It’s that time for my yearly, “What the H*ll Are You Listening To” post!

#rockon

Not so much anymore. I went through my rock stages, but now, with streaming and online music, my music tastes are so incredibly varied that sometimes I wonder, what would 24-year-old me think of all this music?

Anyway, here’s some new music for your playlists:

  1. Weary Ramblers: This is an Iowa fiddle/guitar duo that is taking the world by storm. Seriously. They won the grand prize at the 22nd Annual IAMA (International Acoustic Music Awards), along with taking an award for Best Country/Bluegrass song. They blend blues, bluegrass, and country, soul in a way that just seems right. The songs they write are powerful, their voices are amazing, and we saw them in our little pub here in town, which was amazing! We’ll see them again this weekend at a little larger venue, an anniversary gift to each other! 🙂
  2. Radio Son Cubano: Along the lines of the Afro-Cuban All-Stars, this YouTube channel has all sorts of easy listening Cuban music. They have a simple “Cuban Cafe”, and variations for that one as well. All in all, very enjoyable to listen to or have on in the background.
  3. Val Baker: She’s an up and coming DJ who does sets from all over the world. She’s got sets on their from her place, coffee shops, a gym, Bali, France, Mexico, and Bangkok. Again, very easy to listen to both as you are working, working out, or in the background of a party or gathering!
  4. String Hop: This one is fun to listen to because it’s a mix of string instruments and hip-hop beats. I threw this on in class and the kids were “WTH is this we are listening to??” It’s something fun to put on just out of the blue, watch the kids turn their heads, then nod like “ok, I can work to this,” and get back into whatever they are working on.
  5. Synthony: Goodness, this group!! They are a New Zealand orchestra that plays electronic dance music with a DJ, if that makes any sense at all. They have live vocalists and an amazing multimedia show that’s just out of this world. They only have 3 concerts in the US this year: NYC, LA, and Denver. I’m trying to get my wife to go to Denver! 🙂 The song that got me hooked is called “Think About It” by Fedde Le Grand. It just goes HARD!
  6. Valentina Bravo: I see a pattern here. A lesser know DJs that pop on my YouTube feed who are just an amazing listen. That’s what Valentina is as well. I’ve enjoyed her sets, again, from all over the place. My favorite by far, she’s got the DJ table set up in the middle of a pasture, surrounded by dairy cows. I mean, who can’t get behind a DJ like this one?? 🙂
  7. And finally, Lofi Grizzly. Again, WTH is this?? This a grizzly bear, dressed in street clothing, with a beat around him. They are “where hip hop lives with soul, funk, and raw energy. We create original beats that blend 90s boom bap, P-Funk, jazz, soul, and retro vibes into powerful soundscapes with emotional progression.” I will put this on as I’m working out, running, or doing something active. It just flows, and it gets my happiness moving in the right direction!

So, I hope I’ve caught your fancy with something from this year’s discoveries. Are you listening to something new? I enjoy everything but most country, so feel free to fill my comments with your musical selections!

PS: I tried the WordPress AI to create an image for this post, the AI’s circuits are smoking because it’s trying to make a picture out of all the random stuff in this post, and it was bizarre! Needless to say, I left it blank! LOL!