Eclectic Heart

I know that I have gushed about this time and time again but its no secret that I have an admiration for bands with strong female leads (click here to check out a few of my favs).  There's something about them that just stands out to me. The simplicity of seeing women at the forefront and taking charge encourages me to be free and not let anything interfere with my progression.  If they can posses the power to do then surely I can posses the power to be, so electrified was I when I stumbled across this band by the name of Octover. Octover is a duo from Singapore comprised of vocalist Vanessa Fernandez and electronic producer Jason...

A Grammy nod isn't the only thing that Luke James is celebrating this week. Earlier this morning Luke released his new EP Whispers In The Dark.  Executive produced by Danja and Ms. Lago this LP serves as the follow up to his first LP #luke.  Ever since he posted the a capella snippet to Heartbeat on his Tumblr page a few months back I've been itching or this release.  Strawberry Vapors and The Blues would have to be my favorite tracks so far.  Listen and download the album below. ...

As the year comes to an end the time when musicians come together and celebrate their adroit talents has arrived. Nerves rack up and artists succumb to the anticipation of what was and what could potentially be while we, the onlookers, anxiously await who’s going to wear what and who’s accompanying who. February marks the 55th anniversary of the Grammy award ceremony. It sounds crazy but besides the designer dresses and pretty faces I never really got excited about music awards because I always felt as if the same artists win each year; with the occasional sprinkle of surprise. I usually waited until the next day to see what the buz...

So about two weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the Kimbra concert at one of my favorite venues in Philadelphia, The Theatre of the Living Arts, with one of my favorite people, Kelleyah of Turn Up The Music.  It was a sold out show so the place way jam packed but we secured our spot -- front and center.  Kimbra was joined by this awesome band out of Bridgeport, Connecticut by the name of The Stepkids.  I had never heard of them before but I figured since they were opening for Kimbra they had to be good.  When they came out on stage I had no idea what to expect.  All white everything was the attire for the evening.  White shirts, ...

It's amazing where you can end up while voyaging through YouTube.  Stumbled upon this vibing tune while listening to The Neighbourhood on the 'tuuubbeeee' as I like to call it.  Pretty groovy if you ask me. Chet officially gets my stamp of approval.  If you like this you might also like his rendition of Blackstreet's No Diggity.  It's got a nice little twist.   ...

People always ask me 'where in the world do you pull music from' and I have an answer to that question.  I'm quite the observer and my ear is always in tune to the sound around me regardless of what I'm doing.  I'm the type of person that can sit down and watch an intense scene in a movie or television series and despite the actor's efforts to keep me completely reeled in, notice the faint background music.  I can walk into a store for instance completely determined to buy a particular item and forget in a heartbeat why I'm there in the first place because I'm too busy jamming out to the tune playing over the intercom. Yea, I'm THAT gi...

Through the wonderful powers of the internet and the untimely fashion of fate I have stumbled upon a pretty little gem in the form of California natives The Neighbourhood.  While scouring for music for a completely different artist I came across this band and decided to check them out and boy am I happy I did.  After listening to their track Sweater Weather I immediately checked on Spotify to see if they had any other music out.  Turns out they released an EP independently by the name of 'I'm Sorry' not to long ago which is just as good.  If you don't have Spotify click here to listen to it via their website.  The band is currently on ...

You would've thought it was Christmas by the way I squealed when Local Natives announced that they were making a new record.  As devastated as I was after a near two year hiatus and the exit of former band mate Andy Hamm, I kept hope alive.  I knew that in due time they'd be back to making hits and then just like that...my prayers were answered.  Their debut album Gorilla Manor quickly became one of my favorite albums so thrilled doesn't even begin to explain how excited I am about their second installment Hummingbird which is due for release on January 29th.  Check out their new single 'Breakers'.  ...

So let's rewind for a minute.  Prior to our little two month hiatus I prepared a post about Canada's very own Rochelle Jordan who you may remember from one of my very first posts.  Failing to give her a proper introduction I figured now is as good a time as any. Rochelle Jordan is an emerging singer-songwriter hailing from Toronto, Canada -- the same city that bred Drake, Melanie Fiona, and Deadmau5.  Leave the auto-tune and 808's for the generics because there's this 90's contemporary vibe about Rochelle that makes me nostalgic but fills the void for authentic r&b.  In August she released her highly anticipated EP 'Pressure' which I h...

It's been a while since I've really been wowed by an artist but Gary Clark Jr. is amazing.  Over the past ten years he has been working his way to the top and he is finally getting the well deserved exposure that he needs.  His infectious guitar rhythms has people coining him the new generation's Jimi Hendrix.  He has toured nationwide with a number of artists such as Beck, John Mayer, Alicia Keys, and the Dave Matthews Band among many others.  Determined to make a name for himself since the age of twelve, Gary grabbed any opportunity thrown his way.  He performed at a number of local shows and used them to network his way around whic...

The weather is doing something crazy outside right now but f@!* a Hurricane Sandy, I'm vibing out to Blu & Exile's 'Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them'.  Ever since 2007's 'Below The Heavens' I have been patiently waiting for another release from this impeccable duo and let me tell you, I loved that album.  Listening to it day in and day out is the main reason why I survived my freshman and sophomore year of college.  You Are Now In The Clouds will forever, and I do mean forever, be my favorite Exile produced track of all time.  Equipped with the killa Cali flow Blu ripped through every record and I expected nothing less o...

|| Age: 20 || Blog: Young, Wilde & Free || Twitter: @YoungWildeFree || What does music mean to you? I honestly believe music is the reason i'm still breathing, it saved my life. There have been times where I may have felt like it was nothing worth living for, like I couldn't go on, and I would be able to listen to amazing artists like Eminem, Erykah Badu, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and The Roots and I'd realize things were gonna be ok. Music made me realize that even-though life will kick your ass sometimes, it does get better. It will never be perfect, but it will get better. How would you describe your taste in music? ...

The soul weeps, the soul smiles, the soul sings, and UK's Jessie Ware is going to show us how its done.  See Jessie is another fine example of the hidden talents rising from London. I remember her lovely voice from SBTRKT's self-titled debut last year and I'm thrilled for the release of her album Devotion which comes out next week. Judging by the album teaser below I already know that my favorite tracks are going to be Wildest Moments and Sweet Talk. Definitely be on the look out for an album review.  ...

If I had to sit here and count the amount of people that have gained deals via internet buzz alone, you'd think I was crazy just for trying. When I think of the entertainment aspect of the internet I imagine it as one big open mic night.  Everyone is given the chance to showcase their talents and promote themselves.  They are vulnerable and completely stripped of their comfort zone placed in front of people that they don't know. Now at this stage one or two things could happen -- #1 the audience loves you or #2 they boo your ass off the stage. I've seen quite a few #2 scenarios but not in this case. I'd like to introduce you all to M...

So I just joined this pretty nifty website titled This Is My Jam. While browsing around I was inspired to start a little something something. I introduce you to the first installment of "Rotation Station". Here I'll update you on the top 5 songs that I just can't get enough of. I'll more than likely swap this with the Song of The Week spot because they are basically the same thing, just with an extra four songs. No need to be repetitive, right?  Passion Pit  - Constant Conversations There once was a time when I was overly obsessed with Passion Pit and secretly in love with Michael Angelakos. Although some may beg to differ, Mic...

Last year JoJo took matters into her own hands and gave us her take on Drake's Marvin's Room. The buzz surrounding this garnered over 27 million hits on Youtube which is a major plus, especially for an unofficial remix. As fate would have it JoJo teamed up with October's Very Own Noah "40" Shebib.  With all the label drama going on right now and the constant pushing back of her forthcoming album, Jumping Trains, I wasn't sure when we'd be hearing new material so I'm super stoked about this.  Don't get me wrong JoJo has the vocal range to sing just about anything thrown her way but I think sexy/sultry suits her well. Check out the song be...

I can honestly say that Elle Varner's Perfectly Imperfect is an album that I am anticipating.  I haven't been disappointed with anything that she has released as of yet and judging by what I've heard, the album will be fire. I already knew I'd love this song just by listening to the first five seconds.  Elle's EP Conversational Lush served as a good introduction to the person known as Elle Varner and I think that Perfectly Imperfect will be an even better introduction to the artist that we're all still getting to know.  On the EP Elle gave us a little taste of what she has to offer and showed us her humorous personality.  I still play "W...

Kimbra has finally released a video for the ever so poppington Two Way Street. The video was directed by veteran Matthew Rolston, the man responsible for TLCs "Creep" and Destiny Child's "Stand Up For Love". It features Kimbra running through a forest jumping through scene after scene while being chased by a man. The chase seems playful at first but the man seems all too determined to get to our dear Kimbra. She's seen walking in the middle of a two way street and I'm sure the premise of the video has a lot to do with that ahem...hint the title of the song. Kimbra outshines in this video with her beautiful bright eyes and cherry pai...

Yuna is a 25 year old Malaysian songstress who encompasses a sound all of her own. Her majestic melodies are light and refreshing but still hold the power to elevate you to the next level. She's been writing her own music since the age of 14 and has performed in numerous venues in Malaysia. Once Indie-Pop record label heard the songstress blow, they were on the next plane to Malaysia in order to convince her to sign a deal with New York based record label, Fader Label and yes she took the deal! She's received honorable praise from artists such as Pharrell Williams and Russell Simmons and has had critics raving since the release of h...

Caught A Ghost is a three-piece band comprised of singer/songwriter Jesse Nolan, drummer Stephen Edelstein, and actress/singer Tessa Thompson from Los Angeles, California. I stumbled upon this awesome band while watching an episode of Suits over the weekend and they are pretty rad. The addition of their song Time Go definitely made the last scene of that episode. The band infuses the elements of classic mo-town, dubstep, and contemporary electronica with hip-hop to create their undeniable unique sound. They have performed with Gotye and are currently working on a few other shows. There's not much info on the band as of now but from w...

Darnit! As soon as I finally decide to write a post about my favorite summer jams I stumble upon the most epic summer tune ever. Ugh that would happen to me wouldn't it -- but you know what they say, better late than never.  With that said I would like to add this new tune by Little Dragon to my  current summer playlist.  Little Drag-ON! (as I like to call them) teamed up with Absolut Vodka to promote their new drink Absolut Punch.  Now I'm more of a wine tasting kind of gal but the video for this single is making me a little thirsty. And now I want to dance.  Can I just add that Yukimi looks stunning in that chocolate dress. Love it!...

∂eƒ Sound & Nikko Gray - Birds.i.View You remind me of a ceiling  so high so high  you remind me of a feeling  so high so high A birds eye view  me time you  equals you're,  my equal babe Opening verse:  you're affecting me  skitsometrically  I made that up  effectively so what would you call this  awhatchamacallit?  what should be call this ?  no really Hook Closing verse:  You fluctuate my thoughts  people think I'm off  everybody's right  and we really are? you're my favorite memory I'm touching  You're the sky whens theres nothing Hook/outrance ...

National Anthem is one of my favorite tracks from Lana Del Rey and this video is about to become my favorite too. Two million views in three days.  That's ahh-mazing, especially for someone who is still on the come up. The concept of the video is very unique and old school.  In the video Lana portrays the late Jackie O and NY based rapper A$AP Rocky portrays John F. Kennedy. Since its debut this video has stirred up quite the controversy but I don't see what the big issue is.  I mean as the song suggests:  "It's a love story for the new age..." The only words that come to mind are beautiful, brilliant, and slightly creepy lol. Check ...

|| Age: 23 || Blog #1: Belladona || Blog #2: Pure Love What does music mean to you? Despite how trite it may sound music means everything to me. When needed it: nourishes my spirit, calms my mind, and fuels my body. It is essential to my life. It is everything –  Colours of sound / Scales and beauty / Audio scenery / Electric love and rhythmic symmetry / Written in memory / Beautifully crafted scenery / Collective entity / Something to belong to / A source of energy / The possibilities / Wave lengths and bandwith / Higher vibration / Energizing entire lands / Intangible invisible but undeniable / Plays the language of excitemen...

Krystale is a 21 year old Dominican from Montreal Canada with a musical ear and a talent for composition far beyond her years.  She's often compared to the likes of Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, and Sarah McLachlan due to her raspy voice, but what really separates her from the rest is her astounding ability to create electronic soul/jazz compositions by fusing genres to compliment her unique voice.  Last October she independently released an EP titled Reboot in which three of the four songs, “Eurydice”, “Thumb Wars”, and “Bag of Gold” were written, arranged, and produced by Krystale in her home studio.  What inspires her music is her love ...

It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life, and I felt the need to review this new Chester French record. It's been nearly three years since the release of their first installment Love The Future so I was a bit overzealous when I heard that Music 4 Tngrs was being released this week. As I've mentioned before I have always been a fan of this band. Their fun, energetic, and pretty much carefree when it comes to expressing themselves which I admire. D.A Wallach, the singer/songwrtiter of the two, makes no promise to bite his tongue as he touches upon topics such as materialism, love, and interracial relationships. Throughout the ...

If you haven't heard of Stacy Barthe by now then shame on you.  Where have you been silly? Good thing I'm here to give you the low down.  I was first introduced to Stacy last year when she collaborated with Frank Ocean on the B. Carr production Without You. My speakers loved me that year because boy did I play the heck out  of that song.  It just flowed so well with my mood at the time so I really connected with it.  Next thing I knew she was all over the music blogs and it was complete bliss from there on out. In February Stacy released her second EP "In The Inbetween" via John Legend's Homeschool Music record label which received posi...

Unbuttoned is a r&b/pop infused four piece band from Toronto.  The group, who has been together for the last  two years, released their 7-track EP Electric Kingdom via bandcamp and the first official single from the EP is the groove sensation "This Feeling".  When I first caught wind of the band I was very pleased with their sound.  I like how they incorporate different elements of music to create their own unique vibe.  My heart nearly skipped a beat when I heard the track Nightlight because it samples Joni Mitchell's "Blue" which was also sampled by Blu on his record "My World Is" (one of my fav Blu records).  All of the tracks a...

As I sit here sipping some hot tea I reflect on the awesomeness that was my weekend. On Friday I spent the day with my lovely sister in New York.  We shopped, people watched, and later had lunch at Bistro Lamazou which was a great experience.  On Saturday I attended my cousin's wedding and once again the weather was perfect.  She looked so gorgeous in her wedding gown.  I had to fight back the tears in fear of ruining my makeup.  Everything worked out really nicely and all in all it was a really fun night. On Sunday my family and I went out for sushi which definitely hit the spot.  I tried fried ice cream for the first time which was dif...

 Polica  - I See My Mother If it sounds right I'll repeat If it looks good to me I will make it mine For the night If it feels good I will chase it If it looks good to me I will make it mine For the night Oh what a web I have woven myself in I'm always chasing after somebody else All by myself (x2) I see my mother She's at the window She's letting down her long black hair She won't let me in there (x2) Oh what a web I have woven myself in I'm always chasing after somebody else All by myself (x4) I swallow whiskey, I take to powder I drink the flowers, but I am still so, so sad And that makes you fe...

My relationship with Spotify has been growing stronger and stronger lately.  I love it because it allows me to stream all the music that I want for free 99 but I'm too broke to pay to have it on my iPhone.  So no...no you can't have your cake and eat it too. I do love it though because it has introduced me to this lovely songbird by the name of Charlene Soraia.  Charlene is a London based singer-songwriter who oozes all of the talent that I wish I had. Her road to stardom spiked when her cover of Wherever You Will Go by The Calling was used in an advert last year.  Since then she has released her debut album Moonchild via Peacefrog Reco...

Heart Kill Giant is an acoustic folk band from the UK whose dreamy, acoustic folk songs, are slow burning tales of love and regret. The 12 songs from their upcoming EP collection were inspired by the events and characters of a Whisky Bar in Soho over an uncompromising London Winter. With hearts not so much on sleeves but at the bottom of bottles, stories flowed along with the drink and Heart Kill Giant took the tales of the lovers, last chancers, late night revelers and Soho raconteurs, and turned these confessions and declarations into The Heart, The Kill and The Giant EP’s. The three EP’s will be released on June 11th as a limite...

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 Emily King - Ordinary Heart  I have been rooting for miss Emily King ever since the release of The Seven EP so I am so glad to hear that she is releasing new material.  Ordinary Heart follows through with the same promising charm as the EP as Emily opens up about her struggles with being imperfect in a relationship while still managing to give it her all.  In my eyes this woman can do no wrong and I am looking forward to what she has in store for us.  ...

 Written by Kelleyah of Turn Up The Music  x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x I was driving into work the other day flipping radio stations in a desperate attempt to avoid the talking/commercials when I finally landed on 105.9 The X. I don’t listen to that station very often, but every now and again they are right on the money, and this was one of those times. The DJ said something like “This next 3 minutes will change your life”, a tad dramatic for 8am, but curiosity got the best of me.  Within the first few seconds I knew he wasn’t lying. With a smile on my face, and a new song to play on repeat in the office, I continued on ...

 Little Dragon  - Twice Twice I turn my back on you I fell flat on my face but didn't loose Tell me where would I go Tell me what led you on I’d love to know Was it the blue night Gone fragile Was it both men In wonder steady gone under Was it the light ways So frightening Was it two wills One mirror holding us dearer now Thought I had an answer once But your random ways swept me along Colossal signs so I got lost With so many lovers singing soft Was it the blue night Gone fragile Was it both men In wonder steady gone under Was it the light ways So frightening Was it two wills One mirror holding us dea...

Chester French has always been one of my favorite groups and I'm super stoked that they're releasing music after almost a four year hiatus.  Their new single Black Girls is such a catchy tune and I admire their ode to the beautiful black woman of the world (woop woop).  The lyrics are honest and bold but the matter in question is the video.  The lyrics go a little something like this: This ain't no fetish, ain't objectifying no one I reject your deconstruction of my taste But ignoramus always look in my direction They're so frustrated I don't keep it in the race  Like they've never seen this before  Like it's 1954  But the whol...

"Whatever you do, don't funk with my GROOVE!" <3 ...

Gang Colours is the musical alias of Southampton's Will Ozanne and I've grown quite attached to his sound. All it took was one listen of Fancy Restaurant and the rest was history.  If you had to describe it I guess his sound would be James Blake meets Gold Panda, but with a little more soul. x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x ...

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Women tend to be the silent voices in this male dominated music industry so girl bands/groups and female fronted bands always excite me.  It's like yeaaa we rock and we're proud and I just love that. So, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite female bands as well as my favorite female fronted bands of the moment.  These women are the definition of fierce. Oww owww! Who are your favorite female fronted or all-female bands? x x x x x x x x x x x x x x Dum Dum Girls from San Pedro, California - Listen Up!: Coming Down - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Noisettes from London, United Kin...