song reviews
Social Media targeted at influencers and trending topics in the music universe.
A Rehabilitated Swiftie’s Guide to Zen
I have owned two albums physically in my 22 years of life: Kelly Clarkson’s Breakaway (randomly) and Taylor Swift’s Fearless. Growing up, we had this really beat-up VCR/DVD player hybrid that was perpetually on its last legs, and it was through this medium that I blasted all the songs on Fearless on repeat. Many years later, I regard this album with great fondness and nostalgia and can still belt the songs line-by-line. I consider myself to be what one would call a rehabilitated Swiftie. Taylor’s music was the backdrop to my early childhood, but somewhere between my first and second year of secondary school, I fell off the bandwagon. The transition to secondary school was rough. I was a bit of a nerd (still am) and was often admonished for my taste in music, with many labelling me an“Oreo." For those of you reading this who aren’t black, this is a grave insult when launched at a black person. It is almost a denial of your blackness because of your consumption of different forms of popular culture. As if your blackness could be erased by something as trivial as the type of music you enjoyed.
By Laquesha Bailey5 years ago in Beat
The Beauty of French Cooking Music
It's a chaotic world out there with noise and disturbances and all manner of stressors. Though 2020 taught us that we may be able to avoid traffic and long trips to the grocery store, there are some things that are just a part of being human. You have to find the will to get out of bed every morning. You have to shower, get dressed, eat—all the usual daily rituals. You have to deal with school or work or some combination of the two. Sure, a pandemic may enable us to work from home, but that doesn't mean we don't have to deal with the things that come with being an "average" human being living an "average" life.
By Jillian Spiridon5 years ago in Beat
Echoes
Meditation should be simple, accessible. Maybe something you can do while multi-tasking. The way I see it, meditation is like opening that slot at the bottom of Connect Four to dump all your thoughts and have a clear head. Maybe it is that easy, just something to take your mind off your life for a bit, in which case it becomes widely available. Going for a walk, drawing a picture of an apple, or listening to music are simple activities that bridge the gap between transcending the universe and your everyday life.
By Dan Koenig5 years ago in Beat
Song Review: 'Peaches' by Justin Bieber ft Daniel Caesar and Giveon.
Never look at the top of the charts for anything other than the most mediocre and easy to ignore songs on the planet. Don’t get me wrong, plenty of great songs have overcome the masses to make it to number one. But, unfailingly, when one takes the time to look at the song that has risen to the top of the charts, that song tends to be remarkable for being unremarkable. Generally, the best selling song is the one that is bland enough to please a lot of people all at once.
By Sean Patrick5 years ago in Beat
Things I Imagined
We all enjoy the moments when the world feels as though it’s pressing a weight on our chests right? The times when every voice in our head is loud and heavy or when the emotions whirlwind their way through our nervous system resulting in waves of anxiety, depression, shrinking or mania. Great, now that we have established how much of a nonsensical lie that all is, we can begin to explore the artistic avenues that steer us to peace, to a weightless free flow of thought and deed, to music that guides us to still waters. Look no further than the neo-soul, cancer zodiac river musical goddess that is Solange.
By Marquis D. Gibson5 years ago in Beat
A Melancholic Focus
Music is never usually something I use as a tool for relaxation. My preferred genre is actually Hardstyle which is high-impact, hard thumping bass, energetic and bouncing electronic music. It gets my spirits up, my heart pumping and makes me alert!
By Eloise Robertson 5 years ago in Beat
The Color Of The Night: The Powerful Plea Of Love.
The era of the 90s supplied many great songs. Smells Like Teen Spirit redefined the rock genre, Bruce Springsteen's Streets of Philadelphia won the Academy Award for best song. Whitney Houston's cover of I Will Always Love You became a bonified power ballad apart of one of the successful soundtracks of all time. The 90s had a plethora of powerful songs, but there were songs that went noticed under the known artists, there are many songs that went unnoticed, by the title of this article your about to read one that you missed.
By Samantha Parrish5 years ago in Beat
Yarro and Pashka spin a hauntingly beautiful tale in the newly released ‘Snow Remix’ and I get to learn about her creative process in an exclusive interview.
Originally released on Yarro’s EP, Reset, Snow is a song about rude awakenings. Set to a slow, yet hauntingly melodious piano, the record tells the story of unrequited love- the kind that is experienced in delusions of ego and toxicity- and it’s cold and harsh stirring to reality. The remix to Yarro’s Snow, done in collaboration with Pashka, combines an ambient house-beat with Yarro’s bold and emotive vocals. Created for a live performance during Fashion Art Toronto’s, ‘Digital Runway Series', this remix was once a lengthy track that adorned the entirety of designer Padina Bondar’s showcase. Bondar's whimsical and starkly haunting pieces, melded effortlessly with Yarro’s music. In fact, this rendition of Snow was received with such high praise, that the artist and producer decided to condense the track for digital release.
By The Industry Unveiled5 years ago in Beat
Shy Gawdly's "Hold Up" Being Played Everywhere
Shy Gawdly is one of the hottest new musical artists from Boston, Massachusetts. He was recently signed to Vybe Entertainment and has a lot of momentum built up from “On The Road” featuring Danny Towers and his newest single "Hold Up". The video for "On The Road" has over 100,000 YouTube views in just a few weeks and also over a quarter million Spotify streams since the release. The video for "Hold Up" is coming very soon and the hype already building around it seems like it is more anticipated than "On The Road".
By Melissa Arlington5 years ago in Beat
How to Make Your Dreams Come True with Music
If you're looking for something new to listen to and just want to chill and relax then I think I have just the thing for you! I had no idea that I loved this music until I listened to it. It makes me feel like I'm in another place and I honestly love it. It makes me feel like I'm living my dream life and uplifts me. It reminds me of a sunny day where I have nothing going on and no worries. I don't know how that's possible but when I turn it on I'm instantly relaxed and HAPPY.
By Taylor Johnson5 years ago in Beat
An analysis of Giveon's powerful new video for 'Heartbreak Anniversary'
The first time I listened to Giveon, I was transfixed. To me his songs held an equal and rare amount of balance, soul, syncopation and story-telling. When you hear Heartbreak Anniversary, you can’t help but remember your ex. You know exactly who I’m talking about, we all have that person who propelled us high and dropped us low. That roller-coaster kind of love that couldn’t last, because you two couldn’t meet in the middle.
By The Industry Unveiled5 years ago in Beat
It Feels Different When You're With Me: One Year of "Heartbreak Weather"
I cannot believe that Niall Horan released Heartbreak Weather one year ago. (Well it was actually a year ago tomorrow, but we're here now.) Whether you are a Niall fan from his first album, or back from the One Direction days, I think we can all agree that watching him grow and flourish the last few years has been such a lovely thing. And this album was no exception. Flicker was so incredible that expectations were high for NH2, and our boy Niall did not disappoint. His second album was everything we needed, everything we wanted, and then some.
By Jordan Parkinson5 years ago in Beat
