Keeping It Fresh

So apparently, none of my posts have been posting the last few days. Awful on my part, you would think I would have figured out how to properly schedule drafts. But today I wanted to share some music with you which comes from the world of Korean music. I know I have spent some time in the past talking about how Korean music often times is nothing like everyone imagines it to be. Just like the rest of the music world, Korean music has genres and styles of music that span a variety of sounds and vibes. And today, I wanted to talk about an artist who comes from the Korean rap world. To start things off, I want to emphasize how incredibly awesome foreign rap is. Recently, we have seen a spike in the popularity of foreign pop, but still it isn't as popular as Western pop usually gets. So one can only imagine how unsung foreign rap can be. A shame to be honest because foreign rap is some of the coolest stuff I have heard. And Korean rapper, Rap Monster,  does a really good job of ...

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 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...

Today I have some new music for you by an EDM artist who likes to create music under the radar while still being at the forefront of some of the biggest EDM events around the world. Madeon is simply put, a master of electronic music. He is only 20 years old, yet has released albums, EP's and a plethora of singles and remixes. I have to say, he has quite the dossier and the extent to which he experiments with music is quite extensive. The thing about Madeon is that he has such a distinctive style that is completely his own. If I heard a song, I could tell you whether or not it is a Madeon song or not simply by his signature sound. This is where things can be a bit difficult though - his sound is something that is hard to put into words. There is this groove that surfs throughout the sound waves and a softer sound to the overall electronic work. Many electronic artists today have sharper, blunter electronic sounds and programming. But Madeon is a different story. Each note is someh...

Today I have some music for you by an artist who seems to have blown up the charts the past couple of years. G-Eazy is one of the more popular rappers making music right now, even though there is quite a bit of his music that goes unnoticed and unheard by the vast majority of radio listeners. G-Eazy is an artist that has the capability of creating extremely meaningful and heartbreaking music. This is one of those deep songs, a song that shows the grounded and vulnerable side of G-Eazy. A lot of rap and hip hop today is about living larger life, that feeling of being completely invincible and constantly on cloud 9. But what G-Eazy does with this song, is bring everything back to humanity, directing the music back to that flawed and imperfect sense of humanity. This song is definitely a meaningful one for G-Eazy, bringing his own demons up to the surface. And I love that he did this song with Kehlani because of what she has gone through. Kehlani has met som...

Alright so here we are back again with some more music! And today I thought we could kick things off with a nice remix of an Alicia Keys song. So why a remix? I like to talk about them because there are so many of songs that go unnoticed and unheard, despite the fact that they are awesome. And often times, remixes are a great way to get listeners involved with new artists and find new songs. Naturally, I feel like this track is no exception! Alicia Keys is a singer who is most well known for her work in the R&B and soul scene, and the original song is of that same sort. But the remix is where things get more interesting. This remix is done by SMILE, and I have to say I am really happy with the way this remix was done. SMILE did a great job in maintaining the original feel of the song, keeping the song more on the chilled out side of electronic music. I am even going as far to say that this is not your typical electronic music, and definitely not EDM. This remix is one that still ...

Today I have some music for you that feels so good. The first time I ever heard Manila Killa was when he performed a show during SXSW. And ever since, I have been a major fan of his music. This song is one of my recent favorites and also features the work of Robotaki. One of the best things about these two artists is that their musical style is so effortless. I wouldn't necessarily call it carefree, implying that the music is rather bubbly. But there is something so completely smooth and fluid and undemanding about their music. Something completely free-spirited. It's so easy on the ears and though they are electronic artists, you never really feel that kind of sound. And I really like that. These two artists are more about creating an atmosphere and an environment, and they are able to create something that feels so good. This song is super chilled out, following in the footsteps of other popular deep house singles. But Manila Killa and Robotaki put a lot of character into...