EQuala Blog

Welcome to EQuala Blog! EQuala is a social radio app where all the music you play comes from people - Your friends & music lovers from all over. Add people to your EQualizer and start getting music according to their musical taste, and of course discover great music and become a taste-maker!

[equala]

Thanksgiving is Coming!

Now is the time we have all been waiting for - right after Halloween and right before the December holiday season - Thanksgiving! For most, Thanksgiving marks the first time to take a breather from life since summer.

Time to return home to be with family and eat delicious homemade food. Maybe even make a fire! Will your soundtrack for the next week be filled with pre-holiday anthems? Or post-summer blues? Are you trying to relive those summer rays or excited for the upcoming snowfall? Regardless, Thanksgiving marks an intermediate period where either is acceptable!

Take this time to sit back, relax and take it in. Enjoy the specialness of it all, for it always goes by too quickly! And of course, be thankful : )

Check out this hysterical music video about Thanksgiving:

[equala]

Monday Morning Music

It’s that time of week again, Monday morning. There is nothing more disheartening than the 7:30am alarm on Monday. Every Monday I find myself in the same predicament, my alarm is ringing and all I want to do is go back to bed. To combat the urge to stay in bed, I plug my Iphone into my speakers and put on some music.

The first song — a.k.a, the “snooze” song. This song plays while I am still struggling to get out of bed, praying for another five minutes of sleep.

You/Me/Evolution, The Amplifetes

The second song aims to ensure that I am up and getting dressed. This song's slower tempo coupled with an uplifting beat is the perfect song for getting a move on.

Grown UP, Danny Brown

Once dressed, I play a few songs that give me the energy to leave the house and get to class/work on time.

Try some of these tunes:

Ghosts N Stuff (Nero Remix)

The Anthem, Onra

Raconte-Moi Une Histoire, M83 

These are the songs that help me start my week, hopefully they can help you. If you need help with making a wake-up playlist, EQuala is always there for you!

[equala]

Drake: Worst Behavior

Drake recently dropped the video for the track “Worst Behavior”, a song from Drake’s latest album Nothing Was the Same. The video was shot in Memphis, Tennessee, and directed by both Drizzy and Director X, the same visionary director who contributed to “HYFR” and “Started From the Bottom” videos. The video begins with images from Willie Mitchell’s Royal Studios. The video has cameos from Dennis Graham (Drake’s father), Juicy J, and Project Pat. The video ends with a teaser for the possible forthcoming video “From Time” a more soulful track of Drake’s latest album NWTS.

Are you a fan?!

[equala]

Driving With Good Tunes

Although you may or may not agree, living in Los Angeles, California, is simultaneously a blessing and a curse. The weather is always beautiful; there are rolling hills, beautiful beaches and bustling cities. However, the amount of traffic that I face when driving anywhere is tedious. The only thing that gets me through the long drives is the music that I listen to, and more specifically, EQuala. Through my car, I link my phone to my stereo system and listen to the music I love from the friends I choose.

EQuala has made my car rides much much more enjoyable. Before using EQuala and simply relying on the radio, the chances of me liking the songs played were slim. EQuala has given me the confidence that I will always enjoy the music being played, as I have the control over my personalized station. The app gives me the chance to select what kind of music I want, which allows me to cater to the drive. For example, the pop station is perfect for morning drives to the gym and the electronica station is perfect for nights out with my friends.

Here are a few great songs to play while driving:

How has EQuala enhanced your life? Whether it’s improved your morning commute, daily jog, or walk to class, we’d love to hear : )

[equala]

EQuala Presents: Music of the Week Wednesday

Have you heard Eminem’s New Album? Listen to the whole album here:

Check out Flume for an interesting take on Electronic Music. Sleepless featuring Jezzabell Doran

Holdin On:

Disclosure - You and Me (Flume Remix):

Have you heard of trap? It is a fusion of Rap with an Electronic twist. Gold Trap’s Remix of Lucky Date’s Freak:

Last but not least…the long awaited Gaga album, ARTPOP drops next week! Pre-order ARTPOP here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/artpop/id687591810

How we find new music?

As college students, we find that new music is everywhere. From blogs to hipsters, finding new music is as easy as it has ever been. However, if you are unsure of where to look, but know some friends are music fiends, check us out on EQuala. Find out what they are listening to and get in the music loop. Follow our twitter accounts and find out what we, the music experts, are listening to.

Twitter Accounts:

Equala: https://twitter.com/EQualaFM

Feature.fm: https://twitter.com/Featurefm

Additionally here are a few good places to check out the latest music news:

http://www.2dopeboyz.com/

http://pitchfork.com/

Happy Listening : )

[equala]

College Hall-O-Week

Don't think that Halloween is only of importance to the trick-o-treaters because that is truly not the case across universities countrywide. I hope no one has any exams or papers coming up! Halloween is a great time to bring out your inner 'kid’ because after all, what’s so bad about playing dress up? It was fun when we were younger and the costumes have only gotten better with age.

Usually celebrated on the 31st night of October, we now celebrate Halloween the entire week of the 31st. That's right. A solid five nights of dressing up…and candy. Boys, having as much spirit as girls, cannot wait for the festivities to begin. My favorite costumes so far are the homemade ones. This includes; construction workers, cops, FBI agents, Captain America, and cereal cartoons. 

Halloween also symbolizes the true essence of Fall – orange leaves, bare trees, brisk air, the night chill, and of course pumpkins. It’s almost time to begin making amends before Thanksgiving and New Years arrive, but not just yet! Let’s enjoy this time of transition and the few days that we can be kids again.

[equala]

Guys In Yoga

This past week I saw a video on Buzzfeed describing what women think about during yoga. 

Ever wonder what guys think about?!

I’ve practiced yoga a fair amount and decided it was time to give the world a glimpse into the mindset of an average man trying to do some yoga.

Why are we there?

There are many reasons why a guy would try yoga for the first time, but most of them involve women. Whether your girlfriend or a female friend pushes you to try it, or you go with the hopes of meeting a girl, most men try yoga for the opposite sex.

Top 10 thoughts running through our heads:

1. This room is way too hot.

2. If I bend any farther my body will break.

3. So many leggings.

4. Please let it be Savasna.

5. Why is the guy with the long hair and headband so good?

6. Does this yoga teacher realize I can’t touch my toes?

7. How am I sweating so much?

8. I think I am dying, but I have to keep it together because there are a lot of cute girls in the room.

9. How am I supposed to stand on my head if I can’t even stand on my feet?

10. If I have to breathe through my nose any longer I will pass out.

Conclusion

Doing yoga for the first time is tough and is much harder than it appears. Prior to my first time, I thought it was just going to be some intense pre-basketball stretching, but an hour later, I was sweating through my shirt and had a few torn muscles. It is definitely a great workout and I have seen improvements in my strength and flexibility. That being said, try not to be to overwhelmed with the amount of Lululemon you see and the pain you experience because in the end, trying yoga is definitely worth it.

Have any funny yoga stories? Share them with us!

[equala]

EQuala goes worldwide by partnering with Deezer!

It's been a long time since we last updated you about what's going on with EQuala - What we've been up to and where were heading.

Well, we have a lot of exciting things happening in our offices lately and we can't wait any longer to share them with you! We are very proud and excited to announce a partnership between us and the music streaming service GIANT:

                           What does this partnership mean? It means a lot! To keep it short, it means that EQuala will be available in 182 countries(!!!). Wherever Deezer is available - EQuala will also be available. It also means that if you connect to your Deezer account on EQuala you can enjoy the full experience, with full length songs, no skipping limit and NO ADS!

How does it work? Very easy! To enjoy this EQuala-Deezer partnership all you have to do is follow these 3 simple steps to connect your Deezer account...

                                            Don't have Deezer?                             

What is Deezer? Deezer delivers a broad and truly global music experience to more than 10 million monthly active users across 182 countries. With 4 million subscribers and more than 100 million shareable playlists, Deezer allows fans to enjoy music unconstrained by any barriers of the past. Deezer’s mantra is music discovery, helping fans rediscover the joy of finding and sharing fantastic new music.

We're Excited! When 20 million users in 182 countries and a 25 million song catalogue meets the coolest platform for song sharing and radio socializing, there's no doubt you'll get the perfect music sharing experience!

So what are you waiting for? Connect your Deezer account to EQuala now and enjoy the full experience!

                                            Don't have Deezer?                             

Wishing you amazing and entertaining music experiences to come!

Lior Aharoni, EQuala CEO

[equala]

EQuala V2.00 Is out!

Hi There!

After months of hard work we're very proud to present you with EQuala v2.0! There are lots of new stuff and cool features. Here's a brief overview:

  MAJOR UI FACELIFT The best looking music app! The new and improved EQuala is sleeker for both Android and iPhone. Now you can enjoy great music and a great new design.  

INSTANT RESET RADIO OPTION You pick the genres, we pick the music lovers! Finding great music is now easier than ever. Simply select up to 3 genres and we will build the best radio station for you, made up of friends with similar music taste!

NEW MUSIC ACTIVITY FEED Browse your friends’ activity in a live stream. EQuala now lets you follow friends to remain constantly updated with their music activity. Stay on top of the latest tunes and listening trends.

WORLDWIDE AVAILABILITY Enjoy music from friends around the world! EQuala is now available worldwide, expanding our music library and user base!

                                   SYNC YOUR MUSIC Share more, share now! Sync the music from your mobile phone with EQuala to let your friends enjoy even more of your music activity.

                                  DEEZER INTEGRATION Enjoy the full experience! Gain more control over your radio by connecting with your Deezer account. Say goodbye to skip limits and interact with users worldwide.    

                              Those of you who havn't tried EQuala yet - It'll be our honor to have you as users. Those of you who have EQuala - It'll be our honor to have your feedback.

Hope you'll like the new version! EQuala Team.

[equala]

The Perfect Birthday Gift

Finding the perfect birthday gift is always difficult. No matter how hard one searches for the ultimate one, it’s never as good as you expect. The solution for buying birthday presents is: tickets to ones favorite concert- it’s easy and they will without a doubt call it “the best birthday gift ever”.

For all those birthdays falling out in September check out these awesome concerts:

1. Electric Zoo - Sunday September 1, 2013

2. Passion Pit- Friday, September 6, 2013

3. Icona Pop- Friday, September 20, 2013

4. Vampire Weekend- Friday, September 20, 2013

5. Afrojack- Sunday, September 22, 2013

6. Jack Johnson- Monday, September 23, 2013

[equala]

Munchie Monday

Ever wonder what the hottest restaurant in NYC is? You would probably think somewhere in the meatpacking district as that neighborhood has now labeled itself as “hip”- but truth be told the hottest restaurants are hidden in the places you would least expect. If you’re ever in need of a trendy place to go with friends, try out one of these places.

The Sugar Factory

No matter what food you order, your drink will always outweigh it. Each drink is full in flavor- and candy :)- what could be better?

TOY

Great food and drinks but an unforgettable nightlife experience.

  Mercer Kitchen

Chic vibe, with homey tasting food- in the heart of SoHo.

TAO

The whole Asian experience- cuisine, feel and experience.

Beauty & Essex

The name says it all

So, next time you’re looking for a great new restaurant to explore, try one of these out and let us know what you think by tweeting at us- EQualaFM :)

[equala]

When Fashion and Music Collide

The relationship between fashion and music is deeply intertwined. Certain fashions are associated with certain genres, thus music fans tend to identify themselves style wise according to their musical icons.

“Hippies”, who listened to The Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, were most known for their laid back style, happily sporting ripped jeans and ragged t-shirts with faded peace signs. Country fans, who sport cowboy hats and boots, have been a common sight since Willie Nelson’s heyday. Similarly, Hip-Hop fans rocking snapbacks and low jeans, mocking gangster rappers like 2 Chainz and Biggie, is equally as common. While these examples only provide a snapshot, it’s clear that style goes hand in hand with music trends.

While brands often attempt to reach their audience by trying to recreate these styles, the artists now hold the power to influence a generation’s style. This phenomenon, lead to the creation of several multi-million dollar clothing brands, begun by the super star musicians of our time. Rap icons such as Jay-Z, Pharell, Snoop Dog, and Lil Wayne gain millions of dollars in fashion related revenue each year in addition to the huge sums they collect for their musical success.

It’s clear to most that music has a heavy influence on its fans’ styles; however, what’s not as transparent is the degree of influence each artist holds.

If Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Avicii, and Taylor Swift joined forces and created a radical new clothing line – think about the outcome. Could a simple partnership between four or five top artists change the course of fashion history? Considering the relationship among artists, media, and brands, it’s very easy to imagine the success of such a brand (regardless of what the clothing looked like). The artists’ social media presence alone would improve the brand’s image by instantly reaching millions of targeted fans and consumers.

Is it possible that the next fashion super power is the company that finds a way to bring artists together to create fashion lines under one household name? With so many different styles, genres, and artists, the possibilities seem nearly as endless as the potential revenue stream.

[equala]

Music Monday

Monday is without a doubt the hardest day of the week. After a relaxing and fun weekend the last thing anyone wants to do is get up early and go to work. However, how much more exciting would your Monday be if you had a great playlist to listen to while on the go? These 4 songs are a MUST on your Music Monday playlist:

[equala]

Skinny Sunday

After a late night of partying, the last thing anyone wants to do on a Sunday is work out. But, the best way to burn off all those drinks is by exercising! Here is a 15 minute workout, integrated by the best pump up music to get you going on this Sunday morning.

2 minutes: Light jog

2 minutes: Back pedal

45 seconds: Recover

1 minutes: Plank

1 minute: Alternating Froggers

1 minute: Push ups

1 minute: Recover

30 seconds: Squat hold

30 seconds: Squat jumps

1 minute: Burpees

1 minute: 2 feet plank side hops

1 minute: Tuck jumps

20 seconds: Recover

1 minute: High knee runs

1 minute: Walking lunges

1 minute: Light jog

30 seconds: Recover

[equala]

Music Hour Playlist

Every day at 4pm we have music hour...Heres what was on the top of our list this week! Enjoy

This one is played every day, every week and doesn't leave the list

We really love this guy

So catchy

Honestly is there anyone more badass than Tracy Chapman? #manorwoman?

Energy...

  What's on your work music hour playlist?

[equala]

Changing The EDM Performance Experience

In previous posts, I touched upon the explosion of EDM in our generation and the millions of dollars DJ’s earn each year. With this dramatic spike in EDM artists, sales, and overall popularity, today's top DJs need a way to stand out. It’s not just about playing the best music anymore or having the best new track, it’s about the performance and the fans' overall experience.

DVBBS, two Canadian brothers, made serious noise in the EDM scene this year, and have come to represent that success is not solely about the tracks, rather how the music is incorporated into the overall performance. When not spinning together, the two take turns energizing the crowd. From stage dives (check out the go-pro video below) to singing their favorite jams live on stage, DVBBS performances exemplify the level of hype that takes top young talent to the next level. From Ezoo to Electric Forrest, they are taking over day by day.  In the words of DVBBS, stay woozy.

Be sure to check them out this Saturday for the 2nd show of the summer at Webster Hall.

[equala]

It's A Boy!

It’s a boy! 8 pounds 6 ounces.

After many months of waiting, the Duchess of Cambridge finally gave birth to her first child. No name has been given yet, but here are the top songs about boy’s in honor of Kate’s new baby boy.

I guess the only thing left is the baby name. Any thoughts?