I have decided to dedicate a few days each week to a particular theme. Mondays will now be “New Music Monday.” On this day I will post a song from either a new artist that is up and coming or new music from an artist you may already know.
Today I am posting a new song from a duo that I absolutely adore. This is Hudson Taylor – an Irish folk pop duo with brothers Alfie and Harry Hudson-Taylor. This is their new single which was just released a couple of weeks ago and which is on their new EP – Feel It Again.
I have posted about Hudson Taylor in the past – back in 2013 and 2015. Click here to see those posts and listen to other fabulous songs by them. I have been following the brothers since the spring of 2012 and I just love their sound. I hope you enjoy this great new music.
One more thing. They are heading out on a North American tour with Gabrielle Aplin (UK artist and long time girlfriend of Alfie) later this month. I have been trying to work out my schedule so that I can see them. If they are going to be in your area, I would highly recommend you check it out!
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.
All organized in his new room.Home away from home.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.
The last few days I have been able to get outside for a run in close to 60 degree weather. What a joy! I love the sunshine, being in my running shorts, and having to stop halfway thru the run to remove my long sleeve top and tie it around my waist. That is just pure pleasure. 🙂
Another pleasure is listening to today’s artist. I am posting a song by a young artist (21 years old!) from the UK that I have been a fan of for several years. I have followed Gabrielle Aplin‘s music since 2011 and have often had to purchase it from the UK iTunes site since the songs were not available here in the US. I am, therefore, very excited to announce that her album, English Rain, (which was released in the UK this month last year) was finally released here in the US yesterday (May 6, 2014). In addition to the album release yesterday, she also performed live in concert in NYC last night. I am excited to see her extend her reach into the States and I thought it was a perfect day to post another song by her. I posted my favorite song by her – “Home” – on this page back in December.
I find Gabrielle Aplin‘s music just very honest and easy to listen to. I really like this song and I love the video I have attached where you can watch her perform in her element, standing by herself playing the guitar (or the piano) and singing. She received her first guitar from her parents at age 11 and says that she was influenced musically by listening to her parents’ Joni Mitchell and Bruce Springsteen albums. She is an incredibly talented young lady! Her full EP is definitely worth checking out and I am certain we will hear more from this rising young star.
As you know, another favorite musical group of mine from that side of the pond (Ireland) is Hudson Taylor. The brothers, Alfie and Harry, and Gabrielle are great mates who have known each other for over four years when they all moved to London. In fact, I have discovered that Alfie and Gabrielle are dating… so cute! It is fun to watch these young artists develop friendships with each other and support each other in their respective journeys. Let me know what you think about today’s song – I would love to hear from you.
Today I am posting one of my favorite songs. It is kind of cheating because I posted this on my daughter’s page well over a year ago, but it is just a fitting song for the day and I wanted to share it.
Gabrielle Aplin is a young English singer-songwriter and musician (just turned 21), and I find her incredibly talented. Her posts on Facebook are always so refreshing, showing her enjoying and appreciating her life’s path. This song is from her third album, Home, which was released in January of 2012. It is a beautiful song and one that she described on a blog post, saying:
“I’ve definitely written about Home before. I had the chorus for about a year before I finished the song. I wrote it when I moved to London two years ago. It’s about realising where home is for you. For me it wasn’t the house I was in but the people I was with.”
That is probably why I always felt such a connection with this song. I can completely relate to the lyrics. The lyrics are amazing; very honest and open. Because we have moved so many times (11 different cities!), I completely understand that moment when you realize that home is so much more than a “place.”
Today I am longing for my two missing pieces. My husband has been traveling almost all month and has been gone, most recently, for the last 7 days. We are having a large snowstorm here in the northeast today, so I am worried about his flight making it home tonight and I am so ready for him to be home (if even just for a couple of days). My daughter has just a few more days of finals left before she gets to come home, and I am so excited to have her back. The house feels very empty when everyone is not here. It certainly doesn’t feel like “home.” I am looking forward to having it feel like home again.
