Los Amigos Invisibles

Hailing from Venezuela, Los Amigos Invisibles embraces a funky blend of genres. In fact, they literally embrace elements of funk, rock, and alternative pop in each of their songs. Songs such as their hit, "Mentiras," have clearly mixed beats and prominent guitar. Los Amigos Invisibles are a hit within their home nation and are slowly climbing international charts. The Latin music world has recognized their talents several times in the past and they have been extremely successful with tours. 

Los Amigos Invisibles are a band who embraces a unique sound, while still playing towards a mass audience. This means that they are fairly alternative, but the mainstream still appreciates their sound. Some Latin artists struggle to gain fame in countries such as the U.S. because of the language barrier. However, this particular band is a wonderful example of how music can transverse the boundaries of language. The beats, vocals, and instrumentation overpower the potential lack of understanding. It honestly surprises me that that many artists who perform in other languages are not well-recognized. You see, people listen to music without lyrics every day. Trap, electrohouse, and dubstep all utilize artificial beats and almost no vocals. As such, vocals are not always the most important part of a song.

In this case, vocals can be appreciated even without understanding. The lead singer's voice is truly magnificent. His tone, rasp, and overall dynamics match the instrumentation and tempo of each song perfectly. This combination makes for a powerful sound and a band worthy of international recognition. Los Amigos Invisibles are, luckily, climbing the international ladder. Hopefully we'll see them performing in the U.S. regularly in the near future!

Verdena

In honor of my 20th blog post, I would like to feature one of my favorite international artists. Verdena is an Italian alternative-rock band with a psychedelic style.

Some people consider Verdena to be a "garage band." However, I believe that their raw, grungy sound is distinguished when matched with their lyrics. These lyrics, however, are in Italian. Many bands have covered their songs in translated form, but few covers compare to the original band's work. Classic elements of rock such as guitar solos, prominent drums, and bright dynamics drive a fast and exciting approach. It is hard to match a sound so unique, yet so classic in nature.

Instrumentation is key to Verdena, as with any rock band. The song below is called "Luna." Elements of guitar riffs, growling (vocally,) and rapid tempo can be heard throughout this particular piece. The song tells a story, even if you don't understand the language. I've mentioned before that music breaks the language barrier, and that is perfectly clear here. It is very easy to get immersed with the emotion and power behind Verdena's songs. In fact, I have reached a point where I no longer notice the lack of understanding. It is remedial to simply listen. That is the power of good music.

If you like '90s grunge bands such as Nirvana, then Verdena is the band for you. They have been together for several years and released six albums to date. Verdena is still together and regularly touring/ releasing music. I highly recommend this band to anyone who is passionate about music and any form of alternative-rock.

Zamajobe

Zamajobe is a South African artist. Her vocals are enchanting and classic. Each of her songs is extremely soulful and emotional. Many of these songs are slow and rhythmic in form. They flow well with her enchanting dynamics and natural vocal effects. Her chilling ability to transition between notes and breaks seamlessly is unmatched. As an artist, she connects modern style with classic musical movements from across the world.

Zamajobe actually releases music in both English and Afrikaans, sometimes combining the languages within a song. This unique way of creating music is what drew me to Zamajobe in the first place. The instrumentals in her songs, backup vocals while performing live, and even her music videos fail to distract from the pure talent she possesses and the intrigue of her style. It's all very methodical.

In her song, "Ndawo Yami," Zamajobe especially showcases her powerful and emotional vocal ability. This song emphasizes her range, as well as her distinct sound. The video below features Zamajobe's music video for this song.

Despite her lack of international fame, Zamajobe does fairly well in South Africa. However, as with most of the artists I feature on this blog, I feel as though her music could entertain and inspire many people across the world. It is my hope that you will spread the word and share her music with your friends. This is a phenomenal artist. One worthy of international acclaim and recognition.

Sources of Inspiration: Design

I love Ed Sheeran. He is not only one of my favorite artists, but also one of my greatest inspirations in life. As luck would have it, even his website inspires me. While I was looking into some merchandise and the newly released Wembley album/ film, I had an epiphany. I truly respect and enjoy the way Ed Sheeran's website is set up.

I'm not sure if I could mimic the style of this site for a blog on Blogger, but I definitely appreciate the setup nonetheless. The arrangement of social media buttons, featured videos/ tweets, and menu placement are all clear and simple. Everything about the site is easy to navigate and manage, but it remains very appealing to the eyes. Ed Sheeran's official logo and notorious lime green background are prominently featured on the site.

My favorite design aspect, however, would have to be the clear access to an Ed Sheeran music player. Since this is an international music blog, and Ed Sheeran is an international musician, this applies directly to my blog. I feature videos and soundbites on my blog each week with a featured artist and song(s.) By adding a music player option, I could simplify the process of hearing each week's artist substantially. Videos could be placed elsewhere on the blog. This change would free up space on the blog and add a more finished look to the top section, for I would most likely place the player along the top panel.

All in all, I feel as though Ed Sheeran's website is a pretty strong design inspiration for me and my blog. Feel free to check out the full site (linked below) and listen to some of Ed's new music!

http://www.edsheeran.com/splash/jumpersforgoalposts

Gossling

Gossling, or Helen Croome, is an Australian musician. Her style and sound is somewhat like that of British singer and sensation Ellie Goulding. This entails a young and innocent tone mixed with a worn and experienced tone. These two somehow mix to form a distinct and impressive sound.

Powerful dynamics and airy/ flowing scales keep Gossling's unique sound afloat. Each of her songs have a pop-like appeal to them. In fact, she is a very fresh and bright pop-star. Many of her songs are based around the hook and carry a distinguished melody.

In short, she produces very catchy music. Her fun style has attracted a lot of attention, but not on a large (international) scale. I believe that Gossling deserves more recognition for her work. Below is an example of one of my favorite songs that she has produced. The video below is not only a strong indicator of her musical ability, but also a powerful example of her artistic vision through the use of music videos. Harvest of Gold is a gorgeous piece with enchanting vocals, captivating lyrics, and a simple/ realistic video that many people could appreciate and relate to.

I suggest that you all check her out and spread the word! This is our chance to raise awareness about the talents of international artists. The focus is too often on American English artists. Meanwhile, the spectrum of music is far larger than many of us can fathom.

Sources of Inspiration: Font

 

SoundCloud is a popular medium for listening to music. This site features a textual logo that reflects the overall font style for most of its content. This smooth and "boxy" font style is common among music listening sites. I feel as though this connection could be relevant to my music-centric blog. 

Although this font may seem too simple and typical, I believe that it is an easy-to-read and appealing style. The soft look does not hurt the reader's eyes, nor does it appear difficult to make out words or letters. In fact, I noticed that the spacing between letters in this particular font is very liberal and underwhelming.  From what I've found, this font style is most closely associated with "Interstate" (more information on this font can be found at the link below.) It is simple, yet uniquely shaped.

All in all, this font style is definitely an inspiration for my blog. I would love to use it as my title or link font. 

http://www.dafont.com/forum/read/54582/what-s-the-name-of-this-font-for-soundcloud

Sources of Inspiration: Design

Although my blog is predominately a music review blog, I take great interest in blogs that directly play music. I have seen many efficient designs for webplayers and music blogs, but none better than Spotify's. This easily navigated webplayer opens up several options for listeners. The sleek layout of the page really adds to the overall design. Every color, navigational toolbar, and preview option compliments the basic components of the webpage.

The best thing about Spotify's design is its condensed format. You can view many songs, while listening to and updating any playlist. Rather than putting all of its content on display, players and viewing panels collapse automatically. It is musical multitasking made easy! Listeners can even choose to see a full playlist, or simply listen to a few songs at a time.

The overall layout of the page is also phenomenal. There is a lot going on all at once, but it's not overwhelming. In fact, there is enough white space (on most pages,) that listeners can appreciate everything each page has to offer without getting confused.