Keeping It Fresh

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 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 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 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 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 some really sick music for you by Vic Mensa and Kanye West. That is right, today we are delving into the world of rap and hip hop, with a little electronic work in the background. Quite a while it has been, but let's get to it! Vic Mensa is quite the interesting artist, because his focus on pursuing music is so raw. For him it is more about the experience of getting out there and doing something creative and fun, like making music. This song has a lot of really good things going on in it, and the first thing that I noticed was that the song is pretty chilled out, with these deep and firm and strong percussion work. That creates this awesome sound for the song, something that you can listen to everywhere and anytime. Now I actually have to go the drop in this song because it is a drop into absolute ferocity. This is the kind of song that makes you feel like you own any room you may walk into.  From what I hear in this song Vic Mensa has some major talent. But the tr...

Today I have some music for you that is an absolute earworm. This song is by an electronic producer by the name No Way Back, a producer that isn't very well known despite his wickedly good music. First time I heard this song, I could not stop jamming out, and even now I still have the dancing bug. Now the best thing about this song is how completely raw it is and how this is straight up house. As in pure house music, sounds that we forget exist since music gets muddled up. Don't get me wrong, I love it when EDM genres collide and create wicked songs. But every once in a while it is nice to go back to the basics and get that sweet sound of true house. This song is actually a twist taken on a Mariah Carey song, which I had no idea about. But I won't lie, I think this rework sounds pretty darn awesome and is definitely not shy of being groovy. The song begins with a steady percussion loop, which then gives way to more structured and subtle piano beats. This all builds up i...

Today I have some pretty exciting music for you. A little bit of background, I was never a huge Justin Bieber fan. His older music was definitely meant to be charming little pop singles, something that wasn't necessarily up my alley. But over these years, we have seen and heard a lot of evolution in Justin Bieber's music. And now, I cannot stop listening to his music. His latest album to come out is absolutely genius. This is the best Justin Bieber has ever been and each and every song has something different to offer. So naturally, I have to post about one of those songs! But what makes this more exciting, is that today's song is a mashup of one of Justin Bieber's singles and one of Selena Gomez's. I have to say, I am still not on the Gomez train, but this mashup is absolutely phenomenal. This version has a good balance between the two songs. The background melody is different variations of Justin Bieber's song, something that is pretty recognizable and somet...

Today I have some music for you out of South Korea. I know in the past I have talked about a couple of different Korean artists, but I realize that I have not spent as much time talking about this artist in particular. CL is one of the baddest women in music right now, and I honestly wish I had as much swag as she carries in her pinky finger alone. Though she is just now making her way stateside, CL has been a huge success in Asia between her solo work and girl band known as 2NE1.  CL is possibly the biggest female star in Korea, if not the biggest star they have. She has done some incredible work in her tenure with the Korean music industry, and definitely destroys all stereotypes associated with K-Pop. To be quite honest, she is basically the Nicki Minaj of Korean music. She has this incredible intensity to her entire persona. The way she looks, dresses, the style of music she produces, and the fact that she is a rapper. There is a tremendous amount of swagger and fierceness su...

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 new music for you by the artist known as Vaski. I am going to be totally honest, I have no idea how to even begin classifying his music because there are elements from a lot of different styles in this song. What I can tell you is that Vaski has really pushed his sound barriers far out to carry and express those subtle complexities and nuances. That is something I can definitely appreciate in a producer because it most certainly is not an easy feat. This is a super laid back approach to EDM production, and that is pretty darn okay with me. Vaski is an artist who has drifted a lot towards crazy dubstep and heavy electronic songs, but this was a nice change. The song is a great step away from that stylistic sound, towards something completely different and very laid back. This song has a lot of R&B influences in it, something that has recently become a trend we see. It works really well in this song though because the beats themselves follow the R&B style, w...

Today I have a nice and smooth sailing song for you out of Australia. Now this song is one that I stumbled upon while perusing through Spotify, and it is quite the gem. As a lot of you know, the whole beachy and tropical sound has made a major surge into the spotlight. It seems like so many artists are taking on this idea of summer vibes and infusing it with dance music. What is so great about this particular sound, is that each artist has their own flavor and style. Even though a lot of these songs exist within the same genre, they all sound different, but never lose sight of that bright and vivacious sound. This song is part of that special group of music. This song features the wonderful production of Kasbo and Keiynan Lonsdale. This song is a sweet combination of Swedish and Australian talent, coming together to create a wonderfully euphoric song. This is just such a feel good song that you can't really get enough. Kasbo does a really good job of finding that fine balance b...

Today I have some music for you by a band that did experience some fame within the past couple of years with one of their singles. And of course, they happen to be a boy band, but not your standard or stereotypical boy band. Rixton is an extremely underrated band in my opinion. And while they had one single out that got big, I definitely feel like there is so much more of their music which the world hasn't been able to appreciate. They normally have this generally pop centric tone. Now I have to say I think that their lead single was specifically geared towards the pop culture sound that people craved on the Top 40 list. But, Rixton is a band that is a lot deeper than that and way more talented than what we heard about a guy and his broken heart. This song by Rixton is simply incredible. This is a real showcase of how talented this band is, and especially the vocalist. The thing about Rixton is that a lot of times they create this opposing sound in comparison to the lyrics. If ...

Today I have a really fun and retro sound for you today! The moment I heard this song, I knew it would have to be featured right here. So, let's get our jam on! This song is by the pop band known as The Ivy. I have to say, I would be very surprised if a vast majority of you have heard of the band. Not because I have anything against the band, but because they weren't around until April of last year! The Ivy is jut now starting out, and my did they pick the right kind of single to do it with. For being a trio of young guys, it is incredibly refreshing and unique to hear them play songs that sound like they should becoming out of the 80s. This is a band that has taken on the pop rock idea of music from the classic 80s, and has turned it into a wonderfully modern song. I have to say, I was quite impressed when I saw how young these guys are. It isn't common for my generation and younger to be very invested in this older style of music, and even fewer of us can make music t...

Today I have a song for you that resurfaced after over a year since last hearing it. Justice Crew isn't super well known as a music group, rather, they are much more popular for their role as a dance crew. But, believe it or not, this is a group that not only brings the moves but also knows how to create the music for it. It isn't often that you see a dance crew turn their eyes to the music world. That's the first thing that really intrigued me about Justice Crew. Their path to music is one that is uncommon and even a bit odd. But what I love, is that there is a great ability to dance to this song. I mean the energy is there, the consistent beat, and the dynamism is there, making this an awesome song to turn into a choreographed dance. Of course, that comes from the influence of Justice Crew being first and foremost, a dance group. And to top it off, they have a great routine to go along with their These guys are wicked talented in the dance department, and thankfully, we...

I've got a little bit of a shorter one for you all today. But today I have some hip hop music for you because it has been quite a long time since I have posted music like this. Today's song is by Bei Maejor. I am going to be completely upfront, this is one of those songs that makes you get down on the dance floor. I for one love that. The perfect blend of seductive and heavy beats make this one of those underrated bangers. Bei Maejor is an incredibly talented producer. He joined Ne-Yo's production team right after graduating which is quite the impressive feat. You can hear a lot of that Ne-Yo kind of style in this song with the way it's all put together. Bei Maejor brings some really good aspects to this song. How? First of all, he produced it himself. Second, he keeps things simple. The music in the background is rather low key. He does rely heavily on the brass instruments for the background, but other than that all we have is a standard drum beat and synth accompan...

Today I have a little bit of a shorter post, but I can promise you that it's a good one. Today I wanted to focus on ethnic music, particularly, Indian music. And I have music for you by an artist out of England by the name Zack Knight. Now this is a guy who has a really great thing going on in terms of musicality. In fact, this is something I have seen a lot more of, a nice resurgence of a style of music that definitely went underground for a few years before resurfacing. This hip-hop oriented music is a great style because it is a smooth fusion of Indian and Western music. I mean it is a straight flow between the two, switching between them and making sure the song gets some Hindi in there as well as English. Now this song, in particular, is definitely geared more towards English, with only a few verses done in Hindi and Punjabi, but I seriously haven't been able to get the song out of my head. I mean it has everything- a sick beat, a catchy chorus, and a really good vibe....

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 new music for you by a band that has made a dramatic shift within the last month. OneRepublic has always been a band that is silently doing work and at all times. Whether they are in the studio, recording albums, or performing on tour, the band is always quite busy. Which is why the lead singer, Ryan Tedder, released a poignant letter to the public. He describes the time and energy and emotional toll that working as hard as the band does, took on him and the band. Because of this, OneRepublic has decided to shed the album idea from now on. The general idea is that the band releases songs whenever they feel like the song is ready. I t doesn't matter the genre or style, as long as the song is something the band can be proud of. Personally, I fully support this move by OneRepublic! I love it because it sends a message about music and the music industry as a whole. It cannot always be about the tours and consistent album churning. It is more about the m...

Today I have some really cool music for you by the English DJ who goes by the stage name Shift K3Y. This is the first song I heard by him, and I loved it! Shift K3Y has a very different kind of vibe and sound to him. In particular, this style of house and electronic music is one that got very recently within the UK and Europe. Shift K3y Seems to have taken a page out of that playbook because it tends to be kind of sound we get. Incredibly catchy, nice and synth filled and bumping. This is a song that has such a groovy vibe, but a really tasteful one. It is a nice bubbly, and lively, lush, and vibrant song, one that can get everyone on the dance floor. There is this really nice dash of pop music in the song as well, something that is so perfectly balanced and smooth to listen to. I have to say, this song has a very UK garage feel to it, a sound that is deeply unheard of here in the US. A travesty for sure, but this is the kind of song that everyone wishes got played at t...