Keeping It Fresh

Today I have some really cool music for you from the musically inclined lands of England. This song is by the band Rudimental, and features the vocals of Ed Sheeran. Now this song is actually really well done and has an extremely original sound. Rudimental is the kind of group that is known for having a distinct style, one that often includes a lot of synthesizer work and house beats. But this song is very different in both sound and instrumentation. This is a song that is piano heavy, opening the entire song with a piano melody. But when you listen to the song as a whole, the way the piano is used also kind of changes. At the beginning it feels like an accompaniment for Ed Sheeran's voice. But once the synths are thrown in, the piano helps give the song a more ambient and euphoric sound. But while the song has that ambient background, there is also this kind of funk and groove thrown in. I personally think that style really starts to show itself once the more tropical lines get la...

Today I have some music for you by an artist who got started in the 60's. Tom Jones is a lesser known singer for our generation. However he has had some major hits in his time, and this one is one of the greatest in my opinion. This is also one of the most known songs ever because of its connection to The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Yes, this is the song that The Carlton dance is most associated with. And for good reason! This song is such and upbeat and fun and classic song! This song definitely picks up on where the 50's styled swing left off and turns it into this fun tune. This song is a great example of what pop music was like in the 60's. It was this rich and full and vibrant sound. Tom Jones has a really wonderful voice, one that brings this warmth and coziness to the table. Tom Jones has a very powerful voice and a lower vocal range which makes the drastic difference between the higher pitched instrumentation that much more important. Which is another thing I love! The...

Today we have Day 3 of the ever incredible Austin City Limits festival! And as this is day three, marking the end of the first weekend, I am definitely going to keep up with the lineup they had this weekend. And on that note, Today I have music for you by a group that I have loved ever since middle school. To be quite honest I cannot believe I haven't posted a song by this band. Ever. I mean how disappointing is it that it has taken me over 3 years to post music by The Strokes on this blog?! For those of you who don't know, The Strokes is one of the most influential bands from the late 90's and 00's. Their work helped revive the garage rock genre and they have emerged as one of the few rock bands that have retained such a fantastic fan base. The Strokes is a band who has consistently delivered amazing music. And what sets them apart from all the others, is how raw and eclectic their sound is. I mean when you hear this song, it sounds nothing like the "popular"...

Today I have some music by the duo known as Cherub. This is another group that was featured for Austin City Limits this year, and we get to hear from them for both weekends! These guys are pretty interesting because their music is pretty chill and then when you actually pay attention to the lyrics they are kind of funny or pretty intense. Weirdly entertaining, Cherub knows how to put a sexier spin on the music to make it sound like a song that you would dance to with a flow. It is nice to hear a more underground vibe from a duo like this, especially since electronic pop is a growing genre. While they do have that complete synth feel, they don't sound like all the other electronic groups out there. A great mix between actual instruments and synthesizers exists, and it is something that I really appreciate. I really like the sound of this duo and the rest of their music is also really really good. Today's instrumental song is by Empire of the Sun. Now this duo, these guys are pre...

Today marks the start of one of the biggest music festivals in the South. Austin City Limits had its kickoff today, and boy did the lineup make me giddy! There are a lot of good, lesser known artists here for ACL weekend, and I love that. This song is actually by one of the bands showcased tonight, Alina Baraz & the Galimatias. I first heard of them when it was announced they would be going to ACL. I was not sure if I would be a fan of them, especially because my eyes were focused on the fact that George Ezra was here. I was quite impressed when I first heard their music, and this song in particular. This is a group that has so much to offer in terms of having a really cool sound. Alina Baraz and the Galimatias has a sound that they create on their own, one that is very similar to artists like Flume or any other kind of chillstep group. I had no idea they were and electronic kind of dance group! One thing I cannot deny, is that the vocals in this song are extremely sexy. This whole...

Today I have some interesting music for you which does not correlate whatsoever! So this first song is a cover done by a group called Toploader, and this song has such a unique mix of funk and jazz. It is so weird and so appealing that you kind of just have to continue listening because it has that energetic and different sound. I just like this song a lot! Today's instrumental song is by a phenomenal duo called 2cellos. These guys are just so damn incredible and talented! As a cellist myself, I definitely have a huge respect for these two and wish I could play as fantastically and magically as they do. This duo have some astonishing covers! If you watch them play, live or on Youtube, it is something you will not forget. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!

Today I have some music by the artist, Krewella! This song is pretty awesome! It can be a dancing song or something that you just chill to. Her voice is fabulous and the drop is so sick! Krewella got really popular within the last year, and despite the fact that one of the members dropped off, they are still making really great music. Krewella is an interesting mix between dubstep and house sounds, making them the kind of act that has the versatility to fluctuate between the two. This song is definitely dubstep based, which means there is a lot of the more robotic sounds in it. A lot of times dubstep can get a little too much for me because the DJs overkill the robotic/video game sounds. But Krewella thankfully does not do that and saves that intensity for the drops. The underlying bass is pretty heavy so it sounds incredible with the volume up! Today's instrumental is by DotEXE. This song has an awesomely chill but a pretty intense sound as well! This song is something you can rea...