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.

Alex Boye

Alex Boye is a British-born singer, but his genre is purely Africanized. His gorgeous vocals and talented composition skills were showcased brilliantly in his most recent album. On this album, you will hear what I think to be the greatest cover of Frozen's "Let it Go" ever created.

This unique cover utilizes a children's choir and common African themes. The music video is a glorious interpretation of the song and Frozen's playful storyline. Although many people have developed a strong distaste for this song and its film, I believe that Alex Boye created a masterpiece. This international artist blew me away with his creative take on this Disney hit.

The children's choir harmonizes for acapella style background vocals, while Alex Boye's chanting compliments the lead girl's voice perfectly. The acoustics for this recording are absolutely astounding. Listen carefully for the instrumentals and the way that they work with the vocals to add chilling effects- pardon the pun, to an already thrilling vocal piece. This song is challenging enough in its original form, I do not see how anyone could surpass this cover. Internationally, this video has received much recognition. This may differ from my usual theme, but I think that this is a worthy exception. Winter is fast approaching, and this song could quite possibly be your next seasonal favorite! The timbre, rhythm, and dynamics will give you chills.

(I apologize for the puns...)

Edith Piaf

In the past, I have focused on current artists who are not prevalent in the international music industry. For today's featured artist, however, I will be focusing on an international superstar from the 1940s. Edith Piaf experienced much turmoil in her personal and professional life. Despite this, she is one of France's most well-known and critically acclaimed singers.

Edith's extreme range and vocal ability is reflected in the seriousness and professionalism of her music. She utilized vocal effects such as trilling, big band style ballads, drastic dynamics, and progressively dramatic pauses. Her skilled enunciation made her French very clear to both foreign and native listeners.

Hits such as "Padam Padam," "La Vie En Rose," "La Foule," and "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" made her a household name across the world. She is best known as a French Cabaret star. Cabaret music was France's crown jewel between the '40s and '60s. As such, she was a key element in France's revival on the international stage.

The songs previously listed show her extensive vocal ability. "Padam Padam" is a wonderful example of her dramatic flare in certain songs, while "Non Je Ne Regrette Rien" shows her ability to channel an inspirational tone. Power was always her best quality. Each of her songs, no matter the emotion elicited, show exactly how strong she was vocally. She was the definition of a powerhouse.

Edith's strongest quality can be heard clearly in "Padam Padam." If you listen carefully to the recording below, you will be able to hear her extreme ability to sustain notes for extensive periods of time without faltering. This legend will go down in history as one of the world's greatest musicians.

Sources of Inspiration: Font

The font used for the title of Disney's film Princess and the Frog attracted my attention while watching it earlier today. This text is very unique and attention grabbing. I really like the "magical" effect this font provides. It is grand and very fitting for the film's style/ basis. This text could be applied to my blog because it would drastically improve upon the current text's visibility and attraction. Title texts should be very powerful because they are typically the first things we see when we enter a webpage. My current title font is sufficient, but not overly impressive. To make a substantial difference, I would use a font similar to this on my blog.

September Girls

The September Girls are an Irish pop-punk band. This band draws from the historic talent Dublin has produced over the years. Interestingly enough, their name came from the Bangles' cover of "September Gurls." Their unique riff style, guitar techniques, and high energy beats combine to form a gothic style and affect their image/ sound directly. Several different genres and eras of music combine to form their distinctive sound.

As a band, the September Girls have gained strong positive reviews from critics. Their song "Heartbeats," is a good example of why they deserve this recognition. The ethereal vocals and fuzzy guitar riffs give this tune an odd, yet satisfying, sound. It tells a tragic tale of unrequited love. The September Girls have mastered the art of combining powerful lyrics with an even more powerful sound.

Sadly, their noise pop style is uncommon in today's popular culture. This band has yet to receive international publicity and support that they deserve.

Sources of Inspiration: Color

My blog focuses on international music, as such, I look at a lot of different cultures and locations. These locations are often featured in the travel magazines that are common today. I have noticed an interesting trend among these travel magazines. Many of them feature many shades of blue. Whether this is to accent a skyline, or draw attention to a body of water, blue fills the covers and pages of several travel magazines. Interestingly enough, the complimentary color for text is often yellow. The brightness and warmth of this color contrast from the blue pleasantly enough to draw attention, but not distract from the image. This color combination could easily be utilized on my blog, as well. I might not focus on travel specifically, but international music is often a subject of interest in these catalogs. The connection might be a stretch, but it certainly exists. Its purpose would transfer very well to my blog and add a comforting color scheme that readers would appreciate.

Maluma

Maluma is a singer from Columbia. His genre is Latin pop and he specializes in a reggaeton sound. As a musician, Maluma is a talented vocalist and singer. Since the ripe age of 17, Maluma's music has been aired on Columbian airwaves. Today, his music is growing in popularity on an international level.

Musically speaking, Maluma utilizes a lot of fast-paced tempos and repetitive rhythms. As a result, his music is very catchy. The tune is easy to follow and his tone is very smooth. This can be compared to a variation of an American pop artist. Maluma relies heavily on dynamics and trilling to add emphasis to important sections of his songs. A great example of this effect can be heard in "El Tiki."

Maluma is a very respectable artist who performs most of his pieces solo. These pieces all involve unique elements and utilize them in the best ways possible. As a result, Maluma's talents do not go unrecognized. He has been accredited with many awards- all of which he obtained at a young age.

For more information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maluma_(singer)

Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife is a garage-band style rock band. Their relatively unedited sound attracted a lot of attention and allowed them to spiral to fame outside of their homeland.  Most notably, this band scored an opening gig for the popular '90s grunge band Nirvana. According to Billboard, Matt Groening is even a super-fan of the group.

 This all-girl Japanese band embraces a pop-punk style. Their unique style is clearly portrayed in more than just their music. As you can see above, the music video for "It's a New Find" is very loud and exciting. In fact, this video almost reminds me of the music video for another '90s/ early 2000s rock band, Faith No More ("Epic.") Japanese influence is clearly present in their videos and songs, but comparisons like this show just how similar rock is around the world. Japanese bands and American bands have a lot more in common than you'd expect. As a result, I struggle to see why international rock bands are not as well known as American bands.

Reference: http://www.billboard.com/photos/428864/40-countries-top-musicians-a-gallery/17

Sodagreen

I have always been a fan of indie music. Sodagreen is a band from Taiwan with an especially unique indie sound. The band consists of a bass guitarist, lead guitarist, lead singer, keyboard player, and drummer. Indie music does not fall under a specific style or genre. Each artist is independent, thus the name indie (short for independent.) Sodagreen matches sharp vocals with well-balanced instrumentals. I especially love their inclusion of the keyboard. Keys can add an entirely new element to a song and Sodagreen takes advantage of that. You can especially hear that aspect of their music at the start of their song "幸福額度" (known in English as "The Limit of Happiness.")

Taiwan is commonly known for opera. Internationally, Taiwanese opera stars are very successful. In fact, Taiwanese operas are shown on national and international stages. The challenging and classic genre that is opera, however, can block other Taiwanese talents (and their respective genres,) from reaching the spotlight. Bands- like Sodagreen, are not featured internationally. A talent such as this should not go unrecognized!

If you are interested in obtaining further knowledge on indie music, then I recommend this article: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/06/how-indie-rock-changed-the-world/392057/ 

Aida Nikolaychuk

Aida Nikolaychuk was the season 3 winner of Ukraine's X-factor. Her voice is unlike any I've heard before. While auditioning, the judges actually stopped Aida to have her sing a capella. They did not believe that she was the one singing on stage. However, when the soundtrack was stopped and Aida started to sing again, it was revealed that it was, in fact, her natural voice. The power behind her vocals is absolutely stunning. Each note is polished and her use of dynamics is just right.

The song she auditioned with (video above) is called "Lullaby." By simply listening to the song, you can tell that it is an extremely challenging piece. It is demanding on the vocalist's ability to sustain notes for extended periods of time while comfortably transitioning from note to note.

My favorite song by Aida is "We're Under One Heaven." This track features heavy technical instrumentals and English lyrics! Her style in this song emphasizes vocal trance. This means that the opening notes are simple and the melody builds. Vocal trance is a steadily growing sub-genre in today's music.

I would love to see Aida rise to prominence in the international music industry. Her talents extend far beyond her time on the X-factor.

For more on vocal trance: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocal_trance

Seinabo Sey

Swedish recording artist, Seinabo Sey, is another one of my favorite international artists. Seinabo's powerful vocals and lyrics truly speak to the listener.

"Younger" (the song from the above music video,) and "Hard Time" are two of my favorite songs. The rhythm, dynamics, and range really stand out in these pieces. Seinabo's ability to fluctuate seamlessly from low notes to notes at the top of her range is remarkable. So much emotion is elicited into her lyrics and tone. "Younger" sends a powerful message to the listeners through its music video too. The people in the video have a sense of joy, freedom, and peace that perfectly reflects the theme of the song. I truly wish that this song (and its artist) would've been a bigger hit around the world. I definitely believe that this is an artist to watch. She is still growing as a musician, and that is a site to behold. 

K-Pop

Korean pop music is an iconic genre of music. Many people have heard of Psy, the artist responsible for "Gangnam Style," but k-pop contains a wide array of other distinct artists. K-pop artists are commonly young singers who have unique looks and are skilled dancers. Usually in all-girl or all-boy groups, these pop-stars are trained to work as a unit. Their dances are carefully mapped out and are often imitated by fans, while their looks are frequently changed and are extremely attention-grabbing. Visually, these artists tend to stand out dramatically. Furthermore, their music videos are often very strange. These peculiar videos play a crucial role in combining everything previously mentioned. In fact, several artists are associated with the style and portrayal their music video(s) emphasize. The videos are so visually striking, that many international fans may find them strange at first. For example, Girls' Generation, a popular k-pop group, uses many bright colors, distinct outfits, intricate dance moves, and random props. This may sound very vague, but they are very difficult to describe. One must see to believe, so here is an example of their work for a song called "I Got a Boy:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq7ftOZBy0E. As you can see, the music video is almost "cartoon-ish" in nature. Girls' Generation is one of my favorite k-pop groups and they are widely famous for their work. Their sound and style, however, was not naturally formulated. 

Many k-pop groups are thrown together and trained to be the "perfect pop stars." Young, musically-inclined Koreans are put through extensive training to master their craft. Scouts find potential stars, teach them everything they need to know about music, fashion, dance, and more. According to an article (link below) I found on the training of k-pop, "it is, by design, music that demands to be mainlined: Hooks come sharper, choruses larger, visuals brighter, the shine of its often mutated sonics far more intense than that of its Western source material." It is an art that must be taught and implanted in the minds of trainees. Masters of the style are signed by record companies and placed into bands, or groups, where their training continues.

K-pop artists are constantly growing in popularity. The distinctive melodies of the songs stand out from the music of many other countries. K-pop combines several genres into one (hip-hop, pop, techno, rock, and disco.) Even their lyrics are unique. The songs do not contain sexualized themes or hateful messages. These well-oiled music machines do not necessarily express themselves like American artists do. The style is far more innocent and fun. As such, I believe that all Americans should give k-pop a try. I highly suggest that you listen to the additional artists I've linked to this post!

More k-pop artists of interest:

BigBang (Fantastic Baby:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAbokV76tkU

Orange Caramel (Catallena:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Med2XipHJJM

SHINee (Lucifer:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dww9UjJ4Dt8 

G-Dragon (Crayon:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3ULhmadHkg

EXID (Every Night:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgkNW2cENQ

EXO-K (Overdose:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI0DGvqKZTI

TVXQ (Catch Me:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfUlE2LlGro

Article referenced:

http://www.spin.com/2012/03/seoul-trained-inside-koreas-pop-factory/

Icelandic Artists

I have always loved seeing international artists take the spotlight during American tours and on American film scores. Icelandic culture establishes music as an integral part of everyday life. In recent years, many Icelandic artists have reached large audiences and global stages. Artists such as Bjork and Sigur Ros have achieved international fame, while growing artists, like Jonsi continue to climb the global ladder. It is very difficult to overcome cultural barriers, but I sincerely hope that these Icelandic groups become household names within the U.S.

Sigur Ros is a post-rock band. They are best known for the their involvement with the Game of Thrones soundtrack. As musicians, Sigur Ros has proved to be extremely powerful in the areas of vocal dynamics and subtle, but unique, instrumentals. Their emotional theme, "The Rains of Castamere (Game of Thrones,)" perfectly set the scene for one of season four's most powerful moments. This song can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3QW8PVyyNM. The light, but serious tone of Sigur Ros is only one example of how talented Icelandic musicians truly are.

Bjork is one of my favorite artists of all time. Her spunky personality is reflected in her music and acting. As an experimental singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Bjork has seen her fair share of spotlights. Each album she releases represents a different part of "her world." By listening, we are immersed into her stories and fantasies. These stories are told through her lyrics and instrumentals. One of her most unique and entertaining pieces is "It's Oh So Quiet" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htobTBlCvUU.) This song is actually a cover of an early Betty Hutton song. Bjork's take on the song grew to be very popular. In fact, I remember it being featured on a commercial a few years ago. It is clearly a song about love- a very personal subject for Bjork and a common theme in her music. Bjork's talent may be extensive, but many rising Icelandic stars reflect similar strengths.

How to Train Your Dragon  and HTTYD 2 are two of my favorite animated films. Two songs that fronted the soundtracks for these second films were "Where No One Goes" and "Sticks and Stones." John Powell, the composer for the "HTTYD" film series, co-wrote "Where No One Goes" with singer-songwriter, Jonsi ("Sticks and Stones" was self-produced.) Jonsi is often associated with the way he plays guitar with a cello bow and his unique countertenor/ falsetto vocals. In "Where No One Goes," Jonsi uses notable Icelandic themes, while balancing Powell's HTTYD theme and his own distinct vocal sound. A complex combination like this shows true musicianship. Furthermore, the Icelandic musician has been a fairly popular target for other movie soundtracks. Jonsi even wrote a song for the film "We Bought a Zoo."

Above: Jonsi Playing Guitar with a Cello Bow

The growing influence and popularity of Icelandic musicians is truly inspiring. I hope that this trend passes on to the music/ musicians of many other countries.

"Sticks and Stones" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXV2fCimTsE

"Where No One Goes" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh_doTIrFRo

Additional Sources of Info:
http://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/9582-the-invisible-woman-a-conversation-with-bjork/

Asaf Avidan

There are so many wonderful things to be said about the unique artists that emerge from all over the globe. Asaf Avidan, however, has an incredible amount of my interest and admiration. The Israeli singer first caught my attention when he was still with his band, The Mojos. This band possessed a unique sound and style, so naturally, I was drawn to them. As with most of the music I listen to, I stumbled across this band while shamelessly filtering through YouTube one night many years ago. The lead singer, Asaf, had an electric energy and truly memorable voice.

The thing I appreciate most about Asaf's voice is his ability to seamlessly progress from a note at the center of his range to a series of notes at his highest register. I find it remarkable that he can fluctuate between higher notes with such a raw sound. His style is remnant of an American folk singer or European indie rocker. Despite this, traces of a completely unique sound can be heard in each song he releases.

The now solo artist dazzles, not only with his voice, but also his equally unique guitar skills. Each song that Asaf Avidan releases contains heavy amounts of string. In fact, my favorite song of his was (originally,) entirely acoustic. This song is called the Reckoning Song (One Day:) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A16VcQdTL80. One Day was the song that brought Asaf Avidan into the international spotlight. The original version of this song is extremely powerful, I possess a great amount of respect for the ethereal way Asaf's fingers skim the strings of the guitar. The delicacy and emotion he puts into his instrumental and vocals is incredible. As the guitar plays a softer tune, his voice tells a story through quickly shifting tones and dynamics. Furthermore, he draws from the message of his lyrics to channel the style of the song. The lyrics are reflected in each note he hits. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that his voice almost jumps in some areas, this technique is extremely uncommon and adds even more flare to his performance.

In further regard to performance, Asaf has produced several different versions of One Day. Wankelmut, a German DJ, collaborated with him to create remix of the song. This version is now performed more frequently than the original, acoustic version. The remix can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRAMNWzfjcg.

This international piece contains hints of Israeli musicianship, while maintaining English lyrics. The lack of a language barrier makes me question why this song never grew in popularity within the United States. By listening to international musicians, we can expand the variety of music played within the United States. Artists like Asaf inspire singer-songwriters globally. His influence would surely benefit the United States! It is crucial that we give international artists a chance to shine.


*Bonus Video: check out this AMAZING cover of One Day by a contestant on The Voice in Israel. You will not be disappointed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISoWAEV6xWE

Welcome!

This blog is dedicated to the influences and themes of international music. My posts will place heavy focus on style, uniqueness, and themes. The artists, lyrics, and instrumentation will all be analyzed thoroughly. 

Music is consistently a major part of our world's culture. Each country typically has artists, genres, and more attributed directly to its identity. Whether a country is fully developed, or tribal, music plays a key role in what makes it unique.

Americans are not always open-minded when it comes to music. Barriers such as language, artistic differences, and existing personal preference can prevent people from giving foreign music a chance. On this blog, I will also discuss the importance of appreciating music from around the world. 

Music is something that I've always been very passionate about. It is my goal to share the wonders of music with you! I hope that you will develop an appreciation for international musicians and their work.