New Music Mondays.....Two Door Cinema Club

Happy Monday Music Lovers,
The crisp air of fall encircles us in the Northwest; I am keeping myself warm with the sounds of good tunes. This week my music obsession is Two Door Cinema Club. They are a Northern Irish indie rock band from Bangor and Donaghadee, County Down, formed in 2007.

The band consists of Sam Halliday (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Trimble (vocals, rhythm guitar, beats, synths) and Kevin Baird (bass, backing vocals). The band's debut album, Tourist History, was released on 1 March 2010 by French independent record label Kitsuné Music. In the United States, where the band is signed to Glassnote Records, the album was released on 27 April 2010. Two Door Cinema Club was selected for the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year (2010.) The band's second album, Beacon, was released on 3 September 2012 and debuted at number one on the Irish Albums Chart.

I have been into this band for quite a few years and find them to be a perfect mix of dance music, still holding true to indie roots. So take a moment and check out my two favorite songs from this talented trio - "Something Good Can Work" and "What You Know."

I will see you music lovers next week for my new music obsession.
xoxoxoxo Najamoniq
A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence. ~Leopold Stokowski 

New Music Mondays....Selah Sue

Selah Sue (born Sanne Putseys, May 3, 1989) is a Belgian musician and songwriter. Blazing onto the scene with her debut album, Selah Sue (2011,) she was a major success, selling over 400,000 copies in Europe,with 200,000 in France alone. Today, she has chart success with the hit singles "Raggamuffin, ""Crazy Vibes," and "This World". Previous to "Selah Sue." her first EP was released in 2008, under the title Black Part Love. It contains five songs.

When she was seventeen a Belgian producer asked her to sing some demos of his songs, after which Universal offered her a contract. She refused, because she wanted to sing her own songs. Selah Sue often covers songs of Erykah Badu and The Zutons, but she does has assembled a whole range of her own songs. Two of her well-known songs are "Mommy" and "Black part love," both of which are carried out acoustically.

She says her influences are Lauryn Hill, M.I.A. and Erykah Badu. You can hear a lot of these artists' influence in her record. Selah is soul music, reggae music, singer songwriter style with a dash of jazz, and it is quite refreshing and unlike many artists who enter the industry at her age.

I must give a shout out to Daymaker Susan Pack for turning me onto this extraordinary artist. I hope you enjoy my two favorite tracks "This World" and "Raggamuffin" and i will see you next week with a New Music Obsession.
xoxoxo Najamoniq
"Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music." - Sergei Rachmaninov

New Music Monday....Metronomy

Monday Monday - it's  New Music Mondays music lovers. We have been so lucky to be basked in sunlight, and there is nothing better than good music in the sunshine. This weeks New Music Obsession is Metronomy.

Named after the musical term for the measurement of time by an instrument, Metronomy is an electronic music group formed by Joseph Mount in Totnes, Devon, England in 1999. The current band consists of Joseph Mount (composer, singer, keyboards and guitar), Anna Prior (drums and vocals), Oscar Cash (saxophone, backing vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Gbenga Adelekan (bass guitar and vocals.)

Their music consists of instrumental electronic music and vocal electronic pop music. Mount also releases remixes under the name Metronomy, and has remixed many artists including Gorillaz, Roots Manuva, Franz Ferdinand, Klaxons, Goldfrapp, The Young Knives, Zero 7, Ladytron, Kate Nash, Lady Gaga and Lykke Li.

Metronomy have released three albums of original material, Pip Paine, Nights Out and The English Riviera, released in April 2011. This band is a perfect mix if you like dance, electronic, indie or even a little jazz. So please enjoy my favorite Metronomy track "The Bay" see you next week, my little music geeks!

xoxoxoxoxxxo
Najamoniq


"Were it not for music, we might in these days say, the Beautiful is dead." ~Benjamin Disraeli

New Music Mondays..Brazilian Girls

Good Monday music lovers! Summer's here, the sun is out, people are lightening their locks, wearing shorts and sundresses, and so begins the lovely summer season! Speaking of sunshine and fun, this week's pick embodies my feelings of Summer. I give you Brazilian Girls.
Brazilian Girls is a band from New York City known for their eclectic blend of electronic dance music, with musical styles as diverse as tango, house, reggae and lounge. Funny thing, none of the members are actually from Brazil, and the only female in the band is Sabina Sciubba. Other members include keyboardist Didi Gutman, drummer Aaron Johnston, and bassist Jesse Murphy - a former member.
The band released three studio albums: their self-titled debut on 1 February 2005, Talk to La Bomb in 12 September 2006, and New York City on 5 August 2008.
Sabina being the focal point of the band mixes languages, fashion styles, and music blends making this band a lot of fun, not only to watch but to listen to also. I frequently drop some of their tracks in my DJ set.
I hope you enjoy one of the many tracks that are my favorite from their self titled album - "Corner Store."


xoxoxoxo
Najamoniq

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence." ~Leopold Stokowski

Sasquatch Music Festival Series: GROUPLOVE

Happy Monday! SASQUATCH...it always reminds me of fun, music and freedom. So does the music of this week's pick, GROUPLOVE.
When the members of Grouplove met it was like a dream. The setting was a remote artist colony on the exotic and mysterious Greek island of Crete. Drummer/producer Ryan Rabin and his childhood friend and former bandmate, guitarist Andrew Wessen, came from California; guitarist Christian Zucconi and keyboarist Hannah Hooper traveled from New York, and bassist Sean Gadd was the lone Brit. Each member went to Greece for their own independent reasons but over time they gravitated toward each other and discovered the sound that unified them: a merging of richly narrated, intricate songs with anthemic classic pop production.
It took the band the better part of a year to reunite after they left the island, but as they prepare to release their debut album, Never Trust A Happy Song, they’re starting to realize what began as fantasy has now become reality. I love this band; their attitude and energy toward music continually inspires me and puts a smile on my face.
So please enjoy my favorite track from this band.....TongueTied!

xoxoxoxox
Najamoniq


Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Sasquatch Music Series: Purity Ring

Photo by B.A. Davis

Good Monday Fellow Sasquatchians! It's New Music Monday, and keeping in line with our Sasquatch music picks, this week's pick is the band "Purity Ring."
Megan James and Corin Roddick formed "Purity Ring" in 2010. James, a 23 year old trained pianist, has been writing music and lyrics since the age of 1; Roddick., 20 years old, has drummed in various hometown bands since the age of 16.
Although both dedicated musicians, Purity Ring finds these two setting down the live music aspect and leaning more towards an electronic bevy of stammering beats and pitched down vocals, derived from a personal favorite of Roddicks - southern hip-hop.
This show is gonna be a fun one folks. I've actually had the pleasure of seeing this band when they opened up for Neon India;, this is gonna be one fun sensual dance explosion!!
I hope you enjoy my favorite track from this duo, "Belispeak."

Xoxoxoxoxo
Najamoniq

"After silence that which comes close to expressing the unexpressable is music". -Adious Huxley

Sasquatch Music Series : Childish Gambino

Hello, hello, hello fellow music lovers! We meet again on this lovely Monday for another installment of Sasquatch Music Series. This weeks pick - Childish Gambino.

I found this discovery to be especially interesting as Donald Glover is known for his acting and writing work on The Daily Show, Community, and 30 Rock. Born at Edwards Air Force Base in California in 1983, and graduating from New York University with a degree in dramatic writing in 2006, it seems that Glover knew his path for sometime. Glover is also a part of the sketch comedy group, Derrick Comedy. The group wrote and starred in the full length film, Mystery Team. Glovers' music includes DJing under the moniker mcDJ and rapping under the name Childish Gambino - a name he comically received from a Wu Tang name generator.
I loved reading about Childish Gambino; he is a very intelligent and heartfelt real rapper. He dives into his life and mind and writes on a very real plane. He even went so far as to disown an album he felt didn't reflect the way he intended.
This show is gonna be a fun one. You will be able to dance and even feel CG on a lot of levels. I highly recommend making a bee line for whichever stage this young gentleman is playing.
I hope you enjoy my favorite song and video from Childish Gambino, "Heartbeats."


xoxoxoxoxoxo
Najamoniq

Music cleanses the understanding; inspires it, and lifts it into a realm which it would not reach if it were left to itself. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Sasquatch Music Series : Allen Stone

Hello again fellow future Sasquatch attendees. Najamoniq here with a second installment of the Sasquatch Music Series. Before I go into this weeks pick I would like to reveal two little somethings I've observed about this years festivities: first, Seattle represent - so many artists are local. I'm excited to get into great music that is also local. Second, get ready to DANCE; this year is filled with funk, hip hop, DJ and soul music.

Speaking of soul music......Ladies and Gentlemen, ALLEN STONE. If you love jazzy soul that reminds you of long summer drives, lemonade, day drinking, yellow sundresses, picnics, and taking to the dance floor where you will try your hardest to GET IT? Then Allen Stone is your man.
A Washington native, he is the son of a preacher man. Stone grew up in the church, and when he met Motown he fell in love.
I was bowled over when I heard and saw this "Perfect Pitch Powerhouse," as one USA Today reporter referred to him. This cat is really singing about your life on these tracks. He speaks about life and finding your "Satisfaction;" he speaks on settling on who you are and not looking for that "Contact High." He speaks on letting go of hate, anger, and not standing so close to the misery that it effects you because you have "Nothing to Prove."
There's not much to say folks; this is just some damn good soul music! Word is that Stone will hit the Sasquatch stage (not sure which one just yet) at 5:00pm. Enjoy my favorite track/video below by Allen Stone, "Satisfaction"

Najamoniq
XOXOXOXOXO

There is nothing in the world so much like prayer as music is. ~William P. Merrill

Sasquatch Music Series :Electric Guest

Hello fellow music lovers, it is officially my favorite time of year - prelude to spring, which brings festival time!!!! Sasquatch is around the corner! I'm gonna be blogging about bands in the festival I am excited to watch. Check it out and plan your viewing schedule!!!

This weeks pick : Electric Guest

Jazz, soul, and slow wave beats with an indie edge, this duo hails from Los Angeles, California. Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton make up this duo and are signed onto Downtown, a label that has brought us gems like Justice, Gnarles Barkley, Kid Sister, Cold War Kids, and Santigold. They are newbies so there isn't a ton out there about them outside of LA. So, it's very fortunate to have these guys cruisin' our way to play the beautiful Gorge Amphitheatre. I hope you enjoy my favorite video "American Daydream". I love it when he starts tackling hipsters.

xoxo Najamoniq

"Without music life would be a mistake". ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Because When You're in the West...You're Golden, Right?

With all the snow and cold outside, I thought it would be nice to post about a new band obsession that makes me feel like summertime, every time I listen.
GOLDENWEST is Wes Period (Smith,) Shaun Profeta, and Colin Baylen. Hailing from Los Angeles, California, this trio is a fun mixture of rap, dance, and rock with a little bit of hip hop dashed in. The concept for the band's unique sound began with lead singer, Wes Period (Smith;) he began writing lyrics and rhymes and releasing mix tapes in high school. The trio united shortly after and are steadily becoming more and more popular with the release of their EP "Through My Eyes" in March. The EP was self recorded in the band's own studio and was produced by band member Colin Baylen.
I hope you enjoy two of my favorite tracks, title track "Through My Eyes," where Wes flows about growing up a mixed kid trying to find his place and "Always a Party," an ode to party goes, party times, and other antics. So sit back and let the sounds of GOLDENWEST melt away your snow day blues!


Najamoniq

"When I hear music, I fear no danger, I am invulnerable, I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times and the latest."
-Henry David Thoreau

New music obsession....Calvin Harris is always Ready For The Weekend!

There is nothing better to me than club thumping stylistic disco that brings up visions of pulling out that amazing outfit, putting it on, and hitting the town with a ferocity that could scare panthers in the jungle! If there was a soundtrack to this vision, it would be Calvin Harris!
Born in Dumfries,Scotland, Harris was attracted to electronic music in his teens and began recording demos in his bedroom studio in 1999. Becoming a bit antisocial during the process of creating his dream, he got his first solid break in 2002 when Prima Facie Label released two of his tracks, "Da Bongos" and "Brighter Days". In 2006 Harris signed with EMI and Sony BMG after being discovered on Myspace. Harris' career is a flurry of soap opera like interactions with many top artists including Lady GaGa, Katy Perry and Kelis, but through everything Harris has managed to still produce, DJ, and create some of the most amazing music to hit the electronic scene in years.
So, I urge you to pop onto your spotify, MySpace, or Facebook and become acquainted with this amazingly fun, discotastic musical genius. I know you wont be disappointed!
Enjoy my favorite track "Merrymaking At My Place"

FRIENDS.....new NY band obsession

Like a little indie mixed in with your hip hop and a dash of sexy?? Then you will love new band obsession,  via my bff - thank you Del Brown. FRIENDS is a band from Brooklyn, NY. Some smooth, sassy lyrics from one of my favorite tracks, "Im His Girl" read: "If you see me walkin around with him I'm not just some girl he picked up, Im....his......girl." Following in the sultry indie rap styles of girls like Lykke ly and Kreyshawn, this band is headed-up by two up and coming style icons - Samantha Urbani and Lesley Hann.
Originally named Perpetual Crush, the two leading ladies have been friends since Second grade and only last spring got together after Urbani began recording some casual tracks on her computer. After an impromptu jam session FRIENDS was born. Check out the video and keep an eye out for a album. It's taking a while due to an intense bidding war for the bands EP. Hope you love it - I know I do!

Najamoniq