ashes music notes

Ashley. 29. NYC. music || web production || writing || bookings || this is my personal blog || words and opinions are all mine ||

[ashesmusicnotes]

Moving on

Hi Tumblr followers! I’ve decided to move my blog on over to WordPress. 

To continue getting new music recommendations from me, feel free to follow me there at ashesmusicnotes.wordpress.com OR on Twitter at /ashesmusicnotes OR on Instagram at ashesmusicnotes. 

It’s been fun! 

[ashesmusicnotes]

LIZ “When I Rule the World”

LIZ’s musical reign is upon us. 

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Shura at Mercury Lounge (NYC) 7.28.15

A little bit of London came to NYC’s Lower East Side last night in the form of Shura (aka Aleksandra Denton). The singer/songwriter/producer performed for a youth-filled, sold-out crowd at the city’s beloved music venue, Mercury Lounge. Clad in a denim jacket much too heavy for the 90-degree weather, Shura (and two band members) entranced the audience with an intimate 45-minute set.

Highlights: “2Shy” is undoubtedly one of the best songs to be released in 2015 so hearing it live in all its effervescent glory was a trip. The trio also performed an unsuspecting-yet-brilliant mash-up of Fine Young Cannibal’s “She Drives Me Crazy” and Wheatus' "Teenage Dirtbag” which made this music fan giddy. And while the music was stellar, the real star of the show was Shura’s intense hair-swaying during every instrumental break.

So basically you should see her live. And at the very least, check out her music!

(this review can also be found w/ a collection of images at mtviggy.com) 

[ashesmusicnotes]

Passenger “When We Were Young”

The poignancy of life in a song. 

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Tove Styrke “Baby One More Time” (Britney Spears Cover)

Dope all around. 

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Mas Ysa “Margarita”

Start your morning off right with this stunner. 

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Us The Duo “Better Together” (Jack Johnson cover)

Happy wedding day to my sister and brother-in-law. 

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Mr G Sings “The Caged Bird Sings”

Spotify has this new feature where you are given a playlist of 30 songs each week that are recommended just for you. This song was on mine. And I dig it.

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R.City “Locked Away” f/ Adam Levine

Heard this one in the car today. I usually know most of the songs on the radio so I was pleasantly surprised to hear something I was unfamiliar with. 

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Years & Years “Without”

Olly Alexander’s voice is one of the sexiest things going on right now in music land. This trio deserves every bit of accolade they have gotten so far and then some. “Without” is sonically as smooth-as-butter yet lyrically cuts you like a knife. Somethings tells me Olly & Co. will be around for, yep, years and years. 

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Carly Rae Jepsen “Run Away With Me”

If the songs I’ve been hearing are any indication, Carly Rae’s new album is (in my opinion) most likely going to be her best one yet. “Run Away With Me” sparkles and shimmers in large part due to its M83-“Midnight City”-esque sax breaks. 

You know what they say, sax sells ;)

[ashesmusicnotes]

Melanie Martinez “Soap”

Freakily fantastic as is everything she releases. 

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Jai Wolf “Indian Summer”

Fantabulous. 

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Kacey Musgraves “Dime Store Cowgirl”

Love this lady. Pageant Material is another fantastic country album released recently. And “Dime Store Cowgirl” is one of my favorite songs off of it. 

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Prince Royce “Back It Up”

This song might even get the wallflowers (like me, sans alcohol) to join the dance party.

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Kelsea Ballerini “Peter Pan”

All hail the future queen of country music. 

[ashesmusicnotes]

Awesome Album Alert - Kelsea Ballerini’s The First Time

I don’t often feel compelled enough by an artist’s album to write a review but I gotta hand it to Ms. Ballerini, she is in it to win it. Her stunning debut, The First Time, is crazy good. I was completely blown away. And the funny thing is that her lead single, “Love Me Like You Mean It”, is probably one of my least favorite songs on the album and it’s still fantastic. 

Kelsea’s songs are refreshing, lyrically brilliant, relatable and just pure fun. A few standout songs to mention here would have to be “Xo” - a perfect lead song that paves the way and sets the tone for the rest of the strong, empowering album, “Peter Pan” - a witty take on the whimsical fantasy story of a boy who doesn’t want to grow up, “Square Pegs” - an uplifting, upbeat tune with a catchy-as-hell hook, and “Sirens” - a Carrie Underwood “Before He Cheats”, in-your-face kinda jam. 

This album comes highly recommended from one music lover to the next. Bow down because I firmly believe that Kelsea is on her way to becoming the next queen of country music.