Artist review: Anderson. Paak

"Y'all --- got me hot!"

SO GUYS. If you're reading this post and you don't already know him, you're going to look back on this marvellous day when you came upon this blog post and bless the stars because you have finally discovered the dream that is : Anderson Paak.

Introduction over. You guys! I'm back blogging after exams! I've been bursting to blog about Anderson since I saw him LIVE :) I've never seen a guy with as much rhythm as him, this dude is SO freaking smooth and personally I would actually pay real money ( not scared money) to have a jam session with him because - m u s i c. Music runs through his veins, he's is the heart of neo- soul/ jazz. When I saw him live I'm not gonna lie I didn't even know any of his songs that well. He can move! Natural rhythm seems to come so easily to him especially on drums. I'm guessing because he used to be a church drummer so he's got those soulful roots. I will say- his lyrics certainly do not belong in a church, wow. "Suede" is just.... y'all don't listen to this around your parents or young children but DO listen to it because the song is the definition of a vibe. His voice is difficult to describe. Dr Dre describes the hoarseness in his voice translating a true pain. To me the "cry" in his voice is clear and heartfelt. You definitley catch the sense of the hardships he's been through before his fame especially in his songs like "Carry Me" but also the light- hearted and fun side to life and love in " Luh You" from his album "Venice".

I think Anderson Paak is perfect if you're trying to get the mood fixed for a summer BBQ. His music has those party vibes. With heavy influences from jazz, rock, soul and blues you find yourself just bouncing to his groove. It's easy to listen to as his music with Knxwledge and with The Free Nationals is always melodic and rhythmic. In terms of freestyle's he is a maestro and his band are always perfectly in sync. His most recent album Malibu has been a great hit  worldwide and was Grammy award nominated for "Best Urban Contempary" album in 2016.

Watch his awesome acoustic performance here: 

He's already the biggest of deals in America and after the recent Glastonbury festival and his tour with Bruno Mars I know he will blow up pretty soon in the UK too. So you might as well join the party early!

you can listen to him on: Spotify, Youtube, Soundcloud, and iTunes (and probably every other music outlet you can think of)

Enjoy.

Parma Violets pick of the week: Toulouse

Music lovers, music  lovers, music lovers.... how art thou?

I've been saving this one just for you. It's Easter, which to me represents the time of giving and a reminder of the ultimate gift. So I have a gift for you in the form of this elusive talent named "Toulouse". I can't seem to find much about this artist except with my innate stalker skills I found out his name is Tolu which leads me to the conclusion that he's probably Nigerian and he's actually behind the scenes more than you realised, having been recently featured on the "Fifty Shades Darker" soundtrack. All I know is that he's a male and he can saang. In some ways I think that's the best approach because then we can focus on his talent and there's alot of it.

  I was originally gonna talk about his song "I Will Follow You" and how the song is ethereal and haunting, beautiful and raw. The song is stripped down to a simple piano melody, wind chimes and the best instrument - his voice.

However I got side-tracked as I so often do by Spotify switching the song to "So I Know You Care". Now this one. This one is just....I'm in love. The beat on that track is complex and intricate however easy to subscribe to. Toulouse starts off in a low kind of growl accomponied with an almost tribal beat, then BAM  0.32 seconds in jazz vibes, horns, trumpets and silence...  then 1 minute in another burst of music, this time an electro-classical fusion creeps round the corner. This song has everything and not in a messy way either, the production of this song was careful, it's precisely constructed and forms musical abstract art. Like I said...I'm in love. So give it a listen!

Toulouse is available to listen to on: Soundcloud, Spotify, iTunes, and Youtube, Enjoy! :)

Parma Violets pick of the week: XamVolo

Happy Spring music lovers!

For those of you who aren't in the UK, we have finally reached springtime! 🎉🎉 However much like the rest of British weather it is rather disappointing and so it's actually still pretty cold. But never fear, I've got you guys covered because this new artist I've got for you is hot!

INTRODUCING Mr XamVolo:
People... I can't, I cannot even begin to articulate to you how good this guy is, he's got this whole sexy electro-jazz thing going and I am 100% here for it! XamVolo's voice can vary between a hoarse kind of deep tone into a smooth silky voice. (Yeah I know - the talent runs deep!) The song I've chosen for this week is called "Down". This is the kind of song I usually describe as "musical alchemy". It starts off slow and smooth, like a cool kind of metal and drips from your headphones into your ears like liquid gold, then it just explodes. I can't explain it - that connection with a song, it's kinda like falling in love. The song surrounds you and fills your head and there's nothing but you and the music... and you're left in a dreamy, melting state of bliss as the song ends. ( I hope you can imagine that! lol ) It's  the closest you'll get to hearing colours.

Anyway, I think we're gonna be hearing a lot more from this artist in 2017 and personally I can't wait! Here's theYoutube audio for his song "Down" below! 

XamVolo is available to listen to on Youtube, Spotify, and Soundcloud so check him out!

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/xamvolo

Album Review: Maxwell - blackSUMMERS'night (2016)

Well hello music lovers!

So I thought it's finally time to review Maxwell's new album. Maxwell is one of my all-time favourite artists ever, an R&B/ jazz/ soul legend. Since "Urban Hang Suite" and "Embrya" to now, his music style has changed but still stayed true to his Jazz roots. Where do I even start with this man? I actually love him. Like...guys. His vocal range- I just can't...for a writer his music renders me speechless and pratically illiterate - as you can probably tell.

I'm doing something a little different today as I am still listening to the album as I write ( like I always do) but this is the first time I'm doing this with an album I've never heard before.

 My first impression on the first track "All the ways love can feel" ...dissapointment. It's still Maxwell and he still has the jazz undertones but his beautiful voice is lost underneath synth pop and some mad autotuning. His 2nd track is a slight improvement, less autotuning which is nice. The song has a good beat, a sort of tribal feel to it, more Free-funk, not exactly a dancing song but close. Track 3 has got my head bopping! This song bangs. The third track, conviniently called "III" has got a modern feel to it and is definitley one to get you dancing. Track 4.  Finally some typical Maxwell mood-setting music. "Lake By The Ocean" is sexy, easy and of course it's lyrically beautiful. I often find his songs are a smooth bridge between music and poetry. I haven't heard the rest yet but this is probably my favourite track. "Fingers Crossed" is a song about a man who is caught up in unrequited love and is desperately wishing for her to love him. It's actually quite a sad song and this is felt by the piano and the underlayers of classical music and the third stream.

I don't want to type whilst I'm listening to "Hostage" (track 6)  because honestly the song is just trippy and is asking for my full attention. This is a song (again) about love, that will allow you to get lost in it. The second part of the album is definitley more of the Max we know and love. "1990x" and "Gods" are both purely vocal, smooth jazz tracks. Similar to the style seen in "Now". Just when I think the album is now going to all be smooth jazz, the 9th track "Lost" throws a curve ball, this has more of a blues genre and the story of the album is becoming clearer. At this point in the album the man from earlier is experiencing a heartbreak making this the perfect break-up song. I'm on the last track called "Listen Hear". I stopped typing because I was just enjoying the album too much - sorry not sorry, it is what it is :) I thouroughly enjoyed it and the album ends with the sound of crashing waves.

Overall I would say this album is another success... let me not lie - I'm in love with this album! Seriously it's so good. Maxwell did not dissappoint - except the first track. But even that is made up for by the 3rd to 11th track's.

blackSUMMERS'night is available to listen to on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/6pjoIUNpMtQaSJvRUmsnSh

Parma Violets pick of the week: Jeff Buckley

Happy New Year!
A new year, new music, new artists.

Firstly, I'd like to give a big thanks to every one of you that supported me and has continued to support this blog - you mean the world to me. This year I aim to share even more great music with you and radiate even more of those good vibes 😊💮☮

It's a new year and there'll be plenty of posts about fresh new musical talents on the scene. However, old is the "new" new so I wanna throw it back to some 90's indie with a little bit of Jeff Buckley's "Everybody Here Wants You". Servers suggestion: With this parma violets pick I suggest you get yourself some satin pillows and a red wine by the fire-place. This song is a good one if you're trying to unwind and relax. Jeff's velvety voice and romantic lyrics on this track is guaranteed to help slow the pace on a stressful day.

So sit back and enjoy!

A Musical Gift: LUCY ROSE

Music lovers! The year is almost over, however in the spirit of Christmas I've bought you all a present - trust me, this gift is not one you'll be wanting the reciept for! I present to you: Lucy Rose. 

Lucy Rose Parton is 27- year-old singer/songwriter from Warwickshire in England. (and she's amazing)

Anyone that truly knows me knows just how much I love Lucy Rose. She was the first real artist that reminded me of the Parma Violet days. People listen to music for different reasons, some to pump them up before a party, some to make them dance or to relax; I listen to music as a form of transportation. When I listen to Lucy Rose, I can close my eyes and breathe, the melody is anasthetic. The lyrics paint a type of watercolour scene in my head- moving, dancing, soaring and I'm there for 4 minutes until the song is over. Lucy has one of those unique voices that you can't forget and has some great covers too! Her genre is mostly indie folk/ indie pop however she her dabbles in indie rock and sometimes uses elements of basic hip hop. She's an all rounder and a great talent!

 Lucy has her fans at heart and travels all around to the most remote parts of the earth to perform in gigs at very affordable prices. I've actually spoken to her a few times and she is so down to earth and friendly! Her music is partly responsible for getting me through the most stressful times of my life (throwback to exam period and study leave 😐 ) as well as being the soundtrack for some of the best memories. My personal favourite album is "Like I Used To" released in 2012 , which features songs such as "Shiver" and "Bikes". However her most recent work includes her new album "Work it Out" and a cover of "Merry Christmas Everyone" which you might of heard on a BBC advert recently. Lucy Rose is available to listen to on Youtube, Spotify and Soundcloud as well as her own website: http://www.lucyrosemusic.com/

Need something to get you in the Christmas spirit? Check this out:

And from me, Have a magical Christmas and a wonderful new year, roll on 2017!

lots of love, Miriam xx

Long time no see...but I come bearing gifts : (KAMAU)

Hey guys!

 I know I've been M.I.A. in terms of my blogs. Summer was busy and school is even busier but I promise I'm making more time for delivering precious music to you.

Anyway, what better way to return than with a bang? or rather a  KAPOW in the form of KAMAU. Okay that may have been a little cheesy but if you listened to his song "Gaims" you might get the reference ( hint* hint* go listen). This musician is a man after my own heart. He has a gift for interpretation with popular covers such as "Hey ya" and " Hometown Glory". He manipulates the structure of a song with such finesse, breaking the boundaries of conventional composition and rhythm. As well as this he has the ability to merge genres into one skillfully, with clear influences from hip hop and classical music as well as traditional African/Carribean music most noteably seen in songs such as "Jusfayu" from his EP "A Gorgeous Fortune".

(listen here:) Kamau- Jusfayu

Not only does he create music he also has a good eye for visuals/film. An example of this is the video for his song "PohLease" which translates his views on Police brutality and the injustices and grievances in and of the black community.  This song has a voice and a message of it's own which reflects the concerns of an increasing number of African-American men. Nina Simone once said : "As far as I'm concerned it is an artist's duty to reflect the times". In my opinion the need for artists like Kamau to reflect matters that are not only relevant but important is constantly rising. I have a personal appreciation for artists like him that make matters relatable through music, a way of having one's voice heard in a manner so that almost everyone can understand.

Despite his clear and open stance musically, Kamau is quite mysterious, choosing to conceal his eyes, presumably so the listener is less interested in his looks and more his music and what he has to say. Either way I'd look out for him!

Kamau is available to listen to on Spotify, Soundcloud and Youtube so get your headphones on! #YEBO