Tag: Great songs

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MidlifeMix – Continental Drift

Say what you want about how terrible 2020 has been, but it has also allowed plenty of people to reinvent themselves in a way that probably wouldn’t have happened in a normal year. Take for example the case of Helen Meissner, who like many others, decided during lockdown to start creating music. Unlike them, she did so at 54; hence her moniker MidlifeMix (MidlifeCrisis was taken!). To make her story even more unusual, her genre is electronic music and did I mention that when the whole pandemic started, she didn’t know much about music production? I particularly love Helen’s slogan: “Old enough to know better, young enough not to care”.

MidlifeMix recently released her eponymous debut EP, which consists of six diverse tracks. Continental Drift is the most chilled one but also my favorite. It feels like drifting away while floating in the air or the sea. However, if you’re looking for something more active, make sure to check the whole EP out. You’ll find what you’re looking for.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Chill Out
  • Electronic

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Jimkata – Bonfires

I didn’t know this but there is a martial arts film from 1985 called Gymkata that became one of those movies that is so bad that becomes good, or -at the very least–, a cult film. The band Jimkata, a three-piece act from California and Ithaca, was named after such a great example of the seventh art and that should give you a hint of the fact that they just want to have fun. Self-described as an anthemic, synth-washed, electro-rock band; Jimkata‘s songs are hook-ridden and colorful.

Bonfires, which was released recently but will be part of Jimkata‘s anticipated new album of the same name, set for release early next year, is just exhibit A of what I said above. A song about feeling vulnerable in uncertain times, this tune will manage to make you

feel comfortable anyway. It’s the musical equivalent of a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly night. Simply enjoy it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie
  • Pop

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Our Lady Peace – Life

The first Our Lady Peace song I heard was Superman’s Dead, and, at least at first, I didn’t like it that much. It wasn’t until they released Spiritual Machines, their fourth studio album, that I started to take them seriously. I’m glad that happened because otherwise I would have missed out on some great music from these gods of Canada’s alternative rock scene. The band has just released a remastered edition of this double-platinum certified album to celebrate its 20th anniversary, reason for which I decided to feature one of its best songs as this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry.

All things being equal, I would probably have chosen Right Behind You (Mafia) for this entry, but Life is just as good and has a beautiful message that is more valid than ever today; message that OLP managed to transmit quite well on the music video (see below). Sure, life can be messed up sometimes but everybody is dealing with some issue, one way or another. We just have to keep moving on. Call me crazy, but I think this song comes in handy this year.

By the way, Our Lady Peace announced that they’re working on a follow-up to Spiritual Machines and plan to release it next year. Color me intrigued.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Tom Duggan – Outcomes

This song, Outcomes, reminds me a lot of those acoustic guitar-based songs from the 60s and 70s my Dad used to listen to. It would have fit perfectly into the soundtrack of any classic movie from that era. The impressive thing is that it was written by a young artist who is barely getting his feet wet, as he’s only been releasing music since earlier this year. Even though Tom Duggan received training in jazz and classical styles as a saxophone and clarinet player, he learned singing and guitar on his own. Practice makes perfect, so we can only imagine what this British singer/songwriter will be able to accomplish in a couple of years. The sky is the limit.

Tom wrote Outcomes during his time at university and is based on his experiences there. It’s a song about being whoever you want as long as you can accept the consequences of your actions. Acoustic guitar-based songs tend to be repetitive and boring, but I think this tune manages to avoid that problem by noticeably changing the melody during the bridge and then again during the chorus. Overall, it’s a catchy track with a great message, and also a clear indication that we should keep Tom Duggar on our radars.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Gabriel Paris – Kicks In

Gabriel Paris - Kicks In

Gabriel Paris is an Australia-based multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, and producer with a few writing credits in his resumé. He has been focusing on his solo career lately, releasing three singles so far, with Kicks In being the latest one. As a songwriter, Gabriel tries to be authentic and write about what he feels compelled to as opposed to what others might want. This results in honest lyrics such as those in this single, which is a deeply personal song about a time when he relied a bit too much on alcohol to cope with his problems.

Musically, Gabriel lists the likes of Vance Joy and Coldplay as influences, and I can certainly note some similarities. His music got all the necessary elements to make it memorable, from raw emotions to nice vocals and pretty melodies, just as with the hauntingly beautiful Kicks In. Check it out below and don’t sleep on this talented artist.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Elina – Remember

I discovered Swedish singer/songwriter Elina Stridh, who goes simply by Elina as her stage name, earlier this year when her song Blue was included in an AI-generated playlist on a streaming platform. I kind of fell in love instantly with her sweet voice. Then, more recently, I got an email from a PR agency informing me of the release of her sophomore EP, titled Remember, and of course I had to check it out. The theme of the album is embracing change and it consists of 6 songs, including Blue, but the crown jewel is undoubtedly its title track. Elina is a remarkable songwriter and before she embarked into a career as a singer as well last year, she used to write pieces for other artists such as Zara Larsson and Neiked, so she knows one thing or two about writing hits.

However, when some of the songs Elina had written and loved weren’t picked up by any artist, she decided to release them herself and I’m really glad she did. With a series of stripped-back, folk-inspired tunes, she is showing us her real self in a vulnerable way. Remember, a song about seeing someone you love hurt and letting them know they will always be worthy of love and affection, is just an example. Elina’s beautiful voice and honest lyrics make the listening experience a really enjoyable one. She’s not breaking any ground with sounds you had never heard before, but when the music is this good, who cares?

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Folk/Indie

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Marako Marcus – Raindrops of Refreshing

Marako Marcus started making music on audio cassettes in the 90s and hasn’t stopped since then. Today, he is an indie musician who likes to experiment with lofi, ambient, chill-out, and easy-listening music, giving them his own twist. His musical goal is to create cinematic compositions that allow listeners to immerse themselves into his music, and that’s precisely what he achieved with Raindrops of Refreshing, one of the singles he’s released this year.

Each one of Marako Marcus‘ songs have a story and in the case of Raindrops of Refreshing, it is about relaxing at the end of each day focusing on the positives rather than the negatives. It is a soothing song that relies on acoustic guitars to captivate the listener. On a lazy Sunday just like today, there is no better way to relax (well, besides sitting on a beach drinking cocktaila and reading a nice book, but that feels like science fiction in 2020). Enjoy this lovely tune below.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Relax

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Dreddbeat – In The Name Of Love

Remember Toys In The Attic? I really loved that moniker but, unfortunately, due to legal reasons, Alexander Borczynski had to change his stage name. He chose Dreddbeat, which is a cool name too, and released a brand new EP, which he named Toy Box (perhaps as a homage to his old moniker). Style-wise, it’s really close to mainstream pop/hip-hop, and honestly in terms of production quality, you wouldn’t be able to spot the difference with any of the songs currently featured on any top 10 most popular hits. Alexander really knows what he’s doing.

Granted, the EP’s main genres are not really my cup of tea but that does not mean it doesn’t have songs we could all enjoy over here. One example of that is the opener, In The Name of Love, which has an insanely good hook that stays on your mind long after the song has ended. It showcases Dreddbeat‘s skills as an artist and music producer

Overall, I think this is a nice addition to the Electronic Mixtape and a perfect song for a Saturday evening. Hope you enjoy it!

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Electronic

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Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

Musical taste is totally subjective and the process of coming up with favorite songs even more so. It’s not just about the quality of the tune because not all great songs will become special to you. There’s a bit of randomness or luck involved. Listening to a song for the first time at the right time and place in your life will play a huge factor because then it will be forever linked to a certain moment or phase in your life. Mr. Jones by Counting Crows is definitely in my top 5 and a big reason behind that is that the first time I heard it (a few years after its release), I had just finished high school. It is an incredible track, for sure, but I know that I love it that much because it can transport me back to that point my life. Which song has the same effect on you?

Anyway, here’s this week’s #ThrowbackThursday entry. Enjoy this #musicalcrush of mine.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative

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Dana Knox – An Old Song

The music business is tough. You could be the most talented singer/songwriter in the world and still fail to make it without some marketing and a little bit of luck. Social media helps with the marketing part, making it easier to reach a wider audience but, nevertheless, it still requires time and effort and not everybody is going to enjoy that work. It’s really hard to do something you hate, every day, when all you want to do is pick up your guitar and make some good music.

Dana Knox hates marketing and doesn’t even have a social media presence, but he surely got talent. He self-released a really good album in 2016 titled One Long Song that nobody listened to, mostly because few people were aware of it. Still, I guess that working so hard on an album only to get basically no traction can break you. When Dana reached out to me to make me aware of his music, I could sense that he was about to give up. He didn’t even think I would actually be willing to feature it here, he just decided to give it a try. I’m glad he did though because I really liked what I found.

Dana‘s album is available, for now, on some of the major streaming platforms. It consists mostly of his raspy voice and acoustic guitar-based melodies that can transport you immediately to the Great Plains of Montana, where he lives. Granted, it’s not the type of music that would top music charts constantly, but it’s good music that plenty of people enjoy, enough to make it feasible to do that for a living. Dana‘s style reminds me a bit of Frightened Rabbits had they been from the American Midwest rather than Scotland; and the song I decided to feature here today, An Old Song, actually reminds me a lot of early Counting Crows.

Unfortunately, An Old Song is not available on Youtube (the video below is a beautiful cover Dana did of You Are My Sunshine), but you can listen to it on the mixtapes at the bottom of this page. Definitely, check Dana‘s music out, not only to show him some support, but also because it’s pretty damn good.

Featured on the following mixtapes:

  • Everything
  • Alternative