X Ambassadors

All right, folks, the only way I can explain this one is pure fate. How else can you explain how I stumbled across X Ambassadors this morning? Quietly minding my own business working my way through a somewhat mundane Wednesday, when BOOM this songs hits me like a ton of bricks.

So naturally, curiosity calls and I look into X Ambassadors to see what they're all about. The quartet hails from Ithaca and has been on the music scene circa 2009. Their sound is not so different from a lot of mainstream music we hear (think One Republic, Imagine Dragons) but that doesn't stop it from being damn good.

Step two after listening to song aggressively: are they touring and when can I see them? This is when I knew, X Ambassadors and I were a match made in heaven. FREE show in Brooklyn, this Friday. In a city of sold out shows and fake ticket scalpers I couldn't help but gain a faint twinkle in my eye. Man, I can't wait to hear the pipes on this guy!

Okay, now to the important stuff.  ↓

                     
                                      X Ambassadors // Unsteady

X Ambassadors // Unconsolable

New Music Friday: Bastille // Angel Taylor

Happy Friday, everybody! As if Friday wasn't reason enough to feel some good vibes, two of my favorite, favorite artists just released new tracks. 

Sometimes I have some issues in the self-control-over-listening-to-music department, so over the last year I have literally exhausted the play button on Bastille's album, Bad Blood, and their mixtape, Other People's Heartache... like to the point where it's a bit embarrassing. Needless to say the release of a new song from the British band is a VERY welcome addition to my playlist.

Angel Taylor has been on my radar for a few years, but has still not gained an overwhelming amount of attention in the music-sphere. I happen to think she is one of the sweetest, most underrated artists out there. She's constantly uploading original material to her Soundcloud account, but I took a particular liking to this one today so thought I'd spread the word :)

Listen below, and HAPPY FRIDAY PEOPLE!

Bastille // Bad News

Angel Taylor // Start of Us 

Sivu

It seemed to have been during one of those hours of clicking away on YouTube when one way or another I was led to "Better Man Than He," an absolute gem of a song by an artist called Sivu. Really though I'm not sure how he hasn't blown up yet because he's absolutely fantastic. 

Not to be dramatic, but when I heard the chorus for the first time at :57 seconds I really felt like the heavens above opened up upon me (okay maybe a little dramatic).

 So for the last few weeks I've been keeping it in rotation, waiting to find an Act II from Sivu for the blog. And as fate may have it- I was at the greatest place on earth this afternoon (Chipotle) and jotted down a song that was playing. I don't always do that but this particular song drew me in like crazy. You know who it was? SIVU. What are the odds? I had to do about 5 google searches before I found the song, but alas I found it. 

Listen below ↓ 

And make sure to try both out, they're very different!

P.s. the second video is done entirely with with MRI data, ppppretttty coooool.

                                                                               Sivu // Family Tree

Sivu // Better Man Than He 

If You Ever Wanna Be In Love

Hey y'all! I found a newcomer. Always pretty exciting to find an artist at the beginning of their career and seeing how they develop over time. I'm expecting big things for James Bay. Twenty-three year old James hails from England and has a similar vibe to Tom Odell and James Morrison. Basically straight up acoustic goodness with none of the frills (though sometimes frills can be nice too, nothing against good production value). Saw some of his live stuff on YouTube too and he does not fail to impress. Check. It. OUT! 

If You Ever Want To Be In Love // James Bay

Let It Go (LIVE) // James Bay

Life 'Round Here

So I'm sure we're all familiar with the concept of music binging. Whether that be a single song, an entire album, or all the work of a particular artist. "Life Round Here" is probably my biggest, most obsessive music binge in recent memory, so in similar fashion to "Hold On We're Going Home" I've been scouring the web for the best musical offsprings of the James Blake masterpiece. The original is genius to begin with but after the 200th time a woman wants to know what else is out there... you know?

Luckily Chance the Rapper was kind enough to lend his talent to a remix of the song, and bonus: the video is amazing too. AND on top of that, Ellie Goulding (aka my wifey) does an amazing cover with Angel Haze. See below ↓

Life Round Here // James Blake ft. Chance the Rapper

Life Round Here // Ellie Goulding ft. Angel Haze

Angus & Julia Stone - Heart Beats Slow (Audio Only)

I've been a big fan of Angus and Julia Stone for the last few years now. As if they weren't spectacular enough individually, the sibling power duo is even better together. They just released a new song yesterday, so I thought I'd spread the word. Been dying to see them in the states, but they haven't performed here for quite some time it seems. And it definitely doesn't help that Aaron Paul instagrams photos of these two performing private shows at his house. MUST be nice (not bitter at all...)


      Angus & Julia Stone // Heart Beats Slow

I Cried All Night & Now It's Your Turn

Hannah Cohen. I love her but she appears to be nowhere. I don't mind keeping her my little secret, but at the same time it becomes quite sad when there are tour dates nowhere to be seen and no new videos or performances to be found over the last year.

That aside, I will take this moment to be grateful for encountering her at all. 

Cohen, who is in her late 20s and originates from California, is the epitome of everything I love vocally. Sweet, feminine sound but also completely sultry. 

"Don't Say" feels like the ultimate gentle approach to an indie break-up song. In fact, I have it on repeat (and I'm not even GOING through a break-up)

The simplicity and peculiarity of the video fits perfectly.

And if you want to check out how Cohen tackles a live performance, see the second video-- nothing short of lovely. 

Love at first listen ✓


                                                  Don't Say // Hannah Cohen

Fantasy // Hannah Cohen