Friday Fascination: Mexico City Blondes

 

Let Your Ears Decide is all about providing you with the 411 on the latest bands that are on the rise every Friday, but when there's something special that happens to be local and crosses our path - that's an entirely different story. Mexico City Blondes is without a doubt one of LYED's latest fascinations for obvious reasons, and with only one track released publicly - they have us by both ears. 

They made their debut performance at SOhO in Santa Barbara earlier this month when they opened up for Panama (a show I was 110% bummed about missing.) In addition to winning everyone over and reaching #1 on HypeMachine, MCB's first (and only) single "Fade" was featured in Vogue among a handful of the best summer summer jams. "Fade" is definitely one of those songs that is so smooth and effortless, it's too good to pass up (or take off repeat.) With everything looking up for the SB band, it will be interesting to see what they've accomplished a year from now. The music video for "Fade" recently premiered on Earmilk (check out what they had to say about it here.) 

Make those ears happy & grab "Fade" for 99 cents on iTunes here!

Connect with Mexico City Blondes here: 
https://soundcloud.com/mexico-city-blondess
https://twitter.com/mexcityblondes
http://instagram.com/mexicocityblondes
http://www.mexicocityblondes.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/mexicocityblondes/

Getting Back Under The Covers Part VI

Happy Thursday from LYED, here's another healthy dose of covers that I'm currently digging. Not going to lie, I was pretty surprised to see that Foals once covered Swedish House Mafia, but after listening to it - I'm 100% about it. Which one was your favorite? 

P.S. If you're new to the GBUTC series, play catchup here!

You still have time to enter to win a (very) limited edition 2 LP Test Pressing of Kimbra's new album The Golden Echo. (Click here to find out how!) 

LYED Giveaway: Kimbra Vinyl Test Pressing

If you're a fan of the talented singer-songwriter Kimbra & like to collect vinyl, Let Your Ears Decide has the contest for you! LYED is giving away a limited edition 2 LP test pressing of Kimbra's sophomore album The Golden Echo to someone lucky (aka you!)

"The Golden Echo is the second album by Kimbra. The ultimate modern pop record, The Golden Echo is ambitious, sophisticated, and complex, just like its creator. The New Zealand-born singer and songwriter wrote the songs in her bedroom studio on a farm in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, where she was surrounded by sheep and lambs owned by her landlady. The album is produced by Rich Costey and features several special guest artists, including Muse’s Matt Bellamy, rapper Flying Lotus and singer John Legend. Kimbra is a New Zealand recording artist whose unique musical style draws from many different genres, often blending more modern electropop and R&B with classic jazz and soul musical elements. In 2013, Kimbra won 2 Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her song Somebody That I Used To Know with Gotye."

 The album dropped last week, and hopefully you've had some time to stream it to realize just how amazing of an album it is! Head over to LYED's Facebook page to enter to win by leaving a comment on the contest photo with the first song that made you fall in love with Kimbra. As mentioned above, she's collaborated with artists such as Gotye for "Someone That I Used to Know" & even with Miami Horror for "I Look To You." Check out some of her collaboration magic & stream TGE on Spotify below! 

Good luck! You have until Friday at midnight to enter, and the winner will be announced bright & early Saturday morning. 

Questions, Comments, or Concerns? Shoot an e-mail to letyourearsdecide@gmail.com 

or hit up LYED on twitter! @_emiLYED

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #41

 

Post FYF/First City Festival "Blues" making today the worst day ever? Guess what, it's only uphill from here! - Above is a heavy load of new tunes to help you deal with reality, remember it's only as awful as you make it out to be. Plus, that's why happy hour starts as soon as you're off from work. 

P.S. Both Young Summer & Royal Blood released their debut albums which are equally as impressive from both ends of the spectrum. 

Hard presents... released their lineup for Day of the Dead (11/2 &11/3) check it out here.  

Friday Fascination: Like Swimming

This post is long overdue, I came across Like Swimming a few months ago. Like Swimming are a trio from Stockholm, Sweden that has a sound so sweet it's borderline addictive.
In fact, according to their bio - "Swedish pop in english, with melodies like dolphins and rhythms like sea lions." It's fun & folksy aka it might just be your new favorite band (in fact, it should be in addition to every other LYED Friday Fascination ;].)

"Go Buffalo" is the first single they've released as a band, and you can find a rare version of it on their debut EP Let Go. (Listen below, and let me know what you think!) 

Grab Let Go on ITunes for less than $5.00!

Like Swimming Twitter

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #40

It's MONDAY & I miraculously have the day off - so of course this week's version is going to be extra amazing. New Caribou, New Interpol (which is unfortunately not available in our country as of right now, C'MON. Also - new Charli XCX, new Tennis (who have a fall tour coming up with Pure Bathing Culture, hopefully see y'all at the Troubador) and it fortunately doesn't end there. Saved the chillest for last aka when you're ready to turndown for Tuesday with new tunes from Peaking Lights (who have an album coming out in October) & added a couple songs from Ryan Hemsworth's "SHH Secret Songs" series, (head over here to hear them all.) 

As the week goes on and more releases start to surface - they'll be added on here, so watch this space! 

If you haven't heard already, you still have time to enter for a wristband to FYF Fest this upcoming weekend. Yep, you heard it correctly. You + The Strokes + Future Islands + Interpol + HAIM + every other amazing band in the world all in one setting (LA Exposition & State Park.) For the 411 on how to enter, click here.

P.S. Shoutout to the "Timehop" app for bringing back this image into my life that I captured nearly 2 years ago on East Beach in Santa Barbara. 

Check this app out if you haven't already! 

FYF FEST GIVEAWAY!

GUESS WHAT? LYED WANTS YOU TO HAVE THE BEST WEEKEND EVER WITH THE BEST BANDS EVER. WHERE? FYF FEST, DUH. 

What is FYF FEST? Besides being one of the festivals in California with one of the best lineups to date, FYF is a festival that's not too small & not too big (yet.) It's at the LA Sports Arena & Exposition Park, which is a change from being consistently held at the LA State Historic Park, but guess what? IT'S SOLD OUT! This lineup has quite the variety from bringing back The Blood Brothers (who clearly don't need an introduction) as well as Caribou, Future Islands, Phoenix, I mean, I could go on for days, but I'll let the picture speak for itself (and it's saying that it's AWESOME.)

Have you liked LYED on Facebook?

If you've answered yes, guess what - this is one of two ways you can enter the contest.  Write on the Facebook Wall for LYED & be sure to include 3 acts that you're dying to see at FYF Fest & why, plus your e-mail address! Boom. You're entered. 
We'll give you a minute to collect yourselves & create the perfect answer. (Head over to the Facebook page when you're ready. )

If you're too cool for Facebook, but have an Instagram account? No worries! Be sure to follow LYED on Instagram (@_emiLYED) & here's what you can do to enter. Share the photo above on your account and be sure to tag @_emiLYED & include #LYEDFYF in the caption! That's all folks!

*REMEMBER, YOU CAN ENTER ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, BUT IT INCREASES YOUR CHANCES IF YOU DO BOTH!

Good Luck! (You have until Monday at midnight to enter!)

P.S. Have you followed LYED on Twitter?

What about TUMBLR?

http://fyffest.com

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #39

TUNES ON TUNES ON TUNES. (Now excuse me for a minute while I attempt to recover from Outside Lands.)

Friday Fascination: Tomas Barfod

Tomas Barfod is a force to be reckoned with, especially when you add Nina K (featured above) to the mix. His sophomore album Love Me is still fresh in everyone's ears with automatic hits like "Pulsing" and "Busy Baby" (both featuring Nina K) but track #4 "Honey" could easily be mistaken for a Glass Animals track for it's jungle realness. This album doesn't stop there, stretching across the spectrum, Night Beds are featured in a song that is easily 3 shades different than what you would've found on their debut album Country Sleep.

So what am I trying to say here? Tomas Barfod is the epitome of an underrated genius. I appreciate this individual so much, and have nothin but high hopes for his future. Be the one to help me spread the word about this talented man. From club hits to ambient gems, Tomas Barfod is your go-to for pretty much anything. (Grab Love Me on iTunes here!)

Need some foundation from the artist? His debut album Salton Sea made my 2012 a good one with fascinating gems such as "November Skies" & "Until We Die."

I can only hope for you (the readers) to find as much fascination with Tomas Barfod & what he's created as I have. "Busy Baby" still remains as one of my favorite tracks of

2014.
Contact:
http://tomasbarfod.com/
https://twitter.com/tomasbarfod
http://instagram.com/tomasbarfod
https://soundcloud.com/tomasbarfod

LYED x Outside Lands Preview

Outside Lands will always hold a special place in my (overly-obsessed-with-all-things-music-related) heart. What's so great about it? Well to keep this from being another novel, I'll break it down from my own perspective. It's that one festival where it's not just a hop, skip, and a cartwheel away to get to the next stage like it is at Coachella, so instead - each stage is a separate unique shrine (for music, of course.) In fact, if you're planning on catching half of a set at Twin Peaks, and think it'll only take you a couple minutes to find a decent spot near the Sutro stage, think again. Also, If you're considering re-using your outfit from Bonnaroo, you better plan on adding at least a few more layers. Good news is that you won't have to worry about being caged up consuming overpriced beers, but the bad news is- beers will still be overpriced as per usual (duh.)

Other thoughts:

This is the first time GIVERS have made an appearance out in the public eye in what seems like, um forever?

Holy Ghost! vs. Warpaint on Friday? The real question is: do you want to dance your pants off or do you want to watch 4 badass females rip through jams such as "Bees" & "Disco//very?" You be the judge, I'll be at Lands End. 

3:00-8:00 on Saturday = it's about to get physical, and by physical I mean how many times are you willing to hop around Golden Gate Park to catch everyone that's playing? Maybe you should reconsider your choice of shoes for the event and stick with something more comfortable (besides, it's highly unlikely that your shoes will even make it in the picture.)

Planning on heading to the fest early? Here's 3 bands worth checking out:

Friday-NIGHT TERRORS OF 1927, 12PM @ Panhandle

 Saturday- DUM DUM GIRLS, 12:20PM @ Lands End

 Sunday- WOODS, 1:10PM @ Sutro 

Who am I looking forward to seeing at Outside Lands this year? Listen below.

FRESHVIBESMONDAY #38

So. Much. Great. Stuff - I don't even know where to begin, but I will say one thing: 

Have a great Monday. 

Friday Fascination: Laura Welsh

Let me be the one to tell you (if you haven't heard already) that Laura Welsh is an absolute powerhouse when it comes to her talent & voice. "Cold Front" easily captured my attention last summer, and last month her self-titled EP dropped (via Outsiders Recorded Music Limited.) In short, the EP is oozing with passion, and a perfect example would be track #3 "Break The Fall" (featured below.)

Like what you hear? Listen to the rest of the 4-song EP on iTunes. Save the $3.36 by not purchasing a mediocre coffee and instead grab this stellar work of art on iTunes (you can thank me later.)

P.S. All i have to say about this cover is: YES, YES, AND YES. 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_laurawelsh

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/laurawelsh

Website: https://laurawelsh.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/_laurawelsh

Tumblr: http://laurawelsh.tumblr.com/

Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/2QGdI8fUEuoVPJ4xuC5NDe

Now what are you waiting for? Get to listening!