Brett Dennen

Hi! The artists of the week is Brett Dennen. Genre-Folk/Pop. The California-born musician was founded by Leslie Merical. Eventually Brett started recording music, the songs became apart of his self-titled album, Brett Dennen. Three years later, Dennen released his second album and a number of the songs topped iTunes top downloads. The song I am sharing this week is "Ain't No Reason."

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I first discovered Brett Dennen on Grey's Anatomy Season 5, Episode 3. Although, "Ain't No Reason" was not the song featured on Grey's Anatomy I was intrigued by his voice and looked up more of his songs. I really like this song because it definitely pertains to the world. A really interesting interpretation I found about this song is that people do not understand why there is so much bad in the world, however, they still accept it without putting up a fight. And basically he is saying with love, we could stop all the hate and violence by everyone sticking up for each other. Something everyone should think about. 

I would definitely suggest listening to some more of Brett Dennen's work including, "Ain't Gonna Lose You," "When I Go," and "Made for Better Things."

Similar Artists: Amos Lee, Eric Hutchinson, Joshua James


See you!

Silversun Pickups

Hey! I am sure you have heard of this weeks artist but their talent should never be overlooked, Silversun Pickups. Genre-Alternative Rock/Indie Rock. The four-member band from Los Angeles are in fact friends. The band originally was going to be called A Couple of Couples, however, decided on Silversun Pickups, the name of a liquor store in the city where they began playing. They got their following from playing in popular L.A. clubs and have been a hit ever since. This song I am sharing today, "Growing Old is Getting Old" comes from their album Swoon. 


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I first heard this song on MTV Unplugged, I liked this song because of the passion he had when singing his lyrics. I think there could be many different interpretations of this song, however, the most interesting one I found said that this song is about the fear of getting old and not knowing what is beyond death. The way to get past this fear is to live in a state of a mind that is free from free so that one can live fully. I choose to share the live version because the variation in his pitch and tempo help create that sense of fear.

I would recommend listening to some more of their songs including, "Lazy Eye," "Panic Switch" and "Substitution."

Similar Artists: The Smashing Pumpkins, The Airborne Toxic Event, Metric

Until next time

Jeff Buckley

Hey guys! I am definitely anxious to share the artist of the week, Jeff Buckley. This week is somewhat different because the song I am sharing is actually a cover that he did originally performed by The Smiths.   Genre- Alternative Rock/ Folk Rock. The native Californian is the son of musicians Mary Guibert and Tim Buckley. This singer-songwriter and guitarist made his first big appearance at a tribute concert to his father. He started to perform in cafes and clubs and got a following, eventually signing with Columbia Records. However, sadly on May 29th 1997, Buckley died in a tragic drowning accident at the young age of 31. The cover I am sharing today is "I Know It's Over."

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I first heard this song on "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 8 and fell in love with it. I really liked this song because the dancers who performed to it were very expressive with their emotions, I could feel their pain. After listening to the song many times and researching, I think this song is about feeling like you're being drowned in sorrow almost to the point of death because of the end of a relationship whether it be romantic or non-romantic. The line, "Oh Mother I can feel the sorrow falling over my head," really grabs me and the way he sings it is just so beautiful and raw.

I would definitely suggest listening to some more of his covers or even his own work including the album Grace. But another great cover by Buckley is "Hallelujah."

Similar Artists: Tim Buckley, Nick Drake, Ours

With peace

Sia

Hi there! I am super excited to introduce the artist of the week, Sia. Genre-Pop/Jazz/Downtempo. The singer-songwriter is originally from Adelaide, Australia born into a family of musicians. At the young age of fourteen she traveled to Italy and was discovered in a karaoke bar by a local DJ. By 2000, she signed a recording contract with Sony Music and she started to gain more fans. "I'm in Here," is the song I am sharing with you guys this week.

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Her voice is so magnificent that it was a no-brainer that I would share the vocal version of this song also because it draws on the isolation she feels making it all the more powerful. I first found this song on the show Gossip Girl during Season 4, episode 2. The song fit perfectly in that scene and definitely drew on my emotions. I really like this song because it is so personal, I am sure we have all felt lonely at times and whether she is talking about depression or just a brief time of loneliness it is still relatable. Throughout the song she is calling out for help as if she is behind these strong walls that are separating her from others that she cannot reach out to but is hoping to be saved which is very powerful imagery.

 I would highly reccommend listening to some of her other songs including: "Clap your Hands," "Breathe Me" and "Wild Ones."

Similar Artists: Zero 7, Oh Land, Kate Havnevik

With love

Bon Iver

Hey! I am happy to share with you the artist of the week, Bon Iver. Genre-Indie (Folk/Rock). The band is  led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, however, Sean Carey, Michael Noyce and Matthew McCaughan are also apart of the band. Similarly to Henry David Thoreau's experience written in his book Walden, Vernon spent four months isolated in a cabin located in Wisconsin built by his father just hanging out and writing music. Although Vernon did not plan to write an album's worth of songs, he did. He later said that  his time spent in that cabin helped him out tremendously emotionally and mentally. His career took off from there. The song I am talking about this week is "Skinny Love."

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I discovered Bon Iver through my City & Colour Pandora station. I really enjoy this song because it is so vulnerable and honest. At first, I was drawn into this song by the title, "Skinny Love," because it left me guessing. After researching, I found that this song is about a love that has gone sour. The guy goes through a series of emotional stages-at first wanting to get back together then wanting to separate with her and eventually telling her that she will have a hard time finding someone that can please her.

A very interesting fact about Bon Iver is that he won his first Grammys this year for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album. Bon Iver has a total of 3 albums: For Emma, Forever Ago, Blood Bank and Bon Iver.

Some other songs I would suggest listening to are: "Blood Bank," "Calgary," and "Holocene."

Similar artists: City & Colour, Blind Pilot, Band of Horses

Until next time

Wakey!Wakey!

Hey guys! The artist of the week is Wakey!Wakey! Genre-Alternative/Indie Rock. Although it seem as though it is a solo band led by Michael Grubbs there are many more musicians in conjunction to his vocals and piano playing. Music made a huge impact on the Virginia native's childhood because his mom was a choir and piano teacher. In 1998 he moved to New York City to jumpstart his music career and while there, he scored a role on The CW's One Tree Hill. The song I am sharing with you today is "Almost Everything"off of their album Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said The Last Time I Saw You. 


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I first discovered this song when it was featured on the Season 7 Finale of One Tree Hill. I really like this song because it is almost like an anthem. I know this song is referencing a romantic relationship but I think it applies to all relationships in all aspects of life. One of the first things I thought of when listening to this song was the "It Gets Better" Project. I remember hearing about this project in my health class last year because of the increasing number of suicides among LGBT teens whose stories sometimes go unheard. Suicide is a very common "outlet" for LGBT people who feel stuck and unaccepted from society and the purpose of the project is to create videos to let them know that their lives will get better and that they shouldn't end their life which I thought was a very powerful message.
"See it feels bad now but it's gonna get better."

You should definitely check out some more of Wakey! Wakey! Some other songs I suggest are: "Dance So Good," "War Sweater" and "Light Outside."

Similar artists: Casey Shea, Everly, La Rocca

See you

Andrew Belle

Hiya! The artist I am introducing today is Andrew Belle. Genre-Acoustic/Pop. The singer-songwriter was originally born in Chicago, IL, however, moved to Nashville, TN in the past few years. Starting his musical career upon graduating college, Andrew began his solo career playing around Chicago. This song I am sharing with you, "In My Veins," comes from his 2010 album In My Veins. 


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I really like this song because it definitely touches home for a lot of people. I also thought it was a well-fitting song because this week in my Sociology course we have been talking about romantic love and the different types of love. The love that Andrew is singing about I believe is acceptance-based, the couple knows that they are not compatible, however, they are so in love with each other. Although they have not necessarily accepted reality they are on their way because they just want each other to be happy in their own skin. A great message. I first discovered this song on Grey's Anatomy Season 6 shooting finale. 


Definitely check out Andrew Belle's other 2010 album, The Ladder which has "Static Waves" and "Make It Without You."

Similar Artists: Peter Bradley Adams, Joy Williams, Mat Kearney

With love