Let’s Talk About: Brandi Carlile

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Brandi Carlile has easily been my favorite artist for about four years now. I was fortunate enough to see her live last year and it was one of the best performances and most amazing concert I have ever seen. Hopefully a few of you were able to catch her performing the National Anthem at the Seattle Seahawks game last night! If you didn’t, then check out my video Iv’e just posted of one of her songs. If you did, then yay! Or if you did and had no idea who she was, still yay because now you know and you will hopefully be better off for it.

The variety of Brandi’s music is crazy. She and her music are the definition of talent. With songs such as Hard Way Home stemming from country roots to songs such as The Story and Heart’s Content being featured in Nicholas Sparks movies, the possibilities for her musical growth and success are endless. In my opinion, Brandi is very successful and very well known for the alternative/indie/country/rock/everything/amazing genre (everyone’s personal favorite). When I attended her concert last year, it was sold out and the venue was completely full of fans singing every word to each song. It is apparent she has a steady and loyal fan base that is incessantly growing. It’s lovely how she can transition from extremely powerful and anger filled songs such as Raise Hell to soulful ballads like That Wasn’t Me with such grace. It is truly a gift to watch. 

Brandi’s career has included four studio albums and a live album. Each album captures the essence of all that is Brandi Carlile at particular points in her life. With each comes a new sound, new experiences and new songs that are just as fantastic as the ones prior. I absolutely adore her work. Please take a second to listen to her musical gold!

Noteworthy songs from each album:

Brandi Carlile (2005)- Closer To You 

The Story (2007)- Have You Ever, The Story

Give Up the Ghost (2009)- Dying Day

Bear Creek (2012)- Hard Way Home, Heart’s Content, Keep Your Heart Young

Fun Fact- The song Hiding My Heart performed by Adele was actually originally written and recorded by Brandi (you go girl)!

Let’s Talk About: BOY and First Aid Kit

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These two duos are some that I am very excited to talk about. Both of the duos are not well known, and one of my favorite things to do is expose people to new music. One of my second favorite things to do is learn about new music from others. I discovered First Aid Kit long before I discovered BOY, yet I adore them both equally. I have already posted one of BOY’s music videos and I will post one by First Aid Kit soon.

First Aid Kit is a folk duo made up of two Swedish sisters. Their chilling harmonies and mixes between slow and fast tempos are extremely compelling.  Their most well known song is Emmylou, the catchy and upbeat tune about searching for a love like Johhny and June or Emmylou and Graham. This song, along with other favorites such as The Lion’s Roar and King of the World, are all found on their second album, The Lion’s Roar. I actually discovered their second album before their first when Emmylou was free on iTunes (yaaay iTunes)! Their debut album The Big Black & The Blue contains danceable tunes such as I Met Up with the King, as well as melancholy and feelful (not a word I know but you have to listen to the song to understand) songs such as In the Morning. If you like folk, if you like sisterly harmonies so strong and powerful that they’re sometimes terribly amazing (also didn’t make sense, I know people- music is hard to explain) and if you like good music, then listen to First Aid Kit.

BOY on the other hand, angles to be much more pop than First Aid Kit, but also put forward an Indie vibe. The duo is comprised of Swiss singer, Valeska Steiner and German bassist, Sonja Glass. Their music is incredibly catchy and light, and sometimes, that’s just what one needs. Their debut album Mutual Friends is incredible with fun songs like Little Numbers and songs like Drive Darling, a true representation of Valeska’s vocal talent. The duo also release an acoustic version of Mutual Friends  which led to me being way too excited. Nothing is better than a good old acoustic album. Unfortunately, I just missed BOY when they came to my town last year (womp) but hopefully this year a new opportunity will present itself, because there is no doubt I would go to their concert in a heartbeat. 

Let’s Talk About: Johnny Cash

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Johnny Cash, where to begin? My great obsession with Johnny Cash really began after watching Walk The Line, the movie based on his life. Prior to that time I was a big fan of his music, but after seeing the movie, I became more interested in his life with June and began listening to his duets with her, some of which are now my favorites (Jackson, It Ain’t Me Babe). 

When thinking about the music from that time period, such as Bob Dylan and Johnny, a bit of a striking fact is that, if we’re being honest, they weren’t the best singers, they weren’t the best musicians, they were just guys who were able to come into the spotlight. Yet, when one thinks about the things they didn’t have, the attributes artists like Johnny Cash did have become more clear. He had charm, he had a cool factor and he had a mysteriously intriguing persona. 

I often listen to the Live At Folsom Prison record in my room and find Johnny’s raspy and hard hitting voice quite soothing. I can’t help but sing along with the worst impression of a deep manly Johnny Cash voice that I am able to create. I think that because his music has the ability to make people sing and dance along, still to this day, is why people flocked to him when he was in the music scene. His music was catchy and he was cool and sometimes that’s all you need. Kudos to you Mr. Cash. 

Let’s Talk About: Lorde

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I am so thrilled Lorde has gained recognition over the past two years. She is such a refreshing artist and a true representation of where music should take us over the next few years. I absolutely adore her work and think her lyrics are truly phenomenal. When I listen to her songs, I actually hear the words; the meaning behind them is palpable. There are still times when I’m listening to my iPod in my car, to a song by Lorde that I have heard a million times, and enthusiastically yell at the stereo because a lyrical line just blows my mind. I’m sure this provides entertainment and/or fear to other drivers that I’m having a conversation with my car, hopefully the first one. An example of this is from her song The Love Club (I will post a video). I’m sitting pretty on the throne, there’s nothing more I want, except to be alone.  To me, that sentence speaks volumes. The fact that she is able to convey so much in so few words is reflective of her talent and her debut album Pure Heroine does not disappoint. My personal favorite tracks are Ribs and Buzzcut Season (also check out Bravado from her EP). 

Lorde is young enough to appeal to the younger generations, yet an old soul who speaks to many generations ahead of her time. Maybe she can appear a little strange, but so do I and everyone else from time to time. That’s part of the many personalities in this thing called life. I can’t find anything bad to say about the New Zealand native, I can only look forward to the many amazing things I know she will produce in the near future. 

Let’s Talk About: HAIM

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HAIM is the newest sensation. If you’ve heard of them, you’re probably captivated, like me. If you haven’t heard of them, you will soon. California sisters Este, Danielle and Alana are the most talented sister group since Heart. I am absolutely in love with the rhythmic songs these girls have put into the universe. 

Watching youtube videos and live performances, the talent that these girls have is striking. Este plays a bass like no one is watching while Danielle’s fingers dance up and down the frets of her Gibson SG with an equal balance of grace and fervor. Alana puts her heart and soul into the keys and percussion. With Danielle’s velvet like vocals accompanied by beautiful harmonies and occasional leads from Este and Alana, it is hard to comprehend such an extreme amount of talent. 

If you can’t tell, HAIM is one of my favorite bands at the moment. Their debut album Days Are Gone is a mix of songs which seem like they stem from several different genres. When listening to Go Slow and Let Me Go, I often find myself laying on the floor and staring at the ceiling absorbing each note. Yet on songs like Days Are Gone and Don’t Save Me, I can’t help but dance around the room and shake my head like an insane person (typically scaring my friends).

Aside from their musical talent, the genuine relationship and banter between the girls is one that can only be found between sisters. It is entirely refreshing and satisfying to see an up and coming band with such potential, talent and most importantly, a genuine bond (that sounded much less cheesy in my head). 

Definitely check them out! I’ve previously posted The Wire music video, go find it!!