Go Listen #2

Welp, it's been ages since I've posted anything on this blog, but luckily, that doesn't mean I've stopped listening to music. Although this past summer was filled with multiple shows each month, and some new artists have come into my radar, there's a feeling that I've 'plateau-d' in terms of finding more innovative and/or exciting music, or maybe the music scene has actually been pretty stale lately. Following the genres of my previous 'Go Listen' post, I found myself listening to mainly electronic and hip-hop figures. Now that I am 21, it's about time that I get into EDM before hitting the House music phase.

Ryan Hemsworth - ☺RYANPACKv.2☺

Ugh. Ryan Hemsworth. bb ryry. The Toronto-based electronic producer has gained a large following for his quirky personality-infused tunes, which is honestly so likeable because of its genuine and light-hearted qualities. Remixing old school pop-punk songs like Sum 41's "In Too Deep," the mixtape also includes more current artists like 6ix god Drake. Topped with a parody album cover of Hemsworth's head on Blink 182's self-titled album, it is safe to say that he might not be the most innovative producer out there, but it's certainly a nice change of scenery when someone doesn't take himself too seriously, especially when there are so many try-hards in this specific genre.
 

Run The Jewels - Get It

These guys are my latest obsession. Run The Jewels are American rappers Killer Mike and El-P. I don't think I've ever heard hip-hop/rap music like this. With such abrasive and punchy beats, alongside Killer Mike's and El-P's unique and engaging vocals, it would be understandable if you are instantly hooked. Although this is my current favorite track from them, their entire Run The Jewels LP, released in 2013, is definitely worth checking out because every track is amazingly produced and sonically explosive.



Drake - "Hotline Bling" & "Back To Back Freestyle"

If you had told me a year ago that I would be putting an artist like Drake on my blog, I would laugh at you. But the time has come, and I have succumbed to the Toronto treasure. Despite his huge ego, which makes him much more amusing, his stuff is actually pretty damn good. As the 6ix god recently dominated the world with his incredibly catchy tune "Hotline Bling," which premiered on his Apple Music Radio show, the track itself is light and swift and flows with some pretty sentimental lyrics. Listen here. On the other hand, "Back To Back" is one of Drake's diss tracks after Meek Mill accused him for using ghostwriters, and honestly, he destroyed Meek with this one.

Go Listen #1

After half a year+ of absence on this blog, I am back to share some really cool tunes I've been obsessed with this past week. For those of you who are into chillwave, electronica and/or hip-hop, hopefully this post introduces you to a new unheard of love. Sticking purely to Canadian artists, this small compilation really shows how every layer of the music scene is just as good or even better than the previous one. In comparison to my previous reviews there is definitely a development in the variety of music I listen to, although this doesn’t mean that I’ve ditched good ol’ indie rock (Deerhunter, I might love you), crazy psych rock (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, why am I a year too late?) and incredibly catchy vaporwave (Skylar Spence fka Saint Pepsi, teach me your ways). 

Tennyson - “With You”

Tennyson is composed of mastermind Luke Tennyson and younger sister Tess Pretty on drums, an incredibly talented eighteen-year-old and sixteen-year-old from Edmonton, Alberta. Known for using random samples and making them sound beautiful, the track incorporates loops of bubbling water, phone dials and old school iPod scrolling noise to create the perfect combination of easy listening and dance party music. With little to no lyrics other than sporadically placed “with you”s, your ears are glued as each section unexpectedly hooks you with well-made cheesy ‘80s discotheque grooves and those so-called 2011 beat drops.

Side note: How did someone this young created such a great tune?!

Grimes - “REALiTi”

We haven’t heard from Grimes a.k.a Claire Boucher in a while. The last news to surface was that she scrapped her entire album and started again from scratch because she didn’t want to play depressing songs. To compensate, this is her way of showing love to her patient fans as she builds a masterpiece of an album. Like her previous work, “REALiTi” sustains the electronic and pop qualities that made Grimes famous. With an accompanying video consisting of tour footages, the song’s fresh and natural sound totally goes hand-in-hand with Grimes’ visionary dance moves.

BadBadNotGood - BBNG2

This Toronto-based hip hop-jazz trio is one of the first to popularise this fusion - at least in Canada anyway. Together, music geniuses Alexander Sowinski, Chester Hansen and Matthew Tavares make jazz more relevant and hip than ever. Before releasing their debut album III, BBNG2 was one of the two albums released for free - a compensation for the sake of widespread dissemination of their music. Despite requiring you to pay no money at all, the trio puts together such a well thought out yet seemingly improvised album, making you firmly believe that everything they do is amazingly good. I mean, even Tyler, The Creator thinks so.