Keeping It Fresh

Today I have some music for you by a trio out of Boston who goes by the name A R I Z O N A. I want to start by first talking about the band. This is a fairly new band, and starting releasing music in 2015. In just about a year, they have really made a name for themselves in the underground music scene, enough so that they actually are starting to break out of that sector a bit. What I like about A R I Z O N A is that their music doesn't cater to a specific genre, but is focused more on a specific mood and vibe. Their music is definitely more along the lines of being ambient and synth oriented. They focus on the more obscure side of music, one that doesn't really fit into a boxed in genre. There are experimentation and free form to the music creation process, and all three members of the band are involved. From songwriting to producing to performing, A R I Z O N A does it all. The main sources of instrumentation come from the keyboard and guitar, which we actually hear quite pr...

Today I have some music for you from the world of Bollywood. This song is one of the more popular ones from the past few years. Now I like this song because it has a lot of Middle Eastern and Arab influence. There is a difference between Indian and Arab music, but the two blend so well together. We get to hear how the music writers for Om Shanti Om integrated the sounds together. We get a song that sounds very Middle Eastern, but features Hindi lyrics and melodic styles. This is a combination that I am a huge fan of because of how fun and almost sexy it sounds. There is a mysterious element to the song, and that makes it even more catchy. Bollywood is really changing the way they make music. That evolution is really awesome to hear because we get to see so many different sides of music within a single culture. This, being an older song, is kind of a throwback. This is a sneak peek as to what music used to sound like in Bollywood. There is so much energy and excitement and intensity...

Today I have a really fun and happy song for you by the electronic trio known as Autograf. Now when we talk about underground artists, Autograf definitely fits into that category. This is a trio that is not well known and has created their own blend of sounds to create something that we like to call future house. This genre in itself is not a very well known genre either. But this is a very peacefully and energizing kind of sound. It is one that makes you feel really good and fills your body up with positivity. This is the kind of music that is crafted for summer evenings on the beach or night time drives. This is the kind of music that is created for those moments that you really get to relish and enjoy and let loose. There is a genuinely unique and artistic sound to Autograf's music, and I love how completely out of sync it is with the rest of the electronic stream. There is a really smooth mix of tropical sounds in this song, and that gives the song that more relaxed vibe. It fe...

Today I have some music for you by the band that shaped a lot of my music tastes and love for music as a whole. Anberlin is still one of my all time favorite bands. After all the years they spent making music, Anberlin did sadly did come to an end. But, their music still strikes a chord within my heart and soul in a way that I can never forget. This song is one of the best songs from their studio album Vital. This is a song that was musically written to be energetic but moving. Anberlin is one of the few bands that could ever pull this off. This song is rooted in energetic flows and soaring vocals, something Stephen Christian is able to pull of flawlessly. Stephen Christian is actually one of my all time favorite vocalists because of his ability to be gritty and soft and powerful and moving and vulnerable all at the same time. His voice is simply beautiful and it echoes so much sentiment and emotion. The vocal range is just phenomenal and the different styles he can perform make him on...

Today I have some music for you from one of my absolute cover groups ever. This group takes songs that we all know and love, and turns them into the jazziest renditions and it is wonderful. Postmodern Jukebox is possibly one of the most creative and fun and incredible artists I have ever heard. The ability to take a song that is extremely popular, and cover it with an original style is hard enough to find. But to then take that popular song and change the entire style of the song to reflect a different genre and time period? Well, there is a reason there is only one band out there like Postmodern Jukebox. Their work is nothing short of magnificent. The creativity that flows through each and every one of their performances is endless. Turning rap songs, rock songs, alternative songs, and pop songs into jazz and swing jams is just the beginning of their ability. Postmodern Jukebox composes each rendition and performs every instrumentation on their own. The melody changes, rhythm differen...

Today I have some music for you by one of my favorite bands, 30 Seconds To Mars. Now this is a band I haven't blogged about in a while, and I am really excited to finally be able to talk about this song. This is one of the greatest songs I have ever had the pleasure of hearing from 30 Seconds To Mars. This is a song that is inspiring beyond measure. Jared Leto has always been a vision, but being able to hear that through the music he was written and composed is an entirely different experience. Now this song is a story, and the lyrics relay that story as well as the music video. What we have here is a film without dialogue. And I love the way Jared Leto makes his music and visuals mesh so beautifully that we feel incomplete with only one part. The band humanizes this song by creating the sensation that we are hearing them perform at a live show. We distinctly hear Jared Leto's smooth and powerful voice, but it is flanked by the chorus chanting along. It gives us the feeli...

Today I have some music for you that comes all the way from the X Factor in England. Now this has to be one of my favorite covers I have heard from that show, and in general. This song is originally by the artist Robyn, whose dance hit is one that has swept across the world. I actually love this song by Robyn, and I still remember hearing her perform this song live. Now with Robyn's version, we get something that does still have a bit more of a dance vibe to it. However, this cover by Calum Scott is completely different. He takes this song and makes it a beautiful masterpiece. He takes this song and shows us the fragile vulnerability behind the lyrics. Calum Scott turns this into a heart-wrenchingly beautiful song, a song that makes you feel that pain of watching someone you care about fall for someone else from afar. Calum Scott has a lovely and strong voice. There isn't ferocity or grit to his voice, but there is a belting kind of powerhouse hidden inside. Calum Scott turned ...