You guys. You guys, you guys, you guys, you guyyysss. SIS, BRUH- I've discovered Tame Impala and life has improved.
This band is talented but this specific song has been rinsed on repeat for about 3 months straight.
This song is ELECTRIC. Everything . From the bass to the synth and with the lyrical genius of a song that could be a ballad matched with the upbeat 80's pop rythm and structure - *chefs kiss* This entire song and other tracks from the same album is just ... MWAH. Give it a listen if you enjoy music, guaranteed you'll love it or your money back!
Leon Bridges. The man, the myth,the unique dancer.
Let's unpick this artist who is so incredible he's been invited to Obama's White House on more than one occassion to perform.
As a recording artist he exudes excellence. With his first album "Coming Home" featuring so many blues, jazz and doo wop hits, he put himself on the map. As a matter of interest, both of his albums toy with the same themes, his deep Texan identity and the history of his hertitage, romance, nostalgia, the 60's and a sense of belonging. Like any great artist his voice has a unique quality which is hard to pin down as it entirely consits of oxymorons. Each note carried has a smooth hoarseness or a melancholy joy- as if through music he is desparately trying to attain something he is simultaneously re-living.
His emotion is tracked throughout each song on his albums telling the listener the story, telling them what to feel through his tone.
If you're unsure what I mean have a listen to 'Beyond' by Leon Bridges
I saw Leon perform in Brixton in November and it was an awesome experience. Most of his performances were high-energy and the intimate crowd were having an amazing time. His slow songs were less emotional as there is a level of detachment you feel when someone is too far to see your eyes. Nevertheless it was still a sincere performance. The set was simple but quite the vibe. The lighting often matched the mood of the song but everything else in terms of atmosphere was largely down to his fantastic band, who boosted his energy throughout the night and who are all vocally and musically skilled themselves. Leon is a dancer with a very unique style and rarely his vocals were strained under it. He performs well live, but at times I found myself wishing he'd extend a note a little further if it weren't for his stifled breathlessness. Even so, this was a rare occurence. I attended the concert alone but made some unspoken friendships dancing with complete strangers and just having the best time. By the end of the night I felt giddy with excitment and exhausted from dancing and laughter. All in all, Leon Bridges is a brilliant live experience and I would reccomend it. To round off this post I'll leave you with one of my best memories...
In the second to the front row the tall person who found his way in front of me was eventually made aware (by his friend that I'd been dancing with) that he had been restricting my view and they gracefully pulled me forward towards the barrier for one of Bridges' best from his first album called 'River'.
Right in front of me they stoood and sang, strumming the guitar and slowing down the night. I was surrounded by the warm golden brown glow of the lights and curtains and found myself at peace, completely enjoying taking in every minute of the moment:
Leon Bridges' newest album 'Good Thing' is available everywhere.
Wolf Larsen. An incredible artist and moving musician.
When I first discovered her music I was convinced they were songs from a film soundtrack of an incredible and inspirational movie. I remember where I was, an autumn afternoon staring out the window at the purple-grey clouds, with my thoughts and an empty house.
The first song I heard was "Quiet at the Kitchen Door". I have never heard such cinematography, drama, and intensity in a non-classical indie track. I especially love the short monoluge/poem at the start which transported me to another world and took me along on a journey.Wolf Larsen's voice is instantly calming and the instrumentation of every track is pacifying. What I love about this album is that it follows incredible storytelling. The whole album flows together but doesn't sound like one long track. The innocence and purity of each song and simplicity in the layering of sound is sublime. I would reccomend this album for any time you want to relax, for late evening listening and for snuggling up next to the windown with a blanket on a rainy day with a big mug of hot tea. However you're feeling I can personally gurantee this album will make you feel at peace.
Hey music lovers, instrument enthusiasts and Solange stans alike!
With the release of Solange's new album I think it's time to review the artist who is the closest to musical escapism most people will get. Now I’ve been jamming to Sol for quite some time now. Her first album I got into was Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams which was still very close to mainstream as Solange still danced on the fringes of commercialism. The album features heavy synth pop and doo wop influences in many of the tracks such as ‘Sandcastle Disco’ and ‘I Decided’. The album also features light jazz such as the hit T.O.N.Y. Although Solange has never shied away from double meanings and metaphors in her music and many of the tracks although seeming to be about love or relationships are actually about the American election or her relationship with her son’s father. Solange herself was still quite influenced by the American Western beauty standards which I guess made her easier to digest commercially but woke sol was soon approaching. I really enjoyed this album and one of my favourites was Sandcastle Disco, listen here:
With the next emergence of her music came a more Afrocentric sound and heavy bass with a clearer jazz influence. Although quite a few years later Solange's themes hadn't changed still very bright colourshemes in her visuals and the air of nostalgia. However Solange was now rocking with the natural hair movement and many of her songs on the EP "True" took an upbeat alternative route in terms of a less traditional rhythm. Here's another one of my favourites:
By 2016 with the release of "A Seat at the Table" Solange was now fully immersed in the world of being big, black and woke. With a majority of her songs being a commentary of society and her experiences, she paid homage to her roots in artistic declaration of unapologetic blackness. On this album she tackles difficult subjects such as white privilege, black hair, suicide, mental health, love and loss, self-discovery just to name a few. Her songs were now taking more inspiration from New Orleans blues, Neo soul as well as traditional R&B. The album lacks the innuendo the previous two do.This album was a statement, to those who didn't know her before. 'I am Solange, not just Beyonce's sister- I am Solange and I have a hell of a lot to say'. Although this album is notably an artwork, as at some points it felt like one line song and the narrative is extremely strong. This track featuring Lil' Wayne is one of the songs that stands out for me:
3 years on and "When I Get Home" - Solange's new album almost feels like a second part to 2016's masterpiece with many of the songs keeping in the same musical genre and structure. Solange kept the monologues in preludes between tracks except this time she is at her wokest yet. The albums also taking a much less commercial route losing the bright colours for album and music video visuals and now featuring a lot of pastel and deep earthy colours perhaps to represent the reconnection to her roots. Some of the themes are clearly a nod to afrofuturism however some songs were even to deep for me to see...or imagine. Or see what Imagined....see what I imagined....what I saw...what I imagined (*repeats for 6 minutes until you find a meaning*).
But one of the lighter songs is a fun Caribbean-style bop which gives me summer vibes, although premature, completely welcome. "Binz" is a song to let your hair down to and one I'm sure will be playing at this year's BBQs in no time.
So what's next for Solange?
It would be futile for me to even try to predict what Solange's mind will produce next. Will her album really all be one track? One monologue with songs in between? An album of complete silence? Either way I'm intrigued to see what's next...
Got another oldie but a goodie. This song is from 2009, 10 years ago. Can you believe that?! 2009 was a whole TEN years ago??? ....blimey.
Now whilst this particular track may hold fond memories of the song that played on the Echo Falls advert that used to sponsor Come Dine With Me, for me it's much more.
This song and the band Camera Obscura were my beginner's introduction into indie and folk music. A genre I 100% invested myself into and dived in - whilst everyone was going through their emo phase I was a full-on sombre indie princess.
This song is reminiscent of the cold and grey autumn days of 2013. Deep obscure Facebook posts I'd edited on picmonkey because I was deep now *sweeps bangs* and walking home or by the lake wondering how far away love was. Days spent discovering what things made me unique. For a start I was a black girl into indie!
There are nothing but sweet memories attatched to this up-beat Parma Violet tune and I'm glad I found the world of indie/alternative music. I've never been the same and I love everything I've discovered. Much love to the band and also ...to Carrie, their keyboardist and singer who passed away a few years back but not before creating so many beautiful things to leave behind.
Let me tell you how I love this song!! This was R&B soul at it's peak ya heard?
The 90's is one of my favourite ever eras for music and this song has it all, the runs and melisma, horns and saxophones, the lead singer sexy whisper AND the drum tempo perfect for a one- two-step.
This Saturday's song will get your shoulders shaking, your hips braking (like brekk it down braking not need a hip replacement breaking) and your love *ahem* flaking
You know you're gonna want to get down to this one so find a safe space. Here it is:
It's been a minute right? Same excuses- life, work, slow laptop blaaah blah etc. but I'm back with a BEAUTY.
As we all know due to thick commercialisation we're smothered with- Valentines day is approaching and to get in the spirit of things here's a perfect post break-up song lol.
Since first hearing this song I've probably contribued to around 1k of Thirdstory'sYoutube views. I wish this was an exaggeration but on average I listen to this song between 5 and 20 times a day. Maybe I'm obsessed.
Thirdstory's "Still In Love" featuring the astounding Eryn Allen Kane is a blend of romance, heartbreak, nostalgia,soul, and general 'feels'.
The mix of their voices in harmonious chorus of the group paired with adlibs and runs from Eryn are incomparable to any other record.
Thirdstory really understand each others voices and it shows.
When I hear this song it feels like the world around me slows down to a still and inside everything slows except my heart which drifts along to the slow tempo given by the upright acoustic piano (and the deep bass of their non-acoustic version of this song which is also amazing).
After four months I am STILL IN LOVE, endlessly, helplessly and desperately with this song.
Listen to this song here:
Thirdstory AND Eryn Allen Kane's music are available to listen on all major music platform. - Would defo reccomend.
For those of you doing stuff next week have a wonderful Valentine's day I'll be back with some new music for you soon!
