This week has been a trying one. Technically as I write this I am only half way through. I am 5 weeks away from graduating from graduate school and have probably 60-70% of my grades for all of my classes incomplete. Meaning these next 5 weeks are going to be the most insane, stressful weeks.
As most of you know, I had planned on running a half marathon at the end of April. What do you mean past tense? Well because of the amount of school work I have, I don't have time to train, nor can fathom spending an entire weekend out of town. Therefore, I will not be running the race I have been looking forward to for months. However upset I am, I know physically and mentally I could have run it and done well. I will find another race to run early this fall (there is no way im running a summer race, I overheat enough as it is). I'll definitely run shorter races in between, but until I finish my last final ever, running is sadly on the back burner. It is my favorite destressor, but I literally have no time. I'm even thinking about only working twice a week since I have so many assignments to complete.
Okay enough anxiety ridden boring crap. I've got a lot of things to look forward to, including spending my summer being a young, single female in the city. I cannot wait until I can go out with my friends and spend the night dancing away or sipping on ice cold beer at happy hour. This week's Favorite Music pick makes my dream of summer feel so much closer....
Every so often I go onto iTunes and browse through the top 100 songs. I don't ever listen to the radio, so unless a friend recommends a band, I'm clueless to new music/bands. I heard Alex Clare's Too Close on the top 100 and freaked out. Lucky for me his debut album launched in the US the same week. I of course got it immediately.
Alex Clare is a 25 year old British singer-songwriter from London. Other than being an adorable ginger (yes I have a thing for red heads), he is extremely talented. Alex grew up listening to his father's jazz band and has been influenced by The Fugees, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway. He was unhappy with the music his friends and siblings were listening to and found that the jazz, blues, and soul he grew up on were a comfort. He realized his passion for music playing in bands with friends, but felt he needed some security and decided to become a chef. He ended up hating his job and started to play open mic nights often. He landed a very small songwriting deal that allowed him to live on a boat and write songs. A few of those songs got into the hands of Island Records and two weeks later he was signed.
His drum n' bass, soul style got the attention of Diplo & Switch (two of my favorite DJs/producers) who then worked with Alex on his first album. They brought together his crooning, rough, soulful voice with the bass lines of dubstep and catchy chords that make a hit.
The song that I am featuring "Up All Night" is one of the songs that was created during one of Alex's first sessions with Diplo and Switch. The song scream teen spirit. With lines like 'watchin my youth slip away surely is a crime' and 'sun is up while I'm walkin' home but my heads up in the clouds.' The beat and the lyrics just make me want to get up and dance! It reminds me that I am alive. Definitely a song that I can appreciate when my life feels weighed down and so stressful.
You can listen to the entire album for free here on this page with the SoundCloud app. My other favorites are Too Close, Treading Water, Hummingbird, and Tight Rope.
(Note: If you are reading from a feed reader, you'll have to visit the actual post to be able to view the SoundCloud app)
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
As most of you know, I had planned on running a half marathon at the end of April. What do you mean past tense? Well because of the amount of school work I have, I don't have time to train, nor can fathom spending an entire weekend out of town. Therefore, I will not be running the race I have been looking forward to for months. However upset I am, I know physically and mentally I could have run it and done well. I will find another race to run early this fall (there is no way im running a summer race, I overheat enough as it is). I'll definitely run shorter races in between, but until I finish my last final ever, running is sadly on the back burner. It is my favorite destressor, but I literally have no time. I'm even thinking about only working twice a week since I have so many assignments to complete.
Okay enough anxiety ridden boring crap. I've got a lot of things to look forward to, including spending my summer being a young, single female in the city. I cannot wait until I can go out with my friends and spend the night dancing away or sipping on ice cold beer at happy hour. This week's Favorite Music pick makes my dream of summer feel so much closer....
Every so often I go onto iTunes and browse through the top 100 songs. I don't ever listen to the radio, so unless a friend recommends a band, I'm clueless to new music/bands. I heard Alex Clare's Too Close on the top 100 and freaked out. Lucky for me his debut album launched in the US the same week. I of course got it immediately.
Alex Clare is a 25 year old British singer-songwriter from London. Other than being an adorable ginger (yes I have a thing for red heads), he is extremely talented. Alex grew up listening to his father's jazz band and has been influenced by The Fugees, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway. He was unhappy with the music his friends and siblings were listening to and found that the jazz, blues, and soul he grew up on were a comfort. He realized his passion for music playing in bands with friends, but felt he needed some security and decided to become a chef. He ended up hating his job and started to play open mic nights often. He landed a very small songwriting deal that allowed him to live on a boat and write songs. A few of those songs got into the hands of Island Records and two weeks later he was signed.
His drum n' bass, soul style got the attention of Diplo & Switch (two of my favorite DJs/producers) who then worked with Alex on his first album. They brought together his crooning, rough, soulful voice with the bass lines of dubstep and catchy chords that make a hit.
The song that I am featuring "Up All Night" is one of the songs that was created during one of Alex's first sessions with Diplo and Switch. The song scream teen spirit. With lines like 'watchin my youth slip away surely is a crime' and 'sun is up while I'm walkin' home but my heads up in the clouds.' The beat and the lyrics just make me want to get up and dance! It reminds me that I am alive. Definitely a song that I can appreciate when my life feels weighed down and so stressful.
You can listen to the entire album for free here on this page with the SoundCloud app. My other favorites are Too Close, Treading Water, Hummingbird, and Tight Rope.
(Note: If you are reading from a feed reader, you'll have to visit the actual post to be able to view the SoundCloud app)
Enjoy and have a great weekend!
He is so great! Thanks for the recommendation. I love all your Music Friday posts. You have great taste. Also, I nominated you for a Versatile Blogger Award on my blog! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Rianne! Music is one of my greatest passions so I love having an outlet to share :)
DeleteAnd thank you for the nomination!
Alex Clare is AMAZING. Glad he's getting some attention. :)
ReplyDeleteHe's so unique! And it really clicked why I love him so much when I was researching for the post; his connection to Diplo and Switch. If you haven't checked out Major Lazer, the two's collaboration, you may love them. And now I have this week's favorite music, hah!
DeleteSeriously Sarah, I fall in love with a particular artist and then, without fail, you post about them on your Friday music posts. We have outrageously similar music tastes!
ReplyDeleteif you want to find more of my favorite music, take a look at my last.fm page. It has all my top artists since 2005, ;)
Deletehttp://www.last.fm/user/shadowsarah
And if you ever find any new music that I have not shared let me know since I may not know about them and love them too!