Indie Pop – Not Your Mom's Playlist

Alternative, Folk, Happy Songs, Indie Pop, Motivational Music

Song of the Day – “I’m Good” by The Mowgli’s

February 10, 2015

I’m BAAAACK …

Well, I have to admit that I have probably set the record for the longest break from a “daily” blog post. Many of you probably wondered if I would ever return. To be honest, so did I! 🙂 Once you get out of a routine, it is sure hard to get back into it. If it had not been for the prodding of many people (including being given the assignment yesterday to “post on your blog!!” from my daughter), my break may have continued.

Life has been crazy and it amazes me that I have not posted in 3 months! It all started with my visit to China where I was without access to most of the internet pages that I needed – WordPress, YouTube, Facebook – and so I was not able to post. I returned home to the holidays, kids home from school, vacations, medical issues, and … here we are today.

So, I am taking the plunge and starting to write again. I have NOT taken a break from music over these last few months, so I still have a lot to share with you. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope this song let’s you know that I am still here and “I’m Good!”

I have posted songs by The Mowgli’s before and I love their sound. They are just so cool and their music makes me happy. This song really resonated with me – I love the beat and the lyrics are fantastic too. This is their new single from their upcoming album, Kids in Love. The single is available now and the album has an expected release date in early April. Enjoy!

SONG OF THE DAY – “I WANT YOU” by Saint Raymond

September 8, 2014

Well, I have survived my first few days of being an empty nester … an empty nester much too early! 🙂

Last week I dropped my son off at his new high school – a golf academy in South Carolina. I never thought that I would ever send one of my children away from home to a boarding school for high school, but here I am. It was a very quick decision and my emotions have been all over the place the last several weeks. I am sure if you look at the last few songs I have posted, you will be able to tell where my head has been. I really, really like my kids and I love to be with them, so how did I let one leave home at 16 for college and one leave at 15 for boarding school? What am I thinking?

I got home Thursday night and I woke up Friday and told myself that I had the day to be sad. So I listened to all the songs that would let me wallow in my sadness. Just to give you a quick idea of the emotional pit I was digging, the songs included: “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift, “Poems, Prayers and Promises” by John Denver, and “When I’m With You” by Ben Rector. That last one by Ben Rector has been on repeat for the last four days! If you don’t think music can impact your emotions, I challenge you to listen to those songs. A friend of mine told me on Friday, “…I think you are going to have to give yourself more than one day to be sad!” Obviously she is right, but I am certainly trying not to be actively sad.

I am happy to report that my son is very happy and the school seems to be a great fit for him. That makes me happy! I am very proud of him and the decision that he has made. I just know that I really miss him and the house sure seems empty without him here. I thought I would have him home with me for two more years, and just like that he is gone.

His outdoor classroom (the indoor one isn’t as pretty)! 😉

I love this song by Saint Raymond and I have been waiting for a day to post it. Saint Raymond is the stage name for Callum Burrows, a very young (only 19!) and talented, British singer-songwriter. Burrows is from Nottingham in the UK. He released his debut EP, Escapade, in early 2013 on Gabrielle Aplin’s (another of my favorite young British artists) Never Fade Records label; two more EPs followed in early 2014. I think we will be hearing much more from Saint Raymond – he has a fabulous sound with great harmonies, cool beats, and interesting lyrics. He is another new artist that has a sound reminiscent of the 80s. Even more exciting, he will be supporting one of my very favorites, Ed Sheeran, on his UK, Ireland, and European arena tour this fall. If there is something that will rocket Saint Raymond onto every playlist, that would be it! I know that you will like his sound.

I have to tell you that the video is the reason that I am posting this song today. It kind of feels like my life right now. Once you watch it, I am sure you will understand. Sometimes I don’t know if I am making the right decision, but when it comes down to it … I have to make a decision and jump. My kids have lived a life full of adventure, change, and challenge and they have risen to all of it. They have a very strong sense of self and embrace life to the fullest. So, how do you say “no” when they are ready for something that maybe I wasn’t ready for … the answer for me was ‘You Don’t.’ My heart is heavy right now, but what a ride as they chase their dreams and I dive in after them as we all enter the next new adventure.

Indie Folk, Indie Pop, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter, UK Artists

SONG OF THE DAY – “CAN YOU HEAR ME” by Dan Croll

August 11, 2014

Can you hear me? What a question! I often find myself asking that same question. In fact, I have found myself asking that a lot over the last few weeks as I have been texting my son in Singapore and only getting one word answers in reply. I may send a text that says something like:

Did you get your laundry done? When do you leave this weekend and will you have wifi?

And the response is pretty typically something like:

No.

NO?! No to which question? And, I think I asked a question that actually needed an answer … not a yes or no. So, then I tried to resend the question and it just would go unanswered, mostly because he thinks he has already responded to me. So I often find myself yelling at the phone, “Can you hear me?!!”

I wish I could say that this only happens with my teens, but alas … my husband is typically just as bad. In fact, this last week while he was traveling, I texted him several times and never got a reply. It often happens when he is busy, so I thought nothing of it. Finally, he called and said, “Have you disappeared or what?” Needless to say, my texts were not going through to him due to a problem with iMessage and both of us had been having one-sided conversations without getting a reply. Obviously, it was more unusual for me not to respond, so he tracked me down. I just figured he couldn’t hear me. 😉

Okay, I am just sitting here cracking myself up with these stories. Let me move on to today’s song …

I actually really like this song by Dan Croll. Dan Croll is another one of those young British singer-songwriters that I seem to like so much. 🙂 Dan is also a very talented musician and plays multiple instruments, including the piano, trumpet, guitar, bass, drums, and organ. He was born in England on July 18, 1990 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, but moved to Liverpool when he was 18 to attend a music school founded by Paul McCartney – Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts.

Croll signed a record deal in 2012 and released his first full length album, Sweet Disarray, in March of this year. He supported Imagine Dragons on their European tour late last year (which is how I discovered him) and Bastille prior to that. I thoroughly enjoy his very distinctive musical sound – I love the folk sound that he incorporates along with the electronic beats, great melodies and harmonies, and lots of different sounds. He cites Paul Simon as one of his greatest influences. If you don’t yet know Dan Croll, I really think you will like his music. If you already know him, here is another opportunity to listen to a great song.

Alternative, Indie Pop, Synthpop, UK Artists

SONG OF THE DAY – “FLAWS” by Bastille

June 9, 2014

Happy Music Monday!

I absolutely love this song! I think the music is perfect and the lyrics are amazing. It is just such an honest view of how we look at ourselves and our flaws. My favorite lyrics are:

All of your flaws and all of my flaws
When they have been exhumed
We’ll see that we need them to be who we are
Without them we’d be doomed

The song is by Bastille, a rock band from London, England. I am certain that most of you will know them by their tremendously popular song, “Pompeii.” Many people may be unfamiliar with any of Bastille’s music other than “Pompeii” because that is the only song that is ever played on the radio. For me, that is a downside to popular radio, they find a song they like by a band and then they overplay it to death. The band actually has a lot of great music and I hope that you will enjoy this song (my favorite) from their Bad Blood album, released in the US in September 2013.

Bastille (named for Bastille Day, which is Smith’s birthday) was originally started as a solo project by singer-songwriter, Dan Smith. The band is now composed of the very talented Dan Smith (singer, songwriter, keyboard player, and producer), Will Farquarson (bass), Chris Wood (drummer), and Kyle Simmons (keyboard player). They all perform back-up vocals, and the chemistry among the band is amazing. Bastille was honored this year at the Brit Awards with British Breakthrough Act of the year. The band was also nominated for three other awards – British Group of the Year, British Single of the Year (for Pompeii), and British Album of the Year. They have been called “the word-of-mouth success of 2013!”

Embrace your flaws! It makes us who we are … and who wants to be anyone else? 🙂

I have attached two versions of this song because they are both amazing – one was recorded at Abbey Road Studios and is literally an amazing acoustic version backed by a room full of strings, and the other is another acoustic version with keyboard, guitar and hand drums. Just both very cool! I would love the Last.fm sessions version on my iPod.

Alternative, Female Artists, Folk Rock, Indie Pop, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter

SONG OF THE DAY – “NIGHT LIKE THIS” by LP

May 4, 2014

Today I am posting a song by an artist that I just find fascinating – LP.

I really love LP’s totally unique sound. This song is from her new album, Forever For Now, scheduled for release on June 3. I am excited to listen to the album in its entirety because I understand there are a lot of new sounds for her and a real focus on her very unique voice.

I was first exposed to LP with her song, “Into the Wild,” which I absolutely adore. Many of you may have heard the song as it was later played on a CitiBank commercial). I also watched one of her live concert performances online and was really taken by her entire performance – her interaction with the audience, her look, her infamous ukulele (an instrument she taught herself to play), her whistle, and that incredibly unique voice. One of my favorite live performances is of Beyonce’s song, “Halo” – watch it here. I am hoping to get a chance to see her perform in person soon; I have heard the performances are electrifying.

LP is a native New Yorker who moved to Los Angeles many years ago in her pursuit of music. She has been on the music scene for many years and, in fact, once had a bidding war to sign her to a recording contract after her performance at SXSW in 2006. Along with being an amazing performer, she is also an incredible songwriter and has written songs for many artists, including Rihanna (“Cheers (Drink to That)“) and many others. Along the way, LP has amassed a loyal fan base and many admirers, including being named as Artist of the Week by Vogue Magazine in 2012, and receiving praise from the likes of CNN, Rolling Stone, and Esquire (see her bio).

Enjoy this new song and keep your eye out for her new album.

Electronic, Indie Pop, Mellow Songs, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter, UK Artists

SONG OF THE DAY – “STRONG” by London Grammar

April 28, 2014

Today I am posting a very different sound from the last post. This song is by London Grammar, a young trio out of (surprisingly) London.Their sound is very ethereal and atmospheric and I find it almost haunting. This song is both beautiful and mesmerizing, and the lyrics are gut wrenching.

London Grammar consists of Hannah Reid (vocalist), Dominic ‘Dot’ Major (keyboards & drums) and Dan Rothman (guitar). Hannah and Dan are both originally from London and they combined with Dot (a Northampton native) while the three were all students at the University of Nottingham. Hannah Reid has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. Many have likened her voice to Florence Welch (Florence & The Machine) and I also made that comparison when I first listened to the trio. I am amazed at the range that Hannah has in her voice and how she can carry the entire song. Hannah also does the majority of the song writing (in particular, the lyrics), but the threesome is credited with writing the entirety of the music together.

London Grammar released their debut album – If You Wait – in September of 2013 after a long wait by their ever growing fan base. That fan base has expanded into the US, as earlier this year they performed at SXSW, performed on many popular late night shows, and did some touring across the States. I imagine they will just continue to grow in popularity and I think it will be interesting to see what they do next. The trio has received many accolades and, in fact, this song was nominated for the 59th Ivor Novello Awards for Best Song Musically and Lyrically. The Awards will take place on Thursday 22 May.

I hope you enjoy this song. I believe the music will just draw you in and you will find it to be the perfect song for those more mellow, reflective moments. Let me know what you think.

Exercise/Running Songs, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Rising Artist, Upbeat Songs

SONG OF THE DAY – “WE COME RUNNING” by Youngblood Hawke

April 21, 2014

Today was the Boston Marathon and I just had to post a song about running today because it inspired me. What an amazing race!

There is no other event quite like the Boston Marathon. Boston is still the only marathon in the world where you have to qualify in order to officially enter the race. In the late 1980s, they started allowing charity runners, but to be an official race entrant you still have to run a qualifying time … and the times are no joke. It is a fast race!

I have run six marathons, qualifying for Boston on three separate occasions, and missing qualifying once by less than 60 seconds. Running and qualifying can become one of those very addictive activities, particularly for those of us with addictive behaviors. haha! I watched my husband run the race in 2003 (when I just missed qualifying) and then I ran it in 2005. It is one of the highlights of my life. What an incredible experience! There just truly is nothing like the Boston!

My parents and my little sister came to support me and watch me run the race, along with my kids who were pretty young at the time. It was so fun to have my family there with me! My kids had their fold up chairs on their backs and their watches on their wrists so that they could track my time. They were expert spectators! I’m not sure either one of my kids are particularly interested in running a marathon right now, but they sure are more educated than most spectators and enjoy the thrill of the whole experience. My daughter is really putting on the pressure for me to qualify and run Boston at least one more time, so that I can run through the “Scream Tunnel” while she is still at Wellesley. After watching the race today, I feel like I just might be sufficiently motivated! 🙂

Did you watch the race today? It was so exciting! The elite runners are just a thing of beauty! It is amazing to see the human body move so incredibly fast and effortlessly. The women were very speedy! In fact, a new course record was set with Rita Jeptoo of Kenya running a 2:18:57. The old course record was set in 2002 by Kenyan, Margaret Okoya, with a finishing time of 2:20:43. Today’s race was so fast that there were actually four women who ran faster than that old course record.

The men were actually amazingly fast as well, but they were still several minutes off the course record time of 2:03:02 set by Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya in 2010. But, the men’s race was by far the most exciting to watch. An American man, Meb Keflezighi from San Diego, California won the race in a time of 2:08:37. He was the first American to win the race since 1983 and he set a PR at the age of 38! He took a lead fairly early in the race and held on to it for a long time, but in the last 2 miles of the race it was TENSE! He was being folllowed by Wilson Chebet of Kenya who was trailing by no more than 6 to 12 seconds for the entire last 2 miles of the race. I was jumping up and down in my kitchen while watching the race being streamed on my computer. It was incredibly exciting and so thrilling to see Meb pick it up at the end and win.

Today’s song is from Youngblood Hawke, an Indie Pop/Rock band from Los Angeles, California. The group was named after the 1961 Herman Wouk novel by the same name. Today’s song is off their full length debut album, Wake Up, released in 2013. The album did very well , landing in the Top 10 on the iTunes Albums chart after it’s release. They are definitely a group to keep your eye on and they just released a new single last month, called “Pressure.”

Female Artists, Indie Pop, New York Artists, Singer/Songwriter, Upbeat Songs

SONG OF THE DAY – “ONE NIGHT TOWN” by Ingrid Michaelson & Mat Kearney

April 15, 2015

I am so excited for this new song! I love it!

I have been waiting for Ingrid Michaelson’s album to officially be released so that I could share this song with you. It was released at midnight … so here it is! As those of you who have been following my blog know, Mat Kearney is my absolute favorite! I have seen him live on four different occasions and would be willing to see him a hundred more times. He and Ingrid Michaelson co-wrote this song and it was just released on her new album, Lights Out, her fifth studio album. I have not yet seen Ingrid Michaelson live, but I am very fond of both her and her music, and I am definitely planning to see her on the upcoming tour. The two artists have toured together in the past and they make beautiful music together; I love how their voices mix. This is a great song by two amazing artists – enjoy!

Folk Pop, Indie Pop, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter, Upbeat Songs

SONG OF THE DAY – “HONEY, LET ME SING YOU A SONG” by Matt Hires

April 10, 2014

It’s Throwback Thursday! Today’s #tbt song was originally posted as my daughter’s Song of the Day on September 12 2013.

Okay, well I warned you yesterday that this would probably be today’s #tbt song. I don’t typically post two days of songs by the same artist, but in posting one of Matt Hire’s brand new songs yesterday, it made me think of my very favorite song by him and I think it is a song that everyone should have on their playlist. I absolutely adore this song and think his voice is amazing! Who wouldn’t want him to sing you a song?

The song was released on his summer 2009 debut album, Take Us To The Start. I love this very raw, acoustic version of him playing the song in the video below. Enjoy!

Folk Pop, Happy Songs, Indie Pop, Rising Artist, Singer/Songwriter

SONG OF THE DAY – “I’M ON YOUR SIDE” by Matt Hires

April 9, 2014

I am posting a song today by an artist that I am very fond of. Matt Hires is a singer-songwriter from Florida who began writing music in his late teens and released his first album at age 22. Now, at the ripe old age of 28, he is still creating great music with a sound all his own, and he released a new independent album just yesterday.

I find his music enjoyable to listen to and very soothing. He has such an authentic voice and the lyrics to his songs are incredibly sincere and honest, something that I just find refreshing.

I am a big fan of his first two full length albums (Take Us to the Start 2008 and This World Won’t Last Forever, But Tonight We Can Pretend 2013), so I was very excited when he announced that he was working on new songs and a new album. His new four-track album, Heartache Machine, was just released yesterday and earlier today it had already reached #16 on the iTunes Singer/Songwriter chart. He is currently on tour and will be here in NYC later this month. Hooray! He is also joining another favorite of mine – Parachute – on tour this summer. I will definitely be watching for those dates!

I love the new album and hope that you will enjoy it too. If you find that you like it, please share it with someone else. I get a kick out of introducing great music to those who might not have otherwise heard it, and I love spreading the news about awesome music and talented artists. Matt Hires, and this new album, is definitely one that should be shared.

Check out my absolute favorite song by Matt Hires – “Honey, Let Me Sing You A Song.” In fact, maybe it should be the Throw Back Thursday song tomorrow. 😉

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