To put it mildly, 2011 was nothing short of crap. I did however find solace in the fact that when you hit rock bottom the only way you can go is up.
A lot of the time it felt like I needed to do something drastic, move to a new place and start afresh. Ruined projects, lost love and whole lot of nonsense later I did exactly that.
I now live half an hour away from the beach with a pool in my backyard. In the evenings I can sit outside and watch the sun melt into the river, its hot, golden glow envelope everything around me. Though change as inviting as it sounded then can also be petrifying. There is a lot that needs to end now so the new year is something I can look forward to.
As Imogen Heep so aptly puts it
"All I want only one street level miracle
I'll be an out and out born again from none more cynical"
Because when she sings a stripped down version it sounds as magical
Yes I watch glee, and I'm not ashamed!(okay maybe I'm a little ashamed)but once in a while they will surprise you and this time they really outdid themselves.
For people who watch the show I hope you agree with me when I say that they really need to stop harping over Rachel when they have phenomenal singers like Santana and Mercedes. I understand the show does require a plot but Post the first season they clearly established the fact that it wasn't important.
So for glee lovers and everyone else, one of the best mashups I've heard in a while
Rumour has it and someone like you by Adele. Enjoy!
For the past few days or weeks rather I have gone into some sort of slug mode. I spent the last three days in bed making excuses in my head about how I'm probably ill etc. It would have gone on for longer had I not found Arcade Fire on my ipod.
This post is more a tribute to the song rather than the band. It is the perfect example of restraint. You can feel the tension in his voice and it pulls at your heartstrings. This song made me get out of bed and start work on my sketchbook. Someone told me it takes 21 days for something to become a habit, I am really hoping this band pulls me through.
The first video I'm putting up was created by Vincent Moon. I had done a post on him earlier so it seems only apt to put it in. It also portrays the band in all its mental, creative glory!(who would have thought ripping paper could keep the beat?)though I'm not sure the elevator was the best choice of location.
The second is the original video, only because the original version is just as brilliant!
Hopefully this makes you want to do something meaningful with your life!
You know there is something about airports and general lack of taste. I spent the last 24 hours in various airports across the world and have come to the conclusion that they are all rather bizarre. Hyderabad airport has places where bulidings just end leaving you with a twenty foot drop onto the runway. Dubai has a granite waterfall of sorts and New York has sculpted plaster of paris curtains as you walk towards immigration.
Anyhow when our plane taxied into its parking spot they began to play Lebanese Blonde. It suddenly took me back to my bizarre fascination for the film "Garden State" and all those times I spent pretending the world didn't understand me. A tribute to my Emo days. Enjoy!
So I'm off to New York. It was a trip that came of much heartache and stress but now I'm here, in an airport lounge waiting for my flight. Some how this trip was destined to happened. It's funny how much the practical bit of my brain has resisted this and somehow the emotional side has won.
The last time I went to New York I fell in love and have been yearning to go back ever since. hopefully this time around I will spend more time scouting for some good live gigs. I have promised myself however that i will document this trip through music so here goes.
A while earlier my sweet eternal whinge introduce me to an artist named Emily Wells, she is based out of New York and is a beat boxer of sorts. She plays a list of instruments too long for me to list and well has a sound that leans toward trip hop.
I have been listening to her album "The Symphonies: Dreams Memories & Parties" and have mixed views on it. Maybe its just me but the pitch at which she sings and the weird banshee lilt to her voice can get a little tiresome. One song however stood out and it has been on loop for a while now.
According to me the quality of her voice fits perfectly with the song.
I get really excited when people introduce me to new local acts. I mean its all good that we are always looking to the west for new inspiration but its also important that we take from it and do something with it. Al's sister Naquita performed at Blue Frog in Bombay recently and I must say that hearing good western vocals in India is so refreshing!
The song could be a little tighter but all in all I am really looking forward to hearing more from her.
Wouldn't you love to wake up to a song like this posted on your wall? I strongly believe that when you cover a song you make it your own.
Ingrid Michaelson is fabulous! A post on her coming soon. Enjoy
P.S: Wouldn't it be fun to own one of those self Harmonizing machine thingys? If anyone knows where i can get one please leave a comment will get back to you! Thanks
For a minute I thought I had missed the release date for the new Florence and the Machine album Ceremonials but I think I'm on track.
Thanks to our college chain mail where people share music they like, I happened to listen to the new track 'What the Water Gave Me'. It's almost two in the morning and I feel like I have enough energy to blow a hole in the ceiling! It isn't as unconventional as their other tracks nor does it have the signature strong vocals but this track makes you want to get up and run, dance, fly, walk through walls and spend whats left of the night dancing. Thanks Al. Enjoy!
In keeping with the Wallowy mood watchlistentell's new video. Day One by Rae Morris.
I'm quoting from her myspace page because the description is well way better than anything I could have come up with. "Rae Morris is an 18 year old singer-songwriter from Blackpool. Learning piano at an early age and forever underestimating her ability, Rae recently found a voice she didn’t know she had. Make your own comparisons, but be sure to notice a girl of maturity beyond her years. Cleverly matching her inimitable voice to songs of new experiences, those defining challenges like love and not always being able to have the answers, Rae is the epitome of raw and claims nothing else."
I never actually thought I would be the kind of person who would sit around and think about what my role was in the universe, but I've been doing a lot of that lately. Of course wallowing in self pity requires the right kind of music. Something that reminds you of all the ridiculous and well, reckless decisions in your life.
I stumbled upon Adele's concert in Soho and found the perfect songs. Apart from the fact that it is fabulous wallowing music it is also musically fantastic. Her husky, deep vocals take you to dusky bars with dim lighting and the old piano tucked into a corner.
The first song Fool that I am as originally sung by Etta James. I've listened to both versions and somehow this version seems more raw and honest. Take a bath, pull out a bottle of wine, close your eyes and sit back. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
The second one is called Crazy for You. Apart from the fantastic vocals, the lyrics are also quite nice and most times quite apt. Love the simplicity of the guitar juxtaposed with her wide ranging vocals. Enjoy!
P.S: Both versions are not off the live version I have been listening to but they are as good!
So I've been doing my usual music trawl and found that a classmate of mine is now a musician! It's so great when you find that people you know are taking music to new levels. The instrumentals remind of Andy Mckee the rhythm however being more apparent. Joshua thomas lives in Mumbai, Maharashtra and performs occasionally around the city.
The track I have embedded is called the Late-For-Work dance routine. Its got an interesting movement to it. The timing is what I like most, so many changes yet the song doesn't turn into a haphazard mess.
His concert dates will come up on his page. A friend of mine went and told me his a great performer so please keep tabs I'm sure it is worth the watch!
Its begun to rain in Hyderabad and the weather calls for the intense raw sound of Me'Shell Ndegeocello.
It's funny I've had all her music on my ipod and for some odd reason I seemed to have missed the song fool of me. It wasn't until I watched an episode of So You Think You Can Dance that I was left open mouthed and staring at the screen.
This song is raw, beautiful and well kind of apt. Her husky, sensuous sound pulls at your heart strings. The dance composed by Tyce Diorio completes the song. The first time I watched it I wept like a child.
When you find something like the black cab sessions you think that nothing could possibly get better than this and just as you are starting to get the itch you find watchlistentell and your hope in the world is once again restored.
Like the black cab sessions Watchlistentell is a youtube channel that films musicians live. The sound quality is a lot better and though there are a few overlaps this channel has some brilliant performances by bands like Dark Dark Dark, Lissie, Lucy rose, Ok Go and of course their latest addition Ben Howard.
Combine the vocals of Jose Gonzales with the sharp guitar slapping melodies you probably first heard in August Rush and you have Ben Howard. Its subtle, interesting and of course the ideal kind of sound for a rainy day.
After a short stint in journalism, Ben decided to focus on making music full time, making melodic rootsy folk music, with progressively darker lyrics. He began to build up a reputation not just around Devon, but elsewhere in the UK as well. After a month of sold out dates across Europe and the UK Ben was eventually asked to sign to Island Records. With singles Like Old Pine and Wolves released earlier this year he set to release his album sometime in October.
As usual I think the acoustic version is much better than the original so this is from Watchlistentell. The song is called Old Pine. The bit when the cello kicks in is just beautiful! Enjoy
It's been a while since my father and I sat down and talked music. This time around he introduced me to a singer and bassist called Esperanza Spalding. A beautiful singer/bassist with a voice like honey.
When you a listen to her sing you feel shivers run down your spine. The hot, sultry texture of those raw bass notes make you want to take those candles and silk sheets out. Besides nothing can get sexier than watching this beautiful woman play the double bass.
Emotions aside the technical aspect of her music is a force to be reckoned with. The music goes from the long sultry ballads to the staccato and fast paced, African influenced scat. Singing with just a bass is hard take it from someone who has tried(and failed quite miserably).
By the time Spalding was five, she had taught herself to play the violin and was playing with the Chamber Music Society of Oregon.Spalding stayed with the music society until she was fifteen leaving with the title of concertmaster. According to Spalding, when she was about 8 her mother briefly studied jazz guitar in college; Spalding says, "Going with her to her class, I would sit under the piano. Then I would come home and I would be playing her stuff that her teacher had been playing."Spalding also played oboe and clarinet before discovering the bass in high school.As if that isn't enough She is also able to sing in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Spalding had intended to play cello, but discovered the bass during a one-year stint at age 14 at the prestigious performing arts high school, The Northwest Academy, to which she had won a scholarship. When asked in 2008 why she plays the bass instead of some other instrument, Spalding said that it wasn't a choice, but the bass "had its own arc" and resonated with her. Spalding says that for her discovering the bass was like "waking up one day and realizing you’re in love with a co-worker". Her band teacher showed her a blues line for the bass which she later used to secure her first gig. After that, she went in to play the bass daily and gradually fell in love.
Her singing evolved gradually as her a compositional experimenting grew. It was from here that she began singing first for an indie band called noise for pretend. She won the Grammy for the best new artist at the 53rd annual Grammy awards and is now teaching at the Berklee College of Music.
she is 27.
What I have here is a song called Samba em Preludio from her second album Esperanza(2008). I have always been partial to bossanova. Its lilt and flow make you want to get up and start swaying. This is also one of my favourites. Enjoy!
P.S: Since her music is so heavily based around the double bass my suggestion would be that you listen to this track(and all her other music for that matter) with headphones or some nice speakers. Computer speakers do not do this music justice.
but there is just so much interesting music out there waiting to be heard!
I abandoned my print project to trawl through the black cab session only to stumble
upon an artist I have been putting off for a while now, Lykke Li.
I have been slapping myself ever since, Why would someone overlook this woman?
she is fabulous quirky and full of energy. Though I prefer her acoustic session(love the use of the megaphone) her album is still fabulous. When you're down, pissed, ecstatic or annoyed you will find a song that suits the mood.
Li Lykke or Timotej Zachrisson was born in Ystad after which she shifted base to almost every exciting place in the world some being Portugal, morocco and Nepal. Her first album youth novels released in Europe in 2008. Her second album 'wounded rhymes' was released this year.
Li has become increasingly popular with indie music fans and took her particular flavor of music more mainstream with an appearance on Last Call with Carson Daly on 18 February 2009. She has received a great deal of notoriety for her cover of "Knocked Up", originally recorded by Kings of Leon who had approached Li to cover a song of her choice, and "Gifted" in which she performs with Kanye West. Going further mainstream, Li performed at the 2009 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on 19 April, as well as the 2009 Lollapalooza festival on 8 August as part of the promotional tour for Youth Novels. Despite her shift her music still screams individuality and sparkle. Both her albums went way beyond all expectations with her interesting use of different instruments and of course, her husky, high pitched, sultry voice.
There are some musicians who are just better live than they are when recorded, so I am putting up the black cab sessions song, I'm good I'm gone(one of my favourites) and a live performance of knocked up(the Kings of Leon cover) at New York. Enjoy!
There are days when I contemplate running into busses and off bridges. I want to get on the floor and throw a tantrum of epic proportions. I want to throw things at the someone's I can't stand. Instead I take a shower; It is the mature thing to do(or so they tell me)
Yesterday was one of those days and just as all those emotions began to spill over the sides Watson sent me a link to a song.
'You already know' by the Bombay Bicycle Club (named after a restaurant chain in london). Its soft, mellow and fuzzy. The rest of their album is quite bad but this song taps into that bit inside you that glows. enjoy!
Forty eight hours and four cups of coffee later I am sitting in bed trying to focus.This results in me wandering around my room with a slightly manic expression trawling the internet for some interesting music hoping it might calm me down.
Finally I stumbled on Holly Miranda singing for the black cab sessions. When I realised this was a cover of the song Ex factor by Lauryn Hill I was both Impressed and a little shocked. Thankfully she added her own twist to it, giving the song a different life.
Interesting voices always excite me and hers is beyond doubt one of the most interesting I have heard in a while. enjoy.
A little about the black cab sessions: A series of one song performances by musicians and poets performed at the back of a hackney cab in london. The music is filmed and recorded for an internet audience.
The Black Cab Sessions were conceived by Jono Stevens and produced as a partnership between Hidden Fruit (Gen Stevens and Chris Pattinson) and Just So Films (Jonny Madderson and Will Evans).
One of the producers reports that about 10 percent of the cab drivers approached by the producers turns them down, thinking that the idea is weird, but that those who do participate enjoy it.
Filming of the Black Cab Sessions began in May, 2007 and is ongoing.
I am also putting up a live version of Lauryn Hill singing the same song. It's just so beautiful I couldn't resist. A post on her will come soonish. Enjoy!
So college is done the big bad world awaits and I have no intentions of taking that
grown up step. So Ive been procrastinating, inventing excuses as to why I should spend the rest of my life on a beach etc.
Of course mothers have a way of busting your happiness by asking the simplest questions like "So have you finished that season of Bones?" Of course you try defend yourself but there are warning bells going off inside your head.
One of these long and rather pointless fights later watson sent me a link to a video. A song called Bizness by tUnE YarDs. It was like she read my mind. It was on loop for the next hour with me walking around feeling rebellious and a little light headed. The problem is however that you cant stop watching the video. It is one of the most the most fabulous videos I have ever seen so full of colour and life.
The first tUnE-yArDs album, BiRd BrAiNs was originally released by Garbus on an old casette tape.In July 2009, it was announced that Tune-Yards had signed to 4AD, and a limited edition pressing of Bird-Brains was released on August 17, 2009.
A second album, W H O K I L L was released on April 19, 2011. Th single Bizness is off this record. I guess you could probably compare it to a Sonic Youth act but I have to admit that tune yards takes it to a whole new level. The whole album is full of life colour and emotion. It does get a whole lot more meaningful when you are angsty. enjoy!
