Keeping It Fresh

Today I thought we could go back in time, relive some of the glorious 80s and get some old school music back on the map. And to start off, I thought it would be cool to take a look at different artists across various genres in the 80s. Think of it like a series dedicated to the age when big hair, punk rock, disco, and new wave all had a spot in the spotlight. The 80s were a time where bands were starting to embrace instruments like synthesizers and keyboards, where rock music was starting to evolve and change to include these “unconventional” instruments. New wave band, Modern English, was no exception.  It’s interesting to note that Modern English is actually an English band – as were many popular bands during the 80s. I think a little background might add some context on why that is a cool tidbit. Let’s start with the genre – new wave. This is a genre which encompasses some pop music styles and punk rock to create a deliciously catchy dossier of sound. New wave was a shift a...

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 which comes from the world of Vine. Now, I have to admit, this was one of my favorite platforms for a little while. You can't go wrong with funny! But it is so cool to see how we have seen many artists and singer come about because of vine. In fact, today's artist comes from the world of vine. And you may know him from his popular cleaning + WOP videos. Trey Kennedy has been a very low key singer since the inception of vine. Recently, there have been some singing videos which have popped up with him in it, and that eventually led to him creating and releasing his own music. This track is an absolute bop. The energy is level headed and has a fantastic vibe associated with it. Overall, this track is a great one to just relax and lounge around to, just soaking in the atmosphere and sounds. It's cool to hear this song and how influenced by the early 00's it is. The grooviness that we hear in the track, is partially attributed to the use ...

Today I have music which comes from two different worlds of music- American rap and Bollywood. A seemingly interesting pair, the world of mashups and remixing has grown so much within the past few years. Now today's song is one that I have been pretty much obsessed with for a while, but for some reason, have never written about. Why, you may ask? I don't know. I genuinely have no good reason. So why not talk about it today! Let's start with the DJ himself. DJ BANED is an artist out of Dallas and has done some major work within the Desi Dance Network, an organization which connects Indian dance teams across the United States. The organization has flourished since inception, and this has left room for many aspiring DJs to test their skills and showcase their talents and mixes. Now BANED has been around on this circuit for quite some time, but I'd like to think he started his mixing career before this organization really took off. Stylistically, I have heard him remix m...

Today brings us an artist from Melbourne. Though she only has one single to her name, this debut single is one of the most talked about tracks from SXSW. G Flip made quite an impression at last week's festival, and begs the question, how can a full blown pop song with an irresistible chorus, be so far from generic? One of the most notable things about G Flip, is her ability to create a non conventional pop ear worm. The song gets you hooked from the get go, and doesn't really require much time to grown on you. And in a world where pop seems dominated by electronic rhythms and melodies, with very little room for live instrumentation, G Flip turns the table. Being a tour drummer herself, G Flip brings a lot of percussion and rhythm to her debut track. It is heavy and pounding, a wholesome rattling sensation which blows modern pop out of the water. The song even includes a drum solo, a part of music which we don't hear often in general but even rarer to be heard in pop mu...

Today, I want to talk about an artist who has really captured my ears and attention. Bazzi has spent a lot of time under the radar, writing and performing his tracks with a magnificent and seductive gentleness. From the first few moments of listening to Bazzi, I knew I was absolutely in love with his voice, and just had to talk about him here. So Bazzi is a singer-songwriter out of Michigan, and is one of the most exciting new talents that I have come across. He is on the younger end of the talent pool, but you can already start to hear his versatility and potential. I have been impressed by all of Bazzi's work so far. He brings a seductive charisma to his music, making the tracks have different kinds of intimacy. I actually found this to be a very interesting concept. Personally, I feel like there is a sense of intimacy present in all of Bazzi's tracks. But the kinds of intimacy, and way he portrays that intimacy, vary from song to song. For some tracks, we get a more roman...

It has been quite some time since I have sent some Spanish/Latin music this way, so today is all about those reggaeton beats. But this time around, it isn't the pumped-up dance music that I normally like to talk about. Today I have Latin music which airs more on the romantic side. Now this song does not have the long, drawn-out notes which accompany many romantic songs. This song still has a lively energy and a fun sound, while maintaining a sweetness which will make anyone blush. To start off with some introductions, this song is by the Colombian singer-songwriter, Sebastian Yatra. And his voice is absolutely beautiful. There are so many things I love about Latin singers. First of all, every singer has their own signature catchphrase. Whether it is a cool way to say their name or some kind of signature sound effect, you can often tell who has created a song based on these highly unique and identifying sounds. Second, Latin singers sing their lyrics with a plethora of romantic p...

Alright, now that we have officially kicked off the new year, I wanted to talk about a throwback song. I know, I know, the new year should mean new music. But to be fair, we have had exactly one day of 2018. And I also wanted to kick off the new year with a song that had a fun and retro vibe. So here we go! This song first came out in 2002 and is by the British singer, Craig David. It's hard to imagine that 2002 was technically sixteen years ago! Oddly enough, it doesn't seem that far off. But songs like this have really defined the millennial generation. I mean, these are the songs that we grew up with! These are the kinds of songs we jammed out to, the songs we played at parties. These are the song of our not-so-distant-past childhoods.  And this song was an anthem for not only the dance floor but was the iconic song for some of the hottest toys out there. But that is beside the point, isn't it? This song is what we could call a "club banger. The early millennia...

Alright, today I have some groovy music for you all. Now this is a nice change of pace from the past few postings I have made (which I know, have been spread quite far apart.) So today, I would like to introduce you to the Haitian-Candian producer and DJ known as Kaytranada. I have only recently started listening to his music, and it has got me jamming so much. Kaytranada is an interesting DJ because his focus is on the genres and subgenres surrounding hip-hop. Normally, when we think of DJs, the people who come to mind are those who play giant festivals, with light shows and ravers galore. Kaytranada is a suave breath of fresh air because of his unique style. The beautiful production style that he uses brings together a variety of rising musicians, with backgrounds in so many different musical sounds. From funk to hip-hop to modern dance music, we get to hear how Kaytranada effortlessly blends and blurs the lines between genres and between being retro and modern. What is cool abou...

Today I have some music for you by an artist called Always Never. This is a super nice and chilled out song, something that I have been able to listen for days. It has a seductive smoothness to it, one that can catch you by surprise with its subtly lustful sound. I have to admit, I really like how Always Never has made the song to be so effortlessly smooth and even a but sexy. One of the things to note about this track is how it seems to fall into this newer and growing style of R&B. This emerging style relies a bit more on synths and electronic work to create an ambient sound, while the vocals hang onto a more soulful and R&B sound. Part of what makes this song really work, and one of the things I really like about this song, is that there is a darker undertone to some parts of the song. But this darker undertone is not menacing, melancholy, nor eerie It is an irresistible allure, the tantalizing call of an interaction filled with lust and seduction. Now I have to be hones...

Today I have a new track for you which features one of my favorite R&B singers to have surfaced within the past couple of years. I wasn't familiar with the artistic duo Whole Doubts until I heard this song. Well to be fair, I wasn't familiar with this side project called Whole Doubts. Interestingly enough, we have heard quite a bit of their work in the past as the composers of some of the biggest pop songs. But as a "solo" project, this is a fresh listen. This track is Whole Doubts' official debut track, and I am a huge fan. This track seems like a very experimental one, as Whole Doubts wades its way into an interesting a genre-bending soundscape. This track is a subtle banger. We don't necessarily expect to hear what we do, but it works in a way which is fun and vivacious, without being overly energetic or crazy. This song posists a gorgeous balance between art and popular music, focusing on sounds that are both liberating and catchy. There is a produ...

It has been quite some time since I posted anything electronic or EDM related, so I thought that would be a fun way to start up today's post. So today, I have some music for you by one of my favorite electronic artists, Flight Facilities. As we all know, EDM tends to be a wide but really fun genre of music. There are so many subgenres and sounds that are under the umbrella of EDM, and today we are going down the path of house and disco. I think the first thing I have to address when talking about this song, is Flight Facilities as a music duo. This is one of the most risk-averse artists to listen to because you will always find something to like. You may not like every song, but there will be a few that you can definitely jam to. This is all because of the musical style with which the duo has defined for themselves. I think many producers easily give this duo a nod of approval because of how dynamic the music is. Everything is so well polished, even when Flight Facilities aim in ...

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 am going back to the days of the boy bands, a song that is off one of my personal playlists. LMNT was around for a short while, coming out with a lead single which seemed to take over the young pop world by storm. I never realized how much I loved this song until I heard it after almost 10 years, and if something like that doesn't make you feel old then I don't know what will. There was so much about this song which made young me (and current me) really love this song. I have to admit, this song has all the characteristics of your typical 2000s boy band. This is the kind of song you would hear in all those teen movies, and incidentally enough, this particular song was a popular choice. But we have a lot going on in this song which helps give it that throwback vibe. For starters, the fact that LMNT is a boy band. It is hard to miss that fact, and that in itself is enough to make this song a good one. The nostalgia for boy bands of old, with synchronized dance moves a...

Today I have some music for you by a trio of musicians out of Australia. Glades is one of the most chill and smoothest bands out there right now, yet I feel like they haven't gained a huge following in the States. But that is why I am so glad to share this song with you all! Hopefully, you end up falling in love with their music the same way I have. Glades is a very interesting band to take a look at because their fundamental beliefs about the music they make is very different. When you listen to their music, they like to tell an emotion-driven story. In this song, we get the story of a relationship, a very common subject for musicians and lyricists. However, when you take a look at the pop scene, these songs seem to be rampant with overly sexual lyrics or innuendos. But Glades does not do any of that. Their focus is to tell the real story of what it is like to be in a relationship. The lyrics are about the emotional and mental relationship that you have with another person. They...

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 some music for you which airs a bit more on the bittersweet side. I have always been a huge fan of Andrew Belle. He has a talent and a gift for creating incredibly introspective songs. But what makes them so beautiful is that we know he is speaking from his heart, yet we end up looking at ourselves during the song. In this case, we don't take a moment to step into the artist's shoes. Instead, his music allows us to take the same journey of discovery that the Andrew Belle went through. Our outcomes may be different, and what we discover will vary, but we still go on this introspective journey which is universal. Andrew Belle recently wrote this song, and it had me absolutely spellbound. There is something so enchanting and mesmerizing about this song. And the thing is, most of Andrew Belle's music follows the same stylistic elements found in this song. What I think gets me though, is the lyrical quality found in this song. This song is all about rediscovering ...

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 we are keeping up with some of the latest releases, with Majid Jordan and PARTYNEXTDOOR kicking things off. I think what makes this track absolutely brilliant, is how simple it is. There aren't complex rhythms or beats. There aren't any odd melody notes and musicality. There aren't even soaring notes and falsettos. There is so much simplicity in this song, that everything fits in together seamlessly. The tune is so smooth and fluid that it is very easy to get swept up in that world of music. That fluidity also makes itself known and felt from the beginning. There is nothing super crazy happening in the introduction of this song. It starts out with this soothing synth melody, and from there the others fill in. But the song all comes down to the overall musicality which can be found through out the song. While the two artists went for a simpler track, the appeal of the song hasn't gone anywhere. There is almost a seductive element to this song, especially when M...