steelmagnoliamusic

[steelmagnoliamusic]

https://soundcloud.com/6jakobs6weird6/sets/mourning-club/s-621HXtYtzbs?ref=clipboard&p=i&c=1

fuck man. this shit good.

#new music #music recommendation #music submissions #chavela #Steel Magnolia #steelmagnoliamusic #mourning club #yes daddy #submission

[steelmagnoliamusic]

14 October 2020

Music Recommendation: Crimson Apple

These cuties! They’re gorgeous and badass, and one of my new favorite bands. Crimson Apple is a 4-person band made of sisters Colby, Carthi, Faith, and Shelby Benson. This synopsis is directly from their official website: “CRIMSON APPLE is a band of four sisters from Hawaii, based in Los Angeles, California. Their sound, an epic and cinematic dark-pop, is fused with a wide variety of influences including alternative, indie-rock, K-pop, and J-pop. 

While many assume that the sisters have been playing music together since birth, Crimson Apple formed the summer of 2012. The girls have always viewed the formation of the band as an act of fate; each sister picked up their respective instruments and found their love of music at different stages in their lives. One day, they realized that together, they made up the perfect pieces of a whole band.

After performing in numerous venues in their beautiful home of Hawaii, the sisters decided to relocate to Los Angeles in 2015 to further pursue their music careers. Within a year of the move, they became regular performers for Disneyland and shortly after signed recording- and management deals with Amuse Group USA, Inc. 

Crimson Apple has since been making music and touring multiple festivals and venues across America, opening for major acts such as The Chainsmokers, The Plain White T's, and All Time Low. Their passion can be felt in their hard-hitting live performances and their debut EP, "Somebody", where the band has worked devotedly to create a strong, cohesive image and sound that reflects their bond as sisters. 

With the release of "Break Your Heart Worse" on May 22, Crimson Apple uses a dark, twisted love story to introduce the next phase of their evolution as a band.

CRIMSON APPLE is: Colby Benson - Lead Vocals; Shelby Benson - Guitar / Vocals; Carthi Benson - Bass / Vocals; Faith Benson - Drums / Vocals” (https://www.crimsonappleband.com)

And I can attest that their sound is definitely anti-pop and epic and awesome. Trust.

I found these ladies on Tik Tok. They came up on my FYP, and I thought that they seemed cool, so I checked them out, and I liked their sound and their vibe. They had also posted a little Tik Tok of them as “the female 5SOS,” which I saw after I already listened to them and liked them, and you know me, I was sold. They are so incredible and talented. I love watching the videos where “Faith [catches] that beat” cause no matter where or when, homegirl drops some sick beats. Honestly, I wanted to learn the drums because of Ashton. Now I really wanna learn the drums so I can feel as cool as Faith.

And did I mention these girls are stinking stunning. This has nothing to do with their talent and abilities. I just think they’re pretty.

Okay, but let’s get down to business (to defeat the Huns). (I have no regrets.) Crimson Apple is not a “new” band, but they only just started releasing their own music. Out now is their Somebody EP, which includes “Shower,” “Can’t Get Out Of Bed,” “Sorry Now,” “Somebody,” “Mr. Maker,” and “Who Knows,”and it was released in 2019, and their latest single, “Break Your Heart Worse,” which was released earlier this year. It’s only 7 songs, about 23 minutes all together, but they are some bomb ass songs. Not gonna lie. It’s so anti-pop and makes me feel like a badass when I listen to them. My favorites that I’ll talk about are “Can’t Get Out Of Bed,” “Shower,” and “Who Knows.”

First up is “Can’t Get Out Of Bed.” I relate to this song hard core. If you’ve ever dealt with depression, I think you will too. It’s literally about those bad days when you have no energy to do anything and all you want to do is just stay in bed until it passes. People try to tell you that it’s in your head, and that you should take some medicine and drink water, then you’ll be fine, but it’s like “not that simple, my dude.” But you know yourself and you know that this slump comes and goes and you just need some time to feel the sadness before you feel better. That’s what I get from the song, and I’ve mentioned before, I have depression, anxiety, and PTSD, and the past few years have been rough, this year especially and rightfully so. So when I heard this song, it described exactly what I go through going into, during, and out of my bad days. It was in WORDS. And I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who have heard or saw something and had that “THIS IS ME” feeling. That was one of mine. What else I like about it is it’s about depression, but it’s not depressing. It reminds me of the Twenty One Pilots song, “Not Today,” because of that bit where it’s like “Listen, I know/ This one’s a contradiction because of how happy it sounds/ but the lyrics are so down.” I just love it.

Okay, second is “Shower.” This is also one of “Not Today” dark-pop songs that I love so much. Literally, if you have ever just took a hot,steamy shower because you/ your family and/or friends/ the world feels like shit, and you just want to stay in the heat until it runs cold so that you can just forget your problems for a bit, then this song is for you: “So she run, run, run, runs to the shower/ Off with the clothes, out with the sour/ Run, run, run, runs all the water/ Down til it's cold, up there for hours/ Woah, washing away/ Woah, let it circle the drain.” Like CGOOB, this “Shower” is just so relatable, and who doesn’t love a good, relatable song that accurately describes your thoughts or feelings about something to jam to. Honest, it’s the best. *Chef kiss*

Finally, let’s bring up “Who Knows.” This closest I’ve been to dating a guy was this one guy I talked to and really liked, but he kept being dramatic and started acting like a piece of shit, and I knew that if I stayed I was gonna get hurt. But I still find myself thinking about him and what would have happened if I stayed seeing and talking with him: “You try to pull me closer, I start to fall again/ Tell me you still remember, cuz I remember/ Baby we were fire in the rain/ Burning through the night just to fade/ When you say I coulda loved you longer/ Who knows where we could have gone?/ It's a lie if we stay/ Living for the past and the pain/ When you say I coulda loved you longer/ Who knows where we could have gone?/ (Who knows?) Who knows what we shoulda done/ (Who knows?) Who knows where we coulda gone/ (Who knows?) Who knows what we woulda done/ (Who knows, who knows?).” I really like“Who Knows” because it kind of puts the feelings I have into words and reminds me that I’m still better off without him. Something everyone needs to hear every now and again. All the claps.

Oh my goodness, y’all. Crimson Apple is just too good. The sass, the bad-assery, the darkness, the relatability: it’s perfect! 10/10 recommend that you check them out. It’s absolutely worth the time to hear it, even if you only listen once. I wanna throw it back to another artist that Crimson Apple’s talent reminds me off: Sierra Deaton. Random, I know, but you know, she hasn’t released anything after “Don’t Hurt,” and I wish she would because she’s so wonderful. I say this because both acts: top notch. I want to hear more! Bet your ass that I will be here when they do!

For the love of music,

Chavela

#new music #music recommendation #recommendation wednesday #crimson apple #shower #who knows #can't get out of bed #somebody ep

[steelmagnoliamusic]

New  Moniker

hey, so i know i started this blog going by big shot, but i’ve decided that i would like to go by chavela. all my old posts with still say big shot though, but the crimson apple post and there on will be chavela. so heads up.

#i have my reasons #big shot #chavela #new name #same blog

[steelmagnoliamusic]

5 October 2020

Music Review: “Have U Found What UR Looking For” by Ashton Irwin

You bet your ass I’m gonna keep talking about this bitch. I haven’t had so much creative energy in a hot minute, so I’m taking sweet advantage of this. Because single #2 is out now! Holy fucking shit.... Y’all........... Bomb fucking ass. AAAAHHH. Ashton fucking Irwin has SKILL. So much talent. Like what are words?????

I’m not even gonna start on the lyrical genius. Can we talk about that damn sound?! It’s so rocking. Irwin said in his publicity email, “[Matt and I] got chatting about the vibe I was into musically at that point in time ... He played the HUFWULF? chords. My mind instantly went to ... U2 playing in Italy to 80,000 people. ... I wanted an awesome tempo that was reminiscent of The Verve’s, “Bitter Sweet Symphony” with the sonic edge of the band I love called Failure.” And as a U2-raised child around “Bitter Sweet Symphony” time, it hits the fucking spot! My god! It honestly reminds me of  a concoction of “Where the Streets Have No Name,” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “California (There Is No End To Love),” and “Iris (Hold Me Close).” Those first two being damn classics. Y’all I don’t know how to play a single instrument (not that I have the money or space to buy one right now), but I’m going to learn this song some way somehow. It’s Foo Fighters bad ass, and you know how I feel about the Foo. *CHEF KISS*

Okay, now lemme talk about the lyrics. Referring back to his PR email, Irwin said, “So this is where it all began. ... The question arose in my mind… When we have all worked so hard for so long with no break like this before, what was I hoping to get out of all the hours I put in working [and socializing with friends, his work ethic, alcoholism]. ... Why’d we do it all? ... The verses play “tug of war” with depression and the way it ruins all motivation and makes the mind incredibly foggy and hard to focus.... This song lyrically is me literally fighting the resistance to NOT make an album, NOT be my truest self, NOT write lyrics or make new songs. This song explores resistance and overcoming it. In doing so, you will find everything you ever wanted on the other side of fear!” And he is not wrong.

First verse, he brings up that foggy, hard to focus, zero motivation feeling of depression: “Tied up, hazy, and emotionally unaware/ Everest is the bathroom at the top of the goddamn stairs/ I could harvest every dream that I've ever had/ Headaches beat me down to a lifeless stare.” Speaking from personal experience, when I ran out of medicine during quarantine and went into a withdrawal-induced severe depression, I remember always feeling so tired and numb inside. I barely got out of bed, gained weight, and thought about all the bad and all the work I wasn’t getting done. Even now with medication again, I still find some days are hard to exist. I can’t sleep, think, work, but part of recovery is getting up when it’s hardest. In my case, that’s that resistance he was talking about. The second verse is a little more cryptic for me because obviously I don’t know what’s in his head, but I don’t know. I  still get it: “Heartbreak's usеful to a man that is on a fence/ He's not faithful to a God full of consеquence/ Golden lady with a mind that could cut a stone/ Who could love me if I start giving you my soul.” The way I see it is that anyone who has ever loved—platonically, romantically, or familially—and has been hurt or betrayed by someone they loved understands how that heartbreak affects how you see the world and the people in it. It makes you change whatever path you were on, even if only slightly, and being able to truly love and trust someone with your most vulnerable self becomes exceedingly more difficult. And loose faith doesn’t help either. For those who believe in a God or gods, you have probably had that Peter-in-the-storm doubt, so you know that shit can wreck your confidence in yourself and in the world. Honestly, I’m a very emotionally open and intellectual person, and I’m willingly vulnerable with most everyone, but I don’t feel wanted or loved or cared for at all. I know I am, but I don’t feel that way. I’m always thinking to myself, No one is ever going to love me. I’m alone. It definitely shakes my faith and my confidence. I’ve tossed my hands up on that, and I know I’m not the only one.

Then in the bridge you see the reference to alcoholism and just trying to get through the day: “Liquid conscience spinning deeper/ Always wanting to see clearer/ Will I find the tiger's dinner?/ Waiting while my hair grows thinner/ Oh, won't someone show me the way?/ Oh, won't someone show me the way out?” I don’t struggle with alcohol (to be honest, I don’t like drinking), but I have my crutches that I lean too much on. When you rely on something so heavily, it becomes difficult to go without it. Then when you can’t keep going anymore, when you want to feel like yourself, but also not feel anything either, all you want is a way out—to not feel helpless, to not be dependent, to feel yourself again, to be hopeful and lively again. It’s a hard feeling to explain, but it sits deep.

Now, I think the pre-chorus and chorus are my favorite part of the song because it takes all those things from the verses and bridge and shoves it back in your face like “what are you going to do about it:” “Your blissful eyes will open/ A brand new voice has spoken/ Have you found what you're looking for?/ Have you found what you're looking for?/ I'm hopin' that maybe one day, it could start to make sense/ Have you found what you're looking for?” I listen, and it just makes me think for a split second like “have I found what I’m looking for?” Obviously the answer is still no. The answer will most likely always be no because times change, hardships change, people change, thoughts, ideas, and priorities change. But even though I don’t know my way around, I have an idea of where I’d like to go. So yeah, maybe one day it will make sense. I just have to figure it out. Maybe one of you can understand that too.

Overall, this is one of my favorite songs of the year. (I won’t say ever because that’s a lot of commitment that I don’t give to anyone or anything.) For all the thoughts and vibes about the song I just explained, it is my new anthem. Life is hard. Again, I lost my dad, sunk into a decreasing depression, and don’t know who I am or will be anymore. I still feel that I can’t take much more pain and numbness, or I’m gonna break beyond repair. But to get out of that, I have to, like Irwin said, push past the resistance I’m up against, however impossible it may seem. Then, hopefully, I’ll find what I’m looking for, and I hope for anyone going through some shit that “U Find What UR Looking For.”

For the love of music,

Big Shot

P.S. He linked his voice memo of the first recording he made of the song, and honestly, it’s just as impressive as the final track. https://ashtonirwinofficial.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=9537919a08329182998799809&id=0011820b3b&e=c731f2d06f 

#new music #music review #music recommendation #Music Monday #ashton irwin #ashton 5 seconds of summer #5 seconds of summer #have u found what ur looking for? #superbloom

[steelmagnoliamusic]

24 September 2020

Unexpected Music Drop: “Skinny Skinny” by Ashton Irwin from his debut album Superbloom (out Oct. 23rd).

Yesterday, 23 September 2020, at 1:17pm, while I was working on homework, my roommate notified me that Ashton Irwin, drummer for 5 Seconds of Summer and love of my life, is releasing solo material. Because of COVID-19, the quarantine cancelled their tour, and everyone got cooped up inside, but rather than take a well deserved break, Irwin decided to keep his creative juices flowing. He worked on his own music, which talked about important issues and topics he has and continues to face. From depression to eating disorders and body dysmorphia to alcoholism and addiction, we learn a little more about Irwin and a lot more respect for him.

Now when I say he is the “love of my life,” I don’t mean he’s attractive to me (I mean he is but that’s not the point.) I mean his character and personality are unparalleled. You watch him in interviews and interacting with fans, and you can tell how proud and appreciative and genuine he is about what he does and the people who support him. He hasn’t hidden his struggles, like the ones I had mentioned, but he uses his experience to help others find hope and positivity in their lives again, myself included. You can tell how much he’s grown and how much more he wants to grow both as an artist and as a person. He is, in my opinion, one of those people who can say “I love you” and never have to doubt if he means it.

Ashton Irwin and everything he’s done means a lot to me personally. As you know, I lost my dad a little over 2 1/2 years ago. My dad was the one who built the foundation for my love of music. I remember driving with him when I’d go over to his house, and we’d listen to Kasey Kasem reruns, and he could always tell you which song was playing by which artist off which album from which year. It was impressive, and I still wish I could do that. Most of the music I listen to today I got from my dad. So when he passed, there was a bit of a void because music didn’t feel the same. It was still my go-to escape, but losing my dad also made it hard to listen to the stuff we used to. And yes, I admit I’ve had a crush on Ashton for years. I’ve always liked him, and I’ve always been able to relate to him in some way. So when my dad died, Ashton became a sort of solace for me — the one who kept me sane and kept me going and told me not to give up because if anyone could understand the emotional/mental pain I was/am in, help me to love and appreciate myself again, give me some hope and positivity when I needed, it’d be him. Ashton also, I guess, took on the mantle my dad had. I get my music tastes from him because, honestly, his voice and sound and music tastes are phenomenal. Though I’m not a “musician” myself, I learn from him, and I get my creative inspirations from him. Again, for me it’s not how he looks that attracts me to him, it’s who he is as a person and what he stands for as an artist. This is subjective, I know, but to be honest, I believe Ashton Irwin is the only good man I know. Like, I know good men who have guided me in my life, but Ashton for lack of a better term is pure and real. He is the epitome of who I think a good man is. It’s dangerous to hold someone to such a high standard without knowing them personally, but it’s what I feel. I honestly didn’t think I would ever be loved by somebody. I still don’t. I’m still convinced that no one cares about me, no one loves or wants me, no one appreciates me or respects me, that I’m not attractive enough or “normal” enough, that I’m not worth anyone’s time or attention. But when I see Ashton or I hear his voice or listen to him sing, for a moment I don’t feel those things. So far, he’s the only one who has ever made me feel otherwise. Again, I don’t know him personally, and I know the version of him in my head is not who he is in real life, but Ashton helps me get through the day. He helped me get past those terrible days when I just wanted to fade from existence. His smile makes me smile. He makes me feel better. Truth: I respect and appreciate him more than words can express. He is my hero.

So to hear about this solo venture of his (don’t worry, he’s not leaving 5SOS) is incredible. To have watched and grown with him is an honor to me. For Ashton to be so confident and comfortable enough with himself, his band, his music, us, the place he’s at, it’s amazing. I couldn’t be prouder to experience this with him.

His debut single, “Skinny Skinny” is off his debut album Superbloom, which comes out Oct. 23, and it’s fucking A. this specific song brings up the reality of eating disorders and body dysmorphia — something that he, his friends and family, and many of us have dealt with. He calls out the impossible standards we hold about the “perfect body” and the body shame we feel from that idea: “eat, but don’t get fat. Be skinny, but not too skinny, show off your assets so people don’t think you’re a slut and cover up but not too much so people don’t think you’re a prude. Fat is ugly. Why do you look like that?” and so many more things that society and we tell ourselves. It’s impossible to look like those people in magazines when even they don’t look like themselves in magazines. Everyone is different — size, shape, color, build, health, basic chemistry and biology — there is no such thing as the perfect  body except for the one you already have. (Obviously, still keep your health in mind. I don’t want any of y’all to get sick or hurt because of a health issue. I have high cholesterol and PCOS, I have to think about that stuff too. But that still doesn’t mean who you already are and what you already look like is wrong or bad in any way.) This idea of a “perfect body” is dangerous. It makes us hate ourselves and our bodies, and it causes us serious mental and physical health issues, i.e. body image issues/body dysmorphia and eating disorders. Ashton said it perfectly. We don’t “feel at home in our own bodies” when that should be the one place we can always feel at home.

Truth: I’ve only listened to this song since it released yesterday at 11pm. It’s literally on repeat now. So if “Skinny Skinny” is any indication of what we can expect from Superbloom, we are in for a Holy Spirit-inspired, God-given miracle. (Sorry to bring religion out. It’s the best analogy I could think of.) Ashton Irwin is so damn talented.his voice and range are jaw-dropping and impeccable. His music style and sound are amazing. Proud doesn’t even begin to describe how much this means to me. It’s more than pride, respect, admiration, appreciation, or even love. It’s just a part of myself that I either never knew was there or how much it affected me. I know I have depression, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, but there’s all these other things too that play in my mind and affect how I see myself and the world. And now there’s words for it, for the thoughts and feelings.

Just amazing.

I can’t wait for his album to drop on October 23rd. There’s no doubt in my mind that it will be anything less than awe-inspiring. I’m so happy and proud of him and this “side journey” he’s on, and I’m proud and honored to be a part of it.

For the God-given love of music,

Big Shot

#new music #music appreciation #solo debut #ashton 5 seconds of summer #ashton irwin #skinny skinny #superbloom #music review #music recommendation #off day thursday

[steelmagnoliamusic]

27 January 2020

Music Review: “This Mountain” by Faouzia

Hey music lovers!

We got a new little lady about to steal your hearts today. Some of you may know her from Tik Tok or her feature on the David Guetta song “Battle”, but if you don’t know: We are talking about the gorgeous, intelligent, and talented Moroccan-born, Canadian-raised singer, Faouzia. Like hot damn, she is SOOOOO good. I’ve listened to her for two weeks straight since I found her, and I’m still not tired of her yet. That’s crazy because I usually get over shit by the end of the first week. I fucking love her voice. She is a beuatiful alto and still has a range like no other — think Mariah Carey, Brendon Urie, and Sierra Deaton combined — fucking incredible. Like if you thought Sierra Deaton was amazing (which she is), Faouzia is going to blow your mind! Not only is she a youngin’ (she’s 19) who got picked up in high school, she’s also apparently studying chemical engineering, and she knows THREE languages fluently (Arabic, French, and English). Like goals. Ya feel.

Faouzia currently has 8 singles, including the one with David Guetta. Just so you know, the others are called “Exothermic,” “Bad Dreams,” “You Don’t Even Know Me,” “Born Without a Heart,” “My Heart’s Grave,” “This Mountain” (the one we’ll talk about today), “Tears of Gold” and “The Road” (her two most recent single).

Okay, so like I said, the song we are talking about today is “This Mountain.” First of all, we love a good bass, and with her voice, that’s exactly what you get. So alto, so good. It has a great beat to bounce to. I like to use it in the gym to give me that extra pump of energy. Great use of violin, piano, and drums too. I love any song that I can fake drum to. It makes me feel better. Personally, this song makes me feel so badass. Like I can do anything I set my mind to. Like ain’t nobody can tell me nothing. If you need a new song for your #MotivationMonday, this is it! She’s telling em: “So I get up off the ground and I shake it off ... I’m not here to talk ... I’m here to walk the walk ... I’m gonna make it up this mountain ... Show them what I'm made of ... I will, I will, I will ... mark me words before you swallow yours.” Like hmph, tell em sis. People may not want you to succeed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t and won’t. Fuck the haters. You got this!

I’m glad I’m doing this as the first song of the new year because I feel like a lot of people just need that extra motivation. I know I do. I hope y’all have a great new year and that y’all become better, more open-minded, and kinder people because the world needs more of that. Let’s make this year amazing, you boss ass hoes. We will make it up this mountain. (Pun intended.)

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#new music #Music Monday #music review #this mountain #faouzia #new year #goals

[steelmagnoliamusic]

23 October 2019

Music Recommendation: “Don’t Hurt” by Essy

Hey guys, I’m back at it again. This recommendation is coming a year later, but better late than never.

Essy, aka Sierra Deaton, released her solo single “Don’t Hurt” back in 2018. Some of you may know her from the former duo Alex & Sierra. Some of you may know her as Luke Hemmings’ girlfriend, but I’d like to talk about Sierra as her own person with her own struggles that led her to going solo and releasing this song. Unfortunately, this is the only single she’s released thus far, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t deserve some love for it.

Let’s start off with some background on Sierra to better understand why our eyes are on her. Like I said before, Sierra was a part of Alex and Sierra with Alex Kinsey where they won “The X Factor US” in 2013. They went on to sign with Columbia Records, released an EP, and rose in popularity. Alex and Sierra broke up in 2014, and Columbia dropped them in 2015, but it’s okay because Sierra is a strong, independent woman with her own voice for the masses, literally. (Some other fun facts about Sierra include she’s British-Vietnamese, from Orlando, influenced by Demi Lovato, and a professional dancer with international titles.) As we know, she is currently dating Luke Hemmings, but she’s also a cyber-bullying victim. This brings me to a side rant:

How dare you bring another human down like this! I don’t care what she looks like, a goddess or a duck. You have no right to be hurting her like that. She hasn’t done a thing to you, so the fact you attacking her unprovoked is ridiculous. Be nice to one another. This world is already wrecked. We don’t need y’all adding extra hate to it. Sierra is her own person, she amazingly talented, and she is beautiful inside and out. Stop being mean!

Rant over. Back to basics. Yeah, Sierra is a bad ass. She’s had a lot to deal with over the years, which led her to her song “Don’t Hurt”.

Now this song is interesting to me. I won’t go into a lot of detail about it because it’s one of those “you gotta listen and decide for yourself” kinda song. It has a good beat. I like it for those late night vibes when you’re just feeling yourself. It definitely has some badass woman attitude too. Listening to the lyrics, it’s a lot of “I’m over you”, “get over it”, “go with the flow”, “truth hurts” feels. And it’s so catchy! At first, I heard it and was like eh, but now I’m bopping to it. I’ll be chilling in my room, avoiding responsibilities, and dance like the loser that I am to this song. And those songs are always fun. Her voice is so smooth too. Like “I got the tea sis”molasses mixed with Alicia Keys “This Girl is on Fire” honey. So smooth.

That’s my vibes. I hope y’all look into Sierra Deaton and check out “Don’t Hurt” because she is worth it. I also hope she comes out with some new music soon because I have good feelings about her.

Until next time!

For the love of music,

Big Shot

Biography credits: https://www.tvovermind.com/sierra-deaton/

#music recommendation #recommendation wednesday #sierra deaton #essy #don"t hurt #throwback #badass woman

[steelmagnoliamusic]

11 February 2019

Music Review: Origins by Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons)

Hello, fellow music enthusiasts. It has been some time since my last post, and I apologize for that. Last semester was so crazy. I didn’t have time to focus on writing anything and updating y’all on the latest music I’ve found and been into. I thought I’d start this new year off with the latest by Imagine Dragons. According to Wikipedia [such a credible source], “Origins is the fourth studio album by the American ... band Imagine Dragons, released on November 9, 2018.... The album was produced by the band members themselves, frequent collaborator Alex da Kid, Mattman & Robin, John Hill, Joel Little, Tim Randolph, and Jayson DeZuzio, who produced a majority of the band's previous effort, Evolve (2017), as well as Jorgen Odegard. Frontman Dan Reynolds described Origins as a "sister album" to Evolve, and that it would complete a cycle of their music. Origins has received generally mixed reviews from critics, but many claimed that the album is an improvement from their previous work Evolve. The album was preceded by four singles: "Natural", "Zero", "Machine", and "Bad Liar".” Now Wikipedia is not the best source, but I found that it described new album better than I could. I chose to talk about this album first this year because I decided to make this year my new origin story. To I change my life for the better and finally get to a place where I need and want to be. The album's basic messages are 1) I am unique, amazing, and nobody’s fool, and 2) sometimes things don’t work out the way we plan. Both I felt related to my life, so I resonated with the album.

If you’ve listened to Imagine Dragons, you know that they have a unique sound compared to other artists. A mixture of rock with some synthesis, a combination of powerful and thoughtful songs. A different vibe than Foo Fighters or 5 Seconds of Summer [They're my go-to comparisons]. Foo Fighters is classic rock music: loud, raging, I-don’t-give-a-fuck vibes. 5SOS is “hey baby hey baby hey” (not really, but kinda). But, with Imagine Dragons, half of it is “I could kick some ass if I wanted to,” and the other half is “Man, what happened to us.” Either way, the songs are pretty lit. In addition, let me tell you a little of what to expect sound-wise in the album. As I mentioned before, it is rock and synthetic. The beats are pretty simple, a basic bop to nod your head to. They’re strong with the drums, which I love because people under-appreciate drums. The guitar is nice and chill. Most rock songs tend to go heavy with guitar, which is usually good. In this case, the dial back works so well.

Now, like I do, let me tell you about some of my favorite songs on the album.As I mentioned before, there are the singles "Natural", "Zero", "Machine", and "Bad Liar," and those are hella good, but while those are some of my favorites, I want to tell you about the other songs that caught my attention. First is “Digital.” The synthesis is strong with this one, but it’s lit. My favorite thing about this song is how “fuck you” it is. Literally, most of the song is Reynolds going “We are, we are the digital heartbeat/ We are, we are the face of the future/ We don't wanna change, we just want to change everything.” Like if that doesn’t describe the state of our society and the new generations, I don’t know what does. It’s not angst, but it is, which is a weird thing to say. How can something be angst and not be angst, that is the question? But you know I’m bad at describing things in great detail. Good thing I don’t get paid for this. It’s one of those you-gotta-listen-and-feel things. But it is pretty bad-ass, like “Natural,” so if you need a fun workout song, maybe hit “Digital” up. Next is “Real Life.” This song is so relevant to present society. It talks about “the world is a broken mess” and how “[we] can’t fix it, [we] can’t make it stop.” It references what I believe is 9/11 (“Pray on her knees as the towers fold”) and the Boston bombing. It questions God and faith like some many of us have after so many tragedies have happened that it all seems endless ("How could I ever believe in something/ That would step aside and watch?"). It raises valid point about how bad it feels the world has gotten, but it also shows that we should have some hope that it’ll be okay. We wish we knew when or how, but we have to hold on to what we got and keep our heads up as long as we can. Finally, let’s talk about “Bullet in a Gun.” Another bad-ass song, “Bullet in a Gun” is one of those “I know I’m good and I’ll prove it to you” songs. It’s about going from one extreme to another. Like, shit is gonna happen, and if you’re not careful, then you will lose the people around you, the things you’ve worked for, and even yourself. “In the end [your] time will come,” and you’ll either make it or you will lose your shit. So raw. Anyways, those are just of few of my favorites and what I felt they were about. My overall opinion of the album is 4.5 stars because after a while some songs don’t give you the right mood. [Nobody can be 5 stars, not even 5SOS. Don’t trust a perfect person, and don’t trust a song that’s flawless.] Let me know what you think about the album and what your favorite song is. Until next time, which will hopefully be soon.

For the love of music,

Big Shot

[steelmagnoliamusic]

My last ASL final. Song: “Dying in LA” by @panicatthedisco

#big shot #music #steel magnolia #asl covers #asl interpreting #dying in la #panic at the disco

[steelmagnoliamusic]

16 November 2018

Music Appreciation: Taylor Swift

I’m not the first to admit that I didn’t always like Taylor Swift. At first, yes. Then I felt a lot of her music was the same old thing. Now, I appreciate her more than ever. Yes, most of her music is about her relationship experiences, but so is half the music industry. There is always some song by some artists about some person of their interest or some relationship or whatever. The fact that Taylor gets crap for it is kind of stupid. Everyone tells you to write what you know, and that’s what Taylor is doing. She does it hella well, too.

Why this change of heart about “Enchanted” girl? Well, first, going through her music, I realize that her songs don’t have to be exclusively related to romantic relationships. Some of her songs remind me of family, friends, and people I don’t like. Very few of them actually make me think of a romantic relationship. (This is open to interpretation as I know my perspective is not the same as yours.) Second, I could relate, even to the “relationship” songs. I could see the story behind the music. I could find pockets of my life where I felt the same. Any music you can relate to, even remotely, is good music in my opinion. Third is the double standard. Boy bands™, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Shawn Mendes, etc. have all made music about girls, relationship, etc., just like Taylor, so why aren’t they getting crap for it? Just food for thought.

Going back to what I said before about her songs reminding me of non-romantic things, let me give you a few examples, just for perspective. “I’m Only Me When I’m With You”: my friends are the only ones who know exactly the kind of person I am; I’m comfortable around them to be myself. “Enchanted”: My dog is the best thing that’s happened to me all year, she is the light of my life, and I’m happy I found her. “Mean”: My brother is an asshole, and we don’t talk. “Last Kiss”: My dad died, way before he should have, so yeah, never thought we’d have our last kiss. “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”: People just be damn stupid sometimes and ruin shit for other people. See, not every “romantic” song Taylor writes has to be directly related to a romantic relationship of some sorts.

Another thing I appreciate about Taylor Swift is progressiveness and her audacity. She’s feminist, so she understands that people should be treated with respect and dignity no matter what. She’s kind and funny and can take a joke at her. She knows that she doesn’t need anyone else’s approval to be who she is. Taylor is Taylor, unapologetically and gracefully. I’m sure there’s more, but since I don’t know her personally, I couldn’t tell you specifically.

Whatever your feelings towards Taylor Swift, I hope you take a step back and look at her work objectively. You might find you relate to her music, and maybe her, more than you thought. She’s a classy woman who’s got a lot to offer people. I’m proud to say I’m a Swiftie because girl’s got moxie, and I appreciate people with moxie. Thank you Ms. Swift for being you and being a wonderful role model.

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#taylor swift #music appreciation #appreciation friday #reputation #swifties #Steel Magnolia #big shot #role model #classy

[steelmagnoliamusic]

3 October 2018

Music Recommendation: “Molecules” by Atlas Genius

Hey guys, it’s been a while. School has been a pain in the ass. I apologize for not posting that often, but I have a good one for you today. Maybe you’ve heard of Atlas Genius, but if you haven’t, here’s a little synopsis. Another Australian alt rock band (What is it with me and Australians?), Atlas Genius formed in November 2009 in Adelaide by Keith Jeffery on lead vocals and lead guitar; Steven Jeffery on bass guitar; and Michael Jeffery on drums. According to Keith their influences include The Beatles, Death Cab for Cutie, Beck, The Police, and Phoenix. (Source: Wikipedia)

Today, I will talk to you about their single “Molecules,” which was released in 2015. The lyrical content is definitely on the high quality list. It’s a story being told about what’s going on in life and what we make of our life. It asks the tough questions like is everything by design or do we actually have a say in our own life. By saying that the mistake aren’t actually mistakes, we should look at our failures as lessons. They say that there’s innocence in the moment which is true because this moment is fresh and will never happen again, and maybe now is the time to be alive since we’ll never get these moments again. They say “we’ve been dressed as humans,” and we are. We’re all members of the human race, we have all been through some kind of shit in our lives. They say “we’ve been kings and homeless,” and where is the lie? Some of us have had great opportunities in life, and some of us have been dropped in the trenches and have to get our hands dirty to get by. Some of us fall somewhere in the middle because “we're just fragments of a great collide.” But I think a good message from this is nothing is really set in stone.  Some things are chance. Some things are choice, and it’s up to us to make the most of life.

I honestly find them pretty awesome. They have good music and a killer sound. The lyrics rock, and there’s some meaning in the some of the repetitiveness. They are on tour now, and they have some new music out, too. I hope y’all look into them, and if you like Atlas Genius, then you might like also like Bad Suns. I’ll talk about them in another post. Until next time!

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#atlas genius #molecules #music #music recommendation #recommendation wednesday #Steel Magnolia #steelmagnoliamusic #big shot #new music #oldie but a goodie

[steelmagnoliamusic]

Hey y’all, so Crystal Leigh just shared her Spotify playlist for whenever she gets overwhelmed or just wants a little escape from reality. I listened to it because I was curious about her song choices, and I really liked them. There’s a chill mix of upbeat and slow-and-steady songs, so it’s easy to get lost in reality for a little bit.

I enjoy when people share playlists like these because I feel that music is a wonderful connecting force that can change moods and perspectives. It has the ability to help people and give them motivation and courage. It has the power to save lives, and when people share soothing tunes, then you never know who it might help.

I hope y’all give it a listen when you have a chance. Also, feel free to reblog with your own mood-boosting playlists. I’ll share some of mine if y’all want. Sending good vibes all around!

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#new music #music recommendation #Steel Magnolia #steelmagnoliamusic #music #big shot #crystal leigh #spotify #playlists #now #relief #mood #good vibes only

[steelmagnoliamusic]

8 August 2018

Music Recommendation: “Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth With Money in My Hand” by Primitive Radio Gods

*NOTE: This is a short post, but don’t mistake quantity for quality.* So this one is an oldie but a goodie. This song was released in 1996 off Primitive Radio Gods’ album Rocket. Now, I’ll be honest. I don’t know much of PRG’s other music. This is the only one I’ve listened to by them— mostly because I keep getting distracted by other music— but I still feel like I should bring the song up. It’s one of those hypnotic songs with a plain beat and chill lyrics. I can’t remember how the lyrics go, and I’m listening to it right now. That’s how tranquilizing it is. It does repeat a lot, but it is by no means monotoned. It’s easy to get caught in the nuances of the song that you forget what’s going on around you. I find it soothing and like to listen to it when I feel a little stressed or need a creative boost. The drums provide a steady beat to keep you going. The words are lulling, so you can half-listen as you try to accomplish a task. The piano interludes and synthesized sounds are just the right amount of pick-me-up to keep your attention focused. It’s such a chill song. It’s good for walking, art, working out, laying in bed, doing nothing, doing everything. A matter of opinion, but I find it keeps me going and gives me a little boost when I need. I enjoy it, and I feel y’all would too. Give it a try.

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#new music #music recommendation #recommendation wednesday #primitive radio gods #standing outside a broken phone booth with money in my hands #Steel Magnolia #steelmagnoliamusic #big shot

[steelmagnoliamusic]

18 July 2018

Music Recommendation: “Hollow Tune” by Brick + Mortar

All right, y’all. This is going to be a short one. Not because there isn’t much to say, but because the song honestly speaks more for itself, so let’s jump right into it. First, I have a question, actually a few. Have you ever felt alone and misunderstood, helpless and defeated? Is life a hopeless wreck? Do you need a sign to tell you keep going? That’s what this song is. “Hollow Tune” is the kind of song you listen to when you have nowhere else to turn. Brick + Mortar do not bury this deep message in happy sounds. They admit to the world I am broken, I am valueless, and I can’t do it, and they turn it into a battle cry shouting “I AM NOT ALONE, I AM STRONG, AND I WILL CARRY ON.” Think of that moment in “Screen” by Twenty One Pilots when “We’re broken people” becomes a uniting chant. You get that in this song. Brick + Mortar keep the mood struggling but pushing through just like the lyrics. As someone who struggles with depression and anxiety, I know what it feels like to want to run away, give up, or blank out. I know the feeling of having your world shaken and the floor ripped from underneath. It is one of the worst feelings in the world because there’s very little you can do to make it stop. Sure, there’s medicine and therapy and yoga, but that’s only a temporary fix and not long-term cure. Because of that, there are days, even on medicine and with therapy, that just suck ass. There are God awful, and you want nothing more than to curl into a ball and cry out all the pain and frustration. What I like about this song is that it doesn’t hide the pain and fear that we all have inside. Like I said before, it becomes a battle cry for the lowly. We are broken, but we are not alone.

I want to point out the video as well. In the video, you see soldiers and gay men. You see what it’s like for soldiers to come home and for gay men to be in society. Both can be either very rewarding or very difficult. The video’s message falls along that of the song’s. We might be different. We might have different lives, different jobs, different backgrounds, but at the core of us, we are the same. We have the same emotions, needs, desires, drawbacks, and we have to be willing to back each other up.

Remember: You might think you’re alone and unwanted, but trust me, you are not. You are valuable and needed. You might not see it, but there’s someone who does. Don’t stop reaching out. And when you’re feeling weighed down by the cruelty of the world, play this song. Make it your fight song. Use it as your battle cry. Don’t give up.

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#music recommendation #recommendation wednesday #brick + mortar #hollow tune #big shot #steelmagnoliamusic

[steelmagnoliamusic]

15 July 2018

Concert Story: 5 Seconds of Summer and Foo Fighters on 21-22 April 2018

I meant to write this back in April, but I ended up getting sidetracked. Anyways, my mom and I— yes, my mom— went on a little road trip. 5 Seconds of Summer went on their 5SOS3 tour to introduce fans to their new album and reconnect. Foo Fighters were on their Concrete and Gold tour for their title album. Both were the same weekend. Fortunately, they were only a few hours away from each other. Unfortunately, I had a test that Monday morning (stupid organic chemistry).  It was quite the road trip. My mom came in on Friday evening. On Saturday, we drove from Lafayette, where I go to school, to Houston for 5SOS.

For 5SOS, we stood in line for about 2-3 hours waiting to get into Houston House of Blues. It was a long-ass line. It wrapped around the entire building. Eventually, we made it in. The crowd was big for HOB, but not surprising for 5SOS. It was only 5 Seconds of Summer, no opening act. Let me tell you, 5SOS was phenomenal. They played the old favorites and gave us a taste of the new album, which y’all know is sweet. To see them in such a personal setting was awesome. The audience was so close and had a such a great view. You could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. They were as glad to be there as we were. There was even a surprise visit from Awsten Knight of WATERPARKS. He fit right in. Such a great show.

Sunday morning, my mom and I ate breakfast and then left for Foo Fighters in Bossier City— for those who don’t know where that is, it’s near Shreveport, LA. That show was fucking A. If you’ve never been to a Foo Fighters show, go the next time you get the chance because they are incredible. That was probably better than 5SOS, and that’s saying a lot coming from me. The Struts, an English rock band, opened. I was into The Struts before, but the exceeded expectations. They’re such a great live show. They honestly remind me of The Rolling Stones. Foo played their oldies and goodies and their bomb-ass shit from Concrete and Gold. Dave Grohl is fucking hilarious, and Taylor Hawkins can sing! My favorite part had to be when they sang “Jump” by Van Halen to the sound of “Imagine” by John Lennon. It was fucking great. It was an amazing show. I had so much fun with my mom. Unfortunately, we had to leave early because of my test the next morning, but I did get to stay through “My Hero,” and that’s the important thing.

As intense as that weekend got because of my finals coming up, I had a fantastic time attending these concerts. They were absolutely worth the trouble. They were so good.

Sorry, I didn’t go into too much detail. It happened a while ago, so I’m going from memory right now. I wanted to share a little of my experience with you. If you went to either of these shows, tell me about it. I may feature your story on here. I’ve also been to several concerts since then, so you’ll see some of those coming up soon, too. Until, then!

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#concert story #5sos #5 seconds of summer #foo fighters #Steel Magnolia #steelmagnoliamusic #big shot #story sunday

[steelmagnoliamusic]

18 June 2016

Music Review: YOUNGBLOOD by 5 Seconds of Summer

First thing first: Hello, internet! It’s been a while. That’s my fault. School had me stressing a little, so I needed some time to collect myself before I could write again. With that said, I’m back, and I have many artists and albums to tell you about. Who better to start with that the best band to come out of Australia since AC/DC? That’s right. Today is all about 5SOS’s recently dropped album YOUNGBLOOD—by recent, I mean three days ago.

It’s no shock that 5SOS is one of my favorite bands. If you follow me on Twitter, I like their posts a lot (sorry, not sorry). I posted a while ago about their single “Want You Back.” If you remember, I said it was a step in a new direction for them. With the release of this album, it’s safe to say that that was an accurate prediction. Those in the 5SOS fam can agree that YOUNGBLOOD is way different from their first two albums. Their self-titled album was young pop rock. Sounds Good Feels Good was teen punk. This one is mature. It’s a new sound and a new vibe. These boys are men now. I’m quite proud.

But you don’t want a personal opinion. You wan an objective analysis of album content. I’m listening to the album listening party on Spotify, so you’ll get as accurate a description as I can. The first thing you need to know about this album is it doesn’t have a set genre. On iTunes, it’ll say pop, but it’s more than that. The guys have said that various artists that they enjoy have influenced the album, and you can hear it in the album. There’s rock from The Police, 80's vibe from The Outfield, alternative from Coldplay. It’s not pop. The use of older samples into a modern sound blends with their mature, harmonious voices.

Each song has a different vibe to it. Some make you nostalgic. Some make you petty. Some make you wanna grab that special someone and cuddle till the sunrise. A few are nice and easy. Others are nice and rough. There’s a greater use of piano in the album, which we haven’t seen before. Ashton’s smashing some banging beats on the drums and synthesizer. Michael and Luke are making groovy sounds on their guitars. Calum is chilling with his bass. They use new music combinations, pushing them forward as a band and as artists and musicians.

I wish I could go into all their songs, but let’s be real, ain’t nobody got time for that. You’ll have to listen to get the scope of it all. I’ll skip “Want You Back” since I’ve already talked about it. Today I’ll talk about my three favorite songs off of the album: “Lie To Me,” “Woke Up In Japan,” and “Ghost Of You.” But let me know what your favorites are! First up is “Lie To Me.” This song is one of the slower ones. Ashton stated in Cocktail Chats Part 2 that The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” influenced “Lie To Me.” As a listener of that song, I can attest. The guitar in the song has a nice strum. The drum has a steady tempo with a nice use of synthesizer. The bass is a little hard to hear, but that might be me. The vocals are so smooth and harmonious and well-blended. I’m terrible at describing sound. I apologize. I wish I could go into detail about how amazing it sounds, but you have to listen to it to hear how beautiful it sounds. I’m a little better at describing lyrics though. “Lie To Me” and “Ghost Of You” are those ones-that-got-away kind of songs. It tells the story of a guy who sees the girl he let slip away and how much he misses her. He’s trying to move on, but it’s hard because he wants her back but he knows she won’t. It sounds like it’s about a romantic relationship. But it could apply to a friendship or family relationship. Hear me out. I haven’t spoken to my brother in two months. We tried having a relationship again last summer, but some stuff happened. He did some unforgivable things. The last thing he said to me was “I hope you die.” Needless to say, we aren’t on the best of terms as seen by the lack of speaking. I’ll admit that it’s the hardest thing to do because he is my family, but at the same time, he’s too toxic to be around for me. While I wish we had a relationship still, the best thing for me is to separate myself from him. In the song, Luke sings, “I know that you don’t, but if I ask if you love me, I hope you lie to me.” For me, I know I love my brother, but I have to tell myself that I don’t so that I can move in the best direction for me. All relationships are hard. It's harder when that someone isn’t good for you, doesn’t want you, or is never coming back. Sometimes, to move on, you have to lie to yourself and fake it till you make it, which is the message that I get from this song.

Next is “Woke Up In Japan.” It’s definitely a different tone from “Lie To Me,” still chill though. It picks the tempo up a little bit, but it’s good to bop your head to if you know what I mean. Ashton is still keeping it steady. Calum is catching up with that bass line. Michael—I don’t know if Luke plays or not because I can’t tell from the track—is kicking ass with those guitar chords. Not only is it a different sound, but it’s a different vibe too. With "Lie To Me," there was more of a want you back— no pun intended— vibe to it. "Woke Up In Japan" feels more like a what-am-I-going-to-do-now vibe. I listen to it, and I hear Luke singing about being in a new place and not knowing where he’s going in life. Part of his life doesn’t seem real. He loves his life and his career, but at the same time, he’s lonely and unsure about some things. I find it completely relatable. I’m about to be a junior in college, and I’m so unsure about myself even though I have an idea of what I want to do. There’s still so much that I question is the right path. It’s a new place, and it’s only going to keep changing. He says “The end is just a dream,” which I take as nothing is set in stone. We have a lot of uncertainties in life, but we have to keep pushing through those tough and lonely times. We have to stay positive and remember that we are going someplace good.

Last, and the best , is “Ghost Of You.” I am in love with this song. This is my favorite that they’ve put out to date. There’s so much more piano in this song, and it’s so lovely. It gives me Ed Sheeran vibes. Guitar is calm. Piano is soothing. You feel the drums in your heart and the bass in your soul. This song is pretty much about reminiscing time with someone that’s not there anymore. Some might say it’s about a lover, but like with “Lie To Me,” it could be about anyone who had a special place in your life. For me, I think about my dad. I wrote in a previous blog that he died, and as I’m writing this, it’s Father’s Day. It’s my first one without him, and I miss him so much. I’ve been remembering the music we listened to, the Jazz Fests we went to, the jokes we told, and shows we watched. I never danced with my dad, but the things we did do aren’t the same without him. I do them, and I have to do them with his ghost, with his memory. We had our problems, but I loved him so much, and he was one of my favorite people. This song reminds me of that. It goes to show the power of music.

All the songs on YOUNGBLOOD are phenomenal. 5 Seconds of Summer took their sweet time with this album, and it’s a good thing they did because they did an amazing job. The proof is in the music. I’m so glad they’re back, and I can’t wait to see what else they have in store. If you’ve listened to the album, let me know which song(s) is(are) your favorite. If you have a story behind them like I did, then please feel free to share that too. I have a lot of artists that I want to share with y’all. I’m hoping to get back in the game and have more posts up within the coming weeks. Thanks for your patience!

For the love of music,

Big Shot

#music review #Music Monday #youngblood #5 seconds of summer #new music #big shot #steelmagnoliamusic #back in business

[steelmagnoliamusic]

I take ASL in school, and today was our final. I chose #WANTYOUBACK by @5sos as my song, and I thought it went pretty well.

#asl interpretations #deaf music #deaf culture awareness #asl covers