#but i've also been into punk/rock music since i was 8 and wanted to be goth since a similar time

[gallongall]

i wanna get a buzzcut sooo bad but i'm so scared because i've always had a reputation for being a girly-girl and i care wayyy too much about other people's opinions

[astrangetorpedo]

IN INTERVIEW

Julien Baker, the interview 6/8/2016

At just 20 years old, Julien Baker gave us last year a first album of intense and rare emotional force, the superb Sprained Ankle reviewed here . A moving record that left a deep and lasting mark on me. It was therefore impossible to miss the young American's arrival in Paris and not to take advantage of the opportunity to try to get to know this outstanding artist a little better. A meeting was thus organized thanks to the invaluable help of Sean, her manager, in a café in the 12th arrondissement, two hours before the young lady's very first Parisian concert, on May 24. A one-on-one meeting that revealed to me an adorable and voluble young woman, incredibly touching and sincere, and above all determined to seize life with all her might! A moment of exchange and sharing that I am not ready to forget.

Hello Julien!

Julien Baker : Hello!

First of all, thank you very much for granting us this interview. I am a big fan of your music and it makes me really happy to meet you!

Oh, thank you! It's a great pleasure for me too, you know! I still can't believe that people like my music enough to want to meet me to talk about it. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, really!

Perfect! Let’s start at the beginning of your story. I read that you’ve been making music for a while now. Could you summarize the journey that led you to where you are today?

Yeah, sure! I started listening to music in middle school. It was rock, I was really into it with painted nails, black eye makeup, all that stuff! [laughs] Then I started playing in bands, punk bands mostly. Then I joined Forrister which is the band I still play in today. We were playing shows in cities around our area. Then I went to college and a friend of mine who worked in a studio there offered me to record with him for free. Since my band couldn't be there, I did it solo, without any specific plans. I put the album out on Bandcamp for $2 or $3 a copy.

That's when Sean [Julien's manager] contacted me and suggested we release the album in a more official and professional way. I told him that I was actually in a band, Forrister, and that no one would be interested in me as a solo artist. He insisted and even though I didn't believe it at all, I agreed to give it a try. I'll always remember the day he called me to tell me that NPR [National Public Radio] was going to play my single. I hung up crying and immediately called my mom all excited to tell her the news! But then, as things seemed to start to take off for me, I started to doubt myself. I felt guilty towards the rest of the band, thinking that they would resent me for doing this project without them. So I called the drummer and asked him what they thought and he said they were just proud and super happy and not mad at me in any way. So I kept going and here I am! I never thought I would come to Europe and do all this, it's crazy, really!

During the band's time, did you already have this desire to write your own songs?

I don't think I had any real unfulfilled desire to do this.

But you were writing?

Yes, I wrote my own songs. But not because the band was holding me back or preventing me from doing it within the collective. It's just that sometimes you write songs but they don't fit the moment. So I put those lyrics aside, like that, without any specific goal. I've always written and played in different bands. There was enough space for all that, things didn't have to be done exclusively in one framework or another.

Were your parents musicians?

Not really. Well my dad bought me a guitar and showed me how to play it. So I started playing by practicing at home on my own. I also took piano lessons but for a very short time. My teacher didn't really like me because I didn't work hard enough. I just played by ear without wanting to learn to read music and he didn't like that. So I taught myself. But my parents were big music fans. They played records all the time at home. When I was younger I wanted to go to a concert, my dad would come with me to make sure I was safe! He was the only adult in the middle of all these tattooed and pierced kids! [laughs] Oddly enough it never bothered me. When he made a surprise appearance at the Bowery Ballroom for my concert in New York, I was so proud! He and my mom have always been a great support!

This is really great!

Yes I know !

In addition to being an author and composer, you are also a student. Are you still going to university?

I just finished my semester. It's currently summer vacation. But I think I'm going to take a break in the fall. I completed the theoretical part of my literature course thanks to online courses. The last thing I need to fully validate my teaching diploma is the practical part, in school with students. I tried to do it last fall but it's complicated to carry out both projects at the same time: give lessons during the week then take a plane to California or New York on the weekend to play a concert, before returning to teach on Monday morning! So I'm going to take a break to devote all my time to music.

Do you want to teach one day?

I think I would really enjoy teaching. I love it. As a teenager I was a summer camp counselor, I love children. So yes it would be really cool to teach!

You studied literature. Did that influence your way of writing?

Yes, totally! I try to feed myself as much as I can from all these different ways of perceiving life and emotions that I find in books. It enriches me intellectually speaking. I have the feeling of learning new things about myself each time I discover a new author and this is then reflected in my writing I think, consciously or unconsciously.

Are you familiar with French literature?

Voltaire! I often joke with my professor friends that I would really like to have a big Voltaire and Cervantes tattoo! I already have a Gabriel Garcia Marquez tattoo [Julien then shows me his 2-part tattoo on the inside of his 2 wrists]…

Is he your favorite writer?

One of my favorites, I can't choose just one! And so when my students would complain that Voltaire is an old man who's not cool, I could show them my Voltaire tattoo and prove to them that it's really cool! [laughs] Reading Candide really changed my life. It was incredible! I think the translation of the title is The Optimist , which is quite ironic. Cervantes wrote Don Quixote and we have this word in English, "quixotic" which means optimistic but optimistic to the extreme, to the point where even if everything is going wrong in your life and you know it, you continue to believe in it despite everything. There is a really romantic and admirable dimension to that attitude I find. Same for Candide where there is this quote that I always come back to when I feel really bad and which says: "I wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but I still loved life" . I think I cried when I first read that sentence. Anyway, I could talk about literature for hours, don't drag me down that dangerous path! [laughs]

Haha, ok. So back to the music! Listening to your album I couldn't help but think of two other artists I really like: Sharon Van Etten and TORRES…

I love TORRES!

Me too! I even did my very first interview with her!

Wow! She's amazing!

Do you agree with this comparison even if the artists in question do not come from the same scene as you?

I totally agree with this comparison! As a teenager I only listened to punk and thought that anything that wasn't punk was worthless. Then I grew up as a musician and learned to appreciate all styles. When you really love music, you love an artist as long as their music is honest and good, no matter what the style. It doesn't matter if it's hip hop or country or whatever!

I totally agree!

And so I'm a big fan of TORRES! I loved her first album, the one before Sprinter . The song Honey is the very first one I heard from her.

The same !

And oh my god, what a song! I played with her in Chicago, I was added as the opening act at the very last minute, I felt so honored! On my way to the dressing room, I ran into her and as I was saying "Oh sorry, I don't want to bother you" she said "No, come on, this is a shared space, you have as much right to be here as I do" and she kindly invited me in. As for Sharon, it's funny because the first time I met her, she asked me to have lunch with her, can you imagine having lunch in New York with Sharon Van Etten! And she told me she was also going to invite her friend Mackenzie [Mackenzie Scott aka TORRES]. But our phones died and we couldn't get a hold of her. So in Chicago TORRES couldn't make the connection, I was just the little girl at the door!

Excellent! Are there any other musical influences that you would claim?

Do you know David Banzan?

Nope…

Ok. There's a band called Pedro The Lion and David Bazan is the lead singer. He influenced me quite a bit. And do you know Death Cab For Cutie?

Yes of course !

They were the first non-punk band I listened to. At the time I only listened to loud and fast music, but when I heard Transatlanticism for the first time it was a shock, everything changed. They really meant a lot to me.

Your texts are very strong and very personal. When you wrote them, did you think about the impact they could have on those around you first and then on the general public?

Well, at first, I didn't imagine that this solo album would lead me anywhere, I was convinced that my music would only be made with my band Forrister. So when I released the album on Bandcamp, I really thought that only my friends would listen to it. So I wrote all these songs like that, just for me, without really thinking about the scope of the lyrics. And I'm ultimately happy that I didn't think about it because if I had known what was waiting for me, I think I would have most certainly changed things, I would have probably been more reserved in my words. But if it's difficult for me to show my vulnerability, I realize that it's totally worth it when young people come up to me after concerts to tell me that my music has helped them in difficult times in their lives. It's of course a little embarrassing for me to share such intimate things but if these things make others feel good, then I think it's worth it in the end.

But isn't it a little scary to expose yourself so completely naked and transparent? It's so brave, I don't know if I could do it myself!

Well, you see, it's exactly the same for me, I'm not sure I would have been able to do it if I had known everything in advance! But now that it has happened, I feel that from now on I have the right, the license to be brave. Perhaps it was the plans of destiny or God, something like that.

And isn't it too difficult for you to sing songs every day that inevitably bring you back to painful moments?

I think there are two options. Option one: I can sing these songs every night, let them take me back in time and feel sorry for myself. Option two: there is the quote from this poet that I love who says that all the horrible things in life just need to be seen from a different and courageous perspective. Things that seem bad can indeed turn out to be good in the end. So I have chosen to let the dark and sad aspects of my songs become pretexts to be positive and happy. Because yes, all these things have happened to me but if that had not been the case, I probably would never have written these lyrics and I would not be here today in Paris talking to you, Laurence! In the grand scheme of things, everything has a meaning and works for our good in the end.

That's very beautiful what you say! [laughs] To talk about lighter things, this is your first time in Europe, isn't it?

Yes !

How do you feel?

I love it! I have such a good time. Well I don't sleep much... [laughs]

Is it the time difference or the excitement?

Well now it's the excitement! But a week ago it was also the jet lag [laughs]. Imagine, we traveled for over 30 hours straight to get here! I first took a plane to Richmond and then a train to Washington DC. We then took a flight to Iceland where we took another flight to Copenhagen. Once there we took a train but due to a problem on the tracks we had to take a bus that took us to another train! When we arrived at the hotel, we were totally exhausted! [laughs] It was 11 o'clock in the evening but at that time of year the sun hadn't set because we were so far north and my body didn't understand anything at all! But hey after a good night's sleep everything was better! And now if I don't sleep it's just because I don't want to miss anything, not a single minute you know! I thought I would never be able to afford to travel and once again it seems that Destiny's plans are extraordinarily kind to me. I feel so grateful and lucky!

And that's just the beginning!

I hope so! But you know, even if everything had to stop, well in any case it would have been much, much more than I could have imagined! I am so grateful for everything that is happening to me!

Are there any particular places you want to discover?

Sean has been here before and wants to show me places he liked. Today he took me to see the Sacré-Cœur which is beautiful. On my side, there are also places I would like to visit, especially in Barcelona, ​​because I am majoring in Spanish literature. I would like to go to the café where Picasso had his very first exhibition, long before he was famous. I would also like to see the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's work, visit a museum, buy a Viva Cataluña t-shirt and eat paella. I am so excited to be able to do all these things!

That's great! But it's going to take you some time to do all of this!

We are staying there for the whole festival [Primavera Sound Festival]. So we should have some time. Of course we won't sleep much because in the evening I also want to attend the concerts!

You'll sleep when you get home!

Exactly! Since I am a big coffee drinker, one of my friends gave me a badge for my jacket that says "I will sleep when I am dead" ! [laughs] There are indeed so many things to experience in one life! [laughs]

And what are your plans for after the European tour?

We're actually going to be touring until the end of the year.

Will you come back to Europe?

We're going to Australia in November I think. I can't wait! We're also going to tour the States so as for Europe I don't really know... And then I hope to have some free time early next year. I'm always writing new songs that I play live. I must have 30 demos on my computer and I'd really like to record them. So it would be great if I could get into the studio early next year!

Last question: do you have one or more musical recommendations to share with us?

Lucy Dacus!

Oh I love it!

We played together in Washington DC. I had never heard her songs before Washington and I remember hearing the lyrics to Map On A Wall which say "I hope good comes from good and good comes from bad anyway" and I started crying all by myself watching her play. Her music is so beautiful, so powerful! And we have so much in common: questions of spirituality, sexuality and faith, questions about gender too and the place of girls in rock music. We are really like two halves of the same person. We have the same booker and were approached by the same label. And when I saw her again in Richmond I knew we operated exactly the same way. So our biggest fear is that we will one day become jaded and arrogant. We want to remain grateful, sincere and enthusiastic. There are so many people who do this for a long time and end up jaded. It's really great to find someone who feels exactly the same way you do, and that's the case with Lucy. We're platonic soulmates! She's a very, very dear friend.

You must tell her at all costs to come and shoot in Europe and in Paris because there are people waiting for her here!

Promise! I'll send her a message as soon as I have wifi!

Lucy Dacus! A perfect choice! Thank you very much Julien!

Thank you! It was great!

photos by jean-marc ferré 📸

interview by lolo from paris (who has great footage of that paris show on his youtube account) 📝

wayback link for the interview 🔗

[ghostoffuturespast]

Tag Game: Top 10 Albums

Tagged by @corpocyborg! Thank you! This was a fun one as I'm much more of an album listener than a playlist person but it also took me a while to get back to this because it's hard to narrow down.

Rules: List your top 10 favorite albums, and (if you want) include a brief description for why each one made it onto the list. Then, tag 10 (or however many you want, really) others to do the same.

The Top 10... (in no particular order)

#1 Under The Shade Of Green (2022) - The Happy Fits

Reasons: Only rock band I know with a lead cello that also captures that sparkle of generational ennui and hope. Long live the fruit motif.

#2 Franz Ferdinand (2004) - Franz Ferdinand

Reasons: Peak early 2000s era of angular guitars and one of the odd ducks from across the pond in the American teenage emo pop-punk sea.

#3 White Blood Cells (2001) - The White Stripes

Reasons: A friend introduced me to this band (same friend who introduced me to The Happy Fits too, she knows me well lol). She knows my love for scuzzy guitars.

#4 Treats (2010) - Sleigh Bells

Reasons: All hail guitars that shred, lyrical vocals, drum machine injections, and The Noise™. I still don't know what genre this is.

#5 Ash & Ice (2016) - The Kills

Reasons: Stripped down rock duos are a classic for a reason. Raw and unfiltered. There's a sense of ceremony and gravitas to those that still hand roll their cigarette.

#6 Social Cues (2019) - Cage The Elephant

Reasons: Been listening to these guys since their early days of crazed crowd surfing and jumping off speaker stacks. Their music has matured with them though and this is the album you listen to in the car when you're driving down the highway at midnight contemplating your life choices while it's pouring rain.

#7 <|°_°|> (2015) - Caravan Palace

Reasons: Larking back to my dancing days.

#8 Cool It Down (2022) - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Reasons: There's been a lot of Yeah Yeah Yeahs songs that I've liked over the years. This is the first album of theirs that I've collectively loved as a whole.

#9 How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful (2015) - Florence + The Machine

Reasons: Shipwrecking myself on this album and I will drown to this siren's songs.

#10 Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004) - Modest Mouse

Reason: First album, outside of my parents CD collection, that I was obsessed with. Still leases space in my head to this day.

Tagging with no pressure: @mynonsenseistingling @baublekute @shimmer-like-agirl @seeker-of-truth @setaflow

And if I didn't tag you but you'd like to share your favorite tunes, do it!

[corpocyborg]

Tag Game: Top 10 Albums

I love tag games, but I'm always hesitant to start my own. (Which doesn't really make sense, 'cause, I mean, they gotta start somewhere, right? 😂) So I decided to start one!

Anyway, I've seen a ton of these going around about music, and I was thinking, we've all got our favorite songs, but it's a rare and beautiful thing to find an entire album where you can vibe with every (or almost every) track. With that in mind...

Rules: List your top 10 favorite albums, and (if you want) include a brief description for why each one made it onto the list. Then, tag 10 (or however many you want, really) others to do the same.

Tagging: @merge-conflict, @fereldanwench, @halliserres, @milkywayes, @illusivesoul, @ghostoffuturespast, @luvwich, @kirschewine, @mirandaputsherbestbuttforward, and @andrewknightley.

My 10 Ten Albums

#1 Coral Fang (2003) - The Distillers

Reasons: Every few years, I rediscover this album and remember that it's my favorite album of all time. Brody Dalle's voice is harsh, deep, raspy, melodious, and emotional. The instrumentals are high octane and immersive. This album is a beating heart to me. It's feral.

#2 Fantastic Planet (1996) - Failure

Reasons: Failure's my favorite band of all time. My favorite album from them is Fantastic Planet. It's industrial, grunge, and shoegaze all in one package. With a sci-fi theme to boot, and a otherworldly soundscape. This band is extremely underrated. They really should be up there with the other greats of the 90s.

#3 Bleed Out (2022) - The Mountain Goats

Reasons: I think this is the newest album on my list, which is kinda funny. John Darnielle is my favorite songwriter of all time. His lyrics are deeply wonderful and quirky and disturbing. It's hard to pick a favorite album by The Mountain Goats, but the dark, violent, and insightful film noir theme of this one really does it for me.

#4 Light Me Up (2010) - The Pretty Reckless

Reasons: I haven't listened to this one in a bit, but it's mostly just because I've heard it about a billion times since I was 15. It's an iconic part of my teenage years. Taylor Momsen is literally my favorite vocalist of all time. Her voice never fails to impress me.

#5 With Teeth (2005) - Nine Inch Nails

Reason: It was hard to pick my preferred NIN album because I've never heard a song by them that didn't instantly rewire my brain and become my new favorite song. Actually, it was a toss up between this and Year Zero. If you asked me a different day, I might pick Year Zero. But I think this one has more songs that are top NIN songs for me. It's nearly a toss up though.

#6 Live it Out (2005) - Metric

Reasons: This is one of Metric's older albums, back when they had a more garage rock sound, although they still went pretty heavy on the electronic elements and they had the same dystopian sci-fi themes they do today. I prefer it to their newer stuff mostly just because of the heavier sound.

#7 Live (Secrets of the Lost Satellite Tour, Spring 2007) - Ken Andrews

Reasons: Ken Andrews is the lead singer of Failure, my favorite band. This does have some of the same songs that are on Fantastic Planet, but it also has some of Ken's solo work. It's a very atmospheric and dreamy album, and the fact that it's live and you can hear the crowd sometimes and the way he talks to them adds to that.

#8 So You've Ruined Your Life (2003) - Get Set Go

Reasons: This is Get Set Go's first album, and it's always been my favorite, even though I love Mike's newer stuff too. He's not as pop punk as he used to be, which is why I prefer it, but his outrageous and obscene lyrics are exactly what they used to be. This is the same guy who wrote a song about wanting to have sex with dinosaurs. A very explicit song about wanting to have sex with dinosaurs. He's ridiculous.

#9 Brand New Eyes (2009) - Paramore

Reasons: Some people would probably say I'm a fake Paramore fan, because I don't really care for any of their new stuff. It's not bad or anything, it just doesn't appeal to me on the same level that their first three albums do. I do love Riot! for its extreme energy and emotional highs of anger and joy, but Brand New Eyes is better for me thematically. I love the lyrics about growth and change and independence.

#10 xx (2009) - the xx

Reasons: I don't think I've ever heard duets better than what Romy and Oliver can do. The way the lyrics overlap, the way they finish each other's words. They do things with the concept of a duet that other groups just don't. The soundscape is very lowkey and chill and almost kinda highbrow in a weird way. Like, I feel like this is the kind of music that professional musicians list as their favorite music, if that makes sense.

[pink-bats-blog]

Hello welcome to my introduction (≧∇≦)/

Hii (･.･ﾉʰⁱⁱ I'm PinkBat, I will like to start of first of what are my interests, one of my interests is music (≡^∇^≡)

Type of music I like:

it's sorta complicated, there's LOTS of genres of music I like but I'll try to shorten it up, I like metal music mmm hmm 😼👍I like lots of sub genres of metal mainly black metal and death metal, rock music, lots of goth music ( ͡ ͜ʖ ͡ ), punk music, emo music too, l also like pop music but I feel like I'm more of a bigger fan of different decades of pop music like 80s or 70s anything under 2015 LOLL and I also LOVE BUT LOVE!!!! VKEI MUSIC!!! I WOULD DIE IF VKEI MUSIC WAS NEVER CREATED!! (ㅅ˙³˙)♡ AHHHH!!!!! but anyways another genre I like is electronic music to be specific I like TECHNO!!!! to be extra more specific I like HARDCORE TECHNO!!! One more thing I like dungeon synth and tänzelcore but yeah you guys there's probably more genres I like but like I said I'm trying to just keep it short and simple :3

One of my other interests is true crime 🙅💢

My true crime interest 🙅💢:

Now y'all don't mistake me of being part of TCC because I'm not. I like true crime, I always have wanted to be a criminologist and have found interest in researching about true crime cases ever since I was 8, it's just something super interesting and frightening to know that we live among these people who have done insane stuff to their own kind literally human harming another human even animals like I'm not talking about hunting like that's different but there is just people out there that would umm do it.. with an animal or with a human WHO IS DEAD. Dead or alive, doesn't matter because us humans have done stuff that we didn't even knew that we are capable of doing or possible of doing, humans are the only species that only kill to kill.

Another thing I find interest in is Psychology 🥸

Why I like psychology (゜-゜) ʷʰʸ:

🤔ᴴᴹᴹ What I like to learn about psychology the most is different mental disorders and to learn how these mental disorders even happen in the first place and how mental disorders not just effect the person with the mental illnes but the people around them, most importantly the actions of a lots and lots of mental illnesses cause, these actions literally cause people to go to jail so yeah overall I just want to know why mental illnesses cause people to act a certain way and I just want to know what goes on in their mind yk. I'm lowkey a therapist dawg 🤷‍♀️ oh and my therapist called me intelligent cause I'm very aware of mental disorders and about the human mind :D 🥸

One of my other interests is creepypasta and slender verse stuff (//_^):

I like creepypasta I would say my favorite creepypasta character is ticci toby and Nathan the nobody

*not my art work* (obviously)

But yeah I also love slender verse series :3 like marble Hornets and EverymanHYBRID and tribe twelve (๑˃̵　ᴗ　˂̵)و

Literally the holy Trinity

Another thing I find interest in;

Analog horror (◍•ᴗ•◍):

A analog series I've been getting into is labo tapes :3 pretty interesting but I don't recommend watching it at night especially if you already have sleeping problems 😹 I also like this YouTube channel called dark mind they are a horror artist and analog horror creator I think the vids are pretty cool 😼👍 I also like this analog series called magnitoshakhtinskaia it's a Russian analog horror series, I dont speak Russian myself so I just put on the subtitles to understand it but trust me it's peak 🙏, I also like Gemini home entertainment (≧∇≦) another YouTube analog horror channel I like is called doctor nowhere really cool channel hope they post more in the future 🤷‍♀️

One final interest of mine is writing (＾ω＾)

What I write about ✍️:

I write a lot on paper I have notebooks filled with writings, but what do I write about in those notebooks? Well I only write about 2 things 1 is true crime and 2 is love letters (that I will never give to anyone) but yeah I mostly write in paper but sometimes online too I did write about true crime cases on my old account but I deleted it by accident for sum reason :{

Ofc that's probably not all of my interests but I'll probably post my interests on here in the future :D

Anyways enough about my interests let's talk about me as a person (ʘ×ʘ):

Ok first thing first im not telling my age but all you need to know is that im a minor!!!! Huhhhh 🤔 well it's pretty simple I think no nvm(−ㅿ−) hmm well start off how my parents see me: Mute 🤐 my family say that I'm mute 🧍‍♀️ but anyways let's see how my friend Ruthina views me. Ok so I asked Ruthina how she views me and she said this: Funny, likes to listen to music (ok true), quiet, likes to traumatize people (nuh uh) , likes horror videos, likes true crime a lot. Oki so that's how Ruthina views me so now let's ask my other friend Camila 🥸👍: ok all she said was emo, nice, yells 🧍‍♀but anyways let's move on to my other friend Lucas: he said that I'm an odd bunch of a person but "in a good way" 🙂. So now let's move one to my other friend @g00se69: The cool one, cus you know a lot of Coolio stuff (I'm a loser but wtv you say gng)

Fun facts about me ♡:

I'm bisexual 💖💜💙

My favorite animal is bats ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ

I'm very curious person which is a bad habit of mine cuz my curiosity led me to troll bunch of pedos online

I'm lowkey a therapist (8 year old me was my prime for my career of being a therapist 🗣🔥💯)

Some people will view me as quiet but in reality I love talking (☞ ͡ ͡° ͜ ʖ ͡ ͡°)☞

Im a beaner 🇲🇽

I'm learning German cuz I wanna understand Rammsteins songs 🇩🇪

Uhhh I'm theistic agnostic

Stuff I would be posting on here (˘⌣˘):

Lots of lore dropping (wouldn't really give a lot of details bc I'm not aloud)

Writing about true crime a lot and cults, conspiracies, and about politics

Bunch of rants (long ones especially)

Editing photos I took

My therapy sessions (just the funny parts)

Music related stuff :3

Creepypasta and slender verse stuff

Random interests

Just random stuff in general 🥸

Anyways byee that's it for my introduction 😘ฅ

[defjux]

Hi Chris! I followed you a few years back because you posted a lot of Jazz and Hip Hop but I know you're into other genres as well. I've been trying to branch out a bit and you seem like a good person to ask for recommendations, so I was wondering if maybe you could post some of your favorite band/artists currently or anything you'd recommend? Any genre is fine! Love your blog btw, glad to see you're still on here :) Cheers!

thanks for the kind words anon, always nice to feel like the time i've spent on here wasn't a complete waste. sorry it took a few days to respond to this, but i wanted to give a more in depth answer. i can throw out some recommendations for sure, i basically just went through my last.fm from the last year and added all the non hip hop / jazz stuff to a list. you didn't mention if you were into metal or hardcore at all and there's quite a bit of that on here, but if you're not interested in that let me know and i can suggest some other stuff. i'm not a genre expert or anything but i did my best to give a brief description, so maybe if you end up liking one of these artists it'd be easier to find something similar. also a good chance you might be familiar with some of the ones that are more hip hop adjacent. you can also click the name of the artist and it'll take you to an album i recommend on bandcamp or spotify. i'd also be down to do another one of these later if you want, you can even hit me up off anon if you want. i appreciate you and i hope you're doing well! peace.

tried to make this as neat as i could so i put it in alphabetical order and made it a read more. 1. 10th Letter (Electronic/Jazz/Hip hop - Underappreciated producer, if you’re a fan of Flying Lotus you’d probably like this) 2. Alvvays (Indie Pop / Dream Pop) 3. At the Drive-In (Post-Hardcore, Relationship of Command is my favorite album in the genre) 4. Autonoesis (Thrash Metal / Black Metal) 5. Birds in Row (Post-Hardcore / Screamo) 6. Blood Command (Poppy Post-Hardcore/Alt Rock. Not a huge fan of their new vocalist, but the previous album and EP with Karina are both fantastic) 7. Boris (Drone, Stoner Rock, Noise Rock, Sludge, Post-Rock, Crust Punk – depends heavily on the album. ) 8. Bruno Pernadas (Progressive Jazz Fusion Art Pop) 9. Brutus (Post-Hardcore / Post-Metal, Stefanie is one of my favorite vocalists right now) 10. The Callous Daoboys (Mathcore) 11. Chelsea Wolfe (Darkwave / Gothic Rock / Doom Metal / Dark Folk) 12. Cibo Matto - (Art Pop / Trip Hop) 13. Cleric (Avant-Garde Metal / Mathcore / Brutal Prog) 14. Cloud Rat (Grindcore / Punk) 15. Converge (Metallic Hardcore, another all time favorite band.) 16. Cult of Luna (Atmospheric Sludge Metal / Post-Metal) 17. The Dillinger Escape Plan (Mathcore, top 5 band of all time for me) 18. Dragged Into Sunlight (Blackened Death / Doom Metal) 19. Dreamwell (Screamo/Post-Hardcore) 20. Every Time I Die (Southern-fried Metalcore / Mathcore, an all time favorite of mine) 21. Fievel is Glauque (Jazz Pop / Progressive Pop) 22. Genesis Owusu (Hip Hop/Neo-Soul/Funk/Post-Punk - all over the place in a good way) 23. Gospel (Blend of 70s Prog Rock with Screamo/Post-hardcore, with their 2022 album being a lot more of the former but still very good.) 24. Greyhaven (Metalcore / Post Hardcore - one of the few bands i know of carrying the torch for that Southern-tinged Metalcore sound since Every Time I Die split) 25. Grouper (Ambient/drone, folk and dream pop influences)

26. Hiatus Kaiyote (Psychedelic Neo-soul / Nu-Jazz) 27.  Ichiko Aoba (Minimalistic Ambient Folk) 28. Imperial Triumphant (Avant-Garde Black Metal fused with Jazz) 29. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (Foundation of their sound is pretty much Psychedelic Rock but they pull from all over the musical spectrum. Last album even had a couple tracks with rapping, hard band to classify. It’d be easier to list the rock subgenres they haven’t dabbled in) 30. Knoll (Grindcore / Death Grind) 31. Krallice (Avant-Garde Black Metal) 32. Liv.e (Neo-Soul / Alternative R&B) 33. Massa Nera (Post-Hardcore / Screamo / Post-Rock) 34. Maudlin of the Well (Avant-Garde Progressive Metal - Also check Kayo Dot) 35. Messa (Doom Metal) 36. Misþyrming (Black Metal) 37. Ne Obliviscaris (Progressive Black Metal with violin except it’s actually tasteful and doesn’t feel gimmicky) 38. Neptunian Maximalism (Avant-Garde Jazz/Drone/Noise/Industrial.. like Swans meets Sun Ra meets John Zorn’s Electric Masada. These guys also have some of the best album artwork out there.) 39. The Ocean (Progressive Metal / Sludge - mainly on the earlier albums) 40. Oranssi Pazuzu (Avante Garde Psychedelic Black Metal) 41. Os Mutantes (Brazilian Psych Rock) 42. Otoboke Beaver (Noisy, High energy Hardcore / Garage Punk from Japan, very fun band) 43. Panopticon (Atmospheric Black Metal with some Bluegrass and Folk influences) 44. Protomartyr (I think I like these guys the most out of all the newer Post-Punk bands) 45. Rolo Tomassi (Mathcore, Post-Metal, Post-Hardcore) 46. Senza (Blackened Screamo/Mathcore. Chaotic in a way that reminds me of Jerome’s Dream a bit.) 47. Sigh (Black Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Progressive Metal) 48. Soul Glo (Noisy Hardcore Punk, 2022 album incorporated some more hip hop elements and even had rap features. Shout out to McKinley Dixon who used to be on tumblr waaay back about a decade ago.) 49.  Spiritbox (Alt Metal / Djent / Metalcore) 50. Stereolab  (Space Age Pop mixed with Lounge Music and Krautrock) 51. Sudan Archives (Alternative R&B, Art Pop / Neo-Soul) 52. Tim Hecker (Ambient / Drone) 53. toe (Japanese Math Rock / Post-Rock - Kashikura Takashi is one of the greatest drummers ever.) 54. Tómarúm (Progressive Technical Melodic Black Metal) 55. Tricot (J-Rock / Math Rock / Pop) 56. Tropical Fuck Storm (Punk-Blues, Noise Rock) 57. U.S. Girls (Psychedelic Pop / Art Pop) 58. Ulcerate (Technical Death Metal) 59. Ultha (Atmospheric Black Metal) 60. Vanishing Twin ( Neo-Psychedelic Art Pop, check if you like Stereolab or Broadcast) 61. Wake (Black Metal / Tech Death / Sludge - Grindcore on the early releases) 62. Weyes Blood (Baroque Pop / Art Pop) 63. White Ward (Black Metal / Blackgaze /Dark Jazz) 64. Wormrot (Grindcore) 65. Yves Tumor (Unique sound blending Neo-Psych / Soul / Glam Rock /  Hypnagogic Pop + some Sound Collage / Ambient stuff as well on earlier albums)

[prettyhockey]

get to know you tag gaaaame

tagged by @sportsthoughts (thank you!!!)

do you make your bed? I try to daily, but since I wake up early for work, I usually just pull the covers and flatten it out. Weekends though - I like to change the sheets and make the bed nice and neat!

what's your job? it's [redacted] I am essentially a corporate pencil pusher in a field I don't particularly enjoy, and am actively working on getting out

if you could go back to school, would you? Definitely! I dropped out because of Reasons (mostly financial) so I'd love to go and finish it = I wanted to be an archivist and was looking into a history/library science degree

can you parallel park? very well! living with a small parking lot, street parking, and friends in k-town made me have to get good at parallel parking and getting into a space real fast.

do you think aliens are real? ehhh not like little green men, but we can't be the only ones. Parallel dimensions? Maybe (for fun though, not actually)

can you drive a manual car? Nope! I'd like to though - manuals are hard to find here though.

guilty pleasure? I don't think it's a guilty pleasure but I've been getting more into motorsports! I think it's neat!

tattoos? None - I get anxious about what I'd choose, but there are a couple of designs I've wanted to get for a couple of years.

favorite color? All greens! Sky blue, orange

favorite type of music? I've gotten into country recently (thanks to Orville Peck and Tyler Childers) but my go to will always be pop punk/emo and like rock.

do you like puzzles? Yeah puzzles, board games all of them!

any phobias? trypophobia - no clue why, I hate it!

favorite childhood sport? i didn't really do any sport as a kid other than a couple soccer seasons and friendly basket ball games. I was an Orchestra nerd from like 9 - 16? (Cello!!)

do you talk to yourself? constantly and always - I have full on conversations with myself all the time - half the time it's just for me to talk through things.

tea or coffee? coffee almost always - tea if i want to be cozy. I've gotten into making my own coldbrews and can make decent espressos cus of the machine at work.

first thing you wanted to be be when growing up? I remember being a kid and wanting to be a farmer. Growing up and going to Mexico made me love just going out to the land and I thought farmers just tended crops and hung out outside (it made sense in my head back then!!). Once i realized that I wasn't truly about that life, I wanted to be a librarian!

what movies do you adore? i loveee movies and i watch so many movies regularly: Singin in the Rain, Pride & Prejudice, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Tombstone, Jurassic Park, Mad Max Fury Road, Dune, Star Wars - the list goes on!! (Also yes -Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Hairspray are sooo good!!)

Thank you this was so fun! No pressure tags! @podcasts-8-my-heart, @riahchan, @vettel, @sidsthekid - and if you're reading this! I wanna get to know you all!

[day6source]

EXCLUSIVE: Young K sends ‘Letters with notes’ to fans in joyous return; talks about evolving as a musician, upcoming DAY6 anniversary

By Monica Yadav

“This time can’t be stopped / When the season changes / where no regrets are left / this time is aflame / followed by blooming spring / remember this time / never let it fade away / for all my life / let it be summer,” – croons singer-songwriter Young K in his pre-release track ‘Let It Be Summer’ from his full-length album Letters With Notes. As the 29-year-old multi-hyphenated musician is back from his two-year hiatus (as he was serving in the military), he compares his life to the changing seasons while expressing the desire to maintain youthful enthusiasm. The melodic pop-punk track definitely enhances the vocals of the gifted singer, who was missed from the music scene for the past two years. Over the past 8 years, Young K, birth name Kang Young Hyun, has about 160 songs copyrighted under his name. He has been the bassist, lead vocalist, and rapper in DAY6 and continues to excel as a versatile singer. He is easily one of the most valuable musicians of our time who often dabbles in different genres including rock, pop-rock, and alternative rock. Returning to the music scene after two years with Letters with notes, the 11-track album, which he was heavily involved in from scratch, sees him play with a lot of nostalgia. While ‘dreamer’ has influences of ‘60s rock-n-roll, ‘babo’ has elements of ‘60s rock with the groove of R&B; ‘waited’ has that ‘90s melodic modern rock rhythm, ‘playground’ infuses the elements of ‘60s Motown funk and rhythm and blues. He ended the song ‘Guard You’ from his 2021 album Eternal with ‘I’ll Hold You Until The End’ and begins with the same lyric in ‘nothing but’, the title track of his new album where he is unable to let go of the love. It is poetic how he uses a metaphor for the world ending in the first track whereas in his latest track, uses the same line as his world is collapsing. There is a reason Young K is called a gifted musician. He plays around with sounds and easily makes you go through varied emotions. This album takes you on a journey of different phases of love, which comes in any form, and the beauty and intricacies of it. Discharged from his military service in April 2023, Young K became the first Korean idol to join the Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA). It is the branch of military service that requires applicants with fluency in English to a high degree and only recruits about 2,000 men every year. Between April and August, he had four months to prepare and complete the album. Addressing his fans over the three-day concert held at Kwangwoon University’s Donghae Culture and Arts Center in Nowon-gu, Seoul between September 1-3, Young K said, as per Korea Herald, “The opening to today’s set list is also the first track in my new album. While working on this song, I imagined the moment I finally stepped on stage to meet you. The first words that came to my mind were, ‘I’m nervous,’ and that’s how I started the lyrics. Then I wanted to ask if you’ve been well and eaten well. I’m so happy to be performing in front of you.” Before enlisting, Young K exclusively told Bollywood Hungama in 2021, “I learned to love more. The love My Days have shown made me think about it a lot and since I write and sing about it, I guess it was one of the biggest issues and concepts I tried to know more about. I can't say I know what love exactly is, but I did learn how to give more.” Now, as he returned, we spoke to him again and this time. He had a lot more to share about his craft and his creative process of making Letters with notes.

First and foremost Young K, welcome back. The music scene has missed you and your soothing vocals. How much have you missed releasing music for your audience?

Young K: First of all, thank you for the kind words. It's been a while, so I've waited for this moment quite a lot. As an artist, I thought it'd be important to come back with an album as soon as possible, so here it is.

Congratulations on the Letters with notes. One of the teasers said ‘6 sides of Young K’ and mentioned Hexagon. Symbolically, the hexagon also stands for harmony and balance. After your return from the military, what significance does this album hold for you and why was this an apt album title?

Young K: 'Letters With Notes' can mean the lyrics, which are literally letters that has notes. The sum of those letters turns into a song, which is an individual letter sent to the world. 11 letters all combined, the album itself became 'Letters With Notes'.

A full-length album is truly a heavy work. When did you begin to put together 11 tracks? Which was the first track and last track you worked on?

Young K: All of the recordings began after I was discharged, but I had been having ideas beforehand. So it's really hard to say when the exact album preparation began. All of the ideas were mixed up, so I don't really remember which one came first.

The pre-release pop-punk track ‘let it be summer’ truly narrates the youthful enthusiasm of life. Also, the song is so Young K, it’s great to see you back. Where do you draw the inspiration for a song like this one?

Young K: The track itself had a very powerful energy, so I wanted to narrate something that would match the vibe. I thought youth holds an explosion of feelings and emotions, so I tried comparing life to change of seasons, having summer as the most burning era.

There are 11 tracks on the album but you chose ‘nothing but’ as the main track. The blending of the '60s British sound with 80s American hard rock ballads is a truly unique way to approach the song. The song is about someone ‘unable to let go of love’. Tell me your approach regarding this track and how you decided on making it the title song.

Young K: Producer Jisang Hong and I were talking about how I tend to have a hard time letting go of things. And I guess this concept turned into a song. An example would be – sometimes me having a hard time leaving food behind even when there's no need to finish everything. After submitting all the demos, we went through a monitoring system to choose a title song. And ‘nothing but' was selected.

There are so many favourites on the album but one particular track that caught attention was ‘natural’ which signifies that you don’t have to be insecure in love. Am I right? What can you tell me about it?

Young K: The word 'natural' caught my attention for some reason, and I started thinking about what could be natural. Breathing, having a meal, the flow of time and such came to my mind. It added on to how it's natural to love, so there's no need to worry.

This album feels so personal in terms of how you go about the storytelling. When you work on an album on this scale where you have so many songs to create, what is the progression like? Is it exciting or does it get stressful?

Young K: It's always exciting and stressful at the same time. To make sure it's made at a good quality, even when it seems like it's over I feel like there has to be a point where you go through it. So I always check whether it's good to be presented or not. I'm not a perfectionist, but it's the least I can do.

Thematically, the album seems to be about different stages. What is it about “love” that excites and do you think you were able to showcase it through this full-length album?

Young K: "Love" can be in countless different forms. Love for your family, love for My Days(fans), love towards music, etc. Without love in our lives, I feel like it'd be very difficult to go on.

Are you someone deeply romantic? Is this why the majority of themes of your music reflect that emotion?

Young K: I consider myself a storyteller as I'm writing, and I guess I wish to talk about various stories from many different views. In music, I don't think I want to define that storyteller as someone in a certain way. So yes, sometimes romantic, sometimes maybe not.

Are you someone who is hyper-focused during the process of album making or someone who enjoys a good balance between work and life?

Young K: I would prefer a good balance of work and life. I don't feel like I need to be intensely focused on album-making only for a period of time, but when I am at the session, I am focused.

What do you enjoy more – songwriting or producing? Are there any times when you feel words aren’t flowing how you wanted? In those times, where do you seek inspiration from?

Young K: Whenever I get a writer's block, I take a break. Short or long. I try to refresh my mind and look around. If nothing found, I try to let my mind take me anywhere to come up with something that's adequate for the music. That's also why in my everyday life I let myself be open to all the ideas that come to me. For now, I consider myself a singer and a performer most importantly. And the rest, I'm good with anything.

The fans are so happy to see you back doing radio. That gives so much joy to everyone but also showcases your relaxed side. Are you elated to be back? Do you enjoy being on the radio?

Young K: Radio lets me look into bits of many lives. I get to communicate with lots of new people and think from different perspectives. For example, a kid says she really doesn't want to go to school. The next person says she also doesn't want to go to school, but this time, it’s coming from a teacher. Another merit would be me being able to send my voice to My Days and my parents every day. How can I not be elated?

DAY6 will complete 8 years on September 7, a day prior to my birthday, which I am always pumped about. Interestingly, the album drops in the same month. Is this month special to you? Have you ever sat back and wondered about your musical journey over the years?

Young K: Happy Birthday! From time to time I tend to look back on what I've done. I realize what I've done good, and what I’ve lacked. I learn from the mistakes and grow. The more I get to know, the more I see. Never perfected it, but it was the best that I could do.

I have often wondered if you ever had a chance to watch any content from India or heard any of the artists. If yes, what or who are they?

Young K: I'm still not quite familiar with artists from India, but I'm willing to know more! Please give me recommendations!

The last time you left a message for Indian fans of DAY6, they were extremely delighted and also praying for your safe return. Is there a message you want to leave for fans on this comeback?

Young K: I gotta say thank you for all the support. The only thing I wish for you guys is to stay healthy and happy. Hope I get a chance to visit you guys too!

[robbiefischer]

💭 📚 🩹 🎶 for Viola and Jamila?

Ooooh, these are such great questions anon, thank you!! And tysm for asking about my girls! Since I've never talked about them here, here are the absolute basics. Jamila (35 years old) and Viola (37 years old) are another set of my doctor wives - Jamila's a plastic surgeon and Viola's a trauma surgeon, and they both work at the same hospital in New Islington. I apologize in advance for any missing words/spelling issues - my dog's kept me up most of the night the last couple of nights because of storms (plus my partner, who she adores, has been on a business trip) and my brain feels mushy af not getting much sleep.

💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — what is your oc's MBTI, enneagram, and/or other personality aspects (if known/interested in)?

So, I don't usually do MBTI or enneagram stuff for my OCs but I decided to take a test for each of them answering as I think they would based off of what I know about them and it was a really interesting experiment, ty!

Viola is an ENTJ-A (assertive subtype, apparently) which... makes perfect sense, really. She is 100% a natural born leader, is extremely charismatic, loves nothing more than a challenge and is very goal and achievement-oriented. She has a very big personality and sort of commands attention and respect, if that makes sense. She's not obnoxious about it at all, it's just who she is and how people respond to her energy. She's also an enneagram type 8, wing 7 which seems to correspond well to her MBTI type.

Jamila is an ENFJ-A, although quite a bit less extroverted than her wife. She's closer to the border between I and E and definitely has moments where she needs time to herself to recharge her energy. She very much has the "wants to do the right thing always" trait, and loves nothing more than an opportunity to help her friends and family grow into the people that they're supposed to be. Jamila is an enneagram type 3, wing 2.

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?

Jamila and Viola both finished medical school, then went on to do fellowships in their respective specialities - Viola in trauma surgery, Jamila in plastic surgery.

🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities?

Sorry, I know this is probably boring but I don't think either of them have any physical or mental disabilities.

🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often?

Viola absolutely loves music and listens to it whenever it's practical (the only time it's not blasting in her OR is when she's got another surgeon in there with her who can't concentrate with music on). She tends to be drawn to rock, especially harder rock and alt rock, punk and post-punk, heavy metal, some industrial and EDM (especially dubstep). When she was younger (as a teenager and young adult) she was a constant presence in the local scene, and spent so much of her time going to shows and being in the pit. Now, she still loves going to shows but is a lot more careful and less willing to take dumb risks especially if she could hurt herself or her hands - her job's too important to her.

Jamila's not actually a huge music person. She doesn't dislike it or anything, and has artists she really enjoys but she just doesn't tend to think of putting it on most of the time. She's another of my OCs who tends to really prefer music without lyrics - she loves minimalist, modern piano music and film scores more than anything else. If she's going to listen to music she'll probably put on a little Joep Beving, Arvo Part, Megan Wofford, Gavin Luke, Franz Gordon, Reeder, Arden Forest, Ludovico Einaudi, Max Richter or someone like that. It's soothing and helps her center herself, and she has a playlist that she always listens to before bed to help her brain wind down (it's one of the few times she DOES think to listen to music).

[thesinglesjukebox]

SCREAMING FEMALES - "BRASS BELL"

With John, we say goodbye to Screaming Females...

[7.19]

John S. Quinn-Puerta: This has been my song of the year since it came out. Maybe it's just the familiarity -- when a single is released in January, it has 12 months to make its way into my heart. Maybe it's that I saw Screaming Females for the first -- and last -- time in March at the EARL (East Atlanta Restaurant and Lounge), surrounded by friends I didn't have a year before. Maybe it's the rawness of Paternoster's guitar and vocals, her insistence on a rhythmic minor key riff that I just don't hear much without the layer of pretense that can surround it. There's no valorization of the '70s here, no bemoaning of what music used to be, but a reaffirmation of what the guitar always could be, of the idea that anyone, no matter how small and quiet they might seem, can close their eyes and yell and become a star, even if just in tiny rooms drenched in domestic beer and cigarette smoke. I did not know, when I submitted this song, my rediscovery of a band that I had first found doing college radio in 2012, that Screaming Females would announce their breakup a week later. I did not know that even as I wondered how I could possibly write a blurb for this, the most important song of my 2023 by any metric, would also be the swan song of an 18-year... it almost feels wrong to call the band a titan. That's never what Screaming Females was in ethos. They simply made the music they wanted to, beholden to no one but themselves. I have no means to eulogize them, but I still had to try. [10]

Nortey Dowuona: "I hope they keep going forever." -- Steve Albini [8]

Tara Hillegeist: Screaming Females may be the only grunge-indebted band to exist whose songs have only gotten better the clearer and prettier their production has become, and I've been on team "Marissa Paternoster is one of America's greatest living rock & roll singer-songwriters" since Castle Talk, without a single reason to betray my ideological loyalty in that regard in all the years up till now, either. And since "Brass Bell"'s got riffs that would make even Ratt bang their heads in appreciation, and lyrics like if Cocteau Twins wrote a Neil Young song -- in other words, it's a Screaming Females song... yeah, of course I think this is amazing. It'd take a harder sell and a colder heart than me to think anything else. [8]

Micha Cavaseno: Truly, I don't think of songs beginning with that kind of analog distortion as leading to the sort of gallop and retreating riff cycle pattern I associate with stoner rock and beard metal. I don't think in any of the times people would've mentioned this band I would've expected that I needed to make comparisons to Torche or Mastodon. And go figure: this first note is the note they're going out on. Hell of a way to go out, and just my luck really. [7]

Taylor Alatorre: Two weeks after Screaming Females released Desire Pathway, the J Mascis side project Heavy Blanket came out with Moon Is, an album of instrumental stoner-psych jams aimed squarely at those for whom "rip" is the default verb for guitar solos. There's no doubt that a similar path is open for Marissa Paternoster if she wants it; as if to confirm this, she played a show with the Dinosaur Jr. frontman just a few days after her band's break-up. "Brass Bell" is a solid showcase of the trio as a tight-knit riffing machine and not just a one-woman fireworks show, though there are a few too many concessions made for the radio airplay that never came. The flange effects feel like tacked-on regressions, and the wings of a high-flying, late-coming Paternoster solo are clipped after four terse measures. The sad reality is that the airwaves only seem to have room for one basement-band-doing-stadium-rock at a time, and if your name isn't White Reaper, you may just be out of luck. [6]

Ian Mathers: I mean, kudos to whoever made the wiki entry for this album list "punk blues" as the genre (follow your bliss!) but in every sense except the subcultural this is absolutely classic rock. The production, Marissa Paternoster's vocals and especially and gleefully so her soloing. It's great, in a way that makes me want to take up the air guitar and reach for words like "stentorian." [7]

Katherine St Asaph: I think I like this because of, not despite, the early-'00s radio rock feel. At times it almost feels like it's going to turn into Trapt (not an insult I swear). [7]

Brad Shoup: "Brass Bell" has something I always admired about Screaming Females, which is their uncanny ability to make nu-rock. They never really coded as "punk" for me: maybe stoner metal, but with a lighter guitar tone and an ability to write a hook. Because I grew up in butt rock's salad days, I guess I tend to hear it everywhere. But these riffs (the start-stop one and Phrygian-sounding one) and the way Marissa Paternoster punches into the chorus are modern-rock radio gold. Hell, the chorus even has the kind of fake-deep imagery that should get over. (Would a different alloy make living in a bell a tolerable situation?) Godspeed, Screaming Females. I'm sure all your subsequent bands will rock. [7]

Dorian Sinclair: Having spent the past three weeks on a placement where I learned, in great detail, about the history and function of carillons (bell towers, specifically those with two octaves of bells or more), I am definitively able to confirm: living in a brass bell would be really fucking loud! Central metaphor holds up! [7]

Rachel Saywitz: Sounds like a disaster on the horizon and a heroine's call to arms. [7]

Joshua Minsoo Kim: Everything starts to crumble once the actual verse arrives -- you can't feel the jaggedness of the start-stop guitar riff, and the band sounds all too eager to go straight into the chorus both the first and second time around. Unfortunately, the central metaphor there is too awkward, and is shouted with a conviction that leaves no room for it to be a proper hook. They almost convince me with the detours taken in the final third, but the radio-rock sheen is all too much: it sounds like I'm at a bar and the local band is trying way too hard to convince everyone of their energy. [3]

Alfred Soto: Marissa Paternoster's vocals are the right kind of arch and posh: when she complains, "It's too loud!" she sounds like a country club member sneering at Rodney Dangerfield. The rest of the riffage is not too loud, with interesting changes. [7]

David Moore: Every time I get really into a band a few years late they break up within the year. I take full responsibility and vow to stop listening to music. [8]

Daniel Montesinos-Donaghy: Long live Screaming Females, they rocked harder and longer than a lot (A LOT!) of posers, and they have songs that showcase their gnarled hookiness better than this (download "Ornament" for clear skin etc. etc.). [8]

Aaron Bergstrom: Thirty-five seconds of "When are they gonna get to the fireworks factory?" synth build, but we're talking about one of the most dependable indie bands of the past decade-plus, so you better believe they get there. Whether it's Marissa Paternoster screaming on guitar, or Marissa Paternoster just screaming, they've always lived up to their name. She deserves the plural all to herself. RIP to an institution. [7]

Frank Falisi: Screaming Females was an underrated experiment in texture. They could shift tactility live on the ridge of a dime. The big metal monster would suck in its woofer and start to strut different, guitar puffing over tom hits, which were doing the riffs. The bass was too big to hear and the bass was mercury. Something about playing live means performing life, which means playing the changes. Texture in music is a signal. It prepares your body to sound different. "Brass Bell" begins with washing electronics, a loop. It leers and jeers, like a Mica Levi film score on your fretting fingers. The mouth of sound is broad. "Brass Bell", Desire Pathway -- these are the descendants of All At Once (2018), of Marissa's Peace Meter (2021). Once you master bass and guitar and drum and the human voice, you can unmaster it, unwind it, break a string. "Brass Bell" breaks open after the noise into perfect form, crunched production, crisp like adenoidal panic. There's a perfect breakdown in the middle of the song, a perfect bring-it-all-down with a minute left before drumming back up, before one last chorus. "It's too loud!!" How many times have I said this at the Screaming Females gig? How many times has the sound entered my ears, all my complicated receptors and sets of crevasses ringing, only to feel my own texture quake at the sound? We talk sometimes of the collective frisson of the gig, of being a body among bodies. Divine. I think something like that happens on a studio sound too. Me and all my changes, a flange forever. [8]

[Read, comment and vote on The Singles Jukebox ]

[tomorrowonu]

Bias tag game!!

You're going to pick 10 of your biases (or as many biases as you have and then fill in the rest of the spots with idols you like) and number them 1-10. Then answer the questions below! Try not to look at the questions before you make your list!

thank you Jo (@onlyoneofyouu) for the tag !!!! i'm going to tag these incredible people : @wnjunhui , @yongbonk , @blushgyu , and ofc @lovejoshua !! ofc if you don't feel like doing it, no pressure!! games like these are supposed to be fun, so don't force yourself<3 (but i'm excited to see your answers if i'm honest hejejzk)

As for my answers:

BIASES:

1. Mark (NCT)

2. Beomgyu (TXT)

3. Wonwoo (SEVENTEEN)

4. Seonghwa (ATEEZ)

5. Yunjin (LE SSERAFIM)

6. Jiung (P1HARMONY)

7. B.I / Kim Hanbin

8. Winter (AESPA)

9. Baekhyun (EXO)

10. Kevin (THE BOYZ)

QUESTIONS:

1. Between 7 and 5, who did you bias first?

Ohhh though one because there was never a point where I "decided" to bias Hanbin, but I've started to get interest in him after BTBT was released, so a year ago? As for Yunjin, it's only been 3 months but she's been such an inspiration that it feels like i've been admiring her for so much longer</3

2. Between 2 and 6, who are you more attached to?

Beomgyu is the epitome of comfort for me😭😭 when i feel down i listen to his covers, watch compilations of him, and he's just been a very big reassuring presence in my life if that makes sense!! as for jiung, i also hold him so dearly to my heart considering i've been listening to P1Harmony since their debut, and thinking about his growth as an artist just makes me kinda emotional lol but beomgyu's got such a big place inside my heart</3

3. If you were to spend the day with either 3 or 1, who would you choose and what would you do?

dON'T DO THIS TO MEEEEEEE wonwoo and mark are both my boyfriends 🧍🏻

but for so many reasons (langage barrier and how much of an inspiration he's been for me for the past four years (oof)) I'm going to choose mark<3 he just seems SO chill, i hope we could watch anime (I'd make him watch jjk ofc), browse a bookstore and choose a book for the other person, have some conversations about the meaning of the world, write stories, make music, etc etc just spend a chill yet creative day with him i guess

4. What is your favorite physical feature about 9?

BAEKHYUN'S CHEEKS this man is so squishy !!!!!!!! his little round cheeks when he smiles please i'm devasted</3

5. What is your favorite part of 6's personality?

oh jiung my boy<3 i'll always remember the first p1harmony video I watched, where he helped Soul answering questions because he wasn't fluent in Korean</3 he seems like such a nice and genuine person who is always willing to help people around him, and i think his humour and his chill vibe can make anyone comfortable! he seems like a nice person and a good friend<3

6. If you were to tell 8 anything you wanted, what you would you tell them?

winter my incredible talented girl<3 I'd praise her insane vocals but also her ability to play the guitar like a GODDESS, telling her how underrated she is, that i hope she knows how talented she is, that she deserves the whole world and more!!! also winter solo when ?

7. Between 1 and 2, whose closet would you raid?

technically mark is the exact same height as me so it'd be convenient but ... the way he dresses sometimes .......... yeah no i'll choose beomgyu lmao and i'll just have extra comfy and oversize clothes I guess!!! i'm a big fan of flannels as well so it's perfect

8. What is a style that you want to see 3 try?

maybe it's the mcr stan in me talking but .... wonwoo would sound so good in a punk/rock concept !!! he's got that deep raspy voice that would just sound SO GOOD with electric guitar, it would be incredible. i'd lose my mind

9. Between 5 and 4, who are you closer to in height?

yunjin is 1m71 and i'm 1m73 !!! oh god i thought she was way smaller, this is making me rethink everything 🧍🏻

10. Between 10 and 9, whose music do you like the best?

i LOVE the boyz so much and i think they're incredibly underrated considering what they're able to do in terms of vocals, rapping, performance, and on top of it all they're also super funny!!! but . (😭) i listen to baekhyun's music all the time and he's just one of these artists that never, ever, disappoint me with their new music!! and as a whole, exo are just SO INCREDIBLE they even wrote one of my favourite song ever made so... baekhyun gotta be the winner here!!

[patrickjonesblog]

Favorite Albums of 2024

As predictable as ever my 2024 list arrives way into 2025. Hope you had a musical 2024 and happy new year!

Hey, we're still on Tumblr, Im as surprised as you that this site still exists! I wonder how many platforms this annual blog will survive? I started on Googles Blogspot platform in 2011, which is also still alive!

2024 was dominated by great pop; Beyonce, Charli, Billie, Taylor and Chappell ruling the airwaves and venues of the world. But did they make the coveted Paddy Has Needs list?! Lets have a look shall we?

20. Playing Favorites - Sheer Mag

19. Empathogen - Willow

18. What Now? - Brittany Howard

17. Package Pt.2 - Gustaf

16. Mountainhead - Everything Everything

15. Manning Fireworks - MJ Lenderman

14. Sadness Sets Me Free - Gruff Rhys

13. Viva Hinds - Hinds

12. Where is my Utopia? - Yard Act

11. Brand on the Run - Bodega

10. Still Willing - Personal Trainer

In a different decade Personal Trainer would be a chart bothering rock band. All their singles are catchy as hell and on their second album they sit next to album tracks that are equally interesting.

9. On the intricate inner workings of the system - The Bug Club

The prolific welsh newbies launch onto SubPop with a little more shine to their production, but losing none of their quirkiness. Trademark humor in tact the album is probably their most consistent in quality.

8. Bloodhounds - Mary Shelley

First appearance in the top 10 I think for my fave NYC band. An improvement in production from their 2022 full length and the inclusion of some live favorites. Post-punk with humor and fantastic live. If they're in your town go see.

7. Cartoon Darkness - Amyl and the Sniffers

This could have been higher any other year but came out later in the year so haven't listened to it as much. It is wonderful though and notches Amyl up a level, everything is better than previous albums, riffs are bigger, lyrics are funnier, Amy's delivery is sharper and more acerbic than ever. They've cemented themselves as one of the best bands around at the moment with this.

6. TANGK - Idles

One of my faves continue to push out of their punk rock roots into more experimental beats and sounds. Its an evolution from Crawler and feels like the album they wanted that one to be. Live the new stuff makes them a more well rounded tour de force.

5. Romance - Fontaines DC

Band of the year? Possibly. The ambition on this one is huge, they clearly wanted to make a mainstream rock album and did so still maintaining the credibility they'd earned from their earlier stuff. Fontaines DC are stepping into festival headline slots with this one.

4. NONAME - Jack White

If the band of the year are only in 5th we must be in to big hitters now. In my generation you dont get much bigger than the ex White Stripes frontman. Everything was perfect on this album, the surprise release, the tracks, the guerrilla club tour that followed. Its his best album since the White Stripes.

3. brat - Charli XCX

I've been a Charli stan for years, so I was so happy to see her achieve mega pop stardom this year and with her best set of tracks yet. It's rare for a pop album to have this many hits and be so cohesive from start to finish. Whenever I wanted to get ready for a night out in this past year I would put on brat.

2. Songs of a Lost World - The Cure

Band of the year, Generational Rock God, Pop Mega Star.... I suppose we have to go to actual legends next then. For a band to make this album 40 years into their career is special. It's a beautiful record and has been stuck on rotation since its release.

1. It's Sorted - Cheekface

History will judge me for this after the escalating greatness of the previous bands, but fuck it. This is an awesome album and I have played it all year non stop and never got bored of it, it introduced me to this amazing DIY, fully independent band and I just love everything about them. It's got everything I want in my bands, smart, funny lyrics, catchy melodies and they're doing it all on their own terms. Go make Cheekface your new favorite band, if they're not already.

There we go! What a year! Check out my full list of 2024 tracks on Spotify, final shout out for Chappell Roan and especially Good Luck, Babe which I think is my favorite song of the year.

If you want to subscribe to my 2025 Spotify playlist, please do, updated with fresh tracks most weeks throughout the year.

Thanks for reading have a great year!

[starvinginbelair]

ranking every original song from the next star

because i can and also i've never listened to the full discography before! reminder that this is only really my opinion and that this is just for fun (not an actual serious critique lmao). also i only watched from season 5 onwards, so there may be a bit more bias to the newer seasons and songs. this will only be songs that were written specifically for the show, no songs that were released by participants after the show.

1. good as gone by melissa (charlie) storwick

C A T C H Y. it's no wonder she won with this song, with how good it is melodically and lyrically. sonically, her voice really suits it too and while it does have electronic elements to it, it's not so overpowering that it feels dated by any means. the dynamics of her vocals in the last chorus carry it higher and makes the song not feel energetic and fun. one of the best, if not THE best written and produced song on the next step

2. all i want by alex zaichkowski

you could flip a coin between this one and in my mind because they're pretty similar to me. at least musically, both really lean into the live instrument/band aspect and i eat it up. what puts this one above in my mind is slightly better writing in the chorus and a stronger bridge. i really like how this one paints a distinct image through the lyrics though, and the songwriting is definitely some of the strongest out of the songs on the show

3. in my mind by ryan hawken

the chorus of this one is so genuinely catchy. and i feel like he has the vocal chops to pull off the way it swells in the last pass of it. the verses are memorable, and really the only weak part of this song is the bridge. definitely something you could see an early 2010s boyband singing, and one of the better songs from season 5. one i find myself inclined to listen to again

4. my best friend's girl by diego gomes

does it have a ton of vocoder and voice modulation on it? yes. does it also hit insanely hard and is a party hit? also yes. i really like the simple guitar at the beginning that transitions into a more electronic sound. i also love the breakdown section/guitar solo. obviously, the lyrics are quite juvenile but they somehow work for this song? it fits and doesn't make me feel weird and in high school lmao. i also love the octave change in the last chorus. why this wasn't more of a hit? idk.

5. fever by victoria duffield

one where i'm like how the FUCK did she not win with this song. the way the chorus hits and while repetitive, isn't at all grating or annoying. i love the verses, they're so well written, and the second verse pre-chorus is genuinely one of the best parts of the song. it really set up where she was going to go as an artist tbh and i really love that. definitely a hit, and there's a reason it's probably the most popular song from the next star

6. breaking glass by kaleia simons-cook

another one where it genuinely flabbergasts me that she didn't win with this song. it fit pretty perfectly with what was popular around the time she was on the show, an edm banger, and her voice sounds so good. has top 40 hit written all over it, and i'm still a bit salty this song wasn't appreciated more

7. sparks are gonna fly by j.d. meeboer (rip)

this was the pop-punk/pop-rock song this show NEEDED. it was so refreshing to listen to, the live instruments sound great, and the breakdown is great. of course, the lyrics aren't amazing, but you can absolutely tell that there was a lot of thought put into them and that there was a story they wanted to tell using the imagery. it's catchy as hell, and definitely one i'll revisit and replay until my heart's content. my one complaint is that i wish it went a bit harder, but i'm sure live, it could be different (it is different).

8. into pieces by electric ave

the instrumental on this one is amazing, and the swagger the guys bring to the song is unmatched. it's truly been years since this song was released and i *still* remember the lyrics because that's how fucking catchy it is. instant brainworm. i love the breakdown too, and it just elevates the song going into the final chorus. everyone sounds good on the track and really, just a song you can absolutely bop to

9. we are the brave by rebel coast

such a unique song concept! the instrumental of this one might be one of the best the next step has ever done, with the excess of snares and dark sound. the vocals on this sound great, especially from kyle and curtis. i think the lyrics are pretty weak but this does have one of the better choruses out of all of the songs. replayability is high, and i have nothing more to say than this one is a bop

10. we just don't care by the season 6 top 6

a bit autotuned, yes, but never to the point of annoyance. i think the outro really sells it for me, it's just so catchy and everyone's voice is utilized well in this one. it's also not repetitive in the way now is, even though the chorus is similarly simple. the mixing is great and everyone has a moment to shine. i like the lyrics and sonically, the backing instrumentals provide just enough that it is easily one i revisit and listen to often.

11. turn it up by the season 4 top 6

are charlie, milly, april and parker's lines completely autotuned garbage? yes. but does it slay regardless? also yes. it's a certified bop, that i will always love dancing to. i think the lyrics are perfect for a dance track, and in general, i think it'll always bring good memories for me. so what if i'm a little nostalgic for this song? it's valid. it's catchy as hell.

12. better off anyway by brandon bizior

this song walked so the holy trinity of sparks are gonna fly, in my mind, and all i want could RUN. that pop-punk flair i really love is so apparent and there, and i cannot understate enough how much i love the instrumental. i didn't expect to like it this much even, but sonically it's so good. reminds me a lot of check yes, juliet by we the kings to be honest. what knocks it down here (still top 20 lmao) is just that i think the lyrics aren't as strong as the three songs i mentioned above, and there are other songs i like better. but definitely a replayable song and one that i was shocked to like so much that i want to revisit it!

13. see you again by amer dhaliwal

the chorus of this one is so catchy!!!! i really like how it's written too, and i think the melodies are really good. i would say the verses are kind of boring though, and they're cheesy as well. but amer sounds amazing singing the lyrics so does that cancel it out? to me it does. the high notes are killer and it's definitely one i can see revisiting. however, it does land here because i just like the other ones more, and they appeal more to me.

14. dreams by shania fillmore

classic tbh!!!! i love the instrumentation, and while the lyrics are very VERY cheesy, i find that shania's delivery makes them less so. she seems to really believe the message of the song lmao. it's also insanely catchy, and i applaud the decisiveness of wanting a country-pop song instead of something that might be more leaning into edm or straight pop.

15. front row by madi amyotte

i swear this song was featured somewhere and tbh even if it *wasn't*, it should've been. even though the writing is very very cheesy, it doesn't seem played into so much, like the artist genuinely believes that it's true. i also love the instrumentation and think the vocals are great. i genuinely think that this is one of the best songs, just for how catchy it is even upon my first listen. season 3 really had a great group!

16. up to us by jory zechner

wow season 7 really had some of the best production and songwriting in terms of melodies. i think the chorus carries this song but around it, there's p good lyrics and melodic tendencies. the one thing that i do dislike a lot is the spoken word bridge, but overall, the rest of the vocals are really solid. replayability factor is also high.

17. if i fall by wren burnett

i was shocked to find out how much i liked this one! i think the writing in the verses is really solid, and the chorus has a lot to it too. the instrumental is amazing and you can tell that wren has a great voice that doesn't need excess vocal modulation. i genuinely am going to revisit this one and it is definitely my favourite of the season 2 songs for sure. it's very early jojo and you know what?? not a bad thing at all.

18. the last word by briar gillis

so evanescence, so angsty. and genuinely i really enjoy it! i think that the verses have pretty good songwriting, but the pre-chorus is cheesy. the chorus could come in stronger, but her vocals overall are pretty good throughout and fit the song. i like the instrumental a lot too, and that she leaned into the live instrument thing. the belt before the last chorus is what i would want for the whole song going into the chorus.

19. it might be you by parker schmidt

okay so if we're talking on writing ALONE this one would be way down there with "the way i see you". but we're not, so i would just like to say that i really like the instrumental of this one and how catchy it is. yes there is a ton of vocoder on it, but it's a really really cute song otherwise and i think it's one of the ones with the most earwormy choruses. def a fave of mine, no matter what.

20. goodbye gravity by dante scott

i love the verses and pre-chorus of this song. the soft drop is also perfectly timed, and it's just a great dance song! it's so catchy that by the end i was singing along to the chorus, but it's also not dated. however, i can't put it in the top songs simply because the post-chorus is quite shallow and i really like other songs more

21. be your holiday by shon burnett

say what you want but this is a cute ass song. catchy for sure! while it is really shallow writing, and i really think the instrumental is grating with the brass, shon's voice is actually pretty good in this, and makes it up for it. aside from the spoken word pre-chorus of course. i would've liked this song to explore the more tropical sound in the way the bridge implies, as opposed to the brass. but like it's one that i always find myself aw-ing at

22. say u 2 by paige prescott

cheesy yes, but it's so catchy and easy to sing along to. i love her vocal on it and it sucks that during the live show, she also got sick similar to issy. but i like this song far more than issy's, just for how cute it is. it also has great background instrumentals and overall is just a bop!

23. i got a crush on you by isabelle stern

such a cute little song! i really like isabelle's vocals on this, and you can tell that she has such mature depth in her voice. again: electronic elements but it doesn't feel dated. the lyrics do make this feel a bit juvenile but at the same time, i think it works for her voice and she sings it well. i love the octave change too. definitely catchy, but it's not good enough to be pushed up into the upper echelon of songs.

24. lioness by kat moscone

the instrumental on this one really hits, and tbh saves it. outside of the verses, which come in really strong and are lyrically pretty alright, the chorus is weak and so is the bridge. i really dislike the rap bridge section, and while kat's vocals are good throughout, i just find myself drawn more to the backing track more than the melodies. it's catchy, but in a way that's definitely grating by the end of the song due to its repetitiveness

25. from the heart by amanda rowland

i wasn't expecting to like this one as much as i did! i think it works and fits perfectly with her voice, and i love the instrumental and how it builds throughout the song. it doesn't feel juvenile either, if a little bit cheesy in the lyrics. i think my one knock is that it builds so much that by the end, you can tell the vocal chops just are not there to hold it up.

26. caught up by grace johnston

i like the instrumental of this song and i absolutely love the chorus. they're both really catchy. however, i think the vocal delivery on this song is weak and really, the lyrics are pretty mediocre. it doesn't hit hard enough either. middle of the pack seems right about right for this song. i like the name drop too though.

27. without you here by tiana flegel

very hilary duff-esque. i really enjoy it, it's solid in terms of sound. and the songwriting is decent enough that it's not a bother to me! i wouldn't necessarily look for it to listen, but if it came on, i wouldn't be mad. kinda just a middle of the pack song

28. what r u doin 2 me by michaelah weekes

i don't love the chorus of this one, but the verses are really great lyrically. i think the instrumental is interesting too. but overall, there's nothing super special about this song. it just kinda feels like it's there.

29. shy by dunnery bond

again, it might just be that it's not my style, but i feel like this song sounds a bit like elevator music. it doesn't feel juvenile to me though, which is good. i think it's just cause i'm not drawn to this type of music, but overall it's really not that bad

30. gotta give a little extra by darren espanto

darren's vocals in this song are amazing, and that's genuinely the only thing that saves this one lmao. the verses are bloated with unnecessary lyrics, and the chorus is annoyingly repetitive. there's nothing even interesting going on in the instrumental. darren's runs sound great though, and you can tell he's probably the most talented vocalist (on vocal talent alone) out of all of the top 6's in the show. i wish they would've given him a better song though, so all of that could shine.

31. so hepburn by ryland clark

meh. that's really all i can say about this song. i think it's catchy enough, but i also don't find myself dancing along like with the others. it has this guitar lick that just goes on forever and never gives up, and it's quite annoying. the verses are also quite bloated with lyrics. i don't find that there's anything spectacular about this song, although i think that the concept is interesting! the songwriting also isn't great though, so it falls flat.

32. now by the season 5 top 6

a pretty shallow pop song tbh. i find the chorus a bit grating with it's repetitiveness, but i like the post-chorus. the verses are not that well written either though, and the overall mixing of their voices together wasn't done very well. definitely the weakest of the top 6 group songs, by far.

33. more by issy dahl

i could only find a live version of this, and she's very visibly sick in it tbh. chorus hits but the verses are super boring. kinda just meh. i wish there was a better version of it online because she really does kill the chorus. hard to judge because of the vocal performance.

34. solitude of sunday by darrelyne bickel

cheesy writing and boring instrumentals, really nothing i like in it. i think the vocals are really lacking too. just a boring song that has not much going for it, and isn't memorable overall in terms of the show. i won't be revisiting it. it's alright though i guess. mid.

35. insane (thru with you) by mimoza duot

ugh with mimoza's voice they could have done SO SO much more!!!! instead we get an electronic and vocally modulated song, with shallow lyrics. it also completely loses me on the catchiness factor, really does sound like something from an early 2000s movie that plays during the shopping montage. i wish we had more from her cause her vocals through all the modulation sound deep and great but...

36. everyday crazy by christina leclair

i really dislike the lyrics to this song. they feel really cheesy and they remind me of a knock-off of wonderful crazy by katelyn tarver. the backing instrumental IS good, but that's about all that is with this song. i think the vocals are alright, but it's really nothing special and i don't enjoy it in the same way i enjoy the others.

37. spotlight by april llave

it's so similar sonically to breaking glass, but i think the writing is worse, and there's an overuse of woahs and ahs in the verses. the pre-chorus really does hit, but the chorus is boring as hell with the same words repeated over and over again. the bridge is pretty bad as well. the edm backing music is interesting though, and that's probably what keeps it here and not somewhere lower. cause it is pretty catchy.

38. you better watch out for me by alicia moffet

this one is really just mid for me tbh. like i genuinely don't know why people liked it so much. i liked the message and it was a cute song, but the production is really lacking anything interesting and the lyrics aren't great either. of course, i like it better than many of the other songs but really, there's nothing special with it.

39. more perfect than a doll by lizz kellermann

the audio for this one was really bad, but i don't think that changes how bad the songwriting is either. i can see where she's coming from with this song, trying to be relateable, but at the same time, it just feels really fake. i like the vocals, but there's just not much else that draws me to this song.

40. the way i see you by brooklyn roebuck

oh wow, listening back to this one really makes you realize how HIGH SCHOOL it is. it's really not at all that catchy either. maybe it's just because it's very country and i don't love that genre, but in comparison to the other country songs on this list, it's definitely the weakest.

41. winners by jaden macphee

it might just not be my style, but i find this song really just boring and not at all catchy. the verses are quite bloated with lyrics in comparison to the chorus, which only has a few. the edm drops just aren't appealing here to me, and there's so much more they could have done with jaden's voice i feel like. he kills it on his runs, but unfortunately the rest of the song is just repetitive and annoying to listen to .

42. what we need is love by rayandra hudson

maybe it's just because of the sound quality but i really just did not like listening to this song. aside from the sound quality, rayandra sounds pretty pitchy. and it's far too reminiscent of a song like hey there delilah without the charm. it's definitely not the worst song, but not something i'd ever reach for.

43. stuck in my world by maranda thomas

i don't like the repetitiveness of the chorus nor the random people shouting things throughout the song. it's very early 2000s though, reminds me of outrageous by britney spears. i don't like that song either though, so maybe it's just the style. not one i'll be revisiting

44. do it by nissita francis

it's so cheesy and juvenile and i am cringing about it, but trying to keep in mind she was really young when she sang this. i mean it is kind of catchy, in a bad way, with just the chorus. the verses aren't really engaging and i feel like she sounds very autotuned. i really don't like the background instrumental claps either. the video is cute though! and her vocals are also good, just not her natural vocals, and you can tell.

45. if you were mine by milly benzu

the catchiest part is the "if you were mine"s and even that is really just a bright spot in a sea of edm that is bad and uncatchy. the songwriting is really juvenile and tries to have so many unnecessary drops and vocal modulation sections. i really would've just loved a song with milly's singing on it cause i know it was good, not this bs.

46. one more first chance by brock zanrosso

it's so early 2000s and so just boring. i imagine this song as a glob of wet paper mache tbh. it's just so unappealing to me, and maybe i just don't like the style, but there's something that distinctly turns me off from it. i really couldn't listen to all of it, i think the lyrics are cheesy and sonically it isn't amazing either.

47. gonna make you dance by alyssa reid

this was NOT what i was expecting from alyssa reid's debut song. it's so latin flair for no reason? there's also a really odd vocoder on her voice that's entirely unnecessary. i really question what they were going for with this song, because it's not really all that catchy either.

[taminoarticles]

— Tamino for Gazet van Antwerpen, February 2017 (x)

Child prodigy Tamino, after recognition in 'De Nieuwe Lichting': “I don't want to be the new Jeff Buckley”

Finding shelter with the management of dEUS and Balthazar, and being allowed to debut on the record label of Het Zesde Metaal and Trixie Whitley: things are going fast for Tamino. A week after the 20-year-old from Antwerp was chosen as one of the laureates of Studio Brussel's De Nieuwe Lichting, he captivated Flanders with the captivating song Habibi. “But I don't want to be the Flemish Jeff Buckley,” emphasizes the confident young man.

gunter jacobs Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 8:53 PM

Tamino impresses. In November he already made jaws drop when he was a guest in Trix in the Radio 1 session of Het Zesde Metaal. Listeners from Studio Brussels voted him last week in the final of De Nieuwe Lichting as one of the laureates from more than 800 promising young artists. Since then, more and more people are discovering this special twenty-year-old singer-guitarist.

The comments on YouTube under the clip of his first single Habibi do not lie. "It's been a long time since I've been so overwhelmed by a voice and a melody," someone writes. “Absolutely beautiful. Beautiful chord progressions and what a vocal range,” another new fan exults.

Tamino does not come completely out of nowhere. “I've been playing music in all kinds of groups since I was fourteen, from punk and desert rock to more danceable music. Solo I now bring the music that I have to make on my own.” His name has been buzzing in Antwerp for a long time. Last year he also did support programs for Trixie Whitley and Bazart.

Nice reactions

“Especially after the Radio 1 session in Trix, I noticed that suddenly a lot of people had discovered me. When I performed in café Trefpunt in Ghent afterwards, not everyone could even enter. With De Nieuwe Lichting I have gained a whole new audience. While I didn't even expect to make it to the final. I even doubted for a long time whether I should register; I don't like competition in music. That is why I will no longer participate in competitions, although I received many nice reactions after De Nieuwe Lichting. A friend who has seen that it is now starting to work out for me, let me know that she is inspired to do her own thing as well. I think that's super cool.”

Named by his opera-loving parents after the prince from Mozart's The Magic Flute, Tamino's full name is Tamino-Amir Moharam Fouad, has partly Egyptian roots and lives in Mortsel with his Belgian mother. “I do want to live alone, but for now I find living at home especially useful,” he confesses. “I lived in Amsterdam for 2.5 years to study at the conservatory there. Two weeks ago I decided to take a break. Because my education really can't be combined with my career for a while.”

From Mortsel to Amsterdam

“At the conservatory I follow the pop training. The focus is on their own music. When I was seventeen I went there on my own. Believe me, going from Mortsel to Amsterdam was a huge step. There I learned to stand my ground and become more assertive. The fact that students come from all over, from Denmark and Germany to Latvia and Israel, has broadened my horizon.”

“I can also easily do my thing in Antwerp. I don't belong to a particular scene, but thanks to Tom Pintens, with whom I recorded my first record, I do get to know many well-known musicians. When we were recording at his house, Gregory Frateur and Het Zesde Metaal would sometimes drop by.”

For that first record, a five-song EP that will be released in May, Tamino has a deal with Unday Records, the record label of Het Zesde Metaal, Trixie Whitley and Dans Dans, among others. In anticipation of that debut, the compelling Habibi has been launched as a digital business card. “That number is already old. I wrote it two years ago, when I was eighteen, in Amsterdam,” the young man clarifies. To add with a timid laugh: “Like many songs, it is about love. I don't want to say more about it. Let people make their own interpretation of it.”

Tamino's partly oriental roots shine through in Habibi. His grandfather, Moharam Fouad, turns out to be a well-known singer-actor in the Arab world. “Unfortunately he passed away when I was five. Well, I didn't know him. Yet my grandfather plays a role in what I do. At home, my mother always puts on Arabic music, including my grandfather's. I have many recordings of him that inspire me.”

Tamino tells how he rescued a decaying guitar from his grandfather's house while cleaning up. He is currently having it refurbished to give it a second life. Although he was born in Belgium, his heart also leans towards the Middle East. “I lived in Egypt for a while, but unfortunately I don't know Arabic. I would like to learn that someday. The intensity in my singing and the romantic character of my music come much more from that world. Jeff Buckley also listened a lot to Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, hey.”

Melancholy

The fact that many label Tamino as the Flemish Jeff Buckley only bothers him a little. “On the one hand I feel flattered, on the other hand every boy with a guitar who sings high and emotionally is quickly called that. I didn't even know Jeff Buckley's music when friends pointed out the similarity to me. Ever since I listened to a live CD of his at my mother's, I get it. But I sing with the voice I have. I don't want to be the next Jeff Buckley. I think it's okay that people describe my music as 'for fans of Jeff Buckley'.”

Just like the lamented American cult hero - drowned in 1997 and best known for his Leonard Cohen cover Hallelujah - Tamino brings his soulful songs without much frills; sometimes subdued and with a deep crooner voice, then fiercely lashing out with an angelic falsetto. There is a spiritual and melancholic edge to his intriguing songs. “Sincere melancholic music,” Tamino calls it himself.

“Everything I do stems from that melancholic feeling. That's why most of my songs are slow. But I also have uptempo songs, you know. Dynamics in a show is important.”

However, Tamino also turns the Arctic Monkeys hit I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor, which he covers for Studio Brussel, into a ballad. “I first wanted to do something by Leonard Cohen, but they thought that was too unknown at Studio Brussels. I'm also a fan of Arctic Monkeys. By playing that song slower, I make it my own.”

“I myself listen to a wide variety of music, from Vashti Bunyan and Thelonious Monk to Nick Cave and Radiohead. And don't forget: dEUS! That's a group I grew up with and look up to. I think it's really cool how Tom Barman and also Mauro (who played his last concert with the group on Friday in the Lotto Arena, ed.) have always done their thing.”

Tamino is proud that he has now found accommodation with Musickness, the management of dEUS and Balthazar, among others. “Compared to three months ago, it feels like I've climbed a step higher,” he muses. “From now on I'm going to be selective with performances. I've performed so many times, sometimes in pubs for ten people. From now on it is important that the setting is right and that people really come for my music. Ticket sales for my concert in the AB-Club in Brussels have just started. There I will present my first mini album on May 16.”

Tamino undeniably has a bright future, but not a dream scenario. “I hope that I can gradually play all over Europe and mean something to a small audience everywhere. Then I would be very satisfied. I may also play with others in the future. I don't always want to keep making music on my own.”

INFO

Concerts as support act for Het Zesde Metaal on 16/02 in Antwerp (De Studio), 10/03 Ghent (Handelsbeurs), 17/03 Hasselt (Muziekodroom). Also 30/04 Ghent (De Vooruit) and 16/05 Brussels (AB, CD presentation).

[smallbirdbigcoat]

OMG i love that!!!! blondie are SO good i love dancing to their stuff. do you have a favorite blondie song? its been good! very rainy & i had a test but i think i did good on it:) how was yours? top ten, i realised halfway thru i'd run of of like. text so i stopped giving long explanations … i am just very. talkative sometimes haha 1) lulu by metallica & lou reed: i am very much aware that it is considered one of the worst albums ever created but i PERSONALLY think thats cuz people just dont understand the concept of it. & are not familiar w/ lou's work. i think its a masterpiece i think its a very unique and poignant album and listening to it makes me go insane. i think its really just a phenomenal album and i will literally die on this hill. my #1 album of all time 1.5 (2) bummer by cleopatrick: i sometimes cite this as my favorite album of all time when i don't feel like causing drama over lulu. more often i'll cite it as my favorite album of all time because i am the hardcore cleopatrick fan ive been listening to them since like. 7th grade and i love this album so MUCH its literally so good, the lyrics are flawless the flow is phenomenal the drumming on this is LITERALLY unparalleled. and the guitar tone is SO good. and all the songs are sooooo good like 2008??? literally one of the best songs ever. great lakes is a masterpiece and so is vic park and the drake and…its just SO good. instantly lifts my mood 3) welcome to hell by venom: i love the evil vibe plus ppl take it so seriously when venom literally wear the sluttiest outfits possible

4) blank generation by richard hell: my first introduction richard hell was an article by lester bangs where he talked about how he thought richard hell's music is incredible and how he thought that richard hell had a great grasp of the problems of being alive in the 70s but his solutions were absolute dog shit. which made me want to listen to the album, as a good review will, and now its one of my favorite records. forever mad this is the only proper LP they did. i love his delivery, the guitar work is so unique, and i think the lyrics are still so real & relevant 5) pretty on the inside by hole: sooo raw im a big courtney fan tbh i love her work. holes best album was for sure live through this (nobody's daughter is a close second imo!) but pretty on the inside is my personal favorite cuz its pink! & bc i think its the rawest of holes discog. i like the discordantness of it its so exciting to me 6) welcome the plague year self-titled: PHENOMENAL scramz album its so raw & i think its the best album from that era of scramz & i just adore it. 7) germ-free adolescence by the x-ray specs: prob the only british punk band from the 70s or 80s id cite as a favorite, i just adore everything abt this album 8) lets take it to the stage by funkadelic: groovy! funky! rocking! also i love bootsy collins 9) are you experienced by the jimi hendrix experience: cures headaches somehow?? not complaining though 10) rust never sleeps by neil young: first neil young album i listened to, hes definitely my favorite singer/songwriter of the 70s :) honorary mention to blue by joni mitchell, grateful dead's 13th february 1970 at fillmore east show even tho its not an album, opening fire by powertrip & killing is my business… by megadeth i think i've put you through enough reading with this for today so have a nice day!! i hope the whole thing sends LOL

-❄️

that’s such a good list! i’ve just gotten into richard hell recently, and i haven’t listened to that full album yet but i’ll have to give it a go for sure!!!

picking my favourite blondie song is so hard omg. i’d probably have to go with dreaming, denis or hanging on the telephone, but picture this, in the flesh and atomic are very much up there! what’s your favourite?

[who-talks-first]

About Me

{{Occasionally, I stop posting and/or responding to messages. It's nothing personal. I often get overwhelmed by socializing, even moreso since quarantine and my own self-isolation. I will eventually get back. It's also perfectly cool to message me multiple times or rant or whatever. I'm happy to be a sounding board when I have the energy to respond again. I hope everyone's doing alright.}}

{{Pinning this until I get the masterlist completed!}}

Billie, please. But if you know me as Sara, it's okay you still call me that. 💜

My main blog is @your-naked-magic-oh-dear-lord.

36, Aquarius, Rebel, Queer. If I can live through this, I can do anything.

Austin - I have Texas in my heart and soul and will always come back home.

Mostly English and Scottish. I have an ancestor who fought, died, and was buried beside Braveheart, William Wallace.

Bisexual and Nonbinary. Any pronouns are fine, I just usually get she/her.

Very vocal leftist and communist, but I try to keep that to my main blog. I want this one to focus on entertainment. It does occasionally come up topically and the themes appear in my writing.

I suffer from several different physical and mental illnesses, including Major Depression and Diabetes. For all intents and purposes, I'm disabled and often use a cane. I have been institutionalized.

I have a Australian Shepherd named Bear and a rescue cat named Toni Stark. I lost both my cat and my dog last year (2022)and I am stuck in a bad spiral of grief right now. Our household is home to over a dozen cats, two dogs, three horses, three cows, a turtle, one giant goldfish, and whatever needs rescuing on a given day.

I love food and soda. Dining out and going to the movies are my favorite activities. I also enjoy watching my friends play shows at the Live Music Capital of the World. I'm okay at the guitar and terrible at singing but guess which is the thing I love doing more than anything else. I love tattoos, porgs, Daisy Ridley, cute people, punk rock, country music, animals, Steven Universe, stuffed animals, LoZ, rubber ducks, Billie Joe Armstrong, fashion, beauty, decor, the MCU, electric guitar, MLP: FiM, sleeping, Robert Downey jr., drawing, owls, books, Hello Kitty, Brandon Flowers, cussing, magic, and writing.

I've been a SW fan since I was 10 and I've been writing since I was 15 or so. I wore out my copy of Rogue Squadron on N64. I've been a fan of Poe Dameron since "who talks first?" Even though I didn't start writing SW fanfic 'til January, 2018, I have been making up SW stories in my head since I was 12 or so. I had a Mary Sue self-insert OC and everything!

Favorite SW characters in no particular order: Rey, Ahsoka Tano, BB-8, R2-D2, D-0, The Child, Obi-wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, Luke Skywalker, Padmé Amidala, Jyn Erso, K-2SO, Cara Dune, Cassian Andor, Wedge Antilles, Jag Fel, Jaina Solo, Leia Organa, Mara Jade Skywalker, L3-37, Poe Dameron, Jar-Jar Binks, Lando Calrissian, Din Djarin, and Jessika Pava.

About the Blog

This is my Star Wars/Poe Dameron/Oscar Isaac fan sideblog. I mostly share others' fanfic, but I sometimes write my own stuff and share it here. I'm working on redesigning/organizing my blog, and making a masterlist.

<<More often than not, the fics I reblog are smutty. I do my best to tag them #nsfw, but I do forget. Thankfully, the authors usually indicate this at the top of the fic too. I do have minor followers and y'all are always welcome. However, I do ask that you respect the 18+ warnings on the dirty fics. I ain't your folks and I can't stop you, but I kindly request that you respect me and my blog so I don't have to make it 18+ only. That's not what I want to do; I appreciate y'all being here, and seeing young people enjoying SW like I did as a kid fills my heart with glee.>>

I genuinely try to tag spoilers when new content comes out. Admittedly, I do forget. If there's an older piece of media you're just discovering and would like me tagging spoilers for it, I would be happy to; just send me an ask!

I cannot promise this is a wank-/discourse-free blog. I'm often criticizing Disney here, but I also will go off about problems in fandom and when a particular group is specifically harmful. This is a very pro-John Boyega blog. I often rage about the destruction of our characters of color (I think the spicerunner arc is one of the worst things done to a character in the history of entertainment) and fully support John, Oscar Isaac, and Tran Loan (and all/any other actor/crewmembers of color who are mistreated). If you want the negativity tagged, you have only to ask. I generally don't shit on particular types of fans that I don't necessarily agree with, ie. Obikin shippers, and they're welcome here. I do speak out about things that make me uncomfortable, whether it be on a personal or corporate level. Besides these tough subjects, most of my posts are fun and light. Fandom is supposed to be fun and I encourage that. If you're not enjoying your fandom, you do not have to stay there! You can enjoy a piece of media without surrounding yourself with toxic fans!

My fandoms are bleeding together a bit. There's often Triple Frontier posts, particularly Pope x Reader fics, occasionally poly/multi as well. I sometimes reblog Pedro stuff and the rare Ezra fic. Don't @ me. Regrettably, at some point, I will probably be posting Dork Lito Bofades content. Believe me, I ain't happy about it.

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My tags are #Just Billie for my personal posts; #Billie's Opinion for my SW discourse; #Tainted Fanfic Writer for my SW fanfic; #Not My Fic for fanfic reblogged from others. I try to tag posts regarding specific movies and shows like this: #tpm, #aotc, #rots, #rogue one, #solo, #anh, #esb, #rotj, #tfa, #tlj, #the mandalorian*, and #tros (pre-2020 it's #ep ix speculation). I also tag #gif, #art, #sw bts, #incorrect sw, #aesthetics, #moodboards, #Space Mom, #Poe Dameron Comic, #StormPilot, #JediStormPilot, #FinnRey, #SpicePilot (my joke ship name for Poe and Zorii), #droids, #porgs, #spacecraft, character names, actor names, and common triggers. Villain names usually include their title rather than given name such as #general hux. I'm now reading a lot of Mandalorian fic, so I tag #the Mandalorian (for both the character and the show) #the child for baby Yoda; other characters follow the regular tagging conventions. For TF, I tag #santiago garcia and #frankie morales. If you would like something tagged, even if it's just a character name I don't usually tag or a certain discourse, please inbox me. No worries! *apparently, I've been misspelling "Mandalorian" wrong for 6 months because of the nickname "Mando", so it's going to take me a while to get the tag corrected, so please bear with me.