Frank Turner LIVE!

If you’ve read our blog before, you know that I (Rae) am pretty obsessed with a certain British singer-songwriter named Frank Turner. Frank is the perfect combination of punk and folk, rock and bluegrass, guitar riffs and acoustic chords. I fell in love with Frank’s music when I lived in England and have been slowly trying to convert all of my friends to Frank fanatics ever since. I could never fully explain how much Frank’s music has meant to me, and the kind of impact its had on my life. For me, music is deeply connected to memories, and Frank’s soulful crooning draws me back to a hard place that got much, much better. For the first time since this musical love affair started, I had the chance to see Frank LIVE last week. Here’s my recap of the show:

First of all, I just have to point out the obvious that Frank is INCREDIBLE live. He has more energy and positivity than I could ever hope to possess, and he does this nearly EVERY NIGHT, FOLKS. Seriously, check out the list of shows on his U.S. tour – he’s going pretty much everywhere and I can guarantee he gives 110% at each and every show. Our show started with two openers, The Homeless Gospel Choir and Two Cow Garage, who were both talented and enjoyable acts. After a short break to reset the stage, our main man FRANK TURNER and his backing band, The Sleeping Souls (who are AMAZING, by the way), took to the stage. They started off with Frank’s seminal classic “I Still Believe” which contains one of my favorite lyrics: “now who’d have thought that after all, something as simple as rock ‘n’ roll would save us all.” He played a great mix of songs for fans both old and new from a number of his albums, including early hits like “Photosynthesis,” “The Ballad of Me and My Friends,” and “Love Ire and Song,” as well as many songs from his newest records, Tape Deck Heart and Positive Songs for Negative People. Nearly all of my favorite Frank songs were played, including “Plain Sailing Weather,” “The Opening Act of Spring,” and “Recovery.”

Frank also performed a NEW song for us (and kindly asked us not to record it, so sorry to tease you without a preview!). He had literally finished writing it a day before the show and guys, it was AWESOME. I can’t wait until he records and releases it for all of you to hear. What struck me most about Frank’s concert was his emphasis on turning it not only into a participatory event, but also a community gathering. He had all of us sit on the floor of the venue at one point and look around at one another, encouraging us to remember our fellow concert attendees as friends, sharing in these life moments together. He literally and figuratively put us all on an equal playing ground, a breath of fresh air in the world of live music that often emphasizes importance, status, and benefits based on how much you can pay for a ticket.

All in all, Frank played a total of 26 songs (!!!!) over about 2 hours. He played songs with his full band as a well as a few acoustic numbers alone, and also did a RAD cover of “Breed” by Nirvana. He brought someone on stage and had her crowdsurf, and during his final song, “Four Simple Words,” Frank himself dove into the crowd. The show was high energy from start to finish – my Fitbit counted nearly 8,000 steps during those 2 hours! At a Frank Turner show, “I want to dance” becomes less of a lyric and more of a mindset.

Oh, and did I mention that my friend and I got to MEET Frank after the show? It was an absolute dream come true for me. I stumbled over my words a little (but who could blame me?!) but Frank was incredibly kind, talking to us about my time studying in York, The Postal Service, Fitbits, and everything in between. He signed my CD insert and posed for a photo with me, even complimenting my camera. He spent almost 15 minutes talking to my friend and me, despite the fact that there was still a small pack of people waiting to meet him. I can genuinely say that Frank is one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I hope all of you blog readers get the chance to see this incredible guy in concert one day.

You can follow Frank’s Twitter here. Comment on this post or talk to us on Twitter about your favorite Frank Turner song!

Cheers,

Rae

Adele is back!

As fans of the U.K. living in the States, we are used to waiting. We wait a little bit longer for Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and even for some of our favorite new artists. However, we shared the world’s pain after LOVING Adele‘s album, 21, only to wait 4 LONG, PAINFUL years for another album. How did we know how to love? How to feel without Adele’s soulful voice to tell us? Somehow, we survived and the wait really was worth it.

After only 5 short weeks on the Billboard charts, Adele has held the #1 spot, selling 7.13 million copies of her much anticipated album, 25. It can be daunting when you first are listening to a new album – which sounds should I listen to first? What will capture all the emotion I’ve felt over the last 4 years without Adele?

Don’t fret, dear friends. We have been listening to 25 on repeat for the last month and want to share some of our favorite songs from the biggest album of 2015. Prepare to feel again…

Rae’s picks:

Adele was really popular when I lived in England in 2009, and I fell in love with her beautiful, raw voice and powerful songs. I’ve listened to 21 more times than I could ever count and I’m thrilled that our girl Adele is back with 25. Here are some of my favorite songs from the album:

Send My Love (To Your New Lover)

This might be my favorite song from Adele’s new album. The sound is a little different for Adele – it’s so catchy, a song that you would perhaps expect to hear Taylor Swift singing with her crew from the “Bad Blood” video. But Adele’s voice has a natural rasp that adds so much to this song. It’s also not your typical breakup song – instead of crying over the guy or getting mad at his new girl, Adele sings of being “set free” and asking her ex to treat his new lover better.

Million Years Ago

THIS IS MY GIRL ADELE, 100% ON POINT. Million Years Ago is stripped-down and raw, influenced by the Spanish flamenco style of music. I can just picture Adele belting this out in a courtyard somewhere with a flowing red dress and flowers in her hair. This is a song of yearning and heartache – if you ever need a good cry, blast this and get all of your emotions out.

River Lea

“River Lea” is an example of an excellent Adele power ballad. This song just gets me, too – sometimes it’s hard to move on, even when you know it’s best for you. I also love how Adele uses the example of a real river to metaphorically talk about love (“it’s in my roots, it’s in my veins”).

Shan’s Picks

Per the usual, I fell in love with Adele before she hit global stardom, back to the days when she was just 19 and her music was only playing on radios in the U.K. I even had her song, “Chasing Pavements” on my music playlist when I first visited England in the summer of 2009. While all of these new songs speak to me, I do happen to have a few favorites from 25: 

When We Were Young

I especially love this live version of “When We Were Young.” I appreciate the lost youth theme of this album, as I am about to turn 27 (just like Adele!), I feel those early 20’s fading away and am not sure I’m ready for my looming 30’s. This song will make you ache for those youthful times when things seemed just a little bit easier.

Water Under the Bridge

The plunky guitar beat and background clapping makes this a more playful tune. As one of the more upbeat songs on the album, it instantly makes me smile, even if it is about ending a relationship.

All I Ask

This song is most reminiscent of the 21 era. Beautifully sung, it is one of those that you can’t help but curl up and cry to every time you hear it. Her heartbreak is palpable. You can see her perform this little gem on her NBC special, which premiered this December.

We can’t ever find someone like you, Adele. You are the singer of our generation and we salute you.

Happy year of Adele,
Shan & Rae

 

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I’ve followed the musical careers of a number of X Factor U.K. stars, but have never been able to enjoy their journey through the show…until just a few weeks ago! I stumbled upon the TV channel, axsTV, and found that they play the latest episodes only a few days after they originally air in the U.K.! I’m completely engrossed in this season and have sorely missed the curmudgeon-y Simon Cowell.

I am certainly emotionally invested in the show (I will be DEVASTATED if Ché doesn’t win the whole thing). However, even those who didn’t win have made it big, sometimes bigger than the winners, after the show concluded. In honor of this weekend’s finale,  this post features a few of my favorite singers who got their start on the X Factor.

Ella Henderson

Ella appeared on the X Factor in 2012 at the tender age of 16 and blew the judges away with her rich, soulful voice. She launched her solo career in 2014 with the album, Chapter One, and has become an international star in her own right.

Sounds like: Adele meets Emeli Sande

Mirror Man

One of her sassier songs, this has a wonderful blues sound and is a nice tell-off song.

Yours

I love this raw, emotional side of Ella.

Olly Murs

Olly was the runner up on the 2009 series and is now a co-host this year. Known for his playful, upbeat pop stylings, he has had some fun collaborations and catchy albums over the years.

Sounds like: Maroon 5 meets Ed Sheeran

Up

My favorite Olly Murs song is off his 2014 album, Never Been Better, and is this soaring breakup/makeup song featuring Demi Lovato. 

Rebecca Ferguson

Runner up on the 2010 series, blues singer, Rebecca Ferguson has a raw, raspy voice and soulful style. Her 2015 album, Lady Sings the Blues, is a fantastic re-envisioning of Billie Holliday classics. Check out the lead single:

Sounds like: Amy Winehouse meets Duffy

I Hope

I can already see a number of this season’s contestants making it big after the finale!

Shan

U.K. Workout Playlist: Little Mix

Ever since I wrote our first blog post, “The Saturdays: the U.K. Girl Group Your Workout Playlist Needs“, I realized that my most heart-pounding, get up and move workout playlists feature U.K.-based artists. In an effort to share some of my other gym favorites, I’d like to introduce you to another U.K. girl group with mad vocals and contagious pop beats: Little Mix.

When I first discovered Little Mix, the first group winner of the U.K.’s The X Factor, their album had just debuted in the U.K. but was not yet out in the States. I waited a whole year before their debut, “DNA”, hit U.S. iTunes. Today, they are an international pop group known for their playful lyrics and girl power attitude.

Here is a comprehensive list of my favorite Little Mix songs (that are perfect for your next workout) including brand new tracks from their just released 3rd studio album, Get Weird. 

From the album DNA (2012)

• “DNA“ 

I first discovered this song on YouTube and was instantly hooked. One of their more traditional pop songs, it makes me want to dance every time I hear it.

•  “Madhouse“

We all feel a little crazy some days and I love a song with a beat (and lyrics) that are telling you to run (literally and figuratively).

Lyric sampling: “Running from the madhouse\ they won’t take me back,\ you got the medicine to give me what I need!”

From the album Salute (2013)

• “Move“

This was a new sound for them, pairing heavy drums with a partial rap style. Again, I love a song that makes my workout easy: if Little Mix tells me to “Move” then I must move.

• “Salute“

Another example of their girl power attitude paired with heavy beats moving along to an army-march style song.

From the album, Get Weird (2015)

• “Love Me Like You Do”

This playful tune from their newest album has a fun ’80s vibe – very different from their previous music.

Happy Workout!

Shan

 

A Musical Introduction: Two Door Cinema Club

I discovered Two Door Cinema Club the same way I do many new artists: through Spotify Radio. This particular station started with Young The Giant and introduced me to several bands that I would soon come to love, including The 1975, Bombay Bicycle Club, and Two Door Cinema Club. I was drawn to Two Door Cinema Club because of their eclectic style. Two Door Cinema Club gives a nod to some of my favorite bands, such as Phoenix and Bastille, but sets themselves apart with their blend of electronica and pop/rock melodies and the addition of lead singer Alex Trimble’s unique voice. I was fortunate enough to see Two Door Cinema Club in concert a couple years ago (though we nearly hit a deer on our way there!) and let me tell you guys, they are SO GOOD in person. I’ve never been at a concert so full of energy before. Two Door Cinema Club originally hails from Northern Ireland. They released their first EP, Four Words To Stand On, in 2009 and have successfully released two full-length albums and another EP since then. I’m going to outline a few of my favorite songs by Two Door Cinema Club, all of which can be purchased from the iTunes Store and listened to on Spotify.

1. “Undercover Martyr” from Tourist History 

As you’ll remember from our Ed Sheeran post, I love anyone who can do a combination of quick-talk and singing in the same song. “Undercover Martyr,” from Two Door Cinema Club’s first album, Tourist History, is a great example of that. It has a great beat that’s just made for dancing, and the video is pretty fun, too (glow in the dark guitars!).

2. “Sleep Alone” from Beacon

This song is SO DANG CATCHY. It’ll be stuck in your head for days (but in a really good way!). I also really love the lyrics. Who hasn’t had ghosts from their pasts pop up when they’re trying to fall asleep, remembering all the painful or embarrassing things that have happened? “He sleeps alone/ he needs no army where he’s headed/ cause he knows/ they’re only ghosts” is kind of empowering in a way. The music video also pokes fun at 21st century horror movies and then takes a *~magical~* twist, which we’re always down to see!

3. “Changing Of The Seasons” from Changing Of The Seasons 

“Changing Of The Seasons” showcases the band’s ultra cool electronica vibe, as well as Alex Trimble’s fabulous voice. There’s also some great guitar action happening in the background, creating a song that should be blasted at full volume, windows open, driving by the beach in the summertime. Did I mention how much I love Alex Trimble’s voice, because it is soooo smooth. I love the fact that the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously, as exhibited in this music video (you also get to hear their accents which are RAD).

Rumor has it that Two Door Cinema Club is working on their third studio album (please release it soon guys!!). In the meantime, you can follow them on Twitter for the latest info on new music and gigs. They recently tweeted that there are “many announcements to come!!” and frankly, we can’t even WAIT to see what’s next for this brilliant band.

Happy listening,
Rae

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Okay, I have to admit, when I posted “5 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching the X Factor U.K.,” I hadn’t watched the first live episode yet and didn’t know how the top 13 would perform for the first time. As I was watching it, I found that my favorite performance was an artist who had not originally made my top 5 list. I had enjoyed his voice, but didn’t find his performances as engaging as some of the other singers.

That all changed when I saw the top 13 perform. In order to admit my mistakes, I’d like to introduce you to Ché Chesterman, whose raspy voice and soulful performance of an Amy Winehouse/”Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” mashup stole my heart. Listen and believe:

Sing away, Ché, sing away.
Shan

5 Reasons Why You Should Be Watching The X Factor UK

With the X Factor airing live in the U.K., I was only able to enjoy the show retroactively, trying to follow the show via Twitter feeds and news stories. Then, one day, the clouds parted and I found I had AXS TV, an American channel that debuts X Factor episodes a night after their U.K. airdate. While I have to effectively avoid Twitter for a full day in order to ensure I don’t see any SPOILERS (read that in a River Song voice), I have been cheering on my favorites on Sunday and Monday nights. If you don’t have AXS TV, you can definitely follow the performances via the X Factor Youtube channel the day after they air in the U.K. While there are many reasons to watch the X Factor, this season’s crop of artists is truly phenomenal.

There is also the added bonus that former X Factor contestant, pop star, and all around handsome fella, Olly Murs, is co-hosting the show. With the top 13 battling it out to stay on one more week, these five singers are the primary reason why I keep tuning in each week:

1. Seann Miley Moore – Boys Group

Seann is a one-of-a-kind artist with one of the most moving voices I’ve ever heard. Each time he performs, I inevitably find myself crying. He puts everything into his emotion-filled performances and he has wow-ed at every opportunity. Here he is performing his first audition for the show:

2. Louisa Johnson – Girls Group

Louisa has a big, soulful voice and isn’t afraid to tackle some of the most iconic, vocally challenging songs, acing them every time…and she’s only 17. Her spunky attitude and passion for music is infectious. Check out her take on Aretha Franklin, a risky choice that secured her spot in the top 13:

3. Max Stone – Overs Group

The “stone faced” singer may not have a glittering personality, but Ma has a raspy, raw voice that seems to make any song he sings sound rich and passionate. He almost didn’t make it this far – losing his chair in the six chair challenge only to be asked back on stage by Simon in the last few minutes of the episode. Labeled an underdog, I think he has some real potential, just take a listen to his first audition and you’ll see what I mean:

4. 4th Impact – Groups

These talented sisters flew all the way from the Philippines to compete in the X Factor and are like four mini Christina Aguileras: big voices with some wicked dance moves. They certainly walked onto that stage with built-in star power and it is so fun to see how naturally they perform together. Here they are impressing the judges at bootcamp:

5. Lauren Murray – Girls Group

Lauren is a sassy, real British girl who skipped a day of work as a receptionist to perform during the arena auditions. She may seem like the girl next door, but she has a powerful soul voice and a fun bluesy tone. While she hasn’t been extremely consistent this season, her beautiful take on a Jess Glynne song during the Judge’s House audience landed her a spot in the top 13:

These are stars in the making and I can’t wait to see how the season unfolds!

Musically yours,
Shan

P.S. You can find these songs (and more musical stylings straight from the U.K.) on our Pinterest board:

The Best British Study Music

It’s September, which means that the leaves are starting to change, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back, and for many of you, school is in session. If you’re anything like me, you have a hard time studying in total silence but don’t want music with lyrics that will distract your focus. Well, my friends, it’s your lucky day! Having played the piano since age 5 and the double bass since 11, I consider myself a novice classical music aficionado. Due to my love of cinema, I’ve always been drawn to both playing and listening to film scores, and have worked meticulously for years to create the best study playlists using music from my favorite movies and television shows. Being that I’m also obsessed with the U.K., many of my favorite composers are British, or have written for British films/ TV. I’ve compiled a list of my top 10 composers and songs for you to try out:

1. Murray Gold

Murray Gold is an English composer most well-known for his work in TV. My favorite music by Gold is from Doctor Who. He has served as the musical director for DW since 2005, meaning that he’s the guy behind the theme song that amps me up more than anything else on TV. Check out one of my favorite compositions from season 5, “Amy In The Tardis.”

2. David Arnold and Michael Price

David Arnold and Michael Price are the composition team behind my other favorite TV soundtrack, Sherlock. The Sherlock theme song was my ringtone for about a year, so you could say that I’m fairly obsessed with it…David Arnold also composed the scores for five James Bond films, while Price served as a music editor for The Lord of the Rings and Love Actually. One of my favorite compositions from the duo is “SHERlocked.”

3. Patrick Doyle 

Patrick Doyle is a Scottish composer who has worked on many films including Henry V, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and Brave. However, my favorite Doyle study music comes from his compositions for Thor, including this piece, “Sons of Odin.”

4. Nicholas Hooper 

You guys knew that the Harry Potter soundtrack had to come up at some point, right? Hooper composed the score for both Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince, creating some of the most heartbreaking and beautiful songs throughout the series. One of my favorites is “Snape & The Unbreakable Vow.” It’s unsettling and gorgeous all at the same time.

5. Craig Armstrong 

While you may remember Love Actually for “Christmas Is All Around Us,” the movie also has a lovely score composed by the very talented Craig Armstrong. Armstrong won a Grammy for scoring Ray and a Golden Globe for Moulin Rouge. One of my favorite pieces by Armstrong is the “Glasgow Love Theme” from Love Actually.

6. John Lunn 

John Lunn is the composer of Downton Abbey, one of my favorite shows on TV. He also created the scores for The White Queen and Grantchester. The Downton Abbey theme song is a classic (and was also my ringtone once too!).

7. Steven Price

Steven Price got his start in the music department for The Lord of the Rings and has since created several gorgeous scores for films including The World’s End and Gravity. My favorite Steven Price score is from the WWII film Fury, which includes the piece entitled “Emma.”

8. Adrian Johnston 

Johnston has scored several British films, mini-series, and television series, including Brideshead Revisited, Capturing Mary, and Zen. I love Johnston’s composition from the film Becoming Jane about the early life of Jane Austen. Listen to this song from the film, “First Impressions.”

Non-British composers that have scored British films

I am going to round of this list by including two composers who are not British themselves but have written for recent British films. These include:

9. Alexandre Desplat

No list of great film composers is complete without including Parisian Alexandre Desplat. Desplat has scored countless award-winning films, picking up an Oscar for The Grand Budapest Hotel, a Golden Globe for The Painted Veil, and a Grammy for The King’s Speech. My current favorite Desplat composition is from the 2014 film The Imitation Game about British mathematician and  WWII codebreaker Alan Turing. While all of the songs are brilliant, the film’s main theme is a standout for me.

10. Johann Johannsson

Johannsson is an Icelandic composer who scored his first large international film with 2013’s Prisoners. Johannsson also wrote the score for one of my favorite films of the past year, The Theory of Everything, which centers on the early life of Stephen Hawking. He won a Golden Globe for his score and was also nominated for an Oscar. You’ll really get a sense of his fun, whimsical, emotional compositional style with the song “Rowing.”

I hope this list gives you some motivation to keep studying (and to see a couple great movies and shows, too)!

Happy listening,

Rae

We *Heart* BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge

BBC Radio 1 is home to the U.K.’s most popular music charts and boasts a very special musical segment: Live Lounge. The world’s hottest musical artists are invited to play a live set in their London studio with one catch: they can sing one of their own songs but they also have to prepare and perform the cover of a song by another artist. This opens the door for some amazing lyric and style mashups. To explore all of the great Live Lounge covers, visit their YouTube channel.  In honor of the newly established, Live Lounge month, which kicked off on September 1, we have compiled our favorite Live Lounge covers for your listening pleasure.

Shan: I absolutely love covers of songs and often find that I enjoy them more than their original. That is indeed the case with the first Live Lounge cover I ever stumbled upon, but it is hard to beat a song sung by the incomparable, Adele.

“Promise This” – Cheryl Cole song covered by Adele

Adele’s raw, soulful voice lends well to the emotional lyrics.

“Take Me to Church” – Hozier song covered by Ed Sheeran

Ed’s version of “Take Me to Church” was actually the first time I had heard the now popular song and instantly loved the folk sound he brought to this version.

“Bad Blood” – Taylor Swift song covered by Alessia Cara

Alessia Cara is one of my favorite new artists and her raspy voice is amazing when she is SINGING the Kendrick Lamar rap from the music video version of “Bad Blood.”

Rae: I’ve been listening to a podcast of the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show every week for a couple years. They always mentioned the Live Lounge, and I finally looked up a few performances on YouTube and was blown away. It’s such a clever idea, and a great way to hear a different take on a popular song. Here are a few of my favorites:

“We Can’t Stop” – Miley Cyrus song covered by Bastille

Miley Cyrus and Bastille both have such unique sounds, and I LOVE hearing Bastille’s soulful take on this song.

“Stay” – Rihanna song covered by Thirty Seconds to Mars

Jared Leto has a powerful voice to match Rihanna, but brings a new, fresh rock vibe to this song.

“Lay Me Down” – Sam Smith song covered by Hozier

I am obsessed with both Sam Smith and Hozier, so hearing this blues cover of Lay Me Down was a fantastic mix of both.

You can follow BBC Radio 1 on Twitter for updates on all of the latest Live Lounge performances. We hope this post helps bring you a more musical September!

Happy listening,

Shan and Rae