✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 　MUSIC REVIEWS　 *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ

a whole blog dedicated to people who are dedicated to music, of all kinds. everyone i've written about has inspired me more than you think they have~!

[fatherniah-blog]

"LOFI HIP-HOP"

THERAPEUTIC BUMPS

fatherniah.tumblr.com         Ever in the search for some therapeutic music? You could search for relaxing music for any reason- just to study, to relax, and maybe to heal from a bad day and escape from reality. When I’m down in the dumps or I’m trying to focus, I like to listen to this genre of music. For me, it helps a lot. I plug in both of my earbuds and it’s like an escape from reality; it’s like… coming home after a really long and exhausting day. The feeling of listening to music that soothes your soul is equivalent to any heartwarming feeling. It’s like a hot cup of coffee and warm fuzzy socks on a cold winter night. Snuggling into your blankets after a long day of work.

I’m not going to be discussing any specific artists this week like I usually do- I’m just going to be talking about the sole genre of lofi hip-hop/vaporwave. I started listening to lofi years back, but I would never find the actual label for the genre until last year. Here I am, almost in 2018, still madly hooked onto the genre of lofi.

There’s a wide variety of lofi, but it’s usually classified as one of those aesthetic 90s anime songs with a chill-like vibe. Those are the ones I enjoy the most, in my opinion, and if you look up a video that has lofi saturated in the video, it’s most likely a relaxing edited video of something. Whether it be a vlog or a fan made edit of some series or movie, lofi takes over. Lofi’s very big on visual art, too. A lot of aesthetic vibes from this genre of music is included in a lot of visually pleasing movies/tv shows/etc.

Lofi mostly has repetitive beats, but it’s therapeutic. It’s commonly listened to when people are studying because it isn’t too crazy- you can focus on your studies while listening to chill beats. If you type in “lofi hip-hop” in the YouTube search bar, you’ll find a wide variety of mixes that are livestreaming. I recommend you give it a listen while you’re busy doing work, or just trying to relax- as for a fanatic of music like I am, lofi is your go-to. Kind of like a drug for me. I’m listening to lofi right now!

Don’t mean to self-promote, but I have a couple friends who make lofi too, such as Kylo the Kid on SoundCloud. His music is amazingly chill and addicting. If you follow me on SoundCloud, too, which is @/conquering, I have a playlist with all of his late night bumps on there. Check it out, you won’t regret it. He deserves way more recognition than he receives. 

Same thing applies for all lofi artists, actually- even though the beats can be simple at times and maybe a little repetitive, the beats are theirs, and it’s ridiculously catchy. Lofi isn’t supposed to stand out like any other genre does; it’s the simplicity that helps lofi stand out and help me get through those tough days. 

[fatherniah-blog]

BANE’S WORLD

BANE’S WORLD: an artist I can listen to all day and all night. With his music on, I can just let the music flow from one ear and out the other and not give a damn about the world for a little while. I can stare at my bedroom ceiling for hours just listening to his mesmerizing tunes.

Bane’s World has been an artist I’ve recently discovered in my hunt for new music. His song “You Say I’m in Love” has always been a song that has captured my attention, but not enough to get me to click on the artist’s name. I figured that it was just another one-hit-wonder that I’d eventually move on from, but boy, was I wrong. I hate assuming things similar to that. That I’m never going to find interest in an artist, even if I like one of their songs. It just proves how ignorant I can be. Because of that ugly mindset, I often think to myself, “how many good artists have I actually missed out on?”

1) STAY AWAY FROM MY BABY

This is one of the songs that I can take everywhere with me. On the go, or even at home, this song will always be a part of me. I’ve even planned to use it in a vlog because I’m just so captivated by the beauty of this song.

This song kinda sounds like a song you’d hear from the bathroom of a party. Muffled, kind of. But in a beautiful way.

The only way to describe the overall feel and message of this song is reminiscent. Imagine your fingertips tracing the window of the car, admiring the beautiful outside shores while your lover is driving. Now imagine this song playing in the background. Perfect feel, perfect moment to capture and remember forever.

2) DREAM BOAT (ft. Temporex)

Imagine this song playing in the bathroom of a party. Muffled, yet clear enough for you to enjoy the music. Imagine swirling your drink in circles while listening to this song.

It’s the perfect song to get your mind lost to. The perfect song to let your mind dance and wonder. The perfect song to gaze at the stars to. It’s a beautiful song that’ll take your breath away once the last few seconds play.

Dream Boat can help you fantasize about your goals, your wonders… and I could listen to it forever.

3) DROWSY

A song I actually fell in love with today, actually!

Now for this song, I could listen to this anywhere. All I need is a speaker or earbuds. Funnily enough, I’m pretty sure I’ve played this song way too much on my speaker today. I hope my neighbors don’t get annoyed.

This song captivated me because of Bane’s signature melodies. Yet another song by him that I’ve fallen for. I think what captivated me most about this song was how beautiful the instruments correlated with each other and how they complimented each other throughout the song, causing the tune to be a relaxing, smooth melody. Which I happened to fall in love with.

Bane’s World, unfortunately, isn’t the most popular artist out there. Although I can argue that he definitely deserves way more than just a few million hits on “You Say I’m in Love”.

But I believe that if he keeps being himself, he can captivate an audience even bigger one day. His music is just... breathtaking. I have faith in this artist. I believe he can make it one day.

[fatherniah-blog]

SZA

SZA is by far one of the most inspirational artists I’ve ever discovered once I started listening to music. Once I plug my earbuds in to listen to her album, CTRL, goosebumps and chills immediately rush over me.

Solana Rowe, more famously known as SZA, is a singer and songwriter who recently became discovered in 2015-2017. Her style of music fits into the genres of R&B or alternative R&B mixed with a little bit of indie rock and neo soul. 

Her first album, CTRL, is about young love and her feelings relating to love troubles poured into a bundle songs. Once CTRL released in June 2017, it became more and more discovered and SZA gained plenty of fame. It was later voted #3 on US Billboard 200, receiving 4-5 stars as an overall review from many music review companies. 

During her career, she’s collaborated with famous singers such as Kendrick Lamar, Bryson Tiller, Rihanna, and more. Recently in August 2017, she collaborated with Maroon 5 to create the song “What Lovers Do”. 

SZA inspires me like crazy. It almost feels as if she’s talking from my perspective when it comes to how I feel about situations like breakups, romantic troubles, to even thoughts and insecurities. Yet in her songs she mentions how she can eventually move on, just like everyone else can. One of my favorite lyrics from her songs is:

 “I moved on for the better, you moved on to whoever.”

That specific quote was from the song “Broken Clocks”. It’s my absolute favorite because everyone knows that we possess ability to move on, but people don’t really talk about how there’s different ways to cope. There’s a healthy coping mechanism, which is moving on for the better, and an unhealthy coping mechanism, which is moving on to whoever you can find to get your mind off of someone else. 

My favorite song from SZA’s album CTRL’s gonna have to be “Garden (Say it Like Dat). I’ve had it on repeat for days- possibly even weeks. Maybe a month. In this song her message is about how she’s with someone even though she knows he doesn’t love her, but whenever he says the words “I love you”, she always tends to believe it… and that she’ll be able to meet the real him without him changing whatsoever. She wants a real, true perspective from him…

SZA inspires me because her lyrics are just so relatable. They’re touching yet so realistic at the same time. She’s as real as it gets- from not feeling good enough for a certain someone to being able to move on for the better. 

She knows what it feels to not be loved and she knows that she isn’t the only one who feels a certain way. SZA pouring out her emotions and thoughts into this album doesn’t only make her better as a whole, it makes her audience a better whole. Some people may think that they’re the only one feeling a certain way- so they bottle it in so they don’t make sure anyone thinks that they’re going crazy. SZA made sure that we’re not the only one. 

Solana Rowe, I love you.

[fatherniah-blog]

BILLIE EILISH

A woman. My age. Who creates and composes art. Her music, her style, her persona, all a damn masterpiece. I'm straight but Billie Eilish definitely makes me question my sexuality... not gonna lie. If my boyfriend reads this then I'm joking but for anyone else reads this then I'm not joking.

Billie Eilish is an artist that I've discovered last month and fell in love with. Well, not really. My first impression of her came around 2016 when her song "Six Feet Under" was out and it was recommended to me, but I didn't really put in the time and interest to dig deeper on Billie. Then, her song "Ocean Eyes"  was released and that song flourished. However, for me, that song was playing literally everywhere I go and I began to start getting annoyed by the song. I never really knew who it was by, though, I would always just skip the song without hesitating whenever it came on.

I started getting into Billie once her song "lovely" was released. Oh. My. God. I completely fell in love with the simplicity of the song. No hardcore EDM beat drops, no rapper going off, dropping bars, none of that. Simplicity. I don't know how to describe the feeling I felt once I heard that song for the first time- excitement, I suppose. Afterwards, the only artist that flowed through my earphones was Billie Eilish. Just her. For a few weeks. Not even exaggerating.

1) party favor

If I had to make a list of my top 20 favorite songs, this song would definitely be on the list. Everything about it is pure perfection, the message it conveys, the ukulele, her voice, the story behind it... serenity.

The song itself is supposed to be portrayed as a message to him. A voice message, actually. On the phone. And basically Billie conveys a message, telling him to leave her alone. To stop dwelling on the the past and just... move on.

2) bitches broken hearts

Very relatable, very breathtaking song. I love it. Everything about it. The gentleness in her voice and in every beat that hits, a song that reminisces but also takes a step forward.

I haven't really felt genuinely sad in a while. But the next time I do feel sad you already know I'm gonna be up in my room crying to this song. You know how it be!

3) idontwannabeyouanymore

A song that spills the truth on society. A song that elevates my thoughts and inspires me to be myself, and to look around. Stop trying to be what other people want you to be. And focus on who I want myself to be.

I've been really struggling with my own self-image lately, and this song really helps me out. Models may be models and icons may be icons, but at the end of the day, they're just as imperfect as we are.

Billie Eilish will always be an icon, a girl I look up to even though we're the same age. She'll always be someone I aspire to be. Just as careless and just as reckless. I love her, I really do. Words can't express how much I adore this girl.

Keep doing you, Billie. I love it. Everything about you.

[fatherniah-blog]

JOJI

Fried noodles! ^_^

If you don’t know who Joji is, I strongly recommend you to give this man a listen. You can find his brand new album on Spotify, iTunes, etc. 

Joji isn’t necessarily new to the music game. His music would usually be released on YouTube or SoundCloud before. He first started becoming well-known for his YouTube career for portraying this hilarious character people know as “Filthy Frank”. He’d play other characters, too, but he was best known for his comedy on his channel as Filthy Frank.

Little did people know that he made music on the side of his career, too. He has plenty of his songs on SoundCloud. But just recently did his new album, “In Tongues”, release on November 3rd. Now that he’s gained more popularity and fame, his new album doesn’t appear on SoundCloud anymore. However, you can purchase the album on iTunes, listen to it on Spotify, etc.

But boy, let me tell you about this album. His music career just keeps on improving and I cannot wait to see what else he’ll release in the future. Nothing but positive vibes for this musician. 

“In Tongues” is an album that consists of six songs. I’m not gonna review them all, but if you want an overall view of what I think of the album, I think that it’s very simplistic. There’s nothing that stands out too much about his songs. There’s nothing too crazy. The genre Joji’s music is classified in is debatable, but people generally classify his music as either Lo-fi hip hop or Chillhop. 

Me saying that Joji’s album is very simplistic shouldn’t be something to draw you away. In fact, the simplicity of his songs are actually what draws me in. They’re sad songs- they’re meant to be simplistic and that’s its dull purpose. To simp. Although, his music is still very alluring. I’m obsessed with the way his songs go, no matter how simplistic his songs are. Past reviews have been complaining that his album is too simple- that his songs could be used as background music, or that nothing stands out. But I think the simplicity itself stands out in his music. Nowadays, in the iTunes charts, a lot of the music I hear that are very generic don’t lure me in, unlike Joji’s. Even though Joji’s music don’t stand out to some people, I think that Joji’s style is very unique unlike some of the popular artists who make very generic pop music. This is just my mere opinion, though. 

My favorite song from the album would have to be worldstar money. It’s the interlude of the album, but it’s still such a bop. It’s also been released a while ago on his SoundCloud account. I learned the rhythm of it on my own ukulele. This song should definitely be leaning more towards the lo-fi hip hop genre. It’s my favorite because the tune of it just makes me swoon! Depressing, yet relaxing. Like I described his songs earlier; alluring. His music always drives me in and for some reason, I just can’t stop listening to him. I’ve been listening to the album ever since it came out. 

Joji (or George) Miller is a character of his own. He’s had a huge fanbase for years now, and his fanbase will continue to grow, whether he remains making music or acting in skits. His fanbase consists of over 600 million people- and I’m not surprised. Joji definitely deserves the recognition he receives- if not, he deserves even more. No one could ever compare someone else to Joji. He’s unique, he’s hilarious, and he’s an amazing musician that’s just going to continue to grow. I have a lot of hope for Joji’s career. He’s always entertaining his fans and giving them what they want, while at the same time, giving them what Joji himself wants, too. He’s doing what he loves and people love that, too.

[fatherniah-blog]

REX OC

One of my absolute favorite artists.

Rex Orange County was an artist that’s originally been producing music on SoundCloud and Spotify until he got his big break with another musician, Tyler The Creator. They created music together and debuted the album “Flower Boy” by Tyler The Creator.

I’ve been listening to Rex Orange County before Flower Boy was released. I discovered his song “UNO” in a Netflix Original titled “Dear White People”. I was watching an episode of it on my TV until his song came on during a scene, and that’s when I dropped everything to research who this guy is, because immediately once the song played, I had to figure out who it was or else it was going to bother me that I was going to let such a good artist slip out of my grasp. Eventually, after almost forty-five minutes of just trying to figure out who it is, I finally found the song, and I was not disappointed. In fact, I was a little too addicted to his music once I found all of his songs on SoundCloud.

His music is very alternative/indie. And I dig it. I wasn’t into indie too much before I discovered Rex, but ever since I discovered him, he changed my whole perspective and opinion on indie music. 

As usual, I’m gonna dive into it and name my top three favorite songs written by this small bean. Again, there are a lot more songs that I enjoy that’s created by Rex, but I have to dumb it down to my top three or else your finger’s gonna hurt from scrolling so much.

 1) UNO

A classic. The first song I discovered from him.

This song’s about all the thoughts that people keep in their head. Insecurity, anxiety, you name it… this song has it all. 

Not that it’s a bad thing, though. It’s actually the opposite. It’s relatable, it’s real, and we can’t forget the catchy tune that tags along with the song. Not only is he brutally honest about how he feels, he attracted in audience (such as me) who’s facing the exact same thing he is. It’s breathtaking how relatable the song is to most people. 

Now this song doesn’t really get a lot of recognition. That’s what I think, at least. Even though it was featured on a TV show, this song isn’t the most popular. But it definitely deserves way more recognition than it gets. 

2) Best Friend

This song’s about wanting that certain someone. Being with that someone who makes your heart melt. But with reality in the way, sometimes it doesn’t always work out. Once reality intervenes, it’s too late. Eventually people move on. They won’t stay sulking and they will most likely find someone new, but…

He mentions in his song that she’s still his “favorite girl”. And he also mentions that “you’re gonna wanna be my best friend”. 

Maybe there’s space for a second chance? 

Although time has passed, and it seems like he’s moved on because he’s said he’s happy where he is now, deep inside, you won’t know he’s lying and that he wants things to be like the way it was before. 

And that’s reality, you know? Sometimes you’re gonna have to fake it until you make it. But he still has hope for a second chance with “her” and that things can go the way that he wants it, once more. 

3) Edition 

This one was more of a recent release, back in September. 

This song’s more of a down in the dumps one. It’s pretty sad, and when I heard it, I was feeling such empathy for Rex.

Rex points out all of the flaws in a relationship. How plans fall through, how the volume raises when couples argue, how they mess up badly sometimes…. but that’s the reality of it. His intentions are almost always good and his intentions are just to help her, not to hurt her. 

Rex Orange County is always gonna be an artist that’s gonna be in my playlist. He’s always gonna be an artist that I’m never gonna forget. I probably won’t stop listening to him when I’m in college or even when I’m an adult. His music is so astonishing to me, and with music that astonishing, it’s almost harder to forget his music than it is to remember it. 

[fatherniah-blog]

RED VELVET

For the past few weeks, perhaps months, I've been realizing that majority of my blog posts have been focusing on a certain genre or whirlpool of artists. Don't forget that I'm open to any new artists you all recommend, and I'd love to write about any genre. Indie/R&B music have been the genres I've been mostly invested in for a long while, which is why artists revolving around those genres have been filling up my blog. This week, I took a good look at my blogh and I thought to myself: "hey. Maybe it's time to spice things up a little bit!"

K-pop. A genre that's HUGE on all social media platforms. K-pop fans are everywhere on the internet. Don't mess with K-pop fans, by the way- I learned that the hard way.

Since I'm new to the whole K-pop shenanigans (I just started getting invested into K-pop a month or so ago), I won't compare to any of those die-hard fans out there. But I actually have an interesting story about the genre of K-pop.

I hated it. I promised myself that I would NEVER get into this type of music. "K-pop? Pfft. Too cool for that," was my mindset ever since K-pop started to spread everywhere throughout social media a couple years ago. I think that was my mindset for all of freshman year.

Then, on December of 2017, I started to look at my Instagram explore page more, which, may I mention, is FILLED with K-pop stan accounts. Deep down I knew that I was going to be interested in this genre but my pride got in the way and I ended up brushing it off.

But it started to become my guilty pleasure. I would watch/listen to anything relating to Korean culture- watch K-dramas, gain fashion inspiration from Korean street style, listen to their music... but it was all a big, fat, secret. I didn't tell anyone. I don't care how close I was with anyone- this was strictly classified.

Eventually I realized that there's nothing wrong with vocalizing something you love. If you like something people don't, and they think it's embarrassing or it doesn't flow with the same wavelength as your friends, don't worry about it. You're into it. Embrace it. Vocalize it!

During my secretive state of my obsession with K-pop, I was into the more commonly known K-pop groups, such as BTS, EXO, BLACKPINK... you know. But I ran into this one girl group that possibly changed my life.

Red Velvet.

They've become my idols over the span of a few months. Their music, their style, their music videos, their choreography, their EVERYTHING. My breath has been taken away- it even me question why I doubted K-pop in the first place.

You'd have to listen to them and watch their videos for yourself to see how mesmerized I was by them- considering that this was my first time watching/listening to K-pop, my mind was blown. I fell in love.

Earlier this year, they came out with a new album, "The Perfect Red Velvet - The 2nd Album Repackage".  And oh my God. I instantly fell in love. I may not understand Korean but all I know for a fact is that they're BOPS. I will forever jam out to their music. My favorite song from the whole album might have to be this song titled "Bad Boy". They released a music video that had amazing choreography and amazing style that tagged along with it. Check it out for yourself! It's a bop, and I promise it won't let you down. I give that song a rating of 8.5/10. The music video itself would be an 8/10. I loved all of it, and I enjoyed every second of the song and music video.

Red Velvet's always going to hold a special place in my heart because not only because they were one of the K-pop groups I've listened to, they're the first girl musician group I've listened to. I don't know. As beautiful and talented girl groups are, they don't ever seem to have captivated my attention in the past. Red Velvet, however, completely changed my perspective on that.

Each member is a great singer and a beautiful person in their own unique style, and as a group, they're just... iconic. I recommend this girl group to you all. If they can change MY opinion, maybe it can change yours.

~(^-^)~

[fatherniah-blog]

KALI UCHIS

A musician who knows how to swoon people the minute you hear her music. Her name is never forgotten. You can't get her voice out of her head. She's a goddess and a huge influence to creators out there who want to be just like her.

A goddess.

This stunning musician knows how to captivate people the moment you hear her music. Like many, I discovered her music when she collaborated with Tyler The Creator on his album, "Flower Boy". Once I heard her voice, I needed to know who this was. She held such a smooth, soft voice yet she quickly grabbed my attention. I could also tell that Kali Uchis held the capability of having some really strong pipes. After searching for her name for a little while, I finally found her and I immediately fell in love.

I haven't stopped listening to her since. Her music is calming yet whenever I hear it, all I want to do is dance. Listening to her music makes me feel like I'm in paradise. In a beach. Somewhere in Rio de Janerio.

Today, on April 6th 2018, marks the day where Kali Uchis's new album has released: Isolation. All I have to say about this album is just... THANK YOU. This album is a pure jewel. A gem, it is, really. This album has been on repeat all day. I'm infatuated with every single song.

I'm going to go more into depth about my favorite songs and why it's my favorite. Don't get me wrong- each and every song, including the introduction and the interlude, SLAPS. But everybody has their preferences, right?

FLIGHT 22

The first song I listened to on this album was this song, and knowing me, I already fell in love. I could feel the music pumping through the veins; as if my heart were beating with the tempo of the song.

Looking at the lyrics, I'm assuming this song's about getting on a flight and running away with Kali's lover. How she's never met someone like them before, and that all she wants to do is do everything with them. Go through ups and downs with them, spend all her time with them- she even wants to pack up their things and leave on a flight to just get away from reality. Specifically... Flight 22.

The lyrics could be saturated in infatuation, but this song is the epitome of love. From the beat, to the lyrics, to the way she sings it- the song is drenched in the feeling of love. And I dig it. The whole song!

This song may not just be one of my favorites from her album, it might be one of my favorite songs of all time.

Maybe I should write a list of all of my favorite songs and keep it safe somewhere so I have a future blog post to write about. What do you guys think? （＾－＾✿） 

AFTER THE STORM

A song that'll definitely stick around for a long time.

This song was out before the album Isolation was, but it was a song that I fell in love with ever since I discovered it. I've even fallen in love with the music video itself. It's different. Something that I don't usually expect in music videos.

This song, according to Kali, is just a song to pick yourself up once in a while. That's what inspired her to create this song with Tyler the Creator. All that was on her mind during the creation of this song was her family and how sad she can get just thinking about how much she misses them.

This song ended up being a major hit, and people loved it- including me. The tempo to it definitely slaps and it's just such a great song to listen to anytime and anywhere.

People usually think I'm strange for not being interested in popular music nowadays, but that's because everything I see or hear is just always as expected. When I listen to music, I want to be blown away. I also want to stand out and be different in many aspects, including music; which is what I think these artists strive for, too. Which is why I'm here to stick around and support them throughout the whole way. They're careless about what people think of them, and that's what I strive to be and that's why I look up to them as idols rather than your commonly known pop stars that almost everyone looks up to.

I just want to be remembered, and I don't want to get lost in the crowd. And all these artists I have been writing about, including Kali Uchis, seem to seek the same goal.

Once I heard this song and watched the music video, that's really what I thought the whole time. Kali Uchis is an idol, and she doesn't go with the flow. She doesn't give in to trends so she can gain relevancy. She CREATES her own image, leaving the audience captivated.

She's an icon who always looks like a million dollars. No one will forget her name.

[fatherniah-blog]

CHANNEL ORANGE VS. BLONDE

There’s currently a ton of controversy throughout social media comparing Frank Ocean’s best albums, Channel ORANGE, released in 2012, and Blonde, released in 2016. A lot of people throughout Twitter have been comparing the two albums saying that one album is better than the other. Most people on twitter prefer Channel ORANGE, which is the album that got Frank Ocean’s reputation to skyrocket. 

I’ll be going more into depth about which album I prefer more and why. Keep in mind that these are my opinions, and as far as I’m concerned, my opinion may be a bit unpopular compared to what I’ve read online. So just be weary with this review and read with caution!

The album I personally prefer is Blonde. It took me a while to think about which album I prefer more, but once I thought about it, a lot of my favorite songs came from the album Blonde. I spent my summer revolving the album. I wouldn’t listen to anything else from this album. Listening to the album two years later made me feel nostalgic even though Blonde was more recent than Channel ORANGE. I made a whole bundle of memories while listening to the album.

1) PINK + WHITE

One of my favorite songs from the album Blonde is probably Pink + White. It probably makes me feel the most nostalgic when I listen to the song because of how many memories that were created while listening to that song. In the car, doing chores, sitting at home, that song would always be on repeat for me. On the grind, constantly. Pink + White would always be flowing through my earphones like blood flows through vessels. Not to mention that the message behind the song eventually turned out to be one of the most relatable songs I know, and that the tune is ridiculously catchy, and I can either dance or cry to that song. No in between.  

2) NIGHTS

Another favorite song of mine definitely has to be Nights. Can we just talk about the transition that happens in the middle of the song? Took my damn breath away. During New Years Eve, I would listen to the song at an exact time so when the song transitions into it’s simp state, the clock stroke 12 and the year was now 2018. It was crazy cool, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I loved it, and I still won’t get over how crazy that transition was. It’s one of the most beautiful transitions to a song that I’ve ever heard. 

3) SEIGFRIED

Lastly, my final favorite song from the album has to be Seigfried. The amount of times I’ve cried to this song is a little concerning. The message and the tune of it just really gets me in my feels! I cried to it a lot because the first time I listened to it I was going through a crap ton of personal problems then. 

The primary reason why I enjoyed the album Blonde so much is because of how much it helped me through some of the hardest times I’ve experienced. Channel ORANGE is a great album on its own but it didn’t emotionally captivate me as much as Blonde did. The messages for the album Blonde really helped me out with a lot of personal problems I went through.  

Either way, I ultimately enjoy both albums. They’re both a wonderful bundle of bops that I’m never going to get tired of. I love Frank Ocean as a musician and a person, and I’m always going to support him in the future. 

[fatherniah-blog]

? - ALBUM REVIEW

Now, listen. I know a lot of people who listen to XXXTENTACION religiously, and I know a lot of people who despise the hell out of him. I’m merely just reviewing his album and giving my opinion on it, so this is going to be viewed from my perspective. 

Personally, I enjoy XXXTENTACTION’s songs, but I don’t necessarily support the decisions he has made in the past. I’m sure many of you can agree with me. Just recently, however, last week- XXXTENTACION has released a new album titled “?”. And there’s a lot of controversy regarding his album. 

The introduction of this album is probably the most unique introduction I’ve ever heard. It’s not even a song- it’s merely... a warning. A warning to his audience that the album they’re about to listen to has a lot of diversity to it. Each of his songs are different yet still in his unique style, and when it comes to X, the word “genre” is not in his vocabulary.

Thoroughly listening to the album, I developed a lot of mixed feelings for the album. There are a few songs that I find enjoyable but I also found some songs that I don’t seem to enjoy as much. However, the album overall is definitely unique. Each song is completely different. Some artists, unfortunately, don’t usually have songs that sound completely different. XXXTENTACION’s music is extremely alternative, creating a different style to listen to. It’s always nice to listen to something new, at least in my opinion.

However, XXX’s album isn’t a very happy one. His music overall isn’t known for being too joyful; but that’s his style. Even if his music isn’t all that cheerful, I still have a good time listening to what type of music he’s created. 

He also wrote a song dedicated to the tragic shooting that happened in Florida during Valentine’s Day, which was titled “Hope”. Which also happens to be one of my favorite songs from the album. Some people tend to say that XXX is ignorant, but as far as this album (and his music) concerns me, XXX seems pretty woke. Which is a good trait coming from him because he’s creating an influence to his fanbase. 

Another one of my favorite songs happens to be “changes”. He released the song before he released the album to promote “?”. It’s a really sad song that involves all the changes going on in the world, but it always gets me in my feels every time I give it a listen. 

Overall, this album has received plenty of mixed reviews and feelings. A lot of people seemed to enjoy it, and a lot of people didn’t seem to enjoy it. What did you guys think? Leave a note down below~!

[fatherniah-blog]

HOMESHAKE

Another recent discovery that I instantly fell in love with.

I was gone for a while, from nearly to the end of December to the beginning of February. During this time, new artists kept popping up into my discoveries and I couldn’t be happier. Out of all the musicians I’ve discovered, HOMESHAKE happens to be one of my absolute favorite artists of all time.

I was hesitant to listen to their music at first because I know their music is purely chill and indie. Not that relaxing music was ever a bad thing, I just don’t prefer relaxing music if it isn’t lo-fi hip hop. My past encounters with chill, indie music always ended up in me pressing the skip button over and over and over again, so it never really grabbed my attention.

Mac DeMarco was one of the very first artists I listened to revolving this music genre (indie rock). And as popular as he is, he didn’t really captivate me. But I still think that MacDemarco is an amazing artist on his own. Then HOMESHAKE came along. According to Wikipedia, one of the band members in HOMESHAKE is actually the former guitarist for Mac DeMarco’s band. But once I listened to HOMESHAKE... 

I. Fell. In. Love. 

This bundle of boys really changed my perspective on indie rock. Whenever I listen to them, it literally feels like my soul lifts a little and I can just close my eyes and hear them until I fall asleep. I’m not even exaggerating when I say that! I commend each member’s ability to compose such beautiful beats- to the extent where it literally feels like my soul is ascending to the heavens.

 A song that I could listen to all day and all night is on one of HOMESHAKE’s older albums- Midnight Snack, released in 2015. The title of the song’s called “Love Is Only a Feeling”... Oh god. This song is my absolute favorite song of all time.

Usually, when people ask me what my favorite song is, I freeze. I never look for a favorite song. You know what I mean? I never usually have a favorite song in mind. There are so many good songs out there that it’s hard to decide. But once I discovered “Love is Only a Feeling”, it made me feel a certain type of way that I couldn’t resist but put it on repeat. Ever since, I never hesitate to call this song my absolute favorite. 

According to genius.com, “Love is Only a Feeling” is about a conflict between insecurities and the feeling of love. The artist feels like they need to be better for their lover, although the artist knows that love will always be just a feeling. I can relate to this song on an emotional level, but that’s not what grasped my attention- the beat, the tempo, the sound of it all is what caught my liking. Which is surprising to me because I was never a big fan of indie music.

So... do I recommend listening to HOMESHAKE?

YES. Duh.

I don’t know if your spirits will ascend like mine did, or if they’ll change your life, but they’re a ridiculously underrated band. I don’t know a lot of people who have even heard of HOMESHAKE, let alone Mac DeMarco. 

They’re both similar artists since they perform the same genre, but they’re both unique in their very own way. They’re the reason why indie rock is so captivating- I hope the genre never dies. It’s a beautiful genre; I was just too blinded by other genres to see it. I feel like pop culture modernizes and overthrows other genres. Once I heard this genre for the first time and listened to their music, I felt... strange. I was too quick to judge. I was never usually one to listen to indie music at all. And like I mentioned before, I don’t know a lot of people who listen to indie rock, either. It took me some time to adapt to like the genre and the artists, but ultimately it is a breathtaking community. I love it now, and I always will. 

See you next week, 

- D

[fatherniah-blog]

CUCO

“Time changed,

We’re different, 

But my mind still says redundant things. 

Can I not think?”

Cuco is an artist I’ve recently discovered just this week. I fell in love with him the moment his beautiful tunes flowed through my earphones. I actually have heard one of his songs before, but I never found out who it was. Now that I’ve finally discovered him, I now get to write a review about this breathtaking musician. 

Cuco’s well-known for having Spanish in a lot of his songs. He actually helps me out with some of my Spanish assignments for class! I don’t hold enough knowledge to really comprehend what it means, or why he has Spanish in his songs, but I really enjoy that he adds a taste of his own culture into his music. It’s what makes Cuco, well... Cuco!

The translation for Cuco actually means a ghost in Spanish. It represents our modern day boogeyman. Cuco obviously grew up from Spanish culture, so it makes sense to hear Spanish lyrics in Cuco’s songs or being able to depict Cuco’s name from the Spanish language. 

My personal favorite song that was written by Cuco is “Lover is a Day”. It’s one of his most popular songs, but the lyrics make my heart melt and are way too relatable. It was actually the first song I discovered by him. Not to mention that the tune to it is extremely catchy and it makes me feel like I’m on Cloud Nine. You really need to give this song a listen. I swear it’ll make you feel like you’re on Cloud Nine, too. See if you can relate to it! 

This was written on genius.com as a song review and I couldn’t agree more with this statement: “In this song, Cuco mulls over his broken relationship with an old companion through moody organs and a quaint string section backing impactful, visceral lyrics defining his struggle moving past his broken emotions.”

Broken relationships are expressed through many ways. Music just happens to be the expression I relate to the most. If you’re ever stuck in a rut with someone or you happen to be moping over a past lover, Cuco is definitely an artist that will help you out so you won’t feel alone. 

There are many other masterpieces that were written by Cuco himself but you have to hear it to believe it. So check him out, and let me know what you think, yeah? He’s unquestionably an artist to remember. 

[mliknhoney-blog]

18 - Sneaker Wishlist

Everyone desires certain items here and there. It’s totally alright to want something because it’s part of our human nature to want something, but don’t necessarily need. I have a pretty excessive list of sneakers that I have been want for a while, but because I’m a sophomore in high school, I can’t really afford any of these shoes. But, this makes me want to work hard in school so that I’ll one day be able to buy things I want. Right now, I’m not asking for any of these shoes. I am completely happy and thankful for what I own and have already. These are just some sneakers that I have been really digging and interested in.

Balenciaga Trainers

This pair of shoes is by far the most expensive on this list. Balenciaga is a famous fashion company that was founded by a Spanish designer, Cristobal Balenciaga. These shoes have been rising in popularity and have been seen quite a few times on certain social media platforms. In my opinion, I think that it would be an easy staple to complete any outfit.

Off-White x Nike Collab

This collaboration is one of my favorites. Off-White is a fashion label that captures street style/ street wear look. Something about the design and look of the shoes is unique and different. Nike released quite a few different types of shoes with this collaboration a while back, but I didn’t get the chance to get my hands on a pair. Now, you have to pay triple or maybe six times the amount of retail.  

Fila Disruptors

The Fila Disruptors are kind of an unusual style of shoe. This shoe won’t intrigue that many people because of the way they look, but I think they look really cool. They are considered as a trending “dad shoe”. In my opinion, they really stand out in a crowd. What I like about these is that they are pretty inexpensive compared to other shoes. They range around the same as Vans, which is a really good price.

Adidas NMD

I have been wanting a pair of Adidas NMD for the longest time, but whenever I have saved enough money to buy a pair, they are either sold out or they’re out of my size. It was sort of frustrating because at the time a lot of people were obsessing over them and I was too. But, I never really ended up buying a pair, but I hope to in the future.

Nike Air Max 97

The Nike Air Max 97 was designed by Christian Tresser. This creation was inspired by Japan’s high-speed Bullet Trains.Ever since these shoes were released, they have been hyped over. At first, I didn’t understand why people were interesting in these shoes, but when I actually shoe them in person, I realized they actually were really nice. Not to mention, they are also reflective. The overall design of the shoe is really clean and crisp. However, I like the Undefeated white and the all white colorways. Other colorways in this style kind of look weird, but that’s just my opinion.

That is the end of my list. I decided to only write a few because there are so many brands, collaboration, and styles I strive to purchase in the future, but I didn’t to overwhelm you with them. Maybe next week I can write a part two of the sneakers I want. If you do, just leave a note or even a like and I’ll do it. Hopefully you had an amazing week, and don’t forget to come back next Saturday for another blog post.

[fatherniah-blog]

CERAADI

WASHANNINNNNN!!

Usually on this blog I write about musicians or artists waiting to be heard. Well, these three beauties are actually YouTubers who are well-known for creating what they call “playlist videos”, which consist of these three sisters jamming out to some bops they recommend their audience listen to. Trust me, you should definitely give this channel a view- each song they play, they always have a blast dancing or singing along with each other. They’re crazy, and always wildin’ out, but the audience loves it. If you’re looking for something to hype up to, these girls do just the job.

On other social media platforms, such as Instagram, Twitter, and more, they post dancing videos to some of their favorite songs. Most of the ones they upload go viral- their moves are signature! They always seem to find the best songs and the best moves to wild out to. They definitely deserve the recognition they receive, if not more. 

My personal favorites coming from Ceraadi are their dance videos. If you look on their Instagram page, @/ceraadi, you’ll get to see some of the best videos they record on their page. As a dancer, I actually get a lot of inspiration coming from them. Not just because they got the moves, but because they always have fun doing it. A lot of dancers tend to forget that dance itself should be something fun and something to enjoy, and it’s extremely influencing just watching other dancers have fun with their pieces, too. 

Not to mention the fits!! Look at ‘em!

You can never forget how charming they each are as a person. Their outfits are absolute fire; 24/7. You know Crocs? The type of shoes everybody seems to hate? Nah. Ceraadi don’t care. The Ceraadi sisters actually make crocs look... cute. In a few of their dancing videos on Instagram, they each wear their own pair of Crocs while dancing. Crazy, right? Now I want a pair of my own Crocs. 

Ceraadi can make anything trendy. Just look how adorable they’ve made Crocs look. Their confidence spreads like the flu- and their personalities are just as charming as their fits. It makes me want to become more confident in my own self and to never be afraid to try new things. Their persona is so attractive, which is why they’ve attracted so much attention and fame. They’re all beautiful, wild girls who dance and sing to whatever they want to!

I recommend you give these girls a listen. If you search them up on Spotify, you’d actually be surprised to see that they have a few hits up, too. Tell me what you guys think!

https://www.youtube.com/user/CeraadiLIVE

https://www.instagram.com/ceraadi/

[fatherniah-blog]

AMEN

Amen- an amazing album that debuted on February 2, 2018. It’s the first album that Rich Brian released ever since he changed his name- he used to go by the name Rich Chigga, but because he believed that that name was a mistake and it was a name he created when he was younger, he changed it. There’s been a lot of mixed opinions about his new name, but personally, I think it’s alright! Besides, he can do whatever he pleases. 

I’ve written about Rich Brian before and recommended a few songs written by him before this album was released. I liked his music before, but with new music, it made me enjoy his music even more. For the whole month of February, you can catch me listening to these snaps with my earbuds plugged in. Anyways, if you’re curious enough to check out my previous post about Rich Brian, I’ll attach the link here: https://fatherniah.tumblr.com/post/167403364979/rich-chigga

This boy’s album is probably my favorite album released by him. Some of my favorite songs by him are Flight, Little Prince, and Attention. And I’ll go into depth about why these songs are my favorite.

FLIGHT

Flight happens to be my #1 favorite out of the whole album. The tune to the song has me bumpin’. A catchy tune to a song is so important to me; if the tune isn’t catchy to me, it won’t be on my playlist anytime soon.

Flight’s a song dedicated to how Rich Brian has gained so much more fame over time, and how everyone suddenly decides to befriend him just for the clout. 

The song also goes into depth about his experiences in California and how he’s living the life there. 

LITTLE PRINCE  

Another song on how Rich Brian became so successful, but with another artist who also sings about their success, aka NIKI. They both mention in the song that the key to success should always remain a secret.

A huge factor to why this song is one of my favorites from the album is because of NIKI’s gorgeous voice. Also the catchy tune, but NIKI’s voice is what captivated me to becoming so attached to this song. 

I’m sure the song title was inspired from the famous story, The Little Prince. If you’ve never heard of that story, I definitely recommend you to give some time to read this story. It’s a classic!

ATTENTION

The most popular song from Rich Brian’s whole album, mainly because Offset is featured in this song. This song is ridiculously catchy. I always catch myself bobbing my head to this song. 

To no surprise, this song’s about success. Once again. He refers to how his older song, DAT $TICK, got him going places. He also mentions how he isn’t really used to having this much attention revolving around him. He’ll get used to the fame soon, but ultimately, in the end, he has his boys always having his back. 

I enjoyed this album! Did you? I’m glad that Rich Brian’s growth is nothing but evident ever since the album release. It’s good to see such a young boy grow from so much fame and remain grateful for where he is now and who he is today. He’s receiving so much support and nothing but positive vibes coming his way. Rich Brian has a bright future ahead of him, and he knows it. 

[fatherniah-blog]

CHRISTMAS BOPS

It’s the holidaaaazeee!

You know what that means! The one thing that makes the holidays so festive, the one thing that gets you in the Christmas and holiday spirit—music.

There’s a huge variety of Christmas songs and albums out there, but they’re all considered as classics and are played every year. I appreciate that people take Christmas music classics so nicely, they don’t replace new songs every year and I really appreciate that. Of course, I’m always open to hear some new Christmas songs, but we could never forget the classics and where holiday music first came from.

Moreover, I’ve been recently listening to a lot of SoundCloud mixes of Christmas music that have been altered to vaporwave bops. It’s so relaxing and it gets me in the Christmas spirit at the same time, and I love it. I listened to Christmas lofi while I was wrapping gifts and drinking some hot tea, and I was honestly, at that moment, in a surreal pool of pure bliss.

I’ll drop some links to my favorite Christmas lofi mixes here:

https://soundcloud.com/byrook1e/christmas

https://soundcloud.com/aairaair/a-charlie-brown-christmas

There’s a few Spotify playlists that consist of nothing but classics, as well, and those are probably the best playlists to listen to around this time of year. From old 80’s music to modern day Ariana Grande, all of the catchy tunes are on that playlist to get you in the spirit. You can catch me bumpin’ to that playlist, too!

I’ll drop the link here. I know it’s Christmas Eve, but it’s never too late to listen to Christmas music.

https://open.spotify.com/user/spotify/playlist/37i9dQZF1DX0HWhBzpBj05?si=QtPdVcZvQwCh1DMNa24ulg

What Christmas songs are your favorites? I personally can’t pinpoint one certain song to be my favorite Christmas song, but I really enjoy the oldies. Especially on a vinyl record. Christmas lofi is breathtaking to me, too. But you can really never forget the more modern and upbeat ones, too. I just can’t choose- Christmas music overall is just so jolly and you can’t help but get into the spirit once the time of year comes around.

Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy Holidays! I won’t be posting for a little while because I’m going to go enjoy the holidays with my friends and family, and I hope y’all do, too. Stay safe everyone,

- D

[fatherniah-blog]

SATURATION III

The boys are back in town for one last debut before they go.

So if you’re as a big of a fan of Brockhampton as I am, you must’ve known for a little while now that they were going to release their final album before they break up and find their own separate paths. As sad as I am to see them go, their new album sympathizes for them a little bit. Of course the Brockhampton fanbase is sad overall, some of them even angered, but every good thing comes to an end. I lost all trust for bands staying together ever since One Direction broke up. 

Brockhampton is the only band I’ve been religiously listening to, and seeing them go is possibly as sad as losing a loved one to me. I am so in love with their music and every song they release is so... Brockhampton. Their songs are always their own with bundles of uniqueness and originality saturated in their songs. Saturated. Get it...?

But this blog post isn’t to focus on negative aspect of the album release, which is the band breaking up, but it’s to focus on the positive aspect of the outcome, which is SATURATION III. A breathtaking album it is, really, and I’m here to tell you about it. 

As usual, Brockhampton never fails to amaze me with all of the amazing songs they’ve released in this album. HOTTIE is one of my favorites; it’s extremely catchy and I can’t help but groove along to the song. There’s a few songs in there that have the casual upbeat song, like HOTTIE and BOOGIE. There’s actually a music video based off of the song BOOGIE, and you’ll love it. When I watched it, I couldn’t wipe the smile off of my face. Search it up on YouTube! I definitely recommend giving it a listen. BOOGIE also happens to be one of the most popular songs on the whole album.

STAINS also has to be another favorite song of mine. I ride with the wave STAINS give me whenever the songs flow through my earbuds. The song gives off the message of each of the band members and it doesn’t just give just one message, it gives many. 

Have you noticed the interludes in each album?

They all have to do with cinemas of some sort; whether it be from SKIT, SCENE, or CINEMA, each of the albums’ interlude represent some sort of film. I’m not quite sure what the message is behind it, but I am so intrigued. The industry of film is something else I’m highly interested in and I want to know the meaning and the sole purpose of having cinema-like interludes. 

(UPDATE)

Okay, so I did some research on the meaning behind the interludes, and it’s actually an interesting message. It tells a story. Not just any story, it tells a story about Roberto. It’s his story. They’re his demo tapes for Pixar. His dream is to make it into the Hollywood industry, I’m assuming, and I think it’s adorable that he has such a big dream for making it into the film industry, specifically Pixar. 

I would love to go more into depth about the album overall but SATURATION III is indescribable. I highly suggest you check the album out! It’s released on iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, or you could even listen to it on YouTube and check out the music video for BOOGIE, too, and see how you like it. 

Brockhampton will always be one of my favorite bands, no matter what you say. No matter how long they’ve lasted I know that their bond is strong. They just have their own lives to live, their own paths to walk on, you know? Life happens, and people will eventually understand that. I will always support each individual that’s a part of Brockhampton and their music. Most of them have released some of their own music already, and if you’re interested in Brockhampton but haven’t listen to their own music, I suggest you check that out, too. 

It was a good run, Brockhampton. I’ll see you guys soon. I love you!