31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 18

Artist : Crystal Castles

Crystal Castles are an electronic music band. I was listening to them on soundcloud, which happens to be crowded with remixed tracks of their original songs and I did not like the remixed songs at all. I then visited their website and listened to their album there.I don't usually listen to electronic music, it's a personal choice. Crystal Castles was beyond my music comfort zone and I did not enjoy it as much as I would enjoy other music. It was an okay listen. That's just my opinion though! :)

Here: https://soundcloud.com/crystal-castles

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 16

June, Day 17
Artist : Ladyhawke

Ladyhawke is the stage name of Pip Brown from New Zealand. I listened to the self-titled album, Ladyhawke. Considering I found the album on a YouTube account named "Stuck in the 90s", it does feel like I've been transported to when I was just born. Good times! I can literally imagine a bushy haired girl with an oversized denim jacket and roundmetal-rimmed glasses with trippy video effects singing. Much fun!
If you want to revisit the 90s through music from 2008, this album is the answer. Thank you!

31 Days of Music Discovery| Days 11-15

When i started this off i did not consider factors such as family functions, then falling sick after these functions and my general state of mind for not being able to "discover" music. The past four days I haven't even touched my computer as I've been enjoying living the lives of fictional characters from books I've been reading and just needed an escape from reality. But I did however find new artists.
So in five days I've discovered two artists.

Panda Bear

I was under the impression that Panda Bear was a band. Obviously drawn to it because of the name. But it actually consists of this cool guy in the picture and Panda Bear is "experimental", electronic music. He does have a band though, named "Animal Collective". I listened to the album Tom Boy. It's pretty good and quite I enjoyed it. It was the type of electronic music that i found i could enjoy and so I give it a thumbs up.

Jeremy Loops

I found Jeremy Loops on JacksGap's channel on YouTube through their series 'Shed Sessions".
Jeremy Loops is from Cape Town and makes really catchy, folk-type, happy-sounding tunes that made me rock my head from side to side and clap my hands and tap my feet to the beats (all at the same time of course). His music is perfect on a gloomy monday evening with tea and a spirit that is in need of  lifting. He is definetly an artist i will keep returning to listen to!

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 10

June, Day 10
Artist: BROODS

So, I found ONE MORE duo. There's something about two people making music and me finding them. I do not do this intentionally. I do not google "Music Duo". I need you to believe me!
Anyway......BROODS is a brother-sister duo from New Zealand. I listened to their self titled EP-BROODS. When it started off they sounded a lot like "Oh Wonder". But that was it. They do sound like a lot of other artists i listen to but still have their own identity. They'e mainly female vocals and occasional male vocals and that sounds pretty good to my ears.  I will most likely listen to their album "Evergreen" tomorrow. My prediction is, I'll (probably) like it! :)

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 9

June, Day 9
Artist: Warpaint
I think I may have found a gem today! Warpaint, a four-piece, indie, all girl band. I cannot believe i had not heard of them before. But now that I have, I couldn't be happier.

Look at that picture! They look like they know they're about to take over my life! That's right. Firstly, I listened to their self-titled album, "Warpaint". Yes, you guessed it! I loved it! I'm no expert genre-ist so i googled it found that they are indie, psychedelic rock, art rock and dream pop. That i the most accurate genre description because that's exactly what they sound like. I get a calm, dreamy, trance like feel from their songs. 

                                     

Since they have two studio albums, I listened to both of the albums.

"The Fool"

This album is more upbeat. At times it even reminded me of the band "Daughter". It has a very 60's or 70's feel to it. I think I like it better than their self-titled album. I will certainly keep coming back to them a lot!

Good music excites me so much! :D

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 8

I have successfully crossed the one week mark with one missed update. Now that i feel more than better, I shall update punctually!
So, today I finally got around to listening to Anirudh Ravichander's eighth cinema music score for the movie "Maari". Not a lot of people know I am a huge fan of Anirudh Ravichander music and thoroughly enjoy a lot of his songs. His songs are in a way typical tamil songs but also aren't(?). It has the blend of thapang and hip-hop, for example and i find that it's a genius combination. Anyway, the album is really catchy and my personal favourite is " Oru Vidha Aasai" which sounds very new-age, jazzy and too damn catchy. 

(And no, i am not Tamilian, but i do have tamil influences in my family. You don't have to be the speaker of a particular language to enjoy the music right? Right!)

Now, I chose to listen to the band "Ra Ra Riot". This indie band has a cello player and a violinist. They go from sounding like musicians from the Victorian era at times, to 90's teen movie theme songs and so obviously i loved listening to them. I listened to their album "The Orchard". I enjoyed it! 

     

                                         

31 Days of Music Discovery | Day 7

Today has been, what seems like to me, a very short day. Why? Because firstly, I woke up at 12 in the noon. That's half a day spent in sleep. Secondly, today was a very good bollywood movie day. i watched the brilliant "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara" (again) and it was the best therapy I could've asked for. Naturally, one of the reasons it has that effect is because of it's music. You guessed it, I went back and listened to the movie soundtrack:

Later today I also happened to watch "Haider". What an intense movie. 

Before bed, to unwind I clicked on a random suggested album by youtube:  

                                    

                                        Department of Eagles - The Cold Nose
I'm still listening to it. I feel like it is a perfect album to unwind to after a lazy day. (lolz)
I could say I like it. *thumbs up*

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 6 K-Pop

I popped out of my music comfort zone to Korean Pop music. I took that leap, I did! I would be lying if i said i have never ventured into the world of K-Pop! I had my fair share of Big Bang a few years ago, particularly because one of the guys' name is AJ; which happens to be my self-designated nickname.
I decided i would listen to the girl kpop group, After School. I am currently enveloped in nostalgia about school and college and that is probably the biggest reason for finding them. I love how they're all so doll-like and cute. The first song i watched was "Flashback".

I loved the video and I particularly loved the last strut.

I am currently listening to their album "Virgin". To be honest, i do not know a thing they're singing about, but the tune is catchy and i wouldn't mind if it was the soundtrack of my life because it's just like my life. I have no idea what's happening, but i would like some good music to dance to whilst being clueless. I dont know. Here:

  

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 5 oopsie

I am aware i couldn't keep up my commitment to myself to find 31 new artists on an everyday basis. I am actually quiet disappointed that i failed to make an update as early as day 5. I now excuses is not the way to go, but it was my mother's birthday and I was out with her and then i fell sick. But i did listen to the "Pitch Perfect 2" soundtrack on repeat.

Who can blame me for wanting to listen to it on repeat? I also like to pretend to be able to sing like the Bellas, so I do and it just makes me feel better ok? Every time i listen to the World Championship song i just get so emotional I shed a tear or two (or a hundred). It is aca-perfect! :')

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 4

June, Day 4
Artist: James Blake
James Blake is quiet different from the previous artists. He has a quiet sound mainly characterised with electronic beats. Listening to his songs from his album "Overgrown" took me to a rainy street in London (perhaps) where i wore a grey hoodie shaking my head to the beats and trying to robot dance for some songs and other songs which had me imagining myself in the "All of Me" music video (weird, I know) I noticed that at least three songs on this album had this background sound that sounded like the loud horn of a truck. I don't think I've ever heard such a thing in any other song.
Overall a catchy, calm and not so mainstream sounding music.

Album:

The second album i listened to was "James Blake". This album for me was way too electronic and i enjoyed only parts of the songs. 

Album:

I'd say James Blake would make nice background music as you craft or something.

31 Days of Music Discovery| Day 3

June Day 3
Artist : Oh Honey

Source: Oh Honey Facebook

Oh Honey is (another) male&female duo. What's new?! I found them again through Oh Wonder. (Oh i wonder why?! COOKIIIEES!) So two out of three new artists I've discovered are a male/female duo, have "oh" in their name and sound amazing. This could be because the male and female voices together sounds something akin to knitting a scarf with two colours of yarn; warm and diverse. Sort of. Other than these similarities, their music styles are completely different. Oh Honey has an upbeat, happy, fist pumping kind of sound. The first song I listened to was :  

                                    

Oh Honey- Sugar, You

When I showed this song to my friend she said and I quote "Hehehehe, I bet they are big on saccharinity!" I agreed, after i looked up what saccharinity meant!

Most of their songs, if not all makes me want to tap my leg aggresively and fist pump thusly.

Or I could swing dance and do the twirling-with-hands-interlocked-with-each-other step with anyone. I exaggerate. Or do I?!

Anyway, they have wonderful music, have two EPs out and will lift your spirits. Check them out here: https://soundcloud.com/ohhoneymusic

(P.S.-They sort of remind me of some other musicians. I just can't put my finger on it. If someone knows, PLEASE let me now!)

31-Days of Music Discovery

It's June already, the sixth month of the year 2015. Time seems to be moving faster than the fastest thing you can imagine (it's subjective you see, because at this precise moment, my mind is saying the only fast thing in the world is Usain Bolt)
I am currently in the last known summer break (as of now) and other than doing nothing, i happen to be stumbling upon some really good music artists and some amazing movie soundtracks as well . The amazing journey of discovering music is nothing short of a spiritual journey is it?

In this post I will combine my discovery on Day 1 and Day 2 of June. The rest will hopefully be done on the day itself.

June Day 1
Artist: Oh Wonder
Their minimalsitic logo is

It spells "ow" like you can see. It's also the way your feels feel when you listen to them. 

Oh Wonder consists of  Anthony and Josephine, who release one song every month and have been doing so far the past nine months.
I was surprised to find that they did not have an EP, but boy was I "over the midnight moon" (references) when i learned they have their first album scheduled to release in September this year!
Check them out here: https://soundcloud.com/ohwondermusic 

The first song of theirs i heard :

June Day 2
Artist: Jaymes Young
It was a wonderful accident how i found Jaymes young. It wasn't actually. It's cookies, internet cookies. Naturally, after I discovered Oh Wonder, Youtube graciously suggested- Northern Lights by one Jaymes Young from Mr. Suicide Sheep. I fell in love with the sound in an instant.

Listen to it here :

I then found his album Dark Star and listened to it till I fell asleep. I'm not suggesting that it's boring, obviously not. It was peaceful. Perfect pre-sleep music I must say. 

Check him out here: https://soundcloud.com/jaymes-young

Movie soundtracks I've been listening to:

Begin Again 

Lovely movie, beautiful songs. Enough said.

The 2015 Reading Challenge Update

I am finally starting the Reading Challenge. This was due to my reading overdue from last year, aka from two weeks ago. I was reading A Song of  Ice and Fire. I was under the impression i would have uninterrupted reading time and finish the book in less than a week. Unrealistic assumptions and two weeks into the new year later, i'm ready to take up this challenge!

I wrote down the list on sheets of paper and started looking up books in my bookshelf. Turns out, not many match the list! So, monday happens to be the day i can borrow books from the library in my college. I'm going to scower the one shelf of novels (yup, ONE) and try and utilise my free library membership to the fullest!

The first challenge i'm taking up is
#23 A Book More Than 100 Years Old
The search for the book was extremely convenient. I looked up books more than a hundred years old and found nothing. Yeah, i swear! Then i looked up "Classic Authors and Books". As i scanned the list i saw "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", the book i had borrowed from a friend probably a year ago and never got around to reading, but i should definitely be returning it soon. This was a win-win situation for me, as the book is a 131 years old. WHoa!

The second challenge
#17 A Book A Friend Recommended
In October 2014, a friend of mine asked me if i had read Judy Blume. I hadn't and so she gladly loaned me her copy of "Summer Sisters". Which, i obviously haven't read yet. So i chose to cross of number #17 with this book!

ALSO! (a small book haul!)

I watch a lot of youtubers and a lot them have been coming out with books. One book i've been very keen on reading is Grace Helbig's, " Grace's Guide : The Art of Pretending To Be A Grown-up"

I don't know what challenge I'll put this under, but i just cannot wait to read this book! I can bet anything this will be a LOL-trip!

2015 Reading Challenge

Oh hello there! No, i haven't fallen off the face of the earth, as some would like to think of my whereabouts. I know the previous book challenge i took up was an utter failure. Failure is just a lesson learnt here for me, to not set unrealistic reading goals.
Therefore, as a part of my New Year 2015 Resolution and under the subsection "Intellectual Goals" of my "Life Goals", I'm taking up the 2015 Reading Challenge!
Whilst scrolling through Pinterest, I found this list and even before my mind could process it, i knew the answer to, "Should I do this?" was "YESSSS!"

I shall keep a track of the books i read this year, here! It's going to be just like Julie & Julia except, there's no Julia at all and the "recipes" I'm trying will feed the hunger of my mind! 

A few of my friends are also joining in and it's going to be a book rave if you ask me! 

Join in the fun if you like! 

With this, i start The Bookworm Saga 2015! :D