Music Videos to Cheer You Up

Hey friends,

For those who aren't in Perth at the moment and aren't experiencing the cold blast of rain and depression that has hit us so suddenly I am considerably jealous. The weather this year has been something of note, especially with the conditions of the 2016-2017 summer being the most disappointing to date. I feel completely swindled out of the happiness that comes with healthy doses of vitamin D and searing heat. What's really been helping keep my mind off the fact that it's mid March and I'm thinking about putting my space heater on has been revisiting some of my favourite music videos over the recent years. I hope you get a kick out of them too.

Beware the Dog - The Griswolds

I think the thing I loved about this music video (apart from the dope-ass song by The Griswolds) was the whole werewolf trope. It was done so cleverly, with a tip of the hat to some old classic horror films that I love to watch (mainly because they aren't really that scary... I'm actually a big wuss with modern horror films). I loved the twist at the end, the gory arms and legs flying everywhere, and of course, just the rampant eating of people. This was my first taste of The Griswolds and the music that they made and I kind of fell in love. People say don't judge a book by its cover, but when you have a music video that is shot so artistically and with a sense of humour that clicks with you - what are you meant to do? 

Pork Soda - The Glass Animals

Oh man. What can I say about the Glass Animals apart from I love them and that March 2017's playlist has been most of the ZABA album on repeat. I can never work out what the Glass Animals songs are about, but I think that's part of their charm. I love this video for the very talented puppy dog, who is a rescue named Princess. Princess (a boy) recently learned how to moonwalk which is more than I can say about myself. This song is actually really sweet, but I won't try to decipher the lyrics for you because I have no idea about what they mean at all.

Don't Stop (Colour on the Walls) - Foster the People

This song has a funny story actually. This song came out just as I got my learner's permit. Of course, it took me about 3 years from that time to actually start driving places, but I always would have this video playing in my head when I was going for driving lessons. Torches was such a good album, but I feel like Foster the People really came into their own in Supermodel. This music video is so fun, it was a real throwback trying to think of videos for this post.


Anyway, this is a shortish post because I've been super busy with uni stuff. Hopefully I'll have a longer more detailed post coming out soon, but right now I need  to focus on my assignments and not dying for the next few months as uni ramps up once more in terms of intensity and the feeling of wanting to run in front of a moving car.

Hope y'all are having a swell day!


xx Kristen

International Women's Day: New Music, old loves

Hi everyone,

International Women's Day comes around once again and it becomes a time to not only celebrate women's achievements, but to bring some light to  women who have fought against adversity and challenged expectations around them. For those of us lucky enough to grow up in Australia, I feel as though the present is  probably the best it has ever been to be a woman. So many opportunities have been made available to step towards equality and to empower women to overcome gendered stereotypes and expectations to excel in whatever pathway that they choose. I feel as though we are so lucky to live here and to participate in a culture so celebratory of equality and the value of hard work.

Nevertheless, let's take today as an opportunity to talk about some women in music that I have loved and listen to some new tunes.

Green Light - Lorde

Absolutely been dying to hear some new stuff of her upcoming album Melodrama this new track was teased and taunted around the city of Auckland for a week before Lorde dropped it on us with all its big poppy sounds and soulful lyrics that she made famous. A beautiful transition from her debut album Pure Heroine that she made when she was 16. Now 20 she wows us once more with a new sound that is still throw hints back to her past. 

Jungle - Tash Sultana

What an absolute killer track from a killer lady. I remember jamming out to that wicked guitar in the car whenever this song comes up on the radio. The absolutely jaw dropping instrumentals send shivers down your spine and made the hair on my arms rise the first time I heard this song. From her EP Notion, Tash Sultana is definitely someone to watch. Definitely would love to hear this track live.

In an additional note that I need to make hours after finishing writing this post, I found out she premiered a new song yesterday, would you believe that? Just feel your ears writhe in pure joy listening to this little track.

Check it out here:

The Boys - Lisa Mitchell

Can I just tell you how much I love this song. I don't know what it is, something about the innocence of Lisa's voice and how the youthful softness to her singing has a way of making you focus on the lyrics. This song fills me with such a sense of nostalgia for something I don't know if I ever had. I love the way that the lyrics flow like a cool mountain stream off the tongue. Definitely one of my favourites. Her album Warriors is a pleasure to listen to, especially when you're a little bit stressed and need Lisa's beautiful voice to tell you everything will be okay.



Anywho, I hope you enjoyed your International Women's Day, ladies and gentlemen. Looking forward to what the next year brings in regards to gender equality and progressive societal changes towards acceptance, tolerance, and respect for all individuals, regardless of gender, creed, or colour.


Lots of love,

Kristen

Self Loathing Playlist

Hi guys,

So I dabbled, I had a go at another blogging platform, but guess I'm back here. Blogger is clunky and a bit outdated, I guess, but in that sense it is a lot like me. I have a fondness for outdated things, I was on blogger BEFORE and AFTER it was cool. I'm the ultimate hipster, right? Right guys????

So what have I been doing (apart from struggling to seem relevant)?

Short answer:

Wallowing in the pits of self loathing.

Long answer:

*deep breath*

I've been so entirely caught up with my assignments and uni work over the past couple of weeks, I kinda stopped knowing where one week ended and the other began. I've been caught in a fog of stress, which has also triggered my eczema, making me a very itchy, small ball of stress. Also, my knee has been giving me a bit of trouble from a running injury, so I haven't been able to work out a lot. Also, it's my final year so everything is pretty much do or die, so I've been putting so much pressure on myself. Additionally, I messed up entirely for the final submission for one of my last assignments so I was having a short mental breakdown over the last few days which involved a lot of staring blankly at the ceiling and contemplating my future job prospects. The thoughts of my GPA spiraling into the depths of hell kept me up at night. Would I ever be able to leave the supermarket I've worked at for the past 3 years? Would this be my eternity? Scanning grocery items? Truth be told, I've had a few grocery related nightmares, so perhaps this was an omen. Anyway, all the business about the assignment has almost cleared up now. Only time will really tell what's going to happen with this whole thing. But on the plus side, if everything goes to shit, at least I'll still have this blog right?

/end


Okay, so now you're caught up with my life. I hope you are doing well.

I've put together a short, 3 song playlist to pretty much encapsulate my mood over the past few days or so. So, listen and enjoy experiencing the week with me, and lets hope this all blows over soon and I can listen to boppy pop songs again.

Long & Lost - Florence & the Machine*

Well, for obvious reasons Florence is on this list. This song is on repeat because a) I am very sad and b) Florence is the only person whose music has such a calming effect on me. Seriously, tingles up my spine every single time. Anyway, I was listening to this mid despair, probably at the lowest and the saddest point of the whole debacle. I think what I loved about this song was entirely the simplicity of it, yet the ability for such a depth of emotion and vulnerability to be expressed through the lyrics. I sit here, a broken woman. Completely and utterly shattered from one of the hardest semesters of my entire academic career, and she manages to encapsulate it perfectly through her voice. Ah, who am I kidding. Listen to it, you'll figure out exactly what I mean.

Retrograde  - James Blake

Seriously smooth, serious velvety. James Blake's sensual voice is like a warm fuzzy blanket for my tattered and broken spirit. An addition to the playlist because its sad melody and lyrics are like a soothing cup of tea for my soul. A strong beat and a catchy little tune that has worked wonders for feeding my very, very, very sad state of mind, but also improving on it slightly. So I started listening to this in a pretty much learning to cope stage of the overall state of my life and the path it has now careened down. I'm using James Blake as the velvety blanket that will hide me from the worries of the world.

Tiny Cities - Flume feat. Beck

And finally, acceptance. I actually, was trying to get into the new Flume album but was struggling to really like it. I found the songs a bit jagged without really reaching any sort of comfortable listening tempo. Like I couldn't concentrate or do anything at all whilst listening to the album, such a confusing experience. But this song. This song is it, the only thing holding me afloat in this sea of distress. Its a bit more upbeat, and I guess at this stage I am feeling a little more upbeat. But still, listening to the lyrics. You'll get the gist of how everything has turned out. "It was never perfect it was never meant to last". And is that an analogy of my good feelings towards my grades and overall performance at a tertiary level education? Perhaps it is, my friends. Perhaps it is.

Much love,

Kristen

* To my friends who keep on saying that my obsession with Florence & the Machine is bordering unhealthy, well, all I have to say to you is *fart noise*

Girl Power!

I've realised within the last few days, so many of my posts have been about male musicians. My music tastes vary, but by golly, it was looking very stark in terms of featuring some  girl power. Shame on me! Some of the music that I have been really digging in the last couple of weeks have been featuring some amazing female artists. So, in light of today being International Women's Day, I decided to make a short little post about some kick-ass female artists I've been digging as of late

Vera Blue 

Celia Pavey: Goddess

Vera Blue is a new project from Celia Pavey. Third runner up from the second season of Australia's The Voice,  just another example of reality television success (as much as it pains me to say it). Although, I was always rooting for Celia (2013 was a dark time in my life, let's not speak any more of it), I kinda lost track of her. It wasn't till I was stuck in traffic on the commute to uni did I hear Hold. Hold is this soulful, delicate, piece of artistry that honestly gives me goosebumps every single time. It's one of those songs that you need to lie down, close your eyes, and appreciate. First to the music, then the lyrics, then together. I'm a sucker for love songs, lets be honest. But don't take my word for it, check it out below. I promise you, you'll understand the moment you hear it. 

Grimes

Grimes: Actual Angel

Okay, so if you haven't been around me for a few months or haven't had the pleasure of sampling one of my playlists at parties or events you'll not have heard of my undying love and deep appreciation for Grimes' new album Art Angels (she got one of my votes for the Hottest 100, if you can remember). I think my friends are sick of it to be honest, I would be to if this album wasn't the greatest thing that I have heard in the longest while. Art Angels is something completely different from what we expect of Grimes. Canadian musician Grimes (Claire Boucher) is known for her experimental electronic music, most people can agree that what made Grimes Grimes was something unique. However, Art Angels introduces this element of pop in a way Grimes only can. Check out one of my other favourite songs from the album. Just try to tell me you don't love her.

Sampa the Great

Sampa so much more than Great

Okay, so here's a newbie that's really caught my eye (my ears perhaps?) Winner of the Triple J 'The Plot' competition, and all round wunderkind, Sampa the Great has completely blown me away. What a way to end this blog post, not only because Sampa is this fantastically powerful young woman who raps and sings about feminism and and issues such as black identity, but also because she's new and upcoming. She's someone I see going far and I want to share her music with the world. I recently heard an interview with her and this chick oozes this charisma and energy you wouldn't expect. Sampa the Great is so much more than just great. Her style is very much something that I wouldn't listen to. Her rapping is almost like slam poetry, it's engaging, it's clever, it's lyrical. It's hip hop but better. I'm going to leave you with a little taster of some of her work. The track F E M A L E emphasis what I feel International Women's Day should be about. Big, bold women, round of applause. Keep an eye out for this woman, she's going to be going places.

xx Kristen

Kristen's 2015 Hottest 100 Picks

A belated Happy New Year to all you lovely folks out there. Big news today. I've just managed to finish sorting out my short list for the Hottest 100 this year.

Phew. That only took me 30000 hours. Holy moley, this one was tough. I was studying my music choices and loves over the last 12 months harder than I studied for my exams.

Why must I be so particular, why does everything need to be just so? Why do I have to only pick 10? The truth of the matter is, I don't have any other hobbies. Literally, the sad truth of my existence is that when I'm not eating, sleeping, or working, I'm 100% mucking around with music and making playlists. My eclectic and somewhat strange tastes have dazzled my friends for ages, I am not known for my great taste nor my ability to form playlists that remotely tie in together well. My friends just know me as the chick with the playlist that has Coolio next to Alt-J. So, I feel that my shortlist this year accurately represents the range of my weirdo tastes.

Well, it's 1am, I feel my last ounce of sanity is slipping away. So here's my picks for this year's Hottest 100.

1. Brandon Flowers -  Can't Deny My Love
2. Grimes -  Flesh Without Blood
3. Tame Impala - The Less I Know the Better
4. Florence and the Machine - Queen of Peace
5. Disclosure - Magnets 
6. Florence and the Machine - How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
7. CHVRCHES - Clearest Blue
8. Macklemore - Downtown (feat. Eric Nally, Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee)
9. The Weeknd - Can't Feel My Face
10. Vance Joy  - Fire and the Flood

That's it. I'm done. The ordeal is over.

In other news, I'm off on holiday tomorrow afternoon! I'm gone! I'm jet setting away from all the hustle and bustle of the city to go visit the tranquil oasis that is New Zealand. However, I shall be in the country to listen intently for my favourite tracks from midday (AEDT) Tuesday, January 26th with the rest of the country. As per usual, here's a little playlist I put together to commemorate my picks for this year's Hottest 100. 

So, have you got your votes in yet?

Lukewarm 100

So, in case you actually have been living in a bomb shelter somewhere completely impenetrable by any type of radio waves, you would have known that the season is upon us.

Voting for Triple J's The Hottest 100  is open now guys! And every man and his dog is getting their votes in and telling the world about it. So I guess its my turn now.

I feel a bit like I'm behind on the times though. I still haven't narrowed down my Top 10 yet whilst all my friends have put up their votes and are relaxing and waiting for the big countdown. I've spent the last few weeks deliberating, and choosing and shuffling my lists around. In fewer words: stressed out! In all honesty, I am surrounded by little scraps of paper with different short lists for tracks that I've jotted down whilst at work, eating dinner, out with friends etc. It's been music central over here, my car has become a sounding board for my thoughts on what should be on my Hottest 100 list, with my passengers the official voting panel of judges. I've been desperately trying to relive and remember which songs I LOVED and which songs I kinda liked in 2015. Luckily this blog has been useful, and in my official Hottest 100 list you'll definitely see some of these songs that I've written about.

So let's talk about the songs I haven't written about.

This week's post is going to feature the songs I won't be voting for, not because they were especially bad, but just because they weren't good enough to make the cut.

So here's  my Lukewarm 100

1. Of Monsters and Men - Empire
2. Vance Joy - Red Eye
3. The Wombats - Your Body is a Weapon
4. Halsey - Hold Me Down
5. Courtney Barnett - Pedestrian at Best
6. The Weeknd - Losers (feat. Labrinth)
7. Jarryd James - Do You Remember
8. Elliphant - Love Me Badder
9. Troye Sivan - EASE (feat. Broods)
10. Last Dinosaurs - Apollo

Shout out to Justin Bieber, One Direction, and all the stupid mainstream pop songs and artists that I loved this year but couldn't vote for.

And because nobody has time to listen/watch ten YouTube videos, I've made a little Spotify playlist for you to check out.

Stay tuned for Part 2 when I actually make up my mind and decide on my real Hottest 100 playlist. Until then, I hope you enjoy!


Kristen

Crushing Hard

I think for most of us who were teenage girls, we fondly remember that celebrity crush that we went crazy for. It's just a part of growing up. Like you see those tweens with their crushes on Justin Bieber or One Direction, it's something to be expected. Your heart beat quickens when you hear one of their songs, you get a massive grin spreading across your face when you watch a music video.

For me, it was Jesse McCartney with Beautiful Soul. I still belt that song out every moment I hear it on the radio.

But now, as I get older, I rarely feel that oom-pah-pah in my heart about any music. You know that feeling? The one that makes your soul feel like its flying out of your body or that grin that slowly spreads and fills your body with warm happiness.

Well, that was until I laid my ears on Vance Joy.

Look at that face! Who wouldn't be in love with this total babe?

His 2014 album Dream Your Life Away has been the soundtrack for the past year of my life. What can I say, I'm crushing. Hard.

Basically, if you haven't heard the album yet or want a taster of what it feels like to fall in love, check out this song. It's my current favourite.

Although, to be completely honest, I discover a new favourite song from the album each week. There's something about the lyricism and  the shakiness in his voice in some of the lines that just gives me shivers every single time. I feel as though he sings to your soul, they're love songs all of them, and for some reason I feel like he's singing them to me.

He's also a complete babe, if you haven't seen his music video for "Fire and the Flood", what have you been doing?  All those dreamy stares down the barrel of the camera.... ah, my love.

As far as teenage heart throbs go, you wouldn't be hard pressed to find me pining over this guy had he been around and popular 5 years ago, holy moly, I'd have pined so hard.

Vance Joy is a gift to girls everywhere, and his music is a gift to the soul. If  you've watched these videos I'm 100% sure that you'd agree with me.

As far as heart throbs go? What's been pulling on your heart strings as of late? What music has been giving you that oomph that only a realllyy good song can?


Lots of love,

Kristen

T-Shirt Weather and Sunshiney Tracks

Hello warm weather lovers,

Well, those of us graced with living in the southern hemisphere are probably ready to peel the warm jumpers and jeans off our frozen bodies and thaw out with the spring sun. It's time to revamp, time to recuperate, and time to embrace the spring sun.

Well, why don't we do that with our music as well?

I find as the weather gets warmer I like to listen to songs that remind me of long summer drives and kicking back in the sunshine. I do a seasonal spring clean of my playlist as much as I do with my wardrobe, so here's a small playlist of songs that I'm bringing in to bring some sun into my life.

T-Shirt Weather by Circa Waves

Here's a fun little track that I've been loving recently. It's long summer car road trips to me, in all their burning glory.  They're a British indie-rock band formed in Liverpool. Their debut album was released earlier this year in titled "Young Chasers". Definitely check it out, it's got that youthful British indie sound that we all know and love. Keep an eye out for these guys, people riding in my car will definitely hear a lot of Circa Waves over the next few months.


Rock It by Little Red

An oldy, but a goody. Rock It is a classic summer song that has been played many a time when I am craving sunshine and lazy afternoons. This song has been on my summer playlists for years, it's a boppy track that helps me keep the warmth in my heart when it's looks nice outside, but it's almost as though the weather needs a little pick me up track to get the heat going. This is the sun's pump up track, I'm sure. We all know Little Red; the Melbourne band rose to the Triple J fame in 2010. Unfortunately for us, Little Red split up three years ago. Doesn't stop this song keeping the warmth in my life during the winter-spring transition.

Bullit by Watermät

Okay, so you know those songs that you hear everywhere but never really know who sung them or what their names were? This song was one of those for me until I found it again a few weeks ago. HOLY MOLY. Summer anthem much? This song was so big a few years ago, and I think everyone knows why. It helps you forget that winter is a season that exists. Endless summer in my ears. Forever. Basically, just proving that the French do everything right when it comes to electronic music, producer and artist in every sense of the word Watermät (or Laurent Arriau) brings summer vibes that pretty much ruled all the music charts in 2014. Love it. Bring on summer.

Hope you are showing a little more skin and embracing the changing seasons!

Keep it real,

Kristen

A Going Away Playlist

Well, I mean, I'm not going for good.

I'm on vacation for the next month or so, so  I thought I'd send myself off with a fun little playlist of the 5 top songs I have been listening to non stop in the lead up to this adventure. (Now, don't judge me... these songs are so catchy and dance-y, you can't help but absolutely get into a nice groove and dance yourself on holiday)

So, in no particular order, here's 5 of my favourite songs for my summer European get-away.

Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon

This one is really catchy, reminds me of a modern take on 80s pop. I love this one, it's probably one you're going to hear on radios everywhere right about now. I think its such a cute little song, and the music video is pretty cute too. The dance moves are rocking and the hairstyles need work, but I mean, that's pretty much my life story so I guess that resonates with me the most. 

Papaoutai by Stromae

Oh man, this is a powerful one. I don't speak French in the slightest but the music video speaks for itself. There's no denying that Stromae is a musical genius, take a look at Tous Les Mêmes. His music videos are always super on point too. The musicality is genius, but also the pain behind the song speaks across the boundaries of language.  I feel as though my words cannot even do this song justice. Just know that I have it playing on repeat. Although I do like Tous Les Mêmes, Papaoutai is my favourite one of his songs.

Magic by San Cisco

A bit lighter, something that I find quite enjoyable and fun. Mainly because I have a thing for cheesy horror props and cute love stories. The song itself has a catchiness about it that I can't deny, however, the music video sold it for me. This one was won out purely because of Nosferatu driving the Lamborghini and moon walking. What can I say, I'm a sucker for the kind of kitsch that San Cisco is putting out these days.

Pray To God by Calvin Harris, featuring HAIM

Okay, this one was won out despite the kick ass music video. I am officially a HAIM fangirl. Paired in with my love of electropop, come on, how was I going to leave this song out? Okay, so it's a bit old now, but as per usual, I have just discovered it. Non-stop music for working out. I feel like I can kick serious butt when listening to this song, it's really empowering. Lets be honest though, most HAIM songs make me feel that way, I don't know why the addition of Calvin Harris made this one any different.

Ship to Wreck by Florence + The Machine

Okay, I'm a bit torn about this one. The same level of feeling that Ceremonials had somehow cannot be matched by Florence's current album. Ceremonials had something in it... a deep melodic soulfulness that reminded me of prayer. However, this song comes close to capturing the essence I felt before. I will probably never be able to fall in love with this song the way I fell in love with the whole of Ceremonials, but damn, I think I'm close. This song is one for the repeat, until I know how I properly feel about it. 

Well, I guess that's about it. This and a whole lot of Fleetwood Mac, but I'm sure those of you who know me well enough know that I could probably dedicate a whole blog to The Mac. They are love, they are life. Now to work out whether or not I want to spend the upwards of $200 to go see them in concert. Decisions... decisions....

In the mean time, I'll be on vacation!

I hope you all stay safe and have a great next few weeks of break.

I'll see you when I get back :)

If you would like to keep up with my travels, my travel blog can be found here. I hope to be updating it daily, and when I can't, there is always my Instagram and my Twitter that you can keep up with.

Lots of love,

Kristen