"Let It Rain" by Jojo
http://www.imeem.com/people/v1YB_M/music/glt6IsE_/jojo-let-it-rain/
I have no idea why, but when I woke up at 3am this morning this song was stuck in my head (good thing I like it:-p). As a result I found it at imeem and listened to it on repeat at work about 20 times!
Jojo is a little bit teenybopper, but I have to fess up that I like her nonetheless.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Introducing Muse(ic) Box (?)
This blog has been long neglected. Once I realized how stressed I got trying to write a polished, enlightened tid bit every week, I stopped posting:-P.
BUT I'm back with a much more simple concept. Monday through Friday I'll post a song of the day. I constantly have a tune playing in my head, so I'll just let the world take a sneak peek inside with the song of the day.
Today's song: Think of You by Ledisi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6T94anrIp0 (my apologies for the low quality audio)
I had never heard of Ledisi until I went to a Christmas concert at Yoshi's, a jazz club in SF. I instantly fell in love with her beautiful voice and her spunk. Enjoy!
PS I'm not set on the name "Muse(ic) Box", so let me know if you have better ideas!
BUT I'm back with a much more simple concept. Monday through Friday I'll post a song of the day. I constantly have a tune playing in my head, so I'll just let the world take a sneak peek inside with the song of the day.
Today's song: Think of You by Ledisi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6T94anrIp0 (my apologies for the low quality audio)
I had never heard of Ledisi until I went to a Christmas concert at Yoshi's, a jazz club in SF. I instantly fell in love with her beautiful voice and her spunk. Enjoy!
PS I'm not set on the name "Muse(ic) Box", so let me know if you have better ideas!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Garage Band
I love Garage Band. For the non-Mac users, Garage Band is an easy to use application where users choose pre-recorded background tracks or record their own instruments and vocals to create songs. While I've been a Mac user for four years now, I just started using Garage Band this past year.
I've enjoyed recording tunes that otherwise would only exist in my head unless I found someone who could transcribe the musical notes for me. Since I can't read and write music, but constantly have it playing in my head, Garage Band gives me a new way to express myself that I haven't had. I spend hours recording songs by using my voice to create background rhythms and sing the melody and harmony parts.
This last week was the first time I used the ready made tracks on Garage Band. The track library has pre-recorded instruments and styles that users put together to create songs. Blending the sounds of pianos, violins and an Indian tabla for the percussion, I was mesmerized. While I have a dream to be one of those people who can play a lot of instruments (namely guitar, piano, drums and bass--yeah I know I'm a little ambitious), I'll admit that I haven't been disciplined enough to get anywhere near that goal. So this moment of song creation using the Garage Band tracks was exhilarating. I suddenly had the power to create songs without having to play an instrument or getting anyone else involved in the process.
Even though I'm enjoying Garage Band, I wonder if I'm taking the easy way out in songwriting. Digital applications like Garage Band give ordinary people like me the chance to make and record music, but do they make it too easy? Do they give me the excuse to skip the creative process, since I don't have to write the musical notes or play any instruments?
What are your thoughts?
I've enjoyed recording tunes that otherwise would only exist in my head unless I found someone who could transcribe the musical notes for me. Since I can't read and write music, but constantly have it playing in my head, Garage Band gives me a new way to express myself that I haven't had. I spend hours recording songs by using my voice to create background rhythms and sing the melody and harmony parts.
This last week was the first time I used the ready made tracks on Garage Band. The track library has pre-recorded instruments and styles that users put together to create songs. Blending the sounds of pianos, violins and an Indian tabla for the percussion, I was mesmerized. While I have a dream to be one of those people who can play a lot of instruments (namely guitar, piano, drums and bass--yeah I know I'm a little ambitious), I'll admit that I haven't been disciplined enough to get anywhere near that goal. So this moment of song creation using the Garage Band tracks was exhilarating. I suddenly had the power to create songs without having to play an instrument or getting anyone else involved in the process.
Even though I'm enjoying Garage Band, I wonder if I'm taking the easy way out in songwriting. Digital applications like Garage Band give ordinary people like me the chance to make and record music, but do they make it too easy? Do they give me the excuse to skip the creative process, since I don't have to write the musical notes or play any instruments?
What are your thoughts?
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Mosaic Music Box-- Keri Noble
This week's artist: Keri Noble
I've been slacking on the once a week music features...Man this feels like being in school again with weekly assignments! Anyways...
It's rare that I instantly like a song when I first hear it. I have to let the lyrics and sound swirl through my head for a while before I officially declare that I like a song. Keri Noble's song "Ooh oh" is one of the exceptions. As soon as her song began playing on my Pandora I was captivated by the melody and mellow vibe of the song.
One of the habits I've gotten into since using Pandora is reading the biographies of new artists as they appear on one of my stations. I was interested to find out that Keri Noble is actually the daughter of a pastor, but from the biography it sounds like she wouldn't necessarily identify herself as a Christian.
Her song "Born Again" addresses her experiences with the church and what seems like a desire to distance herself from it. I appreciate her honesty in portraying her experiences with the church, and I'd be interest in learning more about her thoughts on the Christian church. Let me know what you think!
I've been slacking on the once a week music features...Man this feels like being in school again with weekly assignments! Anyways...
It's rare that I instantly like a song when I first hear it. I have to let the lyrics and sound swirl through my head for a while before I officially declare that I like a song. Keri Noble's song "Ooh oh" is one of the exceptions. As soon as her song began playing on my Pandora I was captivated by the melody and mellow vibe of the song.
One of the habits I've gotten into since using Pandora is reading the biographies of new artists as they appear on one of my stations. I was interested to find out that Keri Noble is actually the daughter of a pastor, but from the biography it sounds like she wouldn't necessarily identify herself as a Christian.
Her song "Born Again" addresses her experiences with the church and what seems like a desire to distance herself from it. I appreciate her honesty in portraying her experiences with the church, and I'd be interest in learning more about her thoughts on the Christian church. Let me know what you think!
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Mosaic Music Box--Omega Bugembe Okello
This week's artist: Omega Bugembe Okello
I met this week's artist, Omega, when performing in the annual Easter play at my church. I immediately liked her as she was sweet, approachable and humble. A few weeks into the play I was excited to find out that she ran her own indie record label (she's currently the only artist on it), and it wasn't until a few weeks later when I heard her sing her solo that I realized she could really sing!
Originally from Uganda, Omega sang with the African Children's Choir from a young age. From jazz to R&B to African, Omega's sound is a highly enjoyable fusion topped off by her beautiful voice. I immensely enjoyed two of her live performances in San Francisco, and I'm continually blessed by her humility, faith and poise.
I've been playing her latest album, "Kiwomera Emmeeme" (meaning "it is sweet to the soul" in Luganda, one of the many languages spoken in Uganda), frequently on my iPod. Most of the songs are not in English, so you may not understand the words, but I'm confident you'll appreciate the vocals and music! Some of my favorites from the album:
"Kiwomera Emmeeme"-Talks about the sweetness of getting something you've been longing for
"Mujje"- An upbeat song inviting listeners to come to Jesus. Super fun to dance to!
"Yaye"
"Amazima"
To learn more about Omega's music, check out her website: http://www.omegaworldmusic.com/
I met this week's artist, Omega, when performing in the annual Easter play at my church. I immediately liked her as she was sweet, approachable and humble. A few weeks into the play I was excited to find out that she ran her own indie record label (she's currently the only artist on it), and it wasn't until a few weeks later when I heard her sing her solo that I realized she could really sing!
Originally from Uganda, Omega sang with the African Children's Choir from a young age. From jazz to R&B to African, Omega's sound is a highly enjoyable fusion topped off by her beautiful voice. I immensely enjoyed two of her live performances in San Francisco, and I'm continually blessed by her humility, faith and poise.
I've been playing her latest album, "Kiwomera Emmeeme" (meaning "it is sweet to the soul" in Luganda, one of the many languages spoken in Uganda), frequently on my iPod. Most of the songs are not in English, so you may not understand the words, but I'm confident you'll appreciate the vocals and music! Some of my favorites from the album:
"Kiwomera Emmeeme"-Talks about the sweetness of getting something you've been longing for
"Mujje"- An upbeat song inviting listeners to come to Jesus. Super fun to dance to!
"Yaye"
"Amazima"
To learn more about Omega's music, check out her website: http://www.omegaworldmusic.com/
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
The Art of Discipline
It's easy to fall into the deception that creating powerful art is only about responding to whatever inspiration comes your way, but there's a lot of discipline that goes into the creative process. We cannot control inspiration; however, we play a part in pursuing it by creating space in our lives for creativity to grow and take root. Steadily engaging a craft, even when you don't feel like it, is essential. In those moments of faithful engagement, no matter how dull or rudimentary they may seem, you are not only further shaping your artistic technique, but you are also showing faith by waiting on inspiration.
My roommate shared an interesting piece of wisdom given to her by a professional photographer: She said that the life of a photographer is hard because you really have to live a life of reflection. That comment struck me because it reminded me that being an artist is all encompassing. In the same way that athletes order their diet, sleep and training in order to keep their bodies in peak condition, artists must not only regularly practice their technique, but they must also regularly reflect in order to create authentic art. When we let our art spring out of a disciplined life of reflection, we create art with a powerful, authentic voice.
My roommate shared an interesting piece of wisdom given to her by a professional photographer: She said that the life of a photographer is hard because you really have to live a life of reflection. That comment struck me because it reminded me that being an artist is all encompassing. In the same way that athletes order their diet, sleep and training in order to keep their bodies in peak condition, artists must not only regularly practice their technique, but they must also regularly reflect in order to create authentic art. When we let our art spring out of a disciplined life of reflection, we create art with a powerful, authentic voice.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Mosaic Music Box-- Lisa McClendon
This week's artist: Lisa McClendon
Pandora has largely been responsible for my growing love of neo-soul/R&B artists, so I was excited to discover Lisa McClendon. Her vibe is a little bit like Lauryn Hill. Her sound is a blend of jazz, funk, hip hop and gospel with lyrics that stem from her Christian faith.
I'm always excited to discover Christian artists that are creating music that's more engaging than the standard Christian music fare.
Some of my favorites so far from Lisa:
"Still Alive" (samples the Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" with a Resurrection spin)
"Hey Now"
Enjoy!
Pandora has largely been responsible for my growing love of neo-soul/R&B artists, so I was excited to discover Lisa McClendon. Her vibe is a little bit like Lauryn Hill. Her sound is a blend of jazz, funk, hip hop and gospel with lyrics that stem from her Christian faith.
I'm always excited to discover Christian artists that are creating music that's more engaging than the standard Christian music fare.
Some of my favorites so far from Lisa:
"Still Alive" (samples the Bee Gee's "Staying Alive" with a Resurrection spin)
"Hey Now"
Enjoy!
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