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 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.

Keep It Bright| What gets me through

I had the pleasure of discovering the Keep It Bright movement by Zara Kalique. I am not sure how i discovered it but im glad i did. It's like they say, if it's meant to be, it's meant to be.  Every morning i login to instagram and skim through the pictures until i find pictures posted on the Keep It Bright page. Lovely, positive pictures telling me that i can do it. Telling me i'm worth it. Telling me i can get what i want if i work hard for it. Telling me i'm beautiful. Telling me to smile. Telling me to value life. Telling me it's okay to fail, as long as i don't give up. Telling me to choose happiness. Telling me to count my blessings. Telling me to trust my struggle. Telling me i'm stronger than i think i am. Telling me there will be better days. The amount of positivity i get from this page is mind-blowing.
 I've been eyeing the Keep It Bright Handbook for quite a while. The positivity in the book is what i need in my life right now. When people around me tell me that, i aim too high. My dreams are too big. I tend to fall back down. But just as that happens, i tend to catch a picture post by the Keep It Bright page and i get the pull i need from above to stand up.

The Keep It Bright tumblr page has a motivation post that i have bookmarked to read whenever i feel like 'i can't'.
Tumblr Post:  http://keepitbright.tumblr.com/post/71871476957/31-ways-to-get-everything-you-want
It includes products made by the creator, Zara Kalique. I must say each and every thing she does has so much passion and positivity filled in them i can feel it through my screen.
The Keep It Bright merchandise takes my breath away. It has everything from beanie's to socks and everything in between. It's a collection with sayings like "Count Your Blessings", "Live Beautifully", "Life is Beautiful" and much much more.
You can look at the brilliant collection here: http://keepitbright.bigcartel.com/

This post is just my way of thanking Zara for this brilliant movement, that has impacted the little life of an Indian girl, across the globe, miles from where she started it. She's my inspiration and motivation. I am going to live my life on the bright side!

Here are some of my favourite posts from instagram.

P.S. I have to state that i have not been asked to write this post or paid to do this considering my blog is a baby blog and i have posted this because i feel very strongly about this movement and hope to see it everywhere in the world.

Go show Zara some love:

Blog : http://keepitbright.blogspot.in/

Instagram : http://instagram.com/keepitbright

Tumblr : http://keepitbright.tumblr.com/

(Pictures taken from Keep It Bright. I do not own them)

"If music be the food of love, play on"

Now that you know about my love for books. I must tell you about my other true love. (yes i have more than one true love. I have that much love to give) It is as the blog title suggest-s MUSIC. (Food also, but we'll get to that later.) I love music so much, i must tell you it refreshes my mind, soul and body. I constantly need background music. From the time i wake up in the morning, upto the time i fall asleep. I need music. I just cannot function otherwise. When i'm out and about i always have a song playing in my head. The playlist in my head is pretty relevant. It's almost like my life is a movie, isn't it? With the right song playing at the right time, capturing the emotions being felt by me just perfectly.
 I personally like punk-rock, metalcore and indie rock. (I'll make a band bucket list and put it up soon!) But i also listen to Justin Timberlake (i mean, who doesn't) and some other mainstream artists who are bearable. But i must point out, music for me has nothing to do with who's making them. If it's a good song, i will love it. I love songs by the degree of how much i can relate to it. I shit you not, there are songs that make me weep like a baby because of how much it hits me "in the feels". (x) That's the only accurate way of putting it, i must say.
Then there are other songs i simply like to groove to. Even there i get to relate to the song, don't i? The direct relation between my groove and that of the song. HAh! I actually need to actualize my groove ratio hm...!

I think its the right time to say that music has indeed saved my life. It's not a cheesy statement. It's an  emotionally accurate and sufficient statement. There is a song for every mood. But the part where the right song plays for me, when i feel a certain emotion is what gets me. It's like music does not want me to feel low. It helps me get rid of my pent up frustrations, anger and annoyances. I mosh in my room and i won't lie. There will be excessive posts about music so fret not!

P.S.- Blog title taken from the Of Mice & Men song- This One's For You, inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

On Valentine's Day

Everybody gets mushy and either extremely happy or extremely sad when it's valentines day. I, on the other hand turn sardonic. It's the way the day is portrayed. I am single and I am happy. It's not a lie i tell myself to help me sleep at night, it's the truth. I do not have the momentary need on valentines day for someone else to make me feel like a whole person. I didn't quite have the intention of ranting about this until one of my friends asked me how my valentine's day was. I'm sure she didn't mean to make it sound like she was mocking me, but it did feel that way as anyone who knows me, knows i do not stand for the mainstream propagations ( especially the ones where the greeting card companies to make a profit) She went on to say that since she had no one to gift her anything she bought herself a gift to make herself happy. She also told me to do the same. Buy myself some chocolates and eat them. Like binge eating i suppose? Because im single and no guy wants to go out with me?

I honestly do not give a flying duck about not having some GUY on a day where everyone acts as romantic as Manny is everyday. I do not hold my self-worth based on a relationship i cant conjure because my standards are exceptionally abnormal to be met with. Telling yourself or others that "Its okay, feel better with chocolates" is not a way of consoling them. It is a way to say, "feel bad because no one loves you". That is not true because i do have people who love me and they don't need that one day to show it. The need for a guy to complete me? That is not a compliment to the guy, but an insult to myself. An insult because, one need not feel incomplete due to the lack of a lover/love-maker person. You are a whole person, in yourself. You should not believe anything less and neither should you let anyone treat you or make you feel that way.

I may sound like a crazy-preacher person, because sometimes i need to let that person in me out and make this world a better place for me to live in! Get it? A bit selfish, because who isn't? Also im not running for president. So feel good and if you ever feel like no one loves you, you're wrong because I DO!

Much Love.