It’s true: I’m 150x more likely to discover/identify great music, old and current, from fashion industry events as opposed to the radio. This was the first song I heard after arriving from London, which kicked off the Pamella Roland show (see below) at NYC’s Lincoln Center, one of the newer tracks from electronic great Bonobo.
Great music, great fashion- what more could a audionymphomaniac-fashenthusiast want?
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
I admit my late-comer ways to one of music’s most refreshing artists to come recently. I was introduced to Feist’s music by a good friend in 2009, listening to her first album “Let it Die” (2005) in its entirety. Instantly intrigued by her ecelectic arrangements, I began listening repeatedly and fell deeper into her brilliant songwriting, honesty, and universal appeal.
“Mushaboom,” one of several highlights, is a stellar, encouraging record about the all-too-real challenge of going towards your wildest dreams while mundane reality keeps you wanting…and waiting. It’s a sing-a-long ready track that encourages me to keep my head up in all that I want to pursue, though the road has (and still is) hard. This song is like a companion that appears in the middle of your journey that reminds you of why you started treading the path in the first place.
Let the Journey Be Wondrous…and Keep Going.
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
I am writing this post with less than 3 hours before I ride the earliest morning bus and train to the Atlanta airport. If my stand-by flight goes as planned, I’d be in City that Never Sleeps by 9:45am. As you may have guessed, I am excited and 100% restless. However, I’m also feeling this weird sensation of not exactly knowing what I’m getting into, feeling “outside of time” with the upcoming events. I’ve been asking myself from time to time, “What am I doing?” “Is this REALLY happening?” I guess when your passion brings you to the brink of something magnificent, it becomes an out-of-body experience.
And all I’m doing is previewing New York City.
From today (Friday) through Tuesday I will be in New York City before “The Big Move” in about 2 weeks. My family reunion in Long Island is Saturday (haven’t been to it in 5 years- boy don’t I have some stories to tell…) and my New York Fashion Week client POSHGLAM is heading a brunch with powerhouse fashion invitees (I’ll be covering this…with my business cards on deck). The remainder of the time will be sizing up this special city- where my dreams will take Continue reading
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
Alas, it’s June.
The unbearably frigid winter is now gone and the powdery, neon-yellow coating over cars, benches, and buildings have vanished. These are the days of “high sun”; now’s the time to remove ourselves from our indoor distractions and bask in the warmth of this beautiful season.
Austrian-born Nu-Jazz/Electronic singer Madita made one of her greatest songs with “June,” convincing a friend or a loved one to leave their comfort zone and appreciate this special season God has created called Summer. If her words don’t convince you to perhaps live life a little adventurous this month, then I’d at least hope you’ve been put on to a great, feel-good tune.
____________________________
Lyrics: No wonder you feel so aloneIt’s June
I swear it feels so good
It’s June
I care if sun’s too hot for you
It’s June
Come on and let it groove
So put on a jacket and come
I drive you in my car
I show you how different they are
Just look through the sun
It’s June
I swear it feels so good
It’s June
I care if sun’s too hot for you
It’s June
Come on and let it groove
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
It’s official: Erykah Badu is our generation’s Nina Simone.
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}, Video
(Photo taken by Travis Levius)
This photo was taken at the “Sounds of Sunda” Concert, a celebration of traditional music and dance from West Java.
Filed under Photo of the Day
Electronic music is as widely varied as it is misunderstood. Many (Americans) instantly think of techno, when really the term “electronic” is one ridiculously huge umbrella of sub-genres.
Blue Six is one of my favorite electronic producers, combining elements of house, lounge, jazz, and soul to produce a cosmo-chic sound. ”Half Light” is his most “ambient” record, with vocals from deep house queen Lisa Shaw.
It’s a beautiful, comforting song about enduring the seasons and hardships that inevitably come, reminding us that pain and struggling is only temporary. I’m putting this on the blog today because it seemed fitting with the harsh winter most of the States are experiencing- and I think it’s safe to say that everyone is anticipating for Spring to come relieve us of this frigid misery.
If you haven’t had the desire to delve into the wondrous world of electronic music, hopefully this song could be your satisfying introduction.
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
I’m convinced that 99.5% of Amy Winehouse‘s lyrical content is about some misfortune, regret, or pain. There are tons of underrated Winehouse songs I’d like to feature on the blog, because musically they’re awesome, but they’re all so darn depressing! Don’t believe me? Listen to the (amazing) Back to Black album- none of them were cheery songs. Nothing but Addiction, Denial, Tons of Heartache, Regret, and Lonliness…and the only fun song on the album (“Me & Mr. Jones”) was about Disappointment!
So you can imagine how surprised I was today when I listened to the under-the-radar tune “Brother.”
Absent were the forlorn tales of bitterness, misbehavior, and misfortune that brought Winehouse to heightened fame: for the first time I’m listening to a musician with wisdom and a wholesome message. The throwback, neosoul-tinged track has a structure much like The Roots’ musical ode to then codeine-abusing member Malik B called “Water”in 2002′s Phrenology. Winehouse gently but firmly admonishes a loved one (her actual older brother Continue reading
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}
Holy cow: This may be the most anticipated, promising comeback in soul music since…well, Maxwell a few months ago. But it’s certainly not a bad thing; watching the influx of established artists resurface with more quality material is simply exciting and RELIEVING. The songstress with the dizzying vocals returns with the heavy-themed “Soldier of Love,” which sounds like nothing you’ve ever heard in recent years. But this is Sade, who has always been in a league of her own with her multi-ethnic, multi-genre sound. The song may be hard to get into at first, but it will hit you by the 3rd listen. Beautiful music.
The new album, “Soldier of Love,” debuts February 9, 2010!
Filed under Higher Sounds {Music}, Video
