Let’s Talk About: CHVRCHES

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I have been so enthralled with my music lately, that I have been listening to all these artists and not doing posts about them. Rookie mistake (if I still technically count as a rookie, for today is my 3 month blog-aversary, whoop). Needless to say, this post is lonnnng overdue. I have been jamming (aka embarrassing myself because we all know how good of a dancer I am) to CHVRCHES for quite some time now. Their debut album, The Bones Of What You Believe, came out last September, so I’m sure many of you have already heard of them. If you have, I just want to drive the point home of how awesome they are. If you have never  heard of them, go listen (please)!

So the group CHVRCHES is comprised of three members, Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook, and Martin Doherty from Scotland. So basically, if I stopped there, you would already know how cool they are because they are from Scotland, but I will continue anyway. They were listed in the top five of BBC’s Sound of 2013 list. Their vibe is electric-pop I would say, although I would much rather say electricy-poppy because it sounds more fun. They are playing at Coachella and floating around the United States and Europe over the next few months, giving them a lot of well deserved exposure. Their album has been making frequent visits to my record player, and I can say with certainty that it will continue to do so. The music they produce is so upbeat and catchy, I just want to dance and laugh and jump around whenever I’m listening to them, in the least psychotic way possible (for that did make me sound a bit insane). Many of you have probably heard The Mother We Share and possibly not realized it was CHVRCHES, but it was. So perfect, you may have heard them and didn’t even know, even more reason to buy their album now and dance around in your room! Hip hip hurray!! Fingers crossed that I will be able to get last minute tickets to a show, if my schedule frees up, I would in a heartbeat! If you search my posts, I know I have posted a few videos of them in the BBC Live Lounge and such. CHVRCHES 5ever! If you like any of the following people and/or have a soul, you will love CHVRCHES: HAIM, Lorde, London Grammar, Puppies (the animal), Music (in general), MØ, etc.

Click here for a fun interview. 

Notable Songs: 

The Mother We Share 

We Sink

Recover (my jam, if you were wondering and/or care at all)

 

Let’s Talk About: A Random Selection Of Things

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Good evening to those in the US and other locations where it is evening, happy April Fools day to those who are currently in April (some of us are still in March, how rude) and happy everything else to anyone else that I failed to mention, because I value anyone who looks at this blog equally and want to spread the love! 

I have started and stopped making this post about six times today, for there are so many things I would like to touch upon, but find none of them can stand on their own. Thus, I have conceded and am making one large random post about nothing, everything and anything all at the same time. 

For starters, I just found out today that First Aid Kit is releasing their third studio album Stay Gold on June 10th and I could not be more excited. As many of you know, I find the sisters so talented and blessed with such soulful, folky voices. They also announced a tour if anyone is interested in getting their First Aid Kit on, still speaking about the band here, not a physical first aid kit equipped with gauze and ointment. If you want a little taste of their new album, click the link here for the weird and folky sequence of wonder and amazement that is the album trailer.  

Secondly, I just got home from seeing Divergent and it was so good. I have always been indifferent toward Shailene Woodley as an actress, but after seeing this movie, I am absolutely convinced she was the perfect choice to play Tris. She captures all of her attributes and characteristics to a tee. The books are always better than the movies, but nonetheless, this movie was such a treat. Hip hip hurray! I always get nervy (nervous) about seeing movies adapted from book series. Here’s to The Maze Runner coming out so soon! Also, Paper Towns is being adapted, this is movie overload.

Next point, today my music Professor told us how the opera that Richard Gere and Julia Roberts go to in Pretty Woman is La Traviata by Verdi, which is about a prostitute who falls in love with a man outside of her social class, JUST LIKE THE MOVIE! I love when little connections like these are made, especially when I find out about them so much later in life and things finally make sense. I had a little ah ha moment in class, I just love love love little things like this. 

Next, I am reading Battleborn right now by Claire Vaye Watkins. I am only on the third story within the book, but so far so good, I suggest it to everyone. Also, the author is a professor at a college near my college. Plot twist! Is it acceptable to drive to the school or…?

Next, AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW! YES YES YES YES!

Finally, It was Lorde and Jame’s (her boyfriend) one year anniversary yesterday! Dawwww that’s cute and I am very happy for them that they are able to continue in a relationship despite the hurtful things put on the internet and the distance between them with her touring. Also, I know that because she put a picture on instagram, I promise you I’m not a creepy stalker. POWER TO YOU GUYS!

Those are all of my random thoughts at the moment, I promise I will have more soon! Ta ta!

Also, I feel like this was less humorous than some of my other posts, mehhhh. Oh well.

 

 

 

Let’s Talk About: Marika Hackman

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I feel like I haven’t done an artist post in ages! Gasp this is exciting (someone pop the champagne and get balloons and fireworks, not that any of my posts deserve that response, but I’m celebrating for myself…). As many of you know, I have a pretty solid set of musicians that I primarily listen to, HAIM, Lana, Lorde, Brooke Fraser, MØ and Rae Morris etc. etc. It is verrry hard for me to allow another group or musician to infiltrate my pre-established music core I have going on, but Marika is coming veerrrry close to doing that/ she already has but shhh I need to make myself look more steadfast than that.  

Every so often I like to look at the Burberry Acoustic sessions on youtube, for the artists are completely stripped down and acoustic, which is how I prefer to find them. Funny story, I was actually looking for a specific Rae Morris Burberry Acoustic session I had seen to post on here! That was actually how I heard of Rae in the first place, so I’m a big fan of the sessions. So I look on the suggested videos on the side and just happen to click on Marika performing a stripped down version of her song You Come Down. That was it for me.

Her sound is so peculiar, yet familiar at the same time. She has similar folky/acoustic-y roots that many of the artists I enjoy have, however, there is something about her that comes across as darker and edgier. Her lyrics are neat (as in interesting, not tidy) and a little bizarre and her guitar playing/picking adds a dark and mystical element. Her music is incredibly soothing and her vibe seems very chill, cool and relaxed. 

I believe, if I did my research correctly (insert nerdy emoji/picture here, preferably with a pocket protector), that she recently toured with both the 1975 and Sivu, so I am confident she is going to gain more notoriety over the next few years. I highly suggest you look her up, or look at the previous videos I have posted of hers. 

She has an EP, Sugar Blind an and LP, That Iron Taste, which are both amazing (if you buy the LP vinyl it’s blue!) and her EP Deaf Heat is being released mid April. A song from the new EP, titled Deep Green, has been released and is so so good. Please look her up if you like this blog and my happiness. Just kidding, but I really think some of you would like her a lot. If you don’t like her I will ship you a pizza and /or puppy based on your preference. Kidding. I actually may still get the pizza and puppies but keep them for myself… just kidding…. maybe. 

The only unfortunate part of this situation is that she is from Europe, like many of my other favorites. This means I probably will not get to see her live anytime soon 😦 But one day! I guess Europe can’t help the fact that they produce amazingly talented and likable singers! You go Europe! 

Noteworthy Songs: I’ll Borrow Time, Bath Is Black, Cinnamon 

P.S. After I post something I always go back and look at it, and my sad face turned into an actual emoji sad face, how adorable! Who knew? Technology boop boop.

My Warning To My Followers…

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I don’t know if I consider this a warning or just an informal PSA… but here it goes. 

Somehow I have beckoned the universe to bring favorite artists nearby for tours and the universe is responding. If I were to sit here and not acknowledge the true psychosis of how many concerts I am going to over the next few months, I would be fooling myself. I even am beginning to realize how crazy it is, but I can not miss the opportunity to see my favorite performers live, for it is a musical experience that can not be replicated. I was initially going to the HAIM and Lorde (which already happened) concerts and two music festivals. Now, things may or may not have changed. Lana Del Rey, The Avett Brothers, and MØ all announced a tour nearby (PS MØ announced her tour today if you are interested). 

I guess what I am trying to say/ warn you about is that in a very small time period I will be posting concert reviews/stories from HAIM, Lana Del Rey and MØ. By a short period of time, I literally mean a two week time frame. I think this will be cool to discuss with my followers, but I fear that some people may be annoyed, so that is why I am warning you about it now. I will later be posting about The Avett Brothers and festivals. 

I thank you all so much for checking out my blog. The response has been incredible and I am so happy I decided to begin this blog and join this community. Reflecting on this post, I realize there was kinda no point to it because music posts are the premiss of my blog… so why would posting about concerts be bad….? I don’t know, I just needed to get it out there. If we’re being perfectly honestly, I think I am  just so exhilarated by these recent announcements that I needed an excuse to tell the world about it (because the world totally cares about me and my love for good music lolol SIKE). Have a MARVELOUS day everyone. I will now be pretending to do a paper, while really sitting and starting blankly into space and smiling like a sociopath. 

 

P.S. I hope the ominous title didn’t frighten you from reading this or enjoying it……. or do I? Mwahahah. No, but seriously, I didn’t know how else to introduce this post…

Let’s Talk About: No Mythologies To Follow

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I have finally been able to listen to MØ’s debut album in full! I apologize that this review is somewhat ‘late,’ for the record didn’t come out in American until today, even though it had been released earlier around the globe. As for the album, I have good news for MØ and bad news. The bad news is that, in my opinion, a lot of the songs off her new album sound very similar to one another. I know this can sometimes happen when making albums, causing the artists to often receive bad reviews because of it. But now for the good news, I really enjoy MØ’s style and voice, so the somewhat repetitive and familiar progression throughout her songs does not bother me in the slightest.

I can’t exactly explain what MØ’s sound is, as I’m still trying to figure it out myself. It sounds almost like a slowed down, soulful electronic situation or something (that helps a lot, I’m sure, for that was such a clear explanation). I tend to prefer songs that lean more toward being ballad-esque, which is why I am so fond of her song  Freedom (#1) from her Bikini Daze EP. I made sure to purchase her deluxe album so I could get a wider range of songs, however, what actually comes on her deluxe album is just additional ‘night versions’ of the songs already on the album. However, I quite enjoyed the change up, actually. I expected ‘night versions’ to be more upbeat, quicker tempo, club songs (ugh) and to my surprise, the songs weren’t that at all. Some of them actually seemed a bit slowed down and more powerful (YAY!). 

For her debut album, I think this was awesome. Although it did not blow my socks off, I still firmly stand by my thought that MØ is going to become wildly popular with the proper exposure. Her quirkiness in her music videos, as well as her voice and music, which are different from most things you hear now-a-days, are certainly placing her on a track for success. At first, people were unsure of Lorde’s persona, and now look at her. I believe in you MØ! Come to America please, love Ker. 

Tracks To Note:

Never Wanna Know

Walk This Way

No Mythologies to Follow (title track, boop boop. I love when I love title tracks, it’s like some sort of positive reinforcement for purchasing an album)

The Sea

Gone and Found

XXX 88 ft. Diplo

Let’s Talk About: Lorde In Concert

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Wow. Just wow. Image

I have been anticipating writing this post for a while now, but obviously I needed to attend the concert first in order to write a review about it… anywho, the moment finally arrived and I was privileged enough to go to Lorde’s concert. It was absolutely incredible in every way possible. So here we go.

The concert was about an hour away from my house, but I had to pick up my friend which added an extra forty-five minutes to my commute. Since the doors opened at 8, I scheduled my departure so we would arrive at about 7:50. BIGGEST REGRET OF 2014. That may be a slight exaggeration, but not really. I completely underestimated how many people Lorde has inspired and reached through her music. We had general admission tickets, which essentially means that the whole bottom floor is half open and half filled with seats. So, it is basically like the Hunger Games, people fighting for spots closest to the stage. Elbows are thrown. When we arrived, I had no idea how long the line to get in would be. It was backed up for about five blocks, which really surprised me at the time, but I now realize is completely logical. Lorde is truly incredible and it’s obvious that her fans are this dedicated. 

Once we got inside, we found a coat check. Hahaha I’m sure none of you care about that but I really felt I needed to include it because my friend and I were so pumped that we didn’t have to carry around our coats the whole night. I digress. The moment leading up to the opening artist is always the second worst time during a concert, behind the moment waiting for the main act to come on. The room was buzzing and filled with anticipation. People were cheering and chanting as soft music played in the background. Finally, Lo Fang came onstage. He was incredibly cool, much cooler in person than I anticipated. I have listened to Lo Fang in the past, but in concert you are able to hear him talk and get a sense of the cool vibe he gives off as both a person and musician. What was really cool about him was that he plays the violin in almost all of his songs, which in my opinion, is such a cool touch. It’s interesting to listen to because there is an underlying contradiction between the traditional and classical association with a violin and the new, electric-related way in which he was presenting it. He also incorporated string plucking into one song which sounded so so so cool in person. His voice is really neat and overall he was a great start to the show.

Then the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived. The lights dimmed and out walked the Queen B herself. What was so refreshing to see was that she just kinda strolled out onto the stage before anyone could even realize what was happening. No big arrival, no light effects, no smoke, she just strolled right on out like she was arriving at a friend’s house. She was wearing this white pants suit which I thought was a cool contradiction to her usual dark attire. Right away she launched into Glory and Gore, an interesting song choice to start the show, but it was incredible. 

Everything I expected to comprise a Lorde concert was there. Amazing vocals, lights and smoke, and a lot of twitching/dancing (her twitchy dance is so much better in person, I think I shed a tear). Her voice and vocals sounded better than the actual record, I kid you not. I know that sounds crazy, but in person, her voice was more powerful and mesmerizing. One thing that I thought was interesting was that she did not talk a lot at all and when she did, she was hard to understand because she mumbled (plus she has an accent to us Americans). But this did not bother me in the slightest, in fact, it made me like the concert that much more. Everything you have ever heard of Lorde in the news or on TV is exactly the same as how she is in concert. She is passionate about music and her songs, that’s that. She recognizes that and, thankfully, does not feel the need to add a bunch of showy extravagances. At the end of my show I texted my other friend to tell her about the show and she asked what her performance was like and when I told her, she said she thought it was interesting that she didn’t really put on a ‘show’ so to speak, and asked if I thought she would change in the future. To this, I wholeheartedly replied, “I hope not.” Fans love Lorde because she does not feel the need to put on this superficial persona, and you could sense that in her show and in the response from the crowd. So maybe she just stood in one spot for seventy minutes and put her heart into her music. In no way is that a bad thing. 

The most she spoke all night was when she spoke about the writing process for the song Ribs, which she wrote last February (P.S. since I know you’re all wondering, Ribs is, in fact, my favorite Lorde song- so I would like to think she chose to speak about this song for me, because obvi, like why wouldn’t she… kidding…. maybe). She said she doesn’t like talking about the meanings behind her songs, but she likes to tell the story of this one. She wrote it after she (even though she blamed her sister) had a party at their house. She said it got a bit out of hand and people were stealing stuff from her freezer (lol) and it was just a crazy night. At the end of the night she was exhausted and overwhelmed. She said she was lying in bed with her best friend (who I presume to be her boyf James) and he could tell she wasn’t sleeping and he asked what was wrong. To which she told him how she was realizing how truly frighting it is to grow older and experience this sort of crazy and surreal life with one foot in a world of normalcy and the other in this unnatural celebrity world. She said that writing this song was her way of putting words onto a paper that she could read and sing and feel comfort from as she embarks on her journey through this crazy life. 

Before this concert, I really was inspired by Lorde, loved her music and was excited about her as a refreshing musician for our generation. After this concert, I still feel all of those, but to a higher extent. This was one of the best concerts I have ever been to in my entire life and I have been to my fair share of concerts. Also,…. wait for it….. I got a tshirt. WOOT. I think that may actually be the most exciting part at the end of the day (kidding). I wish I could elaborate more on why this concert was so incredible, but it’s something that can be described, it needs to be experienced. 

Set List: 

Glory and Gore

Biting Down

Tennis Court 

White Teeth Teens

Buzzcut Season

Swingin Party

Still Sane

400 Lux

Bravado

Easy (Son Lux Cover)

Ribs 

Royals

Team

A World Alone

No encore, girl doesn’t mess around.