Keeping It Fresh

Today I have some more underground music for you. What I love about the underground scene is that there is no real genre specific sound that defines what underground music is. Today's song falls in line with the more R&B and electronica kind of sound. This is like the more underground European pop scene, which honestly is really cool to me. The thing that I like so much about European music is that their sound is so completely different from American pop music. Which is really funny because a lot of people think Western music is one big group of similar sounding music. But how completely wrong that is! European pop seems to have more depth to it in my opinion. It is not necessarily the happy and bubbly kind of pop that we have in the States, but it is something that relies heavily on creating a sound that mixes electronic work with other sounds, generally R&B. Which is why I love this song! This song is by the English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. And yes, she is definitel...

Today I am so incredibly happy and excited to share this song with you! This song features three artists that I love so much because of their talent and genius musicianship. Alesso and Calvin Harris are electronic tycoons that bring huge amounts of energy and sick beats. The two of them together brings a really cool mix to the table. Alesso tends to lean more towards the house or trance side of music. He is all about the atmospheric feeling you get when listening to music. I personally think Alesso is a bigger and more influential member of the EDM circuit, as he is one third of one of the biggest groups to exist (Swedish House Mafia). Now Calvn Harris on the other hand tends to lean more towards dance pop. Or electropop. A lot of his work features guest vocals, or he is the guest producer. A lot of the really big hits out right now have Calvin Harris written all over it. So when you put the two of them together, we get this awesome blend of different electronic styles. Now Hurts provi...

Today I have music by another performer at Austin City Limits. This song is by a band known as Night Terrors of 1927. These guys are a really cool group because they have a nice off kilter sound to it. It has that dreamy attitude of Passion Pit, but it also has this great catchy feel to it and has this nice pop-synth sound as well. Honestly, this band is what a very indie Passion Pit would sound like, but it is also a very distinct sound. This song is one of those that really gets you to that chill state of mind and being. The title of this song may seem like a downer, but this song is actually pretty far from it. What is really cool about this song is that they weave male and female harmonies together very well. For a band this new, I am supremely impressed by the ability to create such complimenting harmonies. There are a lot of indie and synth elements that are meshed together in this song as well and I was very intrigued and eventually entranced by the sounds in this song. There is...

Today I have some super hype music for you! I just got back from one of the most epic concerts ever! You think you have seen a show? Let me tell you, Zedd could top that. I mean this was the most incredible thing I have ever seen! The thing about Zedd's performance, is that he delivers kick ass music. He plays his own stuff, but likes to remix it and change it up. But he also likes to take other songs and throw his own spin on them. Which is awesome! But then, then we get to the actual showmanship part of his performance. I mean confetti cannons, fog machines, and pyrotechnics! Out of all the things I have seen this last year, this has to be the sickest thing ever! DJ's often times have a light show to accompany their set. Now Zedd, well he likes to get a little crazier than that. Not only does he have a light show and laser lights, he has a complete set of graphics. And they are so clear, pristine, and HD quality. When the images move, it feels like you are driving on the trac...

Today I have some music from the heavier side of rap music. As in, this song features a good number of rappers, and apparently a now singer turned rapper. That is right, I have some Travis Scott for you, featuring some verses by Young Thug and Justin Bieber. Yeah, that last one is definitely correct. I am going to be totally honest, when I hear this song, I could not tell when Justin Bieber came in until someone pointed it out to me. I can't lie, his voice has definitely matured and it sounds really really good. But why don't we start from the beginning of the song?  Travis Scott definitely does his thing for this song. He is quite the underrated rapper, but this song and album in general has seen some awesome feedback, which makes me hope that people are starting to appreciate his style of music more and more. But I cannot shake the fact that Justin Bieber absolutely slaughtered this song. I mean his verse is so pure and fresh, so completely raw. I mean who would have thought ...

Today I have some music for you by a name that is huge in the world of pop and hip hop. Rihanna is a name that most people will be able to recognize. She started her career early, and so even people in my generation know who she is. Her music has seen some really incredible steps in evolution. I remember when she first started, she had more of this R&B and soul kind of sound. But today, as heard with this song, she has moved over towards more seductive hip hop, the kind of music that you definitely want to get down to. Which is good for her! I think evolution in an artist's style is a testament to their openness of new sounds and innovations within the music world. But anyway, with this song, we don't really get a heavy lyrical base. Most of the lines in this song are repetitive, so it slowly starts to turn into more of a club song. However, the meaning behind the lyrics is pretty controversial, if you understand what she is getting at. This song is a slow grinding kind of ...

Today I have music by an artist who seemed to take a lot of heat from the press during this year's early award season. Miley Cyrus is one very interesting performer. I call her a performer because she is a great singer, but is also someone focused on the production value of her shows. Which is not a problem! To each their own. But Miley Cyrus is generally known for being strange, eclectic, and someone who represents the "rebellious" side of teenage life. But very few times do we get to hear the more vulnerable side of her. In fact, a lot of times, her ability as a singer and artist is lost in the nonsense that gets layered on by the critics and press and paparazzi. This song by Miley Cyrus is my favorite one by her, and to me, this is such a beautiful and true expression of the soul. I can't help but think about how beautiful this song is, especially when compared to the other work we have had from Miley Cyrus. This song was the one that really really impressed me and...