Keeping It Fresh

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...

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...

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 ...

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 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 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...

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 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...

It has been quite a while since the last post, hasn't it? Well, back at it again today and my goodness it feels so good. Now I have done quite a bit of music exploration the past few days, so I have some great music coming your way! And this first song is by the artist known as KYKO. A relatively new artist, KYKO has easily secured a spot on my playlists, and this song is the reason why. This song is the first track I ever heard by KYKO, and I loved it so much that I had to sit down and listen to everything KYKO has on Spotify. And I have loved pretty much every track available. What first struck me about this song is the way it seamlessly combines genres- a bit of indie rock with some synth pop and alternative sounds. Personally, I think these combinations like this are safe choices when it comes to releasing new music. We get to have the modernity of the indie and pop, with the warmth and energy of alternative rock. KYKO's soundscape is one that is so nice to experience. ...

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 an incredibly sweet track for you from the film Begin Again and is performed by an artist who has stolen our hearts away many times in the past. Adam Levine is most famously known as the lead singer of Maroon5, a band that is a worldwide sensation and has been for many years. What few people know is that in this film, Adam Levine actually covered this song which is originally performed by Kiera Knightley in the film. A bit confusing, I know. But I wanted to talk about both versions of today's songs because the performances are so vastly different, yet capture the song beautifully. One of the magical parts of music is that it has many interpretations and meanings, allowing us to see and feel the music as our heart and head choose. Kiera Knightley's original version of the song is one that really gets you in the heart. Purposefully simple and pure, her performance is one that is sweet and vulnerable. She strips the song down to its lyrical content and vocals, tyrin...

Today I have some music for you by a band that I haven't really talked about in an incredibly long time. I'm thinking its maybe been two or three years since I last talked about these guys. A shame for sure, but this song resurfaced among my playlists, and the memories made me come here to write about it. This song is by a band called Foals, a group out of England. This is a band who has been around for quite some time, and they have such an odd reputation to me. It seems like they are a band that everyone knows, yet nobody knows who they are. Foals has performed at so many huge festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella, and they have a good number of accolades under their belt. But at the same time, I have found that when I ask people if they listen to Foals, the answer is usually a no. But I kind of like it when bands have reputations like that. It makes the music so much real and pure to me. It's like having a well-kept secret that many others are also trying to keep se...

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...

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 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...

Today I have some music for you by a band that has been around for a little while and is a band that has been with me for quite a few years. Switchfoot has been a band that has jumped around from a lot of different genre labels. One day they are rock, the next day they are Christian rock, and the day after that they become a pop band. But despite these genres and labels and categories, I think it is important to point out how transcendent their music is. The thing is, while Switchfoot is capable of being a member of all these groups, there is one style of music that they will always be defined as for me- heartfelt music. Every song by Swtichfoot that I have fallen hopelessly in love with, has been a song full of soul and passion and heart. You can hear the joy of playing music, being musicians for the sake of creating something wonderful and beautiful and maybe even life changing. This song is another one of those special songs that always makes you really feel when you hear...

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 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 ...