong Kong is so incredible, and I've only seen a very small portion of the region. But that is why my postings have been a bit slow and, well, absent the past few days. But to kick things off, I have some music for you by an artist known as Lapsley. Lapsley is a newer player in the music field, this song being one of the singles off her debut album. I was completely entranced by the song the first time I heard it. Instrumentally, there are so many wonderful things happening, so many beautiful sounds and harmonies that all weave together to create this magical sound. This song is like an emotional autobiography, one that really gets us inside the heart and head of Lapsley. She purposefully draws us in, so that we may share in those same emotions whether it be joy and ecstasy or pain and sadness. This ballad is a fantastically chilled out and mixed track. There are so many instruments being used in this song, ...

Today I have some music for you by one of my favorite bands of recent age, Bastille. I realized that it has been an extremely long time since I have posted a song by them, and  I thought I would share some of their magic. This song, in particular, is one of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. Both the musical composition and the lyrics are absolutely amazing. I am going to start with the instrumentation because the lyrics will take me a very long time to talk about. So when we are first introduced to this song, we hear the heavy drums. It almost sounds like marching mixed with a tribal sound. Actually, this song has a mystical sound to it which does include some tribal sounds. But this drum beat is so beautiful because I think it captures the intensity of what this song means. After these drum beats, we are launched into the song. Of course, Bastille gives us a beautiful choral sound in the background. But then Dan Smith starts singing, and the song changes. For the most p...

Today I have music for you by a band called The Summer Set. This song is like a breath of fresh air in the world of punk rock. This song is a great song to call the vacation anthem or summer anthem. This song is just bursting with energy and a fun feeling to it. I think this song is so appropriate for summer not only because it has that fun  feel  to it, but the lyrics talk about passion and love and freedom and excitement, all things that define how summer and vacationing is. It captures the feeling of driving around town while standing up out of the sun roof of the car. It brings that feeling of basking in the sun and playing in the surf. Now when it comes to the vocals of this song, I think it is brilliant. The vocals are incredible! There is a softness to these vocals that remind me of The Cab's lead singer. When it needs to be rougher and more intense, it can be. But in these instances with a pumped  up  beat and a riveting sound, the softer and higher pitch...

Today I have some music by an artist we haven't really heard from recently.  Gotye was at a tall peak of popularity a few years ago with a hit single that was heard all over the world. But, I am not here to talk about a song that pretty much everybody seems to know. Gotye is an artist who has a very interesting an unique style. While none of his songs sound the same, there is this commonality in the way they are produced and performed, which makes them stand out as clearly one of Gotye's. Whether it be a more energetic or a subdued song, there always seems to be an underlying motif that connects all the songs together. Gotye creates music that can be seen as a bold move in the realm of pop music. He is not afraid to make the music completely his and totally out there. This is one of my favorite songs off the album for that very reason. This song in particular is incredibly intriguing because it has this intense energy to it that kind of captivates and holds you tight in its g...

Today I have some more new music for you! This song is by a band who has such a distinct sound that it makes them utterly recognizable. Bastille showed the world their vulnerabilities and allowed us to expose our own with their music. The band has been characteristically known to have a more pensive and melancholy touch with their music, filling the soundscape with somber strings and driving rhythms. This song is very similar but still remains a bit different from what we are used to hearing. Bastille gives us a song that coincides with a lot of structural similarities to their past music. However, I think that their formula for music is so beautiful and utterly moving that maintaining their style is not something I can criticize. When Bastille dropped their debut album, it seemed like the indie band took the European music scene by a storm. And eventually, that bled into the American musicscape, giving their debut single a sensation. But when you listen to the rest of ...