Author: neenahfw

A one man band, Ashton D. Simmonds, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. He has three albums, Pilgrim’s Paradise (2015), Freudian (2017), CASE STUDY 01 (2019). Daniel Caesar has truly made a name for himself and has taken the R&B world by storm, just recently winning the Grammy’s award for best R&B performance. This is a name that needs to be known because he’s not going away any time soon.

When it comes to the feel of Caesar’s music, it truly is filled with soul. His music is peaceful and ambient in so many ways. When you listen to it I would recommend to focus on the lyrics and just sit and feel it sink into your skin. This music can also be beautiful for a drive into the sunset when you just want to appreciate life a little extra. The beautiful thing about music is that it has a way to connect us all, but it can be easy to become out of touch with that aspect. However, It seems to me that Caesar’s music seems to catch on this part of music with such ease. There’s something truly spiritual and otherworldly about his music and because of that I would say the vibe is…

~driving down an endless tunnel at night with your significant other, with no plan but the security of now~

When it comes to the instrumental aspect of Caesar’s songs, it is very acoustic. His music feels homemade, in the best way. You will notice he is a fan of muted guitars, soft drums and a nice piano/organ. You will also notice a very jazz approach to his music when it comes to the chord progressions and compositions- this gives the music a timeless feel. When looking at his voice itself you’ll find an extremely rich voice. He takes fancy into high falsettos to balance out any deep underlying tones throughout his music. This adds range and depth into his songs which isn’t easy to find.

• ARE YOU OK? (CASE STUDY 01)
  • This song is broken up into three parts in my opinion. It is the perfect song for when you’re feeling emotionally out of place. This song will help with whatever problems you’re facing today.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eawMaofPVU
• Japanese Denim (single)
  • A beautiful song with riffs and soul. This son talks about blue jeans, but somehow makes you feel like you’re talking about the most beautiful thing in the world.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PgVl0Nlc
• Best Part ft. H.E.R (Freudian)
  • One of my absolute favorites with another amazing artist, H.E.R. This song includes beautiful harmonies and simple acoustics. If you like R&B, this song will get to your soul
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKgl5-lkT8U

At the end of this day, this music will automatically chill you out. Its perfect for a cup of coffee or just to reminiscence in life. Even if you feel like Daniel Caesar isn’t for you, I would advise you to at least give a listen and maybe you’ll change your mind.

In a world where time doesn’t seem to feel real right now, I’ve had the pleasure of finding quite of few artists that I would consider hidden gems, Son Lux being one of them. A New York based experimental/electronica band, Son Lux is not new to the music scene but they aren’t necessarily well known. Personally their music is on the verge of being a movie score but not quite dramatic enough so it’s just… there. It’s experimental in every way and that’s why this it’s golden.

I discovered Son Lux my Sophomore year of High School (2017). I was super sad all the time and came across some of their music and honestly, this is what made me fall down the loop hole of trying to find new music, because I didn’t know it could get this good. Now during the Covid-19 pandemic, I have seemed to cross paths once again with this amazing band. Their music will evoke emotions in you. Maybe it’ll make you feel like you’re floating away in a lovely dream or maybe it’ll make you address all those pent up emotions you’ve been dealing with, and you’ll be able to breath again. Either way the vibe is…

~Sitting outside during a storm and rethinking your entire life while knowing everything will eventually be ok~

As a child of classic orchestral music, Son Lux allows me to have a modern appreciation for this through their music. Although they do rather obscure music techniques like intense bass, choral backgrounds, or any sound modification- their music is no where near electronic to me. They are a soft sound that builds up, but it doesn’t sound like a Transformer’s movie by any means. You will find plenty of strings, intense beat patterns, and reverb on their singing- but that’s as electronic as it gets. If you like any of those things, this band will be easy to fall in love with.

So let’s analyze a few songs why don’t we?

• Lanterns Lit (Lanterns)
  • This was the first song I ever heard by them. The lyrics are emotional and impactful. I don’t want to say them because I feel like everyone should have their own first experience with this song. The instrumental work in this song is phenomenal. It includes choir, strings, bass, chimes, it just feels like walking into heaven.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S2QjU0C8Qg
• Flickers (We Are Rising)
  • I’m pretty sure this song was used in an American Horror Story episode, so you already know it’s great. This song evokes creepy vibes, and I’ll tell you why. Read the song name, yes this song sounds like flickering lights. There’s no other way to explain it. It includes strings, ambient voices, and a continuous piano pattern.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Du-R-OsMiQ
• Change Is Everything (Bones)
  • This is the most uplifting of the three songs I’ll share. It includes an intense bass beat and lots of sound modification on the voice of the lead singer. There’s no easy way to explain this song, the only thing I can add is that this will make you feel happy no doubt.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGtUDffAdy8

I hope this post will inspire some of you to look into Son Lux. They are ridiculously underrated and deserve more praise then they get. This is the perfect music to fall asleep or just vibe to. Take a look at their music during all this chaos, and maybe you too will find hope in the noise.

Boy bands are nothing new to the music world, however this is one like never seen before. A group founded in 2010 in San Marcos, Texas- BROCKHAMPTON is a group of 13 men behind and in front of the scenes who create alternative hip hop music. They have taken the world by storm with their elaborate plots in music videos, distinct voices, and unique style. Since their rise to fame they have released 6 studio albums: ALL AMERICAN-TRASH (2016), SATURATION (2017), SATURATION II (2017), SATURATION III (2017), iridescence (2018), and GINGER (2019).

BROCKHAMPTON’s music make you want to relive your break up or go absolutely crazy and riot, there’s no in between. I like to listen to their music when I’m driving at night with friends or at parties. There’s just something about their music that has the ability to make you feel, some kinda way. Its hard to describe it in one word, so I guess you could say their music is an, experience. I would say the vibe is…

~your significant other just broke up with you but you’re at a party with friends and are happy anyways~

For those who want to know how their music sounds like without metaphors, this is for you. Like I said previously BROCKHAMPTON is a boy band, which means there’s more than just one lead singer or rapper. They like to bend the genre of their songs a lot of the time as well. Sometimes it might feel like 90’s rap, indie, R&B, electronic, or just your classic alt-rap. They tend to rely on really good beats to allow for creative flow from all the artists. They like to use a strong bass and tend to modify their voice both high and low. A lot of their songs tend to follow a pattern of multiple different verses in the beginning with a continuous chorus to the end. This helps their songs fade easier and creates a build up of adrenaline, they work this in mainly for live shows. Overall their musical composition is pretty basic, it all depends on whose singing and what style they want to use that makes it unique.

Now that I’ve made BROCKHAMPTON seem extremely complicated, I’ll break down a few songs for you from most of their albums.

• MICHIGAN (ALL-AMERICAN TRASH)
  • This is one of the heartbreak songs that I warned y’all about. The beat is sick and the bass drops just at the beginning, but all it talks about is how they fell in love in Michigan. This song will not make you feel like you’re in a riot but instead will make you want to sit on the couch, put your headphones in, and just stare at the wall.
• GOLD (SATURATION)
  • This song is one that you would bump in the car by yourself. Its very much a self hype anthem, so if you need a confidence boost this is for you. Its not really a dance song, so don’t expect that.
• GUMMY (SATURATION II)
  • This was the first song by BROCKHAMPTON that I ever heard, so it’s a little close to my heart. The beat itself is very eastern and uses a harmonic minor scale, which I LOVE. This song also uses all of the singers/rappers, which makes it exceptionally fun.
• BOY BYE (ginger)
  • This song makes you feel like you’re at a chill party. It talks about the struggles of depression but makes it into a catchy beat so you’d never notice unless you listen to the lyrics.

This band is unique in so many ways, it can be really hard to describe them, but I love them so much I feel like they should be known. They are a different kind of band that not a lot of people have been introduced to. They are for anyone who wants to experience something else, because that’s the only way to describe them, but I promise you won’t regret it.

Sometimes, we desire a raw and authentic feeling within our music. Thankfully, we are living in a period of self constructed music, lo-fi, and garage bands. In this realm you will probably come across the name Rex Orange County quite a few times, and trust that this is no mistake. Alexander O’Connor is a twenty-one year old artist from the U.K.. Rex began constructing his own music at the age of sixteen, on Logic software. He continued this process and has now released three albums; bcos you will never b free (2016), Apricot Princess (2017), Pony (2019).

Rex Orange County’s music makes the big world we all live in, seem a little smaller. It expresses feelings that we all have; exhaustion, sadness, loneliness, fear. I like to think of these emotions as the human experience, and to find them expressed through music is a blessing in and of itself. For people who like to feel like they’re floating on a cloud when they listen to music, this is the guy for you. This is for laying on your bed and staring at the ceiling, long car drives, looking through old photos, saying goodbye to friends and family, and maybe just dancing around in your kitchen alone. I would say the overall vibe is…

~moving forward even when things get hard while eating a PB & J sandwich alone~

For those who could care less about the emotional aspect and just want to know how his music is constructed, allow me to give you a quick run through. As I stated previously, Rex used to make his music on Logic software, which just allows anyone to create their music “homemade”. He has since then signed to Sony, and I could only assume they use much more advanced software. If we look at his music instrumental wise, he tends to lean towards lots of strings, electric guitar, piano, soft drums, xylophones, saxophones, trumpets. All in all, his music is not jazz by any means, but uses their key set of instruments. When it comes to his voice, it is raspy, soft, and so very smooth. His range can go super low to an average high and he likes to include riffs and little moments that make the music authentic. Of course his lyrics have deep meaning, but even without the words you can feel the emotion of the song through his simply complex melodies.

Now I don’t think there’s a good way to explain Rex’s music without introducing you to some of his songs.

• Best Friend
  • this song starts off very slow, talking about the feeling of being surrounded by people who love you but still feeling alone. The song then spirals into a kaleidoscope of instruments and becomes an anthem of sorts, this is definitely made to uplift your mood.
• Sunflower
  • this song starts off with a muted voice and a simple guitar and brass background. It eventually picks up with intense drums and layered voices (lower/higher). This song is for anyone who wants to feel that carefree summer vibe whenever they want.
• It’s Not The Same Anymore (Pony)
  • This song is a mixture of sad and happy. For me its the realization that things will be bad, but it wont be bad forever. This song included beautiful chord patterns on guitar and piano, plus a wonderful saxophone solo that will give your whole body chills. If you are feeling exhausted and like you want to give up, hopefully this song will make you change your mind and allow you to resonate with someone else’s feelings.
• Apricot Princess (Apricot Princess)
  • This song starts off with some lovely strings and other symphonic instruments of sorts (including a gong). However it then breaks out into a Latin rhythm with drums and trumpets and makes anyone who listens to it want to dance, even if you think you can’t.

Rex Orange County is an artist for anyone who isn’t afraid to acknowledge their deepest feelings, because I promise you he’ll talk about them. This music is for people who want to feel something more, who want to connect emotionally, and who want to feel music surround them. I hope this gave you more insight into what Rex Orange County is all about, stay safe, and stay home.

As avid listeners of music, it can be hard to find a new sound, as we’re constantly surrounded by mainstream noise. REI AMI, a twenty-four year old indie singer of South Korean decent, is going to be your new favorite artist. She was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to the U.S. when she was six. Her stage name comes from the popular anime show “Sailor Moon”, using the first names of Sailor Mars (Rei) and Sailor Moon (Ami). Raised in a heavily Christian influenced household, she wasn’t allowed to listen to any music that wasn’t Christian. She grew up in a world where what she was surrounded by conflicted with her own personal wants and needs of expression. Through this she created a burning passion for rebellion and music, thus writing her first songs at nineteen but finally releasing her music for the world to hear in 2019.

REI AMI is actually a whole sound in and of itself. The REI part of all her songs tend to be more intense and bad ass. It makes you feel like you could do anything you want in the world and that you don’t care what anyone has to say about it. The AMI part of her music switches to a softer, sadder, more authentic sound. It creates the feeling of removing a mask of confidence to reveal a more sensitive being. Overall I would say the vibe is…

~walking into a room of admirers who want to be like you and then going back home only to feel sad and lonely while drinking your expensive wine~

For the readers who desire a more in depth analysis of music style, this is the part for you, so listen up. As I said before, REI AMI actually stand for the two styles/personalities throughout her song. First, lets analyze the REI part of her music. When listening to any of her songs it will always start with a more intense variation of music and lyrics. The REI part of her songs consists of heavy bass, an intense beat, and repetitive chorus. Most of lyrics within the REI part of the song tends to lean to a more aggressive approach, including profanity and a more so monotone like singing on the verge of speaking/rapping. Then soon there after we enter the world of AMI. This tends to include, but not limited to; strings, piano, lo-fi beats, synth, guitar, and soft background vocals. When it comes to the change in lead vocal in the AMI part of the song, it is a drastic change. The singing becomes much softer and classical in nature. A lot of the time she will include an octave lower of her own voice over her natural voice. In other words the AMI part is much more ethereal in nature.

I usually give you guys four songs that I think define the artist, but in this case REI AMI only has four singles released so I’m just gonna give you guys a run down on them!

• SNOWCONE– this song has a chiller vibe overall. The REI part has a soft but intense beat, lyrics with profanity, and a really cool guitar single plucked chord throughout. Then you get to the AMI part and it becomes a sad song about how she isn’t as confident as she seems. It includes soft singing with a classical guitar and xylophones in the background making it super fairy like.

• RUNAWAY– This is one of her newest releases. The REI starts of with screaming children, an intense bass, and whisper singing. The AMI then comes in with a pentatonic scale, showing some of her Korean music roots. It feels angelic all around as a string orchestra plays along to her vocals. This song is definitely for someone who likes their music a little out of the box.
• DICTATOR– This song is the ultimate bad girl song in the REI part. It includes a heavy electric rock guitar sound with a strong bass and fast intense monotone lyrics. The AMI part then kicks in with muffled background vocals, as if you’re on the telephone. It turns into a sad love song about how she misses her ex lover.

• MAKE IT MINE– This starts off with intense repetitive vocals that have a robotic sound to them. It includes a snare beat, catchy hook, and background talking in between verses. The AMI part then goes into a soft lo-fi beat with retro vibes, her singing is soft and then ends really low, as it was vocally manipulated by the software.

REI AMI is for people who like the best of both worlds. Everyone likes feeling like the most confident person in the world, but sometimes the desire to be human and just be sad sometimes is there too. Artists tend to have range within their albums with individual songs, but rarely do songs have range within the song itself. With REI AMI’s music you can allow yourself to experience this wonderful world of two feeling colliding to create something magical.

When it comes to out of the box music, Glass Animals is good stepping stone for intrigued listeners. A psychedelic pop band from the UK, Glass Animals is a band composed of four childhood friends: Dave Bayley (Lead Vocals, Guitar, Tambourine), Drew MacFarlane (Guitar, Keyboard, Backing Vocals), Ed Irwin-Singer (Bass Guitar, Keyboard, Backing Vocals), and Joe Seaward (Drums). Created in 2010, they released their first studio album “Zaba” in 2014 and their second studio album “How to Be a Human Being” in 2016. Their music has become increasingly popular including features from Joey Bada$$ and Denzel Curry. Glass Animals is known for their complex music style and outstanding shows, making this the perfect band for someone who isn’t quite sure what their style is.

When it comes to the personality of the band, I would calm it a calm chaos. The music is the type that you would listen to while reclining the seat on your couch back, turning on the TV, and then watching the news about something super terrible that has just happened. Personally the music that they create give me a sense of honesty. It creates music out of the chaotic thoughts and ideas we have throughout our “normal” everyday lives. Their music sends your mind on a music trip because of its confusing lyrics and intense instrumentals. Overall, I would say the vibe is…

~the soundtrack that would play if you accidentally walked into a murder scene in a diner in the middle of the desert~

Glass Animals are known for their distinct music style and technicality. They typically use lots of electronic software for beats and vocal modulations. I would say their music has a range; this includes soft electronic, indie, and hip hop. For their songs that include a more soft electronic or indie vibe they include very distinctive aspects, such as: soft electronic bell sounds, vocals that remain soft but include lots of background vocals, a quiet consistent background beat, and oddly, lots of water/animal like sounds. For their more hip hop and heavy songs it includes instrumentals such as: Heavy electronic synth, background breathing/screaming vocals, intense lead vocals (not soft by any means), intense snare beats, and bass drops galore. Because of Glass Animal’s versatility, it’s very easy for people to enjoy their music, as it doesn’t apply to just one genre.

Now, because of their wide range is music styles, it can be hard to pick songs that fit the music you are looking for if you don’t already know them, so allow me to aid you.

• Pork Soda (How to Be a Human Being)– the song starts of with a distant low voice humming of their chorus “pineapples are in my head, got nobody cause I’m brain dead”, which may I say, is a very intriguing way to start a song. The rest of the song is has a very uplifting beat with lyrics that are actually pretty depressing. This creates a confusion of emotion and emits that ~chaotic~ energy I talked about previously. This is by far my favorite song of theirs and consider is a musical masterpiece to my ears.

https://open.spotify.com/track/5C5gvDZsl6d8bh89URfKHr?si=5sCyAtpAQ-axBwrwa6zvZw

• Lose Control (ft. Joey Bada$$)– This song is one of the more hip hop based songs. The song begins in a minor key and makes you as if your bouncing. The song includes distinctive snare and bass rhythms making it a super catchy song. The rappy in and of itself is very emotional and creates a creepy or /evil/ aspect to the song.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4uebxn8GU88Tvc4gLUNfKp?si=OTJjcM_kRR6ZKQEHLzuXLA

• Agnes (How to Be a Human Being)– This song is what you listen to when you need closure. It has such a warm, comforting, and motherly feeling. This is most likely due to the fact the beginning of the song starts off with a lullaby like chord progression that continues throughout the song. The song is very happy and contains may uplifting aspect whether that be a standard 4/4 beat or a continuous major melody. The ending is a cluster of instruments and is actually the conclusion of their second album, which is why it manages to give the listener the same feeling of a happy ending.

https://open.spotify.com/track/6prvUr8l3t7x5GY7heQb5w?si=i5-rdhFrQBesUtnHo0jYIA

• Gooey (ZABA)– This song is the standard lofi-soft indie song they are known for. The vocals throughout the song are very soft and airy like. The beat throughout it is very soft but consistent. Throughout you will hear the same progression of notes and chords, allowing the song to be extremely calm and relaxing to listen to. This song feels like someone is telling you a story in the best way, music.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1gk3FhAV07q9Jg77UxnVjX?si=POcTt533Ttyp7TViWM8qfQ

A psychedelic, rap, pop, indie world, is exactly why Glass Animals is so special. I hope that through this experience you may be more inclined to give them a look and see what they have to offer. I promise you won’t regret it!

The lady who released a song where she “moo’d” for half of it, yes you read that right, Doja Cat (Amala Zandile Dlamini) is a R&B/Pop star rising to fame, however she is by no means new to the music scene. Signing to a label in 2014, Doja Cat has been releasing music for years. Doja is of South African and Jewish decent, and because of this her music has a distinct style that really cant be /replicated/.

Doja Cat has taken the internet by storm these past two years, especially Tik Tok. She is know for her playful, yet energetic music. Her music is, empowerment. Personally, when I listen to it, I can’t help but feel like I walked into a room of diamonds and am sitting down drinking a glass of champagne with the girls, it is a feeling of glam and power. Doja has the ability to transport anybody into the feeling of their most confident self. Not only this but Doja broke the internet in 2018 when she released her song, along with its music video, “MOOO!”. It includes her dressed as a cow, while dancing, with a green screen background, singing “moo”. She is experimental-ism in the R&B world at its finest. I would define her vibe as:

soulful women empowerment with a hint of the unexpected

When it comes to music technicality, Doja likes to play with her style. She has a distinct voice but is able to be a loud angry rapper and a soft angelic singer at the same time. She likes to play with fast and slow rhythms, which really are the template for styles in music, and for this reason it so is difficult to say what her music really is. When it comes to instruments it’s all about the lo-fi feels, dreamy guitar, a snare beat, and lots of back vocals. Her music is breathy, powerful, and soft all at the same time. Sometimes her lyrics can be a bit pointless, like the cow song, but other times it’s a love song with heartfelt lyrics like “Say So”. As I said earlier, Doja doesn’t like to follow the crowd, she is a experimenter and is killing it in that game. No one quite has her style and because of that she is shining in the music industry world right now. So lets get into some of her music.

• Say So (Hot Pink)- THE Tik Tok song, this song has a very soft feel. It really feels like you immersed yourself into a dream. With its catchy guitar and background vocals, it’s hard not to love this song.
• MOOO! (Amala)- This song is comical, but also has its own innuendos. It turns a childhood song into a song of female empowerment. Doja Cat manages to make a song about farms and cows, sexy?
• Boss B*tch (Birds Of Prey)- This song is exactly what the title of the song says it is. Her singing in this is much more intense, the scream rappy type. The song is fast paced and is perfect for any work out playlist. If your angry or just wanna get hype, this song will get your adrenaline pumping and make you feel like the unstoppable woman (or man) you are.

Now that you have a deeper insight into who Doja Cat is and what her style is, I hope maybe you’ll decide to give her a look. She is fresh and unique, you wont find anyone else like her. She is paving the way for female artists and saying it is OK to be a woman, be sexy, and to be powerful. If you’ve been trying to get into the R&B scene, this is a great dip in the pool for you.

Hello, my name is Neenah and I am a senior in high school, currently taking College Prep Writing. In this class we have to create a blog based on something we’re interested in, so my take on it was…

~music reviews~

Why did I do this?

• Because I love music. My entire life is basically music, so I pride myself in being able to tell people what they should listen to.
• Because I am so good at making Spotify playlists and therefore I have acquired a wide variety in music taste.

This page will consist of posts based on one band or musical artist I have in mind. It will include things like…

• Who the band or person is.
• What their music is all about- comparisons as well.
• What vibe or genre they would fit into.
• Favorite songs.
• Analyzing their musical style.