Season 2 #8: Our Powers Combined

 Nothing better than when two megastars come together to create a truly unforgettable track.  I feel like I saw a pre-release alert for this a while ago, and then it totally slipped my mind.  Armin Van Buuren, no matter your take on his music, is one of the largest DJs in the world right now.  Rob Swire (of Knife Party) brings truly iconic vocals and production.  Combined?  AN ABSOLUTELY SONG OF THE YEAR CONTENDER!  High energy, great vibe that truly combines the best of both of their styles!

While not as globally known, but very respected within the EDM scene, Dabin and Grabbitz bring this very different track from the first one.  Soulful vocals, a slow and frankly haunting melody, makes for a truly emotional and beautiful song that showcases it doesn't have be big and in your face to be a successful electronic song.  I really liked this one and I hope you do too!

Armin van Buuren & Rob Swire - Sound of You

Dabin & Grabbitz - Nothing At All

S2 #7: Your Mom's Favorite Rapper

 I used to be into a little bit of rap, I feel like the music went hand in hand with athletics back in the high school times.  Eminem, Biggie, Xzibit, I feel like we all have that song that we can pull from that era that elicits nostalgic memories.  I always liked Will Smith as he had great wordplay but it wasn't filthy every second of the track (don't get me wrong, I love a dirty track as one of my favorite songs ever was posted in POST #0458).  Connor Price, who I actually discovered through his Spin the Globe series on Tik Tok, has quickly risen through the ranks and become one of my favorite modern rappers.  His wordplay, his flow, his energy is truly something that gets me out of my seat, has me dancing in the kitchen, and dancing like a fool in the car.  

My first favorite song of his was Violet (off the Spin the Globe album), which you can find below.  I've also included a truly killer friendship and partnership, as Connor and another rapper named Nic D have come out with EPs together that are truly incredible. I love their friendship, I love their music and I'm excited to share it with you!

Check the bottom for a bonus song! 

Connor Price feat Killa - Violet

Connor Price & Nic D - Dabble (Official Video)

BONUS SONG: Nic D & Connor Price - Swordfish

S2 #6: Getting Back in the Swing!

 I apologize for the delay everyone, working this into my schedule alongside the INSANE allergy attacks this season have let me slip off the wagon a little bit!  In an effort to try to streamline posts, they will come out Monday/Tuesday and Wednesday/Thursday!  Thank you for your understanding as we get back to the right vibe!

Pendulum was my introduction to EDM way back in High School.  I remember being in a friends basement and The Island Part 1 came on.  I was transported and honestly didn't even know that music like that existed.  From there it was Dada Life, Gryffin, Tiesto, but Pendulum always remained.  Let's start off with one of those original songs from that era, and one you likely already know.  We can't predict the impact that the guitars, synths, heavy bass, and instrumentation played in American Music Culture, but The Island Pt. 1 was revolutionary for young Newt!

Then, the breakup happened.  I was honestly saddened that right when I started getting into them, they disbanded for a number of years.  To be real thought, that just made the comeback that much greater nearly 10 years later.  Right in the heat of the pandemic, there was new music to be excited about.  Here is one of my favorite modern Pendulum songs, and I truly hope that you enjoy this personal hook into electronic music!

Pendulum - The Island Pt. 1

Pendulum - Nothing for Free

S2, #5:The Sun is Shining and Let's Move!

 After a FRIGID weekend ( I was in the water in 45 degree weather), I'm so thankful the sun is shining and we are able to move outside again!  Let's kick some things off this week with some songs that might be that motivation you need to get up and move!

Let's start with Run! by Betty Who! She's a rockstar Australian Pop artist who is truly one of my favorites ( I would also recommend High Society) and produces amazing song after amazing song!  This song, lovingly titled Run!, is high energy, full of fun, and the perfect song to kick off this short work week!

Getting excited and hyping things up is the role of the cheerleader, a role filled perfectly by Porter Robinson and his song that came out last year.  This is one of my favorites from last year and is perfectly presents and combines Porter's unique style and genres that work well together!  Give this one a look, get moving, and let it kick off your summer!

Betty Who - Run!

Porter Robinson - Cheerleader

S2, #4: Living Rent Free in my Head

Every once in a while, a song comes along that truly gets stuck in your head like an earworm.  You find yourself humming it at home, you sing it without even realizing it, and it becomes a central piece of your musical catalogue for that week/month/year.  After Hours by Ellis has been that song for me for the last few weeks, as it's got a cool mix of funk, dance, and pop that truly brings a song that makes me want to move.

Also perpetually stuck in my head is this song off Gryffin's latest album, Last of Us featuring Rita Ora.  This one lives rent-free in my head and truly comes up about every 45 minutes.  When I load up DJ X on spotify to listen to some music without controlling, I swear this one comes up in the first 5 songs every single time without fail.  It's catchy and truly has that staying power that keeps me coming back for more!

Ellis - After Hours

Gryffin Feat. Rita Ora - Last of Us

S2, #3: Laugh So We Don't Cry

Memes are one of the best ways to express frustration and literally laugh so we don't cry.  There was one that took off this year that I feel like has truly expressed a lot of the frustration with the current cultural shift of the United States.  It was originally sung, and then put to some very dancy and fun music.  The contrast is pretty stark, it's truly a heavy and important topic, but I find myself singing this at random intervals because it is SO catchy.  

A little less directly political, let's shift over to a favorite Drum and Bass artist of mine, Fox Stevenson.  This one is called That Choice and truly is a bop and a half.  Fast paced but with a great message and truly a great song that evokes a sense of nostalgia and disillusion (Feeling that void everyday).  Would we all be alone if we sympathized?  I thought these songs would go well together!

Hostile Government Takeover (EDM Remix) - AGiftFromTodd, Vinny Marchi

Fox Stevenson - That Choice

S2 #2: There's so much more to Adam Young (Owl City) than Fireflies

 Let's change things up a little bit and give some music that might be a bit different from past postings!  While this was dedicated to electronic music before, I'm going to switch things up a little bit!  I'd rather talk about all music and showcase some unique styles!  One of my favorite guilty pleasure artists is Owl City.  His music style, his beautiful lyrics, his protection of his mental health, all of these make him so much bigger then just his hit song Fireflies.  

Ready to Fly is a beautiful mashup of Didrick's wonderful fantasy musical style and Adam's beautiful vocals.  This one does ramp up and take more of a breakdown style drop that I think fits the style really well!

I'm also going to throw in one of my favorite songs off Owl City's newest album, Cocoa Moon. Under the Circus Lights paints such a beautiful picture of childhood wonder and those first early infatuations (no matter if it is calling, mission, or person).  One of my favorites with gorgeous background sounds and great additions through little bites!  Enjoy!

Didrick (Feat. Adam Young) - Ready to Fly

Owl City - Under the Circus Lights

Season 2, Post #1: Off to a Hot Start

I can't believe we're back!

Just wanted to say how thankful I am for everyone that is still here, all these years later!  I'm excited to share some really great music with you all, and I would love to feature your music as well!  Submit songs through this google form and I would love to share your favorite songs as well! 

I was inspired by a game I've been playing with some friends called Music League.  Everyone submits a song for a category, everyone votes, and results are shown after all votes are in!  (IF anyone is interested in this, please let me know!) I posted this song for our last category, Songs You Love To Play Loudly, as it truly is one of my favorites.  A magical mix of funk and rap that is too hot to handle!  (This was my 6th most listened to song last year)

Keeping with the theme, song #2 is an absolute banger from JOYRYDE.  The mixture of steel drums and the vocal samples kept me coming back for more (This was my 23rd most listened song of last year).  Great big bass and just beautiful glitchy basslines!

Enjoy and welcome back!

My My, Would You Look At the Time!

Long Time No Talk everyone! 
It has truly been a long time but I am hoping to bring this blog back focused on songs that I have been really enjoying!  This blog, alongside the N64 Game Review and playthrough Blog, are coming back to help me practice my writing, focus my energy, and keep me accountable!  

Prepare yourself for at least 2 songs a week to start and then hopefully ramping up in the future!