Shey's Musical Symphony.

So I realize it’s been a super long time since I’ve posted about what I have been listening to and all my absolute favorites. Guess being a decent student took precedence. As of recently, I’ve been really feeling some hip-hop and sub-genres of soul, I use the term hip-hop very loosely because I know there are some shit artists out there that try to file their rap under hip-hop. Also, the sub-genres are all over the place and I’ll only be listing one or two that I really love. Some others listed don’t fall under either, I just really dig them. Songs are linked.

Kevin Garrett: I think he is an absolutely amazing artist, he falls under blue-eyed soul and I love him. Everything he sings gives me the feels. By the way, Refuse and Coloring make me melt. I just do not know how to explain the feeling those two songs give me. 

Fast Car (Cover) by Ryan Montbleau ft Tall Heights: With subtle changes and the feeling of authenticity remaining with the song. The artists did a great job reinventing a song I once loved but forgot about. I think it does Tracy Chapman justice and now that I am older, the song is much more relatable than when I was young just enjoying the melody.

J. Cole: What can I say about this man? He is a fantastic story teller. I love, love, love, love that he raps about real life. Many things he actually experience or makes relatable and the positive vibe that he gives off is just amazing. When listening to his newest album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive (which I am so fucking obsessed with), I feel like I’m reading a book or watching a movie. Vivid, real, fun, positive, love so much love exuded from him. Note to Self (In love with this track.. obsessed with the ENTIRE thing) & Wet Dreamz

Chance the Rapper: As a person that hasn’t been a fan of rappers in a long time (excluding J. Cole and a short list of others), this guy is one of my favorite lyricists as of right now. He’s really, really good at what he does and just listening to how he plays with words and rap about things more than just women, money and earthly possessions is cool as hell. Examples of his coolness: Sunday Candy, Confident and Baby Blue.

Hotline Bling by William Singe: It’s literally the shit, that’s it. This cover is hella lit. 

Walking in the Wind by One Direction: First off, I personally love their latest album, which is their pre-hiatus album, I’ll try to not talk about the entire album but... It’s good as fuck. But this song... God, it’s good. I honestly don’t even know what to say about this song. It just makes me happy, it’s such a feel good song. Much like the song says, very bittersweet. I love that the song isn’t about breaking up, it’s about being apart from one another for a while but not forever. I think my favorite thing is that I see this song being a shout out to their fans (much like others on the album) and it’s just sweet, they are literally saying “this is not the end, I’ll see your face again.” This song just makes me happy and reminds me to never give up on anything regardless of the circumstances.

You Are Enough by Sleeping At Last: I listen to this song maybe twice a day. I personally don’t feel down often but as a twenty something I catch myself second guessing or questioning a good chunk of things I do. With all of my friends being twenty somethings, they also doubt many things. My best friend with anxiety doubts everything she does. This song literally, hear me out here. This song literally takes away any lingering negative thoughts. Cause I am fucking enough, this song reminds me every day. Yeah, sometimes I cry to it but only because I agree. I am fucking enough. I can’t stress this enough, this is my ultimate feel good song. “Hey, you are the shit, don’t worry about whatever is happening. You are the shit, you’ll figure it out. Life goes on.”

Kehlani: Fuun, she is fuuun, I listen to Kehlani when I feel like smiling and dancing. This doesn’t mean she doesn’t have talent. She’s good at what she does, I like that she is diverse with what she chooses to put out into the world. You can have a song as fun and lovey dovey as FWU to a song as positive and inspiring as Bright. She also has a song which features Chance the Rapper, which I love of course, The Way. 

Lay It Down Slow By Spiritualized: There are some songs out there that you like because of everything about it. Every single instrument, the voice, the mood, the emotion, the lyrics, the melody, the instrumentation, the instrument solos, the fragments of time where there is nothing but the voice of the singer(s), the feelings you are suddenly overcome by, the harmonies. Just, fuck! You know?! That’s this song.

Do You Remember by Jarryd James: This super soulful singer is hashtag relatable, ‘nah mean? Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, lyrics, lyrics. Also, the fucking music behind this song is lit as fuck. Like, wow I love this song. This song is a hit, not on the radio but in my personal, yet imaginary Hall of Fame. Say there were two hits that dropped at the same time, one with these same lyrics and different music; the other song with different lyrics but the same music, I would have enjoyed both songs a lot. But together, I can die happily. Also, the amount of dancing provoked by this song is ridiculous... I love it. 

Josephine by Ritual & Lisa Hannigan: “Josephine, I'll never be good enough.. I want to be, let me try it once more.” It’s a beautiful song, that’s it. This song is my aesthetic; the music, especially at the very end, is absolutely fucking beautiful. Love the instruments. Loooove the voices, love the emotion behind the song. Great song, great song.