May '17 Soundtrack

The monthly soundtrack is back with 10 tracks to get you through the day, including Lorde, HAUS, and Ravyn Lenae. 

MY DREAM MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS

We've experienced many collaborations in musical past and present, from the likes of Charli XCX/Marina and the Diamonds' Just Desserts to Florence + the Machine/Dizzee Rascal's You've Got The Dirtee Love, as well as Elton John/Kiki Dee's Don't Go Breaking My Heart and Diana Ross/Lionel Richie's Endless Love. 

Yet, there are some collaborations we still don't have, and well, these next 5 hypothetical collaborations are what I'd like to see, no matter how likely or unlikely they are. 

1. Marina and the Diamonds/Florence + the Machine 

Florence and Marina are two hard-hitting musicians, and despite their slight difference in genre despite mostly maintaining an 'indie' vibe, I feel their collaboration would lead to great things. Heck, I'd even want a full album from the two together. If you have a quick browse on YouTube, there are many great fan-made 'mashups' of their songs. This is one I've been obsessed with for a while, however it's since been moved onto soundcloud, it works really well and their voices truly compliment each other. 

2. James Bay/Ed Sheeran

Just imagine all the soul and sheer emotion coming from a James Bay and Ed Sheeran collab. Oh THE FEELS I CAN'T EVEN. Sorry for going all tumblr fangirl on you, I truly am sorry. Anyway, James' album is probably one of my favourite albums of 2015, Ed Sheeran manages to release a hit after hit. This collaboration would do wonders. 

3. Taylor Swift/HAIM

Apparently they're friends? I don't know, they're never seen together at all (sarcasm intended). Imagine a song combining the likes of Taylor Swift's Bad Blood and HAIM's My Song 5, some hardcore rant-pop right there. Heck, I wouldn't mind if they collaborated, with either an intense track like Bad Blood/My Song 5 or perhaps an explosion of pop and disco with Shake It Off/If I Could Change Your Mind, ooh I can see myself dancing already. 

4. CHVRCHES/Years & Years

Imagine all that electro pop gold sparkling down onto your ears and BAMN instant fun and instant dancing (what did I just say). Here I imagine a track combining CHVRCHES' The Mother We Share with Years & Years' Shine. Oh how satisfying to imagine. Please, please, please let this happen. Now. I demand it. Give it to me. NOW. But seriously, I could see perhaps a 'VS' collaboration, similar to Bastille VS HAIM's Bite Down. The best of CHVRCHES VS the best of Years & Years. I'm already dancing thinking about it. 

5. Foxes/Bastille

Two of my favourites, Foxes, a singer, and Bastille, a band (Dan Smith, the lead singer pictured above), create these songs that are not only fun (for the most part, check out Count The Saints by Foxes and Oblivion by Bastille for some serious stuff) but also genuinely GOOD. It's not often we get music that is both nice to listen to and fun to dance to. Here, I would perhaps imagine a line between Foxes' Glorious and Bastille's Laura Palmer, to make a song that has a huge impact on young people and kind of have those 'hipster' vibes. Foxes also supported Bastille on tour, so you know, it could almost definitely happen. 

Anyway. That's all for now. Perhaps another time I will post another set of dream collaborations. Be sure to follow me on BlogLovin', Twitter, like my Facebook page or even subscribe to get email notifications every time I post a new blog post. A new blog post will be going up later in the week, be sure to check it out when it arrives!

TotallyCulture

GIG WISH LIST

HELLO

How are you all? Good? Fab, that's great news. Bad? Oh, that's unfortunate, I'm sure everything will get better soon :)

Anyway, I'm here to talk about my 'Gig Wish List'. 10 artists/bands that I'm relatively desperate to see live, plus some honourable mentions afterwards (who I'm also kind of desperate to see live). Let's get straight into it:

1. Years & Years 

One of my new favourite bands, Years & Years have become huge this past year. Mainly hitting with their number 1 single King, they're set to release their debut album Communion in the next two weeks. I love the 'vibe' of Years & Years' music, as I would perhaps explain, they're very 'tumblr'. I love their new single Shine, and I think seeing them live would be a fantastic experience, with everyone singing and dancing along, as well as Olly's notable sassy dance moves. The stripped down version of Eyes Shut is fantastic, I simply cannot get enough of this group.

2. Florence + The Machine

Florence's new album is out and it's better than ever, a more 'rock' feel to it than Lungs and Ceremonials, I'd love to see songs from How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful performed live, especially Delilah and Ship To Wreck. I'm a huge fan of Florence, and her headlining Glastonbury set replacing The Foo Fighters was one of the best I've seen, the same can't be said for Kanye's headline set (greatest living rock star I think not, although I'd love to have that confidence in myself). Florence really gets into the music, and creates a fantastic show where she really becomes one with the 'sound' and interacts with the audience in such a way that makes them feel as if they themselves are part of the show.

3. Galantis

Desperate to see Galantis live, so desperate. They create songs that are simply entertaining and make you want to get up and dance, now imagine that with a few other peoplle (hundreds/thousands) and you have a Galantis concert. Imagine the atmosphere when the drop hits, everyone jumping around and just having a good time. Besides, judging from that clip, they look like they're having the time of their lives as well.

4. Tove Styrke

 

I'm relatively new to Tove Styrke's music, but I've instantly fallen in love. I discovered Borderline first, and just went further into her music and started to watch some live footage. Tove comes from Sweden, a country with some really fantastic artists emerging into the mainstream, and I predict big things for Tove Styrke, with her debut album reaching no. 10 in the charts, and her second, and most recent, hitting no. 14. Live footage show an intimate concert experience, one that I'd very much love to be a part of.

5. Jessie Ware

Jessie Ware's voice is soulful and personal, and her performance style is unique. I imagine her concerts are a really fulfilling experience, because you really get what you ask for. I'm astonished by Jessie's fantastic songs, and her success is so well-deserved, at the time of writing this, I'm watching Jessie Ware's Glastonbury 2015 set, and it's simply brilliant. A real credit to the music industry right now, in what seems to be a rather generic time of artistry.

6. Clean Bandit

Clean Bandit are one of my favourite groups, I love Extraordinary, and I also have a love for Stronger. Watching their set at Coachella was brilliant, and then bamn. Marina came on and performed their collaboration Disconnect, which I'm SUPER pumped for. Clean Bandit bring something unique to the pop scene, combining classical and mainstream to create a really fresh sound. I find myself watching clips of their live shows in awe of their stage presence and supreme talent.

7. James Bay

James Bay is a fantastic artist, ridiculously talented and it's admirable just how well he's taken all this sudden success. His live performances are perfectly intimate and entertaining, and his songs are so wonderfully flowing that you feel like you've known them all of your life, and you feel like you can just sing along because of this. His album is one of, perhaps is, one of my favourite albums of 2015 so far. I feel like James Bay is going to be one of my favourite artists of all time, and in the future I will most definitely remember him and his music, because it's had such a positive, and reflective, impact on my life so far. James is the type of artist that sounds amazing in studio versions of songs, but just as good, perhaps even better, live. James creates emotional music, which is something we really need in our society where music can be seen as just an emotionless sound.

8. The Wombats

I love The Wombats, ever since their first album I've been a huge fan. I have a few friends that have seen The Wombats live, and they've absolutely loved it. Myself, watching clips of The Wombats live, like the one above, the whole 'gig' experience really comes to life with The Wombats. The lighting, set, and general feel-good music across all of The Wombat's music with songs such as Techno Fan, Give Me A Try and more, all lend to a fun and energetic experience, one that I would love to experience. The Wombats have long been part of my music taste, and I predict they will be for many years to come, especially with the release of their brilliant new album Glitterbug.

9. Lorde

If you've come across my blog before, you may have read an appreciation post I did for Lorde. Lorde's debut album is fantastic, and I could really connect with it. Myself and Lorde are about the same age, and probably would have been in the same class together at school if, you know, my life were that exciting. Lorde's stage presence is one that I truly admire, and her live performances really emulate her passion for music, and the 'show' itself appears to be highly entertaining and perhaps intense, in a good way. Thus, Lorde simply HAS to appear on my gig wish list.

10. HAIM

HAIM are my faves. They are cool. Just cool. Not swag cool, ultimate cool. V. cool. Their live sets are filled with energy and atmosphere, and I'm particularly fond of their performances of Let Me Go, because of that ending (see above). Such drums, much intense, many fun. Anyway, as you can probably tell, I'm a huge fan of HAIM, Danielle, Este, and Alana are my heroes. Their music is fun and energetic, but they can also tell a story in a soulful and delicate way. HAIM's debut album is my favourite from 2013, and I really am looking forward to what Danielle, Este, Alana and Dash create in the future. 

Honorable mentions

Marina & the Diamonds

Foxes

Fall Out Boy

Panic at the Disco

Hozier

Amber Run

Bastille

KYKO

Circa Waves

Anyway...

That's all for now.

See you soon!

TotallyCulture

Curtis  

 

MY TOP 10 FEEL GOOD SONGS

I love songs that make me feel upbeat and positive, songs that make me want to travel the world with my friends, songs that make me want to have a picnic, songs that make me want to dance at a party. So, I'm going to tell you my top 10 feel good songs.

DISCLAIMER: Of course THAT song by Pharrell Williams isn't on here. Kill it with fire.

1. On Our Way - The Royal Concept 

2. Dreaming - Smallpools

3. Break The Rules - Charli XCX

4. Something Good Can Work - Two Door Cinema Club

5. Falling - HAIM

6. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit

7. Ain't It Fun - Paramore

8. Radioactive - Marina and the Diamonds

TONIGHT I FEEL LIKE NEON GOOOOLLLLLDDDDD

9. On Top Of The World - Imagine Dragons

10. Youth - Foxes

Honorary mentions

Icona Pop - Get Lost

Flor - Get Behind This

Calvin Harris - Summer

The Wombats - Techno Fan

Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"Let us shine for what it's worth"

APPRECIATING HAIM

HAIM

IF I COULD CHANGE YOUR MIIIIIINND *boogie*

You know.

The thing about HAIM is, I can listen to them whatever mood I'm in. It's rare for that to happen, their music brings something new. It sounds retro, yet there's something so fresh about it. 

Este's bass face

Alana's humour

Danielle's stage presence

HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM 

sorry

They're live performances are out of this world, I remember watching their Glastonbury set and being mesmerised. 

I find myself in sixth form pretending to drum along to Let Me Go, with my friends glaring at me like "omg please stop". But, the live performances of Let Me Go are insane, the drums at the end are indulging and something that make me want to run around in battle. 

What.

JUST WATCH AND ENJOY, DRUM ALONG AND DANCE AROUND LIKE A WARRIOR

My favourite HAIM songs

1. Let Me Go (of course)

2. Falling

3. The Wire

4. If I Could Change Your Mind

5. Running If You Call My Name

Honorary mentions

Bastille VS HAIM - Bite Down

Calvin Harris ft. HAIM - Pray To God

Days Are Gone

Better Off

My dream HAIM collaborations?

Florence + the Machine (they're friends so please)

Lorde (they've performed together etc)

Bombay Bicycle Club

Lykke Li

Mark Ronson

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

My January Soundtrack

Hello! 

So, I thought I'd do a monthly feature where I tell you the top 8 songs I've been listening to in the past month, as it's February, I'll be talking about January, and so forth. These songs weren't strictly released in January, but just what I'd been listening to.

Without further ado...

1. Ellie Goulding - Explosions

I adore this song, so very much. In fact, my final piece for my gcse art exam two years ago was based on this very song. I don't talk about that though, as it wasn't very good. It was an eye with flames inside, just throwing it out there.

2. Calvin Harris ft. HAIM - Pray To God

HAIM HAIM HAIM HAIM

3. Hillsong Young and Free - Pursue

4. Marina and the Diamonds - Happy

Progressive melancholy tone subduing slightly uplifting and motivational lyrics 

"I believe in possibility"

5. James Bay - Hold Back The River

6. Hozier - Take Me To Church

Of course. Who hasn't been listening to this song?

No, that was a serious question. Seriously, who hasn't? Confess.

7. Sia - Fire Meet Gasoline

9. Lykke Li - No Rest For The Wicked (Klangkarussel Remix)

Fair enough, the original is great, but I'm obsessed with this remix!

10. Matt Corby - Brother

This stripped back version of the song is everything good with the world. I adore it. 

Songs that didn't quite make the cut but I still listened to quite a bit

David Guetta ft. Emilé Sande - What I Did For Love

RY X - Berlin

Bring Me The Horizon - Drown

Laura Doggett - Old Faces

Kele - Doubt

Belle and Sebastian - The Party Line

Bastille VS HAIM - Bite Down

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

Music Videos I Like

Hi there!

Basically, music videos are my life. Not really, but still, they're a huge part. It's great to be able to see a visualisation of music. I don't know what I'm saying. Let's get started! Here are a bunch of music videos I find myself watching more than often.

1. Birdy - Wings

2. Marina and the Diamonds - Radioactive

3. Keaton Henson - You Don't Know How Lucky You Are

This one's a bit strange, because it's just one shot of a woman crying, but the emotion conveyed surpasses a video with tonnes of different scenes and cuts.

4. Porter Robinson - Lionhearted

SO MUCH COLOUR

5. HAIM - Falling

6. Bombay Bicycle Club - Carry Me

7. Zedd ft. Foxes - Clarity

8. Lorde - Yellow Flicker Beat

9. Hurts - Stay

10. Florence + The Machine - Never Let Me Go

11. Sheppard - Geronimo 

12. Ellie Goulding - Starry Eyed

13. Bastille - Oblivion

SANSA STARK??????

That's all.

Bye for now.

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"keep my eyes above the waves when oceans rise"