#speaking of 1.5 - this is a selection of songs i have vibed to in the past 1.5 years | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

trentonifnr462-blog · 5 years ago

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From Around the Web: 20 Awesome Photos of australia packages

What do you think of once you listen to the word Australia? Kangaroos, beach locations, and ‘g’working day mate’? Perfectly yes, Australia does have its reasonable share of ‘roos, even so the land Down Under gives A great deal over that! We’re speaking awe-inspiring mountains, epic highway trips, massive national parks, attractive waterfalls…the listing really is infinite. We’ve rounded up some top Aussie journey bloggers that have provided us their tips concerning the finest sites to go to in Australia – and you will be selected that no matter what you’re looking for inside your journey, Australia can present it and much more. Continue reading for twenty-four of the greatest areas to visit in Australia!

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

Northern Territory

Western Australia

Tasmania

South Australia

Most effective locations to visit in New South Wales

1. Blue Mountains

Finest Sites To Visit In Australia - Blue Mountains

Suggested by Rachel and Jeremy through the Kiwi Couple

If you’re trying to find a dose of mother nature, the Blue Mountains are in your case. Only 1.5 several hours with the hustle and bustle of Sydney, it might be frequented as every day journey or possibly a weekend getaway, based upon your travel timeframe. Ensure that you have enough time to go to Wentworth Falls. This location presents walks of varying trouble with breathtaking views from the waterfall, and it’s just a short drive from the principle party – The A few Sisters. These well-known rock formations will be the spotlight of this picturesque postcard spot.

In case you head to Echo Position you may get an epic perspective of them, or hop on Scenic World’s gondola. While you’re there, don’t miss out on the Scenic Railway – the steepest passenger railway on this planet! Previous although not least, Lincoln’s Rock is a necessity. With views of the extensive landscape along with a solution tiny cave great for watching the sunset, it’s the ideal finish into the day.

Blue Mountains hostels from $seventeen.80 an evening

two. Bathurst

Very best Sites To Visit In Australia - Bathurst

Advisable by Tara from The place Is Tara

Bathurst is among my favourite spots in Australia for so many good reasons. One of these is the fact that my cousins have farms to choose from. They let me continue to be When I go through and bring me to cattle markets, and that is a real novelty to me having developed up in the city. The opposite explanation I like Bathurst is since it is usually neglected by travelers, Inspite of having a great deal of to offer. It’s the oldest inland metropolis in Australia and it is the location of the original Australian gold rush.

Stop by the T-Rex on the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum, take a spin within the popular Mount Panorama Circuit. Or just get a cup of coffee from Campos, take a stroll via Machattie Park and check out the commemorative plaque from Charles Darwin’s pay a visit to in 1836. For a novel day vacation in the Bathurst region check out the gold hurry town of Sofala (it feels like a ghost city and it has a fantastic guide store), or head to the Jenolan caves for many natural attractiveness, limestone-design!

Sydney hostels from $fifteen a night

3. Sydney

Finest Destinations To go to In Australia - Sydney

Proposed by Rachel and Jeremy from your Kiwi Couple

Sydney is the largest metropolis in Australia – filled with stunning beaches, fun activities and fantastic food. Among the best methods to see The fantastic thing about Sydney is by taking a calming stroll. An incredible Seashore wander, and among the finest, is from Bondi Beach front to Coogee Seaside. It provides gorgeous sights of the region’s renowned rocky beaches, slim seashores and sandy beaches. Another well-known stroll is together the Sydney Harbour Bridge walkway. Both of those walks are free of charge and so are a great way to appreciate Sydney.

We adore finding up large and looking at towns from above. The perfect way to do this in Sydney is by doing the Skywalk at Sydney Tower. At 268 metres superior, it’s certain to get your heart pumping. You’re harnessed in although so it’s not (far too) Frightening! And at last, essential do of Sydney is to consume your coronary heart out. Test a deep fried Golden Gaytime ice cream from What The Fudge Cafe, you received’t regret it!

Sydney hostels from $15 an evening

four. Byron Bay

Best Places To go to In Australia - Byron Bay

?@eloisejulier

Advisable by Dane from Vacation From In which

Byron is one of Australia’s top tourist Places but in the event you’re prepared to set in just a little work you may continue to obtain some extra nicely concealed gems just out the back within the hinterland mountains. From innumerable waterfalls and swimming holes to outstanding mountains and bush walks this small area conceal a lot beauty. I'd personally counsel starting using a hike to the bottom of Minyon Falls for a swim, a hike to the top of Mt Warning for an unbelievable dawn, A different swim at Killin Falls and afterwards a hike on the Organic Arch. These are definitely just a number of the most accessible but there's so far more when you’re ready to investigate.

Byron Bay hostels from $twenty five a night

Finest sites to go to in Victoria

five. Melbourne

Finest Places To Visit In Australia - Melbourne

Proposed by Aditi from Diary of the Cusp

Melbourne has secured its location of the most liveable town on earth the seventh time in a very row. Most days see a different weather – hail, sunshine, rain, wind – but that doesn’t impede the livelihood of Melbourne. Any presented working day you can find an event, an exhibit, a songs gig, or simply a display to relish. You have entry to free of charge trams within the town circle to wander throughout devoid of outlaying a buck on transportation. Melbourne is usually a multicultural metropolitan with copious dining establishments serving slavering foods and cafes for the caffeine correct – Melbourne’s coffee is some of the very best on the globe.

Melbourne hostels from $eighteen an evening

six. Good Ocean Road

Best Sites To Visit In Australia - Fantastic Ocean Highway

Advisable by Jack and Jenn from Who Requires Maps

Lorne is a popular prevent along the Great Ocean Street (also to the Twelve Apostles). It’s an ideal place to take it easy together the seaside, probably Choose a surf, eat a number of the most effective fish and chips, and take pleasure in the surroundings. Jack is usually a surfer and loves to head out to the Great Ocean Road for any surf. However the excursion isn’t comprehensive with out a quit in Lorne for the parma and also a pot post-surf. Lorne also has some stunning walks and waterfalls to explore, like Erskine Falls and Phantom Falls. My favored, is in the event you go during the proper season, you can capture several whales at sunset. Grab a wine at a seaside cafe and enjoy the serenity.

7. Mornington Peninsula

Greatest Sites To Visit In Australia - Mornington Peninsula

Suggested by Aditi from Diary of the Cusp

Mornington Peninsula is actually a peninsula Found southeast of Melbourne, just one hour push from the town. It has been an immensely preferred working day vacation or staycation website to the inhabitants of Victoria, Primarily Melbourne for many years now. Mornington Peninsula has a great deal to offer to its website visitors – beaches, countrywide parks, scenic views, soothing spas, vineyards, golfing programs, mazes, camping websites and so way more. This plethora of activities and also the brief length makes it so appealing to go to through lengthy weekends like Queen’s Birthday, Christmas, Boxing Working day, New Calendar year etc. Sampling some Pinot Noir even though inside the peninsula is a must.

Very best places to go to in Queensland

8. Sunshine Coast

Ideal Locations To go to In Australia - Sunshine Coastline

Suggested by Sophie from Adventures of Soph

The Sunshine Coastline has acquired to get Just about the most stunning strips of coastland in all of Australia, boasting gorgeous, extended white beaches lined with wellbeing aware cafes and boutique apparel stores. Once you aren’t soaking up the sunshine on among the lots of beaches, you could head out on the hinterland for each day of mountain hiking or hop from the beaten observe to discover secluded swimming holes and waterfalls with not a soul in sight. Noosa National Park and fairy swimming pools is really an absolute have to do, just steer clear of the midday rush of your crowds.

Sunshine Coastline hostels from $twelve.50 a night

nine. Brisbane

Best Spots To Visit In Australia - Brisbane

@anitababic3

Advisable by Erica from A woman Who Wanders

Brisbane is my hometown and a location I intend on remaining for an exceptionally while. Why? Since it has all the things! As opposed to its money city counterparts of Sydney and Melbourne, Brisbane provides every one of the benefits at a fraction of the expense. Higher on my list of destinations to go to is Southbank, the home of carrying out arts and Queensland tradition along with back again alley bars and river front eating. Southbank also options Australia’s only interior-city Beach front, a man-designed marvel which can take you away from the hustle and bustle of the city and into a tropical oasis with sparkling waters and white, sandy shorelines.

West Stop is yet another suburb I hugely recommend traveling to, with its hipster vibe, insanely superior coffee and Avenue markets to maintain you looking for hrs. If you’re following a watch of the town through the best, head up to Mt Coot-tha for its beautiful 360 views of the town and the encompassing hinterland. I also extremely advise climbing the Brisbane Story Bridge For an additional special addition to your trip, as being the perspective is gorgeous as well as the adrenalin hurry a single not to be skipped!

Brisbane hostels from $15 a night

ten. Gold Coast

Best Spots To go to In Australia - Gold Coastline

@scottypass

Advised by Erica from A Girl Who Wanders

In the event you’re trying to find a place that has it all, search no even further and obtain you into the Gold Coast! With arguably many of the finest beach locations in Australia, the Gold Coast is my “go-to” location in the course of the very hot summer season months. But if lazing about on tender, white sandy beaches or swimming inside the crystal obvious ocean doesn’t just take your fancy, the Gold Coastline Hinterland is just a short drive from your Seaside and it has many of the most awesome strolling tracks and viewpoints in Queensland.

My favourite point with regards to the Gold Coast is how the vibe is amazingly laid back but also electric, with locals and visitors alike savoring the “Sunday sesh” environment on the working day and also the bash scene that comes to existence as soon as the sun goes down. In the event you’re planning on visiting the Gold Coastline anytime quickly, my private tips for the most beneficial areas to go to are Burleigh Heads Beach front as well as Lamington National Park.

Gold Coastline hostels from $21 a night

11. Airlie Beach front/Whitsundays

Very best Spots To go to In Australia - Whitsundays

@jessea_h

Encouraged by Jack and Jenn from Who Needs Maps

Airlie Beach is a wonderful location to get a style of anything. You can embark on an adventure to the Great Barrier Reef, sail to your Whitsundays, try to eat several of the freshest foodstuff straight out from the ocean, and wander many of the most wonderful coastal walks in Australia. Did I mention there are several great beer gardens?

Airlie Beach front is a great australia packages hub to fulfill other backpackers that have a hankering for journey. We had so much pleasurable happening all kinds of nautical adventures. We even husked our possess coconuts and played with turkeys and wallaby’s about the island. Airlie Beach front is also noted for its guy-produced lagoon, a wonderful location for beachside/poolside cocktails.

Airlie Beach front hostels from $28 a night

twelve. Noosa

Very best Areas To Visit In Australia - Noosa

@emelianjellachas

Recommended by Fanny from Minka Guides

Escalating up, I often heard about Noosa from other Australians as this aspiration coastal destination. Becoming in the country, I didn’t truly understand why till I eventually visited some yr back and fell in like. Unlike many other iconic coastal metropolitan areas, Noosa isn’t filled with towering skyscrapers And big purchasing malls. The truth is, the neighborhood council don’t Permit everyone Make higher compared to trees, ensuring that this sub-tropical town retains its amazingly stunning seaside town vibe – although also getting an extremely well-liked position to go to!

The leading beach might get very active with sunbathers, so I’d advise carrying out a trek by nearby Noosa National Park to 1 of its gorgeous and deserted stretches of sand. A forty five-moment wander together the Tanglewood Observe can take you to definitely Alexandria Bay, in which tiny, translucent fish swimming while in the shallows (and also the occasional nudist) are your only firm. Absolute paradise.

Noosa hostels from $24 an evening

13. Atherton Tablelands

Ideal Locations To go to In Australia - Atherton Tablelands

Proposed by Sophie from Adventures of Soph

Assume infinite waterfalls, rolling eco-friendly hills dotted with dairy cows and rustic, family run cafes. All within one hour’s generate far from Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands is the ideal gateway for the countryside, regardless of whether it's for every day excursion or for an extended weekend. The obvious way to begin to see the Tablelands should be to hop in an auto, get a region map and just generate. The waterfall circuit of Elinjja Falls, Millaa Millaa Falls and Zillie Falls will not be to become skipped and when you come about to end up there on the last Saturday with the month make sure you check out the Yungaburra marketplaces.

Atherton Tablelands hostels from $twenty five a night

fourteen. Townsville

Ideal Destinations To go to In Australia - Townsville

Advised by Sam from Sam All over the world

Boasting palm laden beach fronts, a ninety% possibility of sunshine and heat temperatures all year round, Townsville is surely an complete will have to on any North Queensland itinerary. Wander the strand and find out about loaded WWII background or have a excursion to The nice Barrier Reef and dive the S.S Yongala shipwreck – it’s probably the greatest dives on the planet. And it doesn’t stop there, the city is household to a lively nightlife, a formidable food stuff scene and easy access to the beautiful Magnetic Island. In the event you time your vacation right you’ll have the chance to experience on the list of islands infamous entire moon parties!

Townsville hostels from $eighteen an evening

15. Cairns

Most effective Locations To Visit In Australia - Cairns

Encouraged by Nicola from Polka Dot Passport

There are actually not numerous areas in the world in which you can expend your morning snorkelling by way of a vibrant underwater playground that is an element of the globe’s most significant single framework of dwelling organisms, as well as your afternoon dipping into turquoise water holes, canopied by One of the more diverse and oldest rainforests on the planet. Cairns can be a gateway not to 1 but TWO purely natural globe heritage web sites, The good Barrier Reef and also the Daintree Rainforest, rendering it a reasonably Unique put to go to. Don’t depart with no executing a horse trip along Cape Tribulation Seaside, using a visit out for the GBR or likely croc-spotting along the Daintree River.

Cairns hostels from $twelve a night

sixteen. Whitehaven Beach front

Finest Places To go to In Australia - Whitehaven Beach

Encouraged by Dane from Holiday From Where

Whitehaven Beach front can be a 7km extend of coast situated in the Whitsundays. It is most quickly accessible from Airlie Seaside, Until that you are Blessed more than enough to own a yacht. The Beach front is popular with locals and travelers alike however, if you decide on to camp there you will have the Beach front all to on your own and just A few other Fortunate campers for sunset and sunrise. The white colour with the sand as well as the extraordinary blues during the water make this A very one of a kind location that is continually sighted in virtually every ‘most effective Seaside on earth record’.

Cairns hostels from $twelve an evening

Ideal sites to go to in Northern Territory

seventeen. Uluru

Greatest Destinations To go to In Australia - Uluru

Proposed by Crystal from Castaway With Crystal

Uluru is probably Australia’s most recognisable landmark. But this enormous chunk of rock is also exceptionally sacred into the local Anangu Aboriginal individuals in this article, a place of terrific electric power. It's the centre on the universe and the home from the ‘Earth Mom’. During the outskirts of Uluru, within just tiny caves, Aboriginal rock art is often witnessed that is tens of thousands of years outdated. They're thought of national treasures and Uluru is a UNESCO Earth Heritage web page.

While you are able to continue to climb to the highest on the rock and experience the undoubtedly magical views, doing this is a point of controversy in between the neighborhood Aboriginal people and the national park service that manages the world. This is why, travellers are intensely encouraged not to climb. Uluru rises 348 meters above the ground, but the bulk of this rock lies underground. It's got a circumference of 16 kilometres and might be walked close to in whole using a cleared path.

Alice Springs hostels from $27 an evening

eighteen. Darwin

Greatest Spots To go to In Australia - Darwin

Suggested by Edit From Edit Throughout the world

Despite the fact that Darwin is definitely the cash town in the Northern Territory, it is very small – but it really’s truly an excellent place for purchasing. Furthermore, for history enthusiasts, it’s a real treasure city With all the Museum and Art Gallery on the Northern Territory and several aboriginal artwork galleries. On the flip side, adventure seekers can check out the Crocosaurus Cove, where the Cage of Death encounter gives the thrill of staying in precisely the same environment, a lot more specifically in a Specific cage while in the drinking water, together with a 5m very long croc. Crocodile will also be uncovered on lots of restaurant menus about Darwin. From crocodile sandwich to croc pizza, the variety is significant and very delectable. It tastes instead like chicken, but it arrives in a Substantially better price.

Getting a tour within the Adelaide river gave me the opportunity to begin to see the procedures in the crocs if they’re planning to attack. Litchfield National Park is a good destination to see crocodiles in their purely natural habitat – as well as it's great swimming places located in a large more

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#Australia #Tourist in Australia #Undiscovered Australia #Australia Vacations

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airadam · 5 years ago

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Episode 130 : In The House

"We'll get the drums goin' so you can dance again, don't worry..."

- "Old Man" Ebro

I think it's fair to say that this has been a month like no other, certainly in the UK, where the restrictions on movement that other places in the world were ahead of us on finally came down. These are strange times where we're all trying to get used to new ways of living, but I hope this month's show has some tunes that can lift your mood a little!

As mentioned in the show, Hip-Hop Chip Shop are selling gift vouchers which you can cash in when the restaurant opens back up - and crucially, for every one bought, they'll donate a meal to someone in need!

Twitter : @airadam13

Playlist/Notes

Heltah Skeltah : Operation Lock Down

The sampler 12" for the "Nocturnal" LP made its way onto my turntables this month, and this old 90s favourite wormed its way into my head as a possible inclusion for this episode. I umm-ed and ahh-ed but a chat with someone whose opinion I respect convinced me to go with it. Actually referring to Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik's goal to lock down the industry, it was a big statement of intent for the Ruck (Sean Price) and Rock, two MCs making their entry to the game. The skills are on display without question though, and this track is notable for being a reach outside their camp for production - E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks is on the boards for the woozy, dreamlike thump. Big tune then, and unexpectedly fitting now.

Abstract Orchestra : Eyes Up

Great version of a solid Slum Village beat. Abstract Orchestra have been touring and recording for a while with their takes on J Dilla material, and along with the current lineup of Slum Village, they've finally released "Fantastic 2020", a version of the classic "Fantastic, Volume 2" with instrumental and vocal tracks. By the way - make sure to buy the two-disc CD version for all the content!

Voodoo Black ft. LayFullStop : In The Mood

Voodoo Black have been getting ratings here since the start - and it was an honour to have Dubbul O, one of the MCs, here as a guest last year - and so it's with great pleasure that we can talk about their debut LP! "Sitting At The Table" will have just been released as you read this, and it's a lean ten-track collection that does Manchester proud. Ellis Meade, Sparkz, and Dubbul O are joined on this particular number by adopted Manchester daughter LayFullStop, who really does set the mood on top of the DJ Cutterz beat. It's always great to see sustained effort come out on top!

Kombo ft. Vinia Mojica : Sands Of Time

I played the wicked B-side to this back on episode 2 (!), then filed the vinyl back on the shelf from where it occasionally made outings - but only as part of the recent effort to digitise my collection has the A-side really got the deep listening it deserved. Ge-ology on the chilled beat perfectly scores Kombo's love rhymes, and Vinia Mojica keeps it subtle with her vocal contribution.

Little Brother : Altitudes (Flyin' High)

Another great B-side that may have escaped your notice! Back in 2002, Little Brother were making noise on the underground as a promising crew on the rise - one of the first to blow up primarily on the internet - and their single "Whatever You Say" was a mixshow/mixtape staple of the time. Tucked away at the very end of the B-side was this little gem that didn't make the album (but was later heard on "The Chittlin Circuit 1.5"), themed around aviation and featuring classic 9th Wonder production underneath confident rhymes from Phonte and Big Pooh.

Consequence ft. Phife Dawg : No Place Like Home

One of the last tracks Phife ever recorded, this was a great release from last year. These two real-life cousins who both made their different contributions to A Tribe Called Quest over the years come together in an ode to their home of Queens over a smooth beat by Cons and Mike Cash, with Alex Isley on the hook. Yes, that "Isley" does in fact link directly to the famous Isley Brothers - the songwriting and multi-instrumentalist legend Ernie is her father!

Superior Thought : Sky

I was amazed I hadn't played this already - quality sample-heavy beat by a producer and engineer out of London, a 2011 release that feels like it was only out a few weeks ago! Pick this one up on the "S'strumentals" LP along with twenty-three other beats, and all for free!

Clear Soul Forces : Kraken

Always here for some CSF. Ilajide brings the bump as always, and on the mic, all the MCs are representing lovely. This was available on the Fat Beats 25th Anniversary Compilation from last year, but CSF have a brand new LP out which is well worth checking!

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib ft. Anderson .Paak : Giannis

Anderson does his thing here for sure, but Gibbs is unquestionably the star turn on the mic here. Waka Flocka Flame recently admitted being a "wack rapper" but said "my realness overcame my wackness". Freddie Gibbs has the realness and the skills. This is one of the big tunes from his second LP with Madlib, "Bandana", which is definitely worth your time for a listen. The quick line that gives the track its title ("real Gs move in silence like Giannis") might not be the first time someone has referenced a silent "G" in that way, but then Gibbs builds off it immediately afterwards like the elite MC that he is.

The Cool Kids ft. Louis The Child : Super Smash Bros

Tim Dog's "Fuck Compton" was an angry diss. Pusha T dripped with disgust at Drake's conduct on "The Story of Adidon". This? This is... disdainful. Dismissive. The Cool Kids sound like they're just annoyed they had to take time out of their day to address people who aren't coming up to standard. It's also kind of amusing to me that here's a group I remember as the new young artists - now, several years down the line, they are older heads disappointed about how the new generation of youngsters are doing it! Wicked single, with fellow Illinois natives Louis The Child providing the booming beat. Full marks for the inspired sampling of Ebro's rant for the break after the first verse; if you didn't know (and I didn't at first), you'd think this was recorded specifically for this track!

Stic : Motivated

It is so time for a second album of motivational music by Stic of dead prez! The original "The Workout" was an original and welcome release for those in the know, and hopefully the sequel can gather even more of a following. Here, his dramatic production comes through with "Eye of the Tiger" vibes filtered through a Hip-Hop mentality, with a positive lyrical message of pushing forward to victory!

DJ Bombjack : From The Depths Of The Soul

Another one that popped up in my vinyl conversion mission, this is a nice instrumental from a UK DJ and producer from the 1999 "The Brothers Grim" EP.

De La Soul : The Future

Supa Dave West made this one thump! This is the opener on "The Grind Date", and the sampled hook points to an mix of optimism about the future and a determination to shape it. The solid two verses speak on the unquestionably strong legacy De La have carved out over the years - and they're not done yet.

Lisa Shaw : I'm Okay

This was a track from the 2009 "Free" album that I overlooked for a long time in favour of some of the others, but have grown to appreciate. Lisa's voice has the kind of cool clarity that points to the influence of Sade, and Dave Warrin keeps the production low-key to give her space to breathe.

Jazzanova : No Use

A personal headphone favourite which somehow hadn't been played on the show yet! Jazzy (as you'd expect), continental, breezy production from the German production collective, with the kind of delicate balancing of elements that so many fail to master. Clara Hill's lead vocals fit in perfectly, making this a really satisfying listen. The "In Between" album is almost twenty years old, but hasn't really aged at all.

Pete Rock ft. Carl McIntosh & Jane Eugene : Take Your Time

If you've never heard Pete Rock's "Soul Survivor" LP, it's a must-own - he takes an imaginative selection of excellent guests and knocks it out of the park with his stellar production. This is a prime example, where he shows his appreciation for talent that wasn't necessarily "current" at the time, bringing in McIntosh and Eugene of the seminal UK group Loose Ends to lend their soulful vibes. The beat is a relaxed head-nodder supreme, and Pete gets it done on the mic too - not breaking your head open with crazy bars, just staying in the pocket, which is what the track needs.

MindsOne & Kev Brown : Manipulated (Instrumental)

Kev Brown really is one of the best when it comes to those basslines. My god. Serious beat from the 2014 "Pillars" EP.

The Notorious B.I.G. : Hypnotize

A huge tune to finish, one which can't fail to put a smile on your face! I first heard this one in a club, likely just before its official release, and the reaction it got was something special. The first single from "Life After Death", and the last Biggie record to be released before his death, this was a perfect combination of elements. Biggie's rhymes had skills for the streets but still appealed to the club and radio, The Hitmen took the Herb Alpert "Rise" sample and gave it new energy, and Total's Pamela Long nailed the infectious, sing-along hook. Fittingly for our current times, that hook is almost exactly twenty seconds long, making it a perfect timer for thorough hand-washing. So fresh, so clean.

Please remember to support the artists you like! The purpose of putting the podcast out and providing the full tracklist is to try and give some light, so do use the songs on each episode as a starting point to search out more material. If you have Spotify in your country it's a great way to explore, but otherwise there's always Youtube and the like. Seeing your favourite artists live is the best way to put money in their pockets, and buy the vinyl/CDs/downloads of the stuff you like the most!

Check out this episode!

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ulyssessklein · 8 years ago

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The power of planning: how an indie music video that got 30+ million views in its first week took 1.5 years to make

An interview with Jensen Reed about his music video “Back to the 90s.”

Planning. It might not be necessary to make great music, but it certainly comes in handy when you’re trying to produce an entertaining music video.

And the video for Ben Giroux & Jensen Reed’s “Back to the 90s” is entertaining from start to finish, with crazy attention to detail, lots of extras, lookalikes, props, and locations to keep you looking and listening and laughing the whole time. The video took a loooooooooong time to plan and execute, but it was worth the wait. In its first week, “Back to the 90s” has been viewed more than 30 million times across YouTube and Facebook.

I’m really interested in the video production process — whether it’s no-budget, shot by a pro in an afternoon, or something more elaborate — so I asked Jensen Reed about what went into the video for “Back to the 90s.”

CR: Can you tell me about the timeline for the production? How long did each phase take?

JR: It took almost a year and a half from concept to finished video. Ben Giroux came to me with the idea of doing a music video that’s a celebration of all things 90s. We both were 90s kids and sensed a movement for 90s nostalgia, so we knew we were on to a solid idea.

A big part of the challenge was incorporating multiple genres into one song effectively. My production partner Christian Hand had the genius idea and I knew we had to figure out a way to execute it. I enlisted my buddy Jared Lee who is an amazing songwriter and artist to help us with the chorus and my man Dirty Hollywood who is pure rock n roll to work out the grunge bridge with us.

Our Cinematographer Zach Salsman absolutely crushed this shoot. Zach and I have worked together on a bunch of my music videos and his eye and talent behind the camera is unmatched.

We shot the video in two long production days. (Show in the video below):

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The key to knocking it out so efficiently was the pre-production process that lasted for months…locations, crew, cast, times, logistics etc. It was truly a massive production with over 100 people on set.

One thing that allowed for the shoot to go smoothly was the lyrics. Because we had so many specific 90s references, we knew exactly what shots we needed. Unlike most of my other music videos where we roll the entire song and do a bunch of performance takes, we only shot the snippets of the song in each setup we needed. This also made the original skeleton for the edit come together quickly because we knew which shot went where in the timeline.

Did you call in a lot of favors to get this video done?

There was an immense amount of talent involved in the project that donated their time and expertise or worked for us at a major discount. This was a team effort in every way imaginable.

I found the attention to detail super impressive. Can you talk about scouting locations, gathering props and costumes, finding lookalikes, and so forth?

Locking down an airplane hangar to re-create the vibe of the iconic Backstreet Boys video “I Want It That Way” was the biggest challenge. We found Whiteman airport outside of Los Angeles and the owner was open to cutting us a deal because he was a former film school student and understood the idea of a passion project. All of the locations and minutia involved in a shoot this big were handled masterfully by our Producers Jon Rosenbloom, Scott Thomas Reynolds, and Marc Barnes. They are masters of getting sh*t done!

We secured Bullock and Snow Casting to cast all of the roles and they knocked it out of the park! Every person they cast was incredible. They also got us the amazingly talent Alexander Arzu (who plays the kid we educated about how great the 90s were).

Our Art Department Melissa Lyon and Marissa Bergman took the production to another level with the ridiculous attention to detail in creating spaces covered with 90s paraphernalia. There are so many ‘Easter Eggs’ littered throughout the video for viewers to discover, which has led to many people watching the video over and over. And our Wardrobe Designer Chelsea Kutun found all of the iconic and memorable looks for everyone involved in the shoot.

What happened between the final edit and the launch? How did you prepare to promote the video?

Ben and I edited the video and got it to an almost final point before we enlisted Animators Doug Bresler, Ilana Schwartz, Tony Celano, and Zoran Gvojic to add their magic touch including NBA Jam, Ren & Stimpy, Doug, Celebrity Deathmatch etc. VFX by Jake Akuna was the final piece of post production that added more detail and interesting effects, upping the ante yet again.

We had a live release party in Los Angeles the day before we released the video. It turned out to be one of the most fun parties that any of our 300 guests had been to in a while. We encouraged everyone to dress in their best 90s gear. Jared and I performed a couple of our original songs and we then screened the video and performed “Back to the 90s” live.

We encouraged everyone in attendance to share the video at 10am on Monday, May 1st when it was released to get the ball rolling. It helped tremendously that many people in attendance have a lot of social influence because of their own creative pursuits. We didn’t hire a publicist. We just put it out to the world with the hopes of it being so good that people would instantly want to share and that’s what happened.

What are you most proud of about this video?

I’m most proud of the incredible team that Ben and I assembled to make this project a reality. It’s very rewarding to have so many working parts feel attached to your creative vision and hustle on your behalf. It’s a testament to working hard, respecting others and ultimately fostering a positive environment where everyone can thrive.

What would you do differently next time?

I have to say there isn’t anything we could’ve done better on this one. It’s as near perfect as it gets and 36 Million views speaks to that.

Any advice for an independent musician that’s just starting to think about shooting a music video on a limited budget?

My advice is to collaborate with others and when you find good creative relationships, go back to them again and again. Ben and I have a philosophy of less-is-more, meaning we aim to create a smaller number of projects with high production value versus a bunch of smaller ideas. This is the typical 15 year overnight success story. I have 16 other music videos and Ben has been a working actor for well over a decade, so there is a lot of hustle-equity built up behind the success of “Back to the 90s.”

One technical skill that I believe every musician should have is Video Editing. I’ve edited almost all of my videos. It’s a skill that came very easy to me because I know the story I want to tell and it’s similar to editing audio in Pro Tools. Cinematographers will be much more likely to work with you as an artist when you can handle the 50 hours of post production work it takes to pull select footage and assemble an edit. It also gives the artist creative control over the video and saves a bunch of money.

Check out more of Jensen Reed’s music videos at http://www.jensenreed.com/videos. More from Ben Giroux can be found at http://www.bengiroux.com.

The post The power of planning: how an indie music video that got 30+ million views in its first week took 1.5 years to make appeared first on DIY Musician Blog.

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