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