Hello friends! I am here with the first Musical Monday! And a happy Labor Day my fellow Americans and Canadians uwu
There isn't a lot of things I can do very, very well, but one of those things is excavating musical sound nuggets tucked back inside the caves tucked between the hills that are alive with the sounds of music. No but seriously.
One of my favorite hobbies is exploring the crevices of Youtube, Soundcloud, Tumblr and other sites where obscure and wonderful music of any genre can be found!
I will choose 5 artists who are all of a similar theme (either genre, look, atmosphere, etc) and list them here with two example songs, a little Wiki description and why I think they're great!I will start with #5 and work my way up to the one I think is the best of the group! If you're anything like me, hopefully you enjoy finding/hearing about new artists to listen to and add to your music library :D
This Musical Monday is: Electronic Music
*NOTE: These are artists obscure to the masses. People who are into these specific genres of course, may consider one or more of these artists as already hugely popular or famous, but to the general public they are still pretty "underground" (it would seem).
**NOTE.2: Some mentioned might be unknown/obscure sub-monikers or other projects of otherwise famous artists. While the person might be well-known, the particular projects I mention aren't.
***NOTE.3: All of the music mentioned is clean, positive, and encouraging music meant to be constructive and uplifting to the listener. Sorry no dirty stuff or cursing.
5. MitiS
- Genre: House/Drums&Bass/Dubstep/Electro
- Website: http://www.soundcloud.com/mitis
- Some Songs: "Touch" - "Parting" - "Life"
From The Wiki:No information given.- Most Songs Include: Drums & Bass beats (think really fast and rapid beats), electronic pings and dings, some dubstep sounds, piano melodies that get you pumped and energized.
I'm not a big fan of drums and bass music for whatever reason... it is a specific genre where the beats are extremely rapid and it just isn't my thing (too fast for me, to be honest), however I still love MitiS. His take on D&B music is strangely tolerable and I don't feel lost in a sea of "oonts tss oonts tss oonts oonts tss" rapidly firing by my ears.
I listen to MitiS when I have something to do that takes a lot of energy. If I'm doing something where I have to walk around a lot, cleaning out my room, or just riding in the car going and it's going pretty fast. MitiS' music is very energetic, but not tiring. It is lively, like a fire.
For me I have the best experience listening when I'm watching something moving or dancing, and not necessarily myself. Perhaps watching cars or people go by in a window or on the highway, or something to that effect.
4. SHINGO NAKAMURA
- Genre: Progressive House/Non-Vocal Trance/Instrumental
- Website: http://www.shingonakamura.com/
- Some Songs: "Side Trip" - "Scroll" - "I'm With You"
From the Wiki:No information given- Most Songs Include: House beats (think fashion runway almost), light and refreshing sounding piano and electronic machinery type noises throughout. Little to no vocals(just sections of syllables if there is a voice).
If you aren't familiar, Trance is just a type of electronic music. It is basically a more chill, watered down version of techno. House is another type of electronic music and is very similar to Trance. The only differences between the two are small (like focus on the beat vs vocals) and honestly don't matter all that much unless you're nitpicky. :P
I love Shingo Nakamura's music so, so very much. I often listen to him when I am doing something like math or drawing something very detailed. His music is good for concentrating on tedious and high-concentration work.
I don't know much about him or how he makes his music(no wiki or anything), but all that matters is that it's beautiful, he makes it, and it's there to listen to! His work is very skillfully composed and just beautiful.
3.YURI KANE
- Genre: Progressive Trance/Instrumental
- Website: http://yurikane.com/
- Some songs: "Right Back" - "Whirlpool" - "Around You"
- From The Wiki: "Yuri Kane is a Russian-based dj and trance producer from the city of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, who in autumn 2009 blew up the trance scene with his impeccable production 'Right Back' supported by legendary DJs including Pete Tong on 'BBC Radio One.'"
- Most Songs Include: A strong beat, mechanical noises (to the beat), dreamy melodies, a sense of escapism at it's finest. Unfortunately he doesn't hate a multitude of songs....yet.
This type of music is good for studying, reading, drawing, doing homework or projects, cleaning, running/jogging/walking, dancing and of course, daydreaming and window-gazing. As with any progressive music, you have to listen for a few minutes and let it build up. It will start with the beat, then add on more and more of the music as the song plays on (think Canon in D by Pachelbel). Give them a few seconds and you will start to love the songs.
I love progressive trance, because it is very easy to listen to, but still leaves you feeling refreshed and with a positive spirit. Yuri Kane in particular makes some of the most daydreamiest music I've ever heard. I've spent many a night stargazing and many a day drawing or working out homework listening to Yuri Kane's work. If you long for music to listen to when you're doing a 4 page research paper while it lightly rains at the nearest cafe then Yuri Kane is the one for you... or if you just appreciate well constructed Progressive Trance music.
2. LIGHTS
- Genre: Synthpop/Electopop
- Website: http://music.iamlights.com/
- Some Songs: "Ice" - "Oil and Water" - "Second Go"
- From the Wiki: "Lights (born Valerie Anne Poxleitner; April 11, 1987) is a Canadian musician, singer, and songwriter.[...]Lights tours extensively to support her recordings. In 2009, she was awarded the Juno Award for New Artist of the Year."
- Most Songs Include: Keyboard/synth, metaphorical lyrics, themes of positivity, moving on, not wanting to grow up, daydreaming about a better future, and unfortunately she does mumble words sometimes.
I've been listening to Lights' music since high school (that's like 5 years which is pretty good for me) and so many of her songs have helped me get through my high school days. I wouldn't say she is a Christian, but many of her songs (ie, "Face Up", "Saviour", "Second Go", "River") are very encouraging, uplifting, and inspiring to someone in need of a little musical spiritual pick-me-up.
One advice I'd give is looking up the lyric videos of her songs, if you are new to her music. Many times she tends to mumble and it can be hard to hear what she is singing until you see it. Just a heads up. Of course, if you're the kind of person who doesn't care either way, then it's no problem!
1. OCEANLAB
- Genre: Trance
- Website: http://www.aboveandbeyond.nu/ | http://www.anjunabeats.com/
- Some Songs: "If I Could Fly" - "Lonely Girl" - "Sirens Of The Sea" - BONUS SONG "Clear Blue Water(Ferry Costen Remix)"
- From The Wiki: "OceanLab (or Above & Beyond presents OceanLab) was a Vocal trance group formed in London, England, in 2000, consisting of vocalist Justine Suissa and the three members of Above & Beyond: Jono Grant, Paavo Siljamäki, and Tony McGuinness."
- Most Songs Include: Light and airy vocals, themes of love, love lost, and being/loving yourself, synth, piano, more perfect examples of escapism at it's finest.
SWEET BUTTERED BABIES this has GOT to be my favorite one of the list. Sadly, they were just a one-time deal. Oceanlab was the project brainchild of Trance group Above and Beyond(A&B) with Justine Suissa doing all vocals. This particular project of A&B is my absolute favorite for a few reasons. Firstly, it was my introduction into Trance and House music in 2009 (I'm sure most familiar with trance would agree, quite a luxury introduction to the genres).
Secondly, I am someone who finds great peace in water/ocean/sea/nautical themed...well, anything! Maybe it's the Pisces in me, maybe I'm just a pirate at heart...who knows, but there is something about just the sound of Oceanlab's songs that capture the feeling of being in, near, and underwater. Even if the words of the songs are not ocean-themed, the feeling is still there. Oceanlab perfectly captures that atmosphere and every song is absolutely gorgeous.
If you listen to nothing and no one else on this list, I beg of you to just listen to Oceanlab! This collection of songs is good for an array of things, from studying and drawing to exercise and relaxing. There are a million remixes to each song (a little bit of a hyperbole but seriously, there are a LOT of remixes) so if you like the words or message of one song, but not particularly the sound, you can find remixes all over Youtube and Soundcloud. There is even a whole CD of Oceanlab remixed!
And that's it for today's Musical Monday! Hopefully you have discovered someone new that you love and can share that music with the people you know!
and of course, if you'd like to suggest a group, band, artist, or project to me to discover and listen to, don't be afraid to comment here or visit my Tumblr or Deviantart and drop me a line!
