ArtistoftheWeek:Natalia Lafourcade7/13/10-7/20/10

I found out about Natalia Lafourcade when I was looking for some more Latin Artists and I couldn't really find any I liked. Then I heard her song, "En El 2000", and I was blow away. It was as if I was listening to Nelly Furtado mixed with the Spanish version of Alanis Morrissette. It was pretty cool. Then I found out about her song "Casa" & "O Pato", then I heard her most recent song, "Ella Es Bonita". A great song, indeed. I really liked all of those four songs. But it took me a while to like the albums. They were the ones that you have to sit down and listen to till the end. If you don't you'll miss out on the whole thing.
~Music Videos~
Cursis Melodias
Ella Es Bonita
Te Queiro Dar
Azul
Casa
Busca Problema
O Pato
En El 2000

Official Website

ArtistoftheWeek:Kimbra 6/18/11-6/25/11

 Kimbra is an answer to many music lovers who are tired of the clubs, sex, money and promiscuity. Many people have heard of her from Gotye's hot chart topping single, "Somebody That I Used To Know". Where she sang a great female perspective of a hurtful break-up. Now she's singing about marriage. and love, and success and fitting in. She's singing about practically everything under the sun except club stuff.
Her debut album Vows is a great pop album that offers a different style to it than most modern day pop music. She provides amazing scatting and Jazz-elements in her tracks while writing lyrics that have been of course Kiwi-inspired (Kiwi is an Australian/New Zealand culture). Kimbra is showing herself in this album. After working so hard for the past 7 years of her life experimenting with different styles trying to figure out how to portray herself through her music has been an obstacle challenge but has paid of big time for her debut. She won an ARIA (Austalian Grammy) for her Vows album and has topped the Billboard charts for being at #13 in the first week of her Vows release in the US. Her album became the #1 iTunes Pop album and #2 iTunes album overall (right behind John Mayer but pfft on Mayer). As a fellow music lover who has watched a hard working artist build her way to the top is rewarding and Kimbra's journey has only just begun for her.

Free Downloads

Something In The Way You Are
Home
Withdraw

P.S. If you want to know, the album is WORTH the money! You can get it for 9.99 from Target with extra bonus tracks! Her album also has a lyric booklet for just in case you like to sing-a-long with Kimbra you can when you by Vows physically from Best Buy, Target (best place to buy it) or Barnes & Nobel.

~Kimbra will not disappoint~

ArtistoftheWeek:Algebra Blessett9/5/11-9/12/11

Algebra has been growing musically as an artist since she was discovered by Kedar in 2006. Her style is a neo-soul feel with some modern R&B thrown in the mix of her songs. Lyrically she's amazing, her songwriting is strongest in her song, "I Know," a song she made and only released through the Girlfriends Soundtrack. Her song, "Run & Hide," became a free download on iTunes a couple years ago. This gave her a way to show her soulful talents to everyone, from
people who don't like soul, to people who love soul,even to people who hire musicians to make soulful music. That popularity helped her get more gigs and helped her to start touring. She's been growing in the R&B music business in popularity. She has recently been featured in a new song by Anthony David called, 4evermore.
If you have an all black radio station in your town, and you listen to it daily you've heard the song play at least ten times a day.
Here's some free downloads for ya.
Selective Songs From Purpose
I Know
4evermore (ft. Algebra)

Algebra is a talented R&B Artist, she needs more Radio play.

ArtistoftheWeek:SAWA7/18/11-7/25/11

A friend of mine showed me this artist. The song she introduced me was Stars. It was ok, but I looked around the net for some other songs of SAWA. I then stumbled upon the music video for ManyColors. I listened to the song and immediately loved the beat. When SAWA started singing and the lyrics were as great as the song. After that song, I just had to get more of SAWA's music. So I got her album, Welcome To Sa-World, and the style of music was a little different for my taste but all in all, the album was good. Listening to the album, you can really feel like you're exploring "Sa-World". From beginning to end the songs on the album, were as entertaining as they were catchy.
The two non-single songs that were on the album, that really made an impression on me were, Throw Him Away and Friday Night.
Throw Him Away, has a feeling of a sunny
summer day of fun. The song sounds like it has elements of shibuya-kei with a bit ofdisco influences. Putting those two styles together brings out a cute and catchy song to listen to while doing day-to-day responsibilities. Friday Night, is a great title for this song. There's elements of R&B mixing with elements of disco pop in the song. A perfect song for going out. Riding in the car with your friends, bobbing your hands to this song. (If you live in Japan.) There were other songs that I liked from SAWA outside of her debut album.
From her debut mini album, COLORS, her song, Yellow, is such a catchy, upbeat, and relaxing song to listen to during lazy summer days.
The other songs are from her second mini album, Time &Space, three songs that really
left an impression for me were, Discovery, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Are You Ready For Love? The song, Discovery, is a track that really gives you the feeling that you're going through space and time, in a spaceship, soaring around the galaxy, feeling cool. The next track, Metropolitan Museum of Art, has a strong melodic beginning, giving the listener an intrigued feeling of what's gonna come of this song. SAWA starts to sing on the song and then you hear the chorus and automatically you're hooked. Are You Ready For Love is an Elton John cover, that is well done by SAWA. (I'm not much of an Elton fan, but I'd give him a chance after hearing this cover.)
Selective Songs From COLORS
Selective Songs From TIME&SPACE
Selective Songs From I Can Fly
Selective Songs From Welcome To Sa-World

I hope you enjoy the sounds of SAWA during the days of Summer!

ArtistoftheWeek:BONNIE PINK7/11/11-7/18/11

Bonnie Pink, has been around in the music industry possibly for as long as I've been alive! This Japanese singer/songwriter has such a talent that you can't pass up. Her style ranging from shibuya-kei, to Jpop/rock to R&B. I have heard of her from a song that has been used in an anime, but that song was just a taste of how amazing her songs truly are. The first album I heard of hers was Golden Tears. With her single, "So Wonderful", it's a song that you can enjoy while traveling. Even the whole album is perfect for traveling around. The album became one of my top frequent albums of 2009.
A year later, she released a new
album called, Dear Diary. I listened to the album whole and when I heard the song Morning Glory, I instantly loved it. Hearing that song made me see Bonnie Pink in a whole new light.Knowing that a Japanese musician wrote a song about depression and hope made me smile. It made me know that Bonnie Pink is a strong women filled with a sense of melancholy and hope. Now I listen to Morning Glory every morning, reminding myself to keep going and to live more. (I do not have depression, but there are some days that are harder than others.)
When I listened to her B-Sides I heard a variety of genres filled in every song, giving it a great pop feel. The song that really stuck to me most was her all-English song, "The Last Thing I Can Do". Every lazy day I pop on that song and lay down enjoying the day relaxed and calm. The song is a really sweet song filled with strong lyrics, vocals, and a simple melody, of only a guitar or two. It's a really personal song of Bonnie Pink.
Selective Songs from Golden Tears
Selective Songs from Reminiscence
Selective Songs from Dear Diary
Selective Songs from B-Side Collection

I hope you guys like Bonnie Pink! If you want anymore of her music, go to iTunes!

ArtistoftheWeek:Adele5/9/11-5/16/11

Adele. Words cannot describe how timeless this artist is. I could go on and on about her talent and her music, but I think that the hundreds of music critics and thousands of internet bloggers have said enough of that.
When I first heard about Adele, her song, "Hometown Glory," being featured as the iTunes single of the week. I saw the cover art for the single and I thought that because of her style and her physique she would be looked over by the music industry and just be another great artist stuck in the underground. But, she received great publicity with her song, "Chasing Pavements" in the US and with, "Cold Shoulder" in the UK/Europe. Every person that had a passion to sing was talking about Adele. Her music touched people's hearts and her lyrics stayed in people's minds. Her melodies gave people a thing to groove to and her emotions gave people a feeling of something amazing.
This year (2011), she has released her second studio album, "21". This album showed so much more promise. I thought that she would experience the same fate as Corinne Bailey Rae because of her change from blues to more soul/gospelesque music. But her first single, "Rolling In The Deep," soared the charts and her album became a #1 seller in the US and the UK. I was so happy to hear people talk about Adele and her second album. Sadly because she became so famous, there's always that group of people that do not like her because of her fame. Some people have said that she has sold out with her 21 album. Her catchy melodies and hooks/choruses in the songs. Too Pop, (Well she is a pop musician, anyways). Adele replies back to this saying that she's trying to find her sound.
If you haven't listened to Adele, you should, and then buy her CD, 21.
Free Downloads
Selective Songs from19
Selective Songs from 21

ArtistoftheWeek:Jenny Owen Youngs4/25/11-5/2/11

Jenny Owen Youngs, that name has been one that I have talked about since 2005. She's been a great pop/rock musician to have when I was transitioning from mainstream pop/rock music to more independent music. The public found out about this musical gem from her song, single "Fuck Was I," from her debut album, Batten the Hatches. Having her music featured on so many showtime television shows such as, WEEDS and United States of Tara. (Which gives her so much credibility because Showtime is the highest of high for television quality.)
Anyways, enough talk, time for music, here's some songs and videos to enjoy! Hope you enjoy this musician as much as I have! She's a great one to have!

Free Downloads
F*ck Was I
Voice On Tape
Drinking Song
Led To The Sea
Here Is A Heart
If I Didn't Know
Things We Don't Need Anymore
Hot In Herre (Cover)
Led To The Sea (Funny Energy Remix)

ArtistoftheWeek:Jamie Lidell4/18/11-4/25/11

Jamie Lidell has such an interesting take on music. His style is a collection of soul, R&B, blues, electronic, folk, rock, and funk. At least that's what all the music critics say. Personally, I think he's just got a great sense of funk in his music. Jamie Lidell's music can appeal to many. His lyrical style is one of a romantic filled with some angst. With some songs the lyrics are a little too sad but Jamie sets up the right melody to make the song just right. Like for his song, "Where'd You Go?" there's a part where he sings, "That's why I cry!" and it fits so well with the music that it doesn't bother you or make you feel a little wimpy listening to lyrics like that. (You know if you're worried about that whole emasculating thing.) I highly recommend you to listen to Jamie Lidell if you like the combination of R&B and Funk.
Official Website
Twitter
Youtube
Facebook

Free Downloads
Selective Songs from Multiply
Selective Songs from JIM
Selective Songs from Compass

ArtistoftheWeek:Ellie Goulding4/4/11-4/11/11

Ellie Goulding is a graceful light that has shared it's magic with the world.

Ellie Goulding is a singer/songwriter musician from the UK. Her music is of an electronic style with melodies and lyrics inspired by Pop. Her vocals are of a tie with heavy british accent and the feel of a pop girl. Ellie Goulding's songs are sometimes thought to be based on love but most times they are about something else.
That's what I love about Ellie Goulding. You think that her songs are about something as little as a crush or sex, but it's mostly about something more. Something bigger, something more than just about a boy and a girl.
If you haven't heard of Ellie Goulding and her amazing music and her amazing voice you should. Her music will take your mind and/or your heart to another level of understanding, another level of life. She's a siren among the group of young British Singer/Songwriters. She's one to spend your money on.

Free Downloads
Guns And Horses
Starry Eyed
This Love (Will Be Your Downfall)
Under The Sheets
Every Time You Go
Lights
Human
Believe Me*

ArtistoftheWeek:Emily Hearn11/23/10-11/30/10

Emily Hearn's music has really touched people's hearts with her songs. She released an EP in 2009 called, Paper Hearts. She started a project on Kickstarter, a way for her fans to fund her debut album that is expected to release sometime either in fall 2011 or Spring 2012.
I found out about Emily when I was exploring Kickstarter and saw all of the amazing artists on the website. When I found out about her when I clicked on her I watched the video and the song that played. I thought that she was pretty good so I looked her up saw her site which was pretty cool and listened to her EP.
If you liked Clara C, then you'll love Emily Hearn!
Free Downloads
Rooftop
Two Feet On The Ground
Paper Heart

Official Website

I hope you like Emily Hearn!

ArtistoftheWeek:Amanda Duncan11/16/10-11/23/10

Amanda Duncan is cool, fun, and awesome! I found out about this artist when she started following me on twitter. At first I was thinking, who's this and then I checked her out and I was thinking, "Oh wow, I should check this girl out some more." So I listen to some more of her songs and I liked what I heard. Then I heard that she was coming to my College and I was excited about this!
On Nov. 13th she came and sang cool songs to me and my college friends and we enjoyed the laughs, talks, and sing-alongs with her. I bought her EP and some buttons, I would've bought a shirt too but they were only girl sizes. So I talked to her and we had a good time.
I even gave her a mix CD (or 2) to enjoy on her time on the road.
I then listened to her EP the day after and I loved it.
One of my favorite songs is, The Words That I Say. It reminds me of the country pop music I listened to when I was little and the tone of her voice in the song reminds me of Natalie Maines.
If you don't know about Amanda you should check her out!

Free Downloads
Love I Have For You
Words That I Say
Fall Into You

Official Website

Hope you love this cool Singer/Songwriter!

P.S. Go buy her EP, it's only 5$ and you get 6 songs from it. It's not hard and it's really cheap too. Take that one day off from the 5$ footlong dinner and spend it on Music!

ArtistoftheWeek:Clara C9/28/10-10/5/10

Clara C, an amazing singer-songwriter with the heart filled light and the mind filled with catchy pop songs for those sunny autumn days. This new artist has been making a breakthrough with her popular videos of her covering pop songs. Taking something like, Use Somebody and making it her own.She's been featured in many songs and has collaborated with many musicians all over America.
This artist has won 1st place for the Kollaboration for 2010.
She's recently graduated from College this year!Which is pretty impressive that she did all those videos and wrote all the songs while in College.She's worked with Wong Fu Productions for a couple of films.
She's been everywhere.
If this is your first time hearing about her from me. You've missed out!It's ok though, she just released her debut album, The Art In My Heart, last Friday so don't hesitate to order this amazing album.The CD has lyrics, photos, and of course the CD.
Plus if you're lucky you might get it signed!

Clara C is a great artist to have in your music collection.

Videos
Little Light

Album Preview

Offbeat Music Video


Free Downloads
Offbeat
Fool's Gold
Wait On Me
Wake Up In Neverland
Little Light (feat. Sam Ock)
Links
Twitter
Facebook
Youtube

Bandcamp

~Support Clara & Buy Her Debut Album, The Art In My Heart!~

ArtistoftheWeek:Azure Ray9/15/10-9/27/10

I love Azure Ray, their music is so addicting and very soothing. Especially on their first album, which set the musically fit that this band is. Indie folk/pop, with sounds of the countryside and calming feminine vocals to lull you to sleep.
Luckily Azure Ray switches it up a little bit, it's not all sadness or boredom on a sunny day.
Their lyrics, mostly targeted towards love and loss, are so carefully structured with the sounds and little metaphors in their melody is so attracting.
When I first heard an Azure Ray song I was blown away. The song that sold me to this group was Sleep. Pandora played the song to me and I loved it.
This group had been well recognized by the media and the public as a great folk duo. I swear if America loved Folk music right now, Azure Ray
would be #1 for more than a couple of weeks.
How can you not like two girls who can sing and write very felling.
I remember when I heard that Azure Ray broke up. I was devastated, mostly because I found out they broke up about a week or two after I fell in love with them and their music.
So while they were broken up I checked out more of their music (singles, EPs) and then Maria Taylor (the other part of Azure Ray, one on the left), so then I was pre-occupied with maria taylor's CD. I feel in love with her Ladyluck album and haven't thought of Azure Ray since.
This summer, I hear that Azure Ray is releasing a new album. I was so excited, and filled with glee that I couldn't keep my excitment. So I pre-ordered the album and I wanted to see their album's CD and lyric booklet. I love buying CD's it's exhilarous What was even better was that the CD came 2 weeks earlier with stickers and coasters!
Ok, well the album was over all great. The songs that stuck out to me are amazing. The songs that struck out me from the album are; "Don't Leave My Mind"
"Silver Sorrow"
"On And On Again"
"Make Your Heart"
& "Lonely Girls"
I have to say their recent album, is really insightful, in the beginning middle and until the end of the album. They've grown a lot since the last 6 years of making an album together.

Free Downloads
Selective Songs From Azure Ray (Album)

Selective Songs From Burn & Shiver

Selective Songs From Hold On Love

Selective Songs From Drawing Down The Moon


Official Website

~ I Hope You Enjoy Azure Ray~

ArtistoftheWeek:Round Table feat. Nino8/24/10-8/31/10

I love ROUND TABLE feat. Nino! They're like the Japanese Version of Ivy! They rock. Sadly they don't get a lot of recognition for their music but trust me if you like Bossa Nova or just calming pop music you'll love this group.
I found out about this band from an anime show (of course..) And I loved their song called, "Let Me Be With You (New Step Mix)" it was on Chobits. I knew about their song and bought both of the Chobits Soundtracks for that song. A few years later I find out about another Anime Series that caught my eye, called, Welcome To The NHK, and their song, Puzzle ~Extra Hot Mix~ was it's theme song.
I loved it so much that I looked for more of their songs and was opened to a whole collection of beautiful songs from them. ROUND TABLE feat. Nino is the best.
I really like that they actually take their time with their music and release a new album every 2-3 years instead of every 10 months like the really popular Japanese artists. Now that's crazy!
ROUND TABLE's style is a cool one and a unique sound indeed. I still kind of see them as the brighter more lovable side and Japanese side of Ivy. But Ivy wouldn't be able to do their music and vice versa it's like Ivy and ROUND TABLE are the same but they're not.
Anyways, this is the last artist for the Summer of 2010. Hope you listen to these songs and think back to the great times you had in the summer and the bad times and the moderate times. All the times of your wonderful summer! :)
Music For A Memorable Summer!
Selective Songs From April
Selective Songs From Nino
Selective Songs From Distance
Promo Videos for Distance
Koi Wo Shiteru|Nagareboshi
Official Website

~I Hope You Enjoy ROUND TABLE feat. Nino!~