Patterns

I am Nima and this is my personal blog. I post and/or reblog stuff I think are as cool as two monkeys in a barrel. Tehran -> Madison -> Chicago -> San Francisco.

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Music

Once upon a time, I hosted a radio show for 3.5 years.

Later, I posted a song on this tumblog (almost) every day for 7+ years.

Then life happened and the “show” stopped.

So much of my creativity has been bound to music throughout the years and I feel like I’ve lost my creative side a bit.

So...gonna share music again. This time as a weekly series: this week in music.

I hope you’ll tune in and enjoy my weekly curation of new, throwback* and cover songs each week.

Without further ado, here’s the first edition of the series.

* Throwback = at least a decade old from the time the post being published. Random, I know :)

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This Week in Music (Week 52, 2022)

Last playlist of 2022. Another undefeated year for music.

New Songs

The greatest dead or alive MC (yea I said it) with the youngest son of the pioneering icon Fela Kuti. African Dream - Remix

I feel in love with Jazz and Hip Hop at a young age. Mix the two and inject that shit into my veins. The Butcher Brown quintet are at the top of their game with this one. Liquid Light

Oh so sexy. Don't forget. your dancing shoes for this one. Of Another Kind

My goodness this took me to another era. "we keep the lights on, kids of the tribe, RIP Phife Dawg". 93

Oof. Tugging at my heart strings with this one. Danger

Yooooooo. This is near 8 minutes of proper rhythmic house madness. Sun in Pisces

Arve Henriksen, a virtuoso trumpet player, and pianist Kjetil Husebø recorded this stunning album that a friend referred to, aptly, as "dream jazz". They recorded the whole album remotely in their respective studios over 2019 and 2020. Here's a standout song for me. Serendipity

Throwback

In rotation forever, and a day. From The Roots' 3rd studio album. RIP Malik B. Shouts to my brother Mike. 100% Dundee

Cover

Closing the year out with The Lumineers covering this iconic jam by The Cure. Shouts to B-Logic for this one. Just Like Heaven

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This Week in Music (Week 51, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.

New Songs

Ladies and gents, cats and dogs, alligators and ducks, and mammals of all ages: Little Simz is back!!! This one is for my homegirl Jennie joon! Gorilla

Country alert! Two of my colleagues put me onto ERNEST and dang I'm smitten with his voice. Songs We Used to Sing

Jack Harlow's flow with THAT classic Neptunes sound. Movie Star

Put your dancing shoes on fam. A-Trak with the heat. Spit - Amine Edge & DANCE Edit

Iran's finest. Sweet and poetic lyrics. Gorgeous melodies. Mosallas

Throwback

Blues love! Fun back story of a previously lost track by The Doors that was likely recorded sometime between The Soft Parade (1969) and L.A. Woman (1971). Big shouts to B-Logic for putting me on. Paris Blues

Cover

Long time readers of Patterns know of my undying love for George Michael's music who passed away 6 years ago on, of all days, Christmas. Here are the Future Islands paying homage to this timeless choon in their own synth heavy recognizable sound. Last Christmas

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This Week in Music (Week 50, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.

New Songs

The first time I heard J. Ivy was on Ye's Never Let Me Down (2004). A song with Jay-Z. And the most powerful verse was no doubt by the man J. Ivy. Here he is with John Legend on the chorus, and Slick Rick. Poetry on another level. Song

Instrumental for your soul. Song

Something to raise your spirits. Macy Gray and Maino. Song

J. Period has been on fire for some time. The best of the best collaborate with him. He constantly puts out creative material and his latest keeps the bar high by his own lofty standards. Song

Throwback

A love song to rule them all. Song

Cover

Norah Jones with live Soundgarden cover. Song

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This Week in Music (Week 49, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.



New Songs

My goodness Lupe. This type of storytelling is why I fell in love with Hip Hop decades ago. You need to pull up the lyrics for this one. Song

New artist discovery for me: Paolo Nutini. An epic, and beautiful, song. Many phases to it. And the voice. My his voice. Song

What can you say about Baaba Maal that hasn't already been said. The undefeated Senegalese icon releasing his first new music in just shy under a decade. A melodic joyous jam. Song

"Being rich don't make you wealthy. Being vegan don't make you healthy". Song

Love this from the chorus "Right now, I need you to take a chance on me". Song

Pete Rock is one of those artists that truly changed the game. Like people made beats differently, and in his style, after him. 9th Wonder, among many others, certainly takes after him. Pete Rock is well known for his harmonious and multi-layered production. Here's a stunning 3:33 instrumental for your ears. Song

Throwback

Bringing together two mentioned artists from above. Here's a naughty one from that delicious Murs and 9th Wonder Record. Song

Cover

PREP covering my favorite Harry Styles jam from 2022. Song

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This Week in Music (Week 48, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.



New Songs

Chase & Status straight to my veins, please. UK Garage stand up! Song

When country music hits, it hits. "When I need to get back to who I am / There ain't but just one road there / Sometimes you gotta start nowhere". Song

Oof new Metallica!! Fresh as they were in 1983. Song

Get in your feelings with this Tunisian choon. Shouts to my little bro Subhi for putting me on. Song

Mood-y. Song

A whole fucking vibe. Brand new artist discovery this week. Lyrics cut deep on this one: "this life is a cycle". Song

Throwback

Big up to my friend Andrea for educating me on this gorgeous classic. Connie Francis ruled the charts globally from Europe to the Far East Asia to Australia and beyond in the 1950s and 1960s. She was the first woman in history to reach No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100! And went to record another 50+ No. 1 hits in her storied carrier. Song

Cover

Hootie & the Blowfish covering that iconic REM tune. Something about religion. Song

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This Week in Music (Week 47, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.

New Songs

"Movement is a message". Is there a more Groove Armada lyrics!? Song

When you do it for the love -> "I'm not writing this to get laid or paid i just can't keep my pencil off this page". Song

Monica Martin and James Blake melting hearts with some gorgeous songwriting -> "cuz after all, no one's in control. Go easy kid, it's only rock and roll". Song

Yes to "more poetry and more flowers". Please. Song

If you haven't already, dive head first into this Black Thought x Danger Mouse record. Here's a standout. Song

GUCCI BAG. Song

Oh so smooooov. Song

I'm a sucker for a perfectly written formulaic pop joint. Song

Throwback

It's Prince. Just hit play. Song

Cover

Lily Allen covering Keane; the original that has had 816 MILLION plays on Spotify as of the time my writing. Lily's version sitting at a "mere" 294M spins. Song

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This Week in Music (Week 46, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.

New Songs

First of all Hit-Boy kills this beat. And then Nasty Nas shows up. "Nobody this thorough, that's thе truth". Song

Sometimes you hear lyrics that cut deep. Like you were there. Like them lyrics were written for you. This is that. Song

Norah Jones + Marc Rebillet. Gawddammit this is fun. Song

Vibe. Headphones necessary. Song

My namesake brother from another mother (N Baradaran) sent me this gorgeous tune. The whole album is worth the listen. Song

The great Toumani Diabaté. Song

No one like Jamie xx. xx. Song

Holy shit. Gorillaz did not come to play with this one. Get your glow sticks y'all. We goin clubbin. Song

My brother sent me their Tiny Deck performance this week and I'm hooked. Song

Shouts to my homegirl Meems for putting me on to this syntherrific jam. Song

Throwback

There is only one person that can pull off a song like this. Also a good reminder: eat your vegetables kids. Song

Cover

Upbeat cover of Rihanna's now decade old classic. Song

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This week in music (week 45, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details Below.

New Songs

Ibrahim Maalouf, the celebrated Lebanese jazz instrumentalist, has put out a fire new record wonderfully titled Capacity to Love. This one featuring Pos from De La Soul. Song

“Holier than thou w/ the hashtag. Is it really conscious or a cash grab". Song

Sahara music. Song

Singer songwriter love. Song

Moody. New Ella Mai. Song

For the grown and sexy. Song

Grammy winner PJ Morton collaborating w/ Stevie Wonder and not for the first time. Adding Nas to the mix to makes my cipher complete. Song

“Someday it’s gonna work out fine”. Words we all need to hear from time to time. Song

Playful sexy jam. Reminded me of Groove Theory’s Tell Me. Song

Throwback

Y’all know this monster hit. SWV, Weak. Song

Cover

Oh how I miss Amy Winehouse’s voice. Here she is covering the one and only Sam Cooke. Song

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This week in music (week 44, 2022)

Playlist, here. Details below.

New Songs

If “Too Big, like MC Hammer hype man” doesn’t make you wanna listen to this then knowing Snoop, Ice Cube, E-40 and Too $hort are on it won’t help. Probably my favorite discovery of the week. Song

Discovered on TikTok. A sweet song about young and growing love. Song

NEW GORILLAZ!! Pop music like the gawds intended. Song

From Wifey’s playlist. Song

Diplo, sped up. The original has had 188m spins as of the time of my posting this. Song

Mind bending guitar gawd. Long live Tuareg Rock. Song

Red Hot Chili Peppers still putting out fiyah. Song

Norah Jones & Mavis Staples on friendship. Song

Phoenix! Song

Detroit’s own house king. Song

Throwback

Monica. 1998. Song

Cover

Wonderful cover of an iconic Sade song. Discovered on a PTON yoga class :) Song

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Happy Cover Friday y’all! Al Jarreau covering James Taylor. Shouts to @whitneymcn for getting the band back together!

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“If she runs her fingers through my past She may lose the softness in her hands“

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Gorillaz’ newest ep is a delicious listen. This one takes the cake for me. Loving the island vibes.

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This man’s voice, sheesh. Happy Cover Friday folks.

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Rest in peace maestro 🕊️

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Take me here. Now. Please.

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Here’s the original. The whole record is fantastic.

P.S. Spotify, here.