Is it just me or is each week getting better and better with the new releases?
We're nearly at the halfway mark of the year, and looking back over all of the FVM playlists has me believing this year is already winning. Next week's FVM will be a special one, can you guess what will be on it?
P.S. Did you see Sasha's coverage of Funk at the (Santa Barbara) Bowl from last week? Have no fear, you can get the 411 here.
If you didn't already know, TOMORROW IS RECORD STORE DAY!!!! One of the best days to exist in the year if you ask me. Where will you spend your day at? Although I wish I could hop on a magic carpet and head straight to Forever Young Records in Grand Prairie, Texas, I will be making the most of it here in Santa Barbara (gotta support the locals right?) When I found out earlier this week that Shura would be participating in RSD by releasing a special (and limited to 500) vinyl for her hit single "Indecision" attached with the latest remix by Jungle, I was instantly stoked. Shortly afterwards, I realized this would only be released in the UK & my excitement transitioned to a melancholic state. I know I have a lot of favorite songs, but "Indecision" is 110% pure gold in my ears. It's the epitome of being equal parts catchy and groovy, which is why I wanted to feature this talented woman originally from Shepherd's Bush for those of you who may not have heard of her. Since Shura's music isn't available on iTunes (yet) I highly recommend checking out her SoundCloud page where you'll find a sufficient amount of both original material and remixes. Gems on Gems on Gems. P.S. You can still purchase the original single on vinyl with the Formation remix attached on Side B through Shura's online shop. Can't wait to see everyone's vinyl haul tomorrow! Good luck on finding/getting what you want! P.P.S. Follow Shura on Twitter
So last year I made a wish list for SXSW 2014 already having the idea that I wouldn't catch as much as I wanted since I strictly went during the tail-end end of it (aka when SXSW is filled to the brim with humans and every venue is at capacity.) What I ended up with was a completely different experience that wasn't disappointing, but felt "just right" for the situation. Although I didn't consume as many tacos as I had dreamed of, I discovered a love for acts such as Tacocat, Royal Blood, Cashmere Cat, and many others (that unfortunately didn't have the word cat in their band name) through random showcases that I stumbled into until it eventually became a Lonestar infused blur. (If you're not a fan of Lonestar or Tito's vodka, prepare for a rude awakening.)
This year I'm expecting to make a repeat of my first year, and catch as many acts as possible (or at least attempt to) until I fall apart. A couple words of advice from a somewhat veteran: If you don't have a wristband or a badge, your chances of getting into official showcases are as difficult as herding cats, so don't be shy! Ask around or take the dive to purchase one. Believe, me, it's worth the $$. Wear comfortable clothes/shoes, seriously. This isn't the kind of festival that you can run back to your campsite when it gets too hot, because you're most likely staying in an AirBnB that's outside of Austin. Also, as much as you want to hop around to see all of the different artists/bands on your lists, sometimes the best bet is to just keep it simple and stay for the entire showcase that you've miraculously made it into. Who knows, you could find your next favorite act by doing just that. If you don't have a bicycle or live in the vicinity of downtown, have cash on you at all times because who knows how many petty-cabs you'll end up riding in, (and they don't come cheap so pay attention.) Tacos is a lifestyle. Pace yourself, because both official & unofficial showcases most likely go on until the wee hours of the morning. Don't make the same mistake that I did two years ago and miss Merchandise perform on a bridge in the middle of the night, ughh. Rally. Rally. Rally. Now it's time to unveil who I'm rooting for, and I kept it simple - 18 acts in alphabetical order. Each artist/band has a specific style or set of characteristics that draw me to them significantly, so definitely give this playlist a good solid listen or seven. My top 5? Definitely Meg Mac, Summer Heart, Torres, James Bay, and a certain someone I'll mention later on in the mix, but let's be real - you can't go wrong with any of the acts below. Hope to see you there!
If I'm extra lucky: I'll be seeing Laura Marling at SXSW this year. She's playing a total of 3 (official) showcases, and to give you a wee bit of personal background history: when I first moved to Texas, I was informed all about SXSW & one of the stories involved Laura Marling herself. A fellow co-worker of mine had randomly caught a performance of her during SXSW 2009, and one of her backing band members was Marcus Mumford (who at the time was practically a stranger) which is crazy to consider his current status. Yes they were dating around that time, but the coincidence of the experience is pretty f*cking awesome from an attendee's view don't you think? She's talented as hell for just barely striking 25, and it's nothing but a confident ride to the top from here on out. If you're not familiar with this Brit, prepare to be impressed. Last summer while I was sitting at one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Barbara, my friend had mentioned that she wished her hair was as blonde as the female who had just walked in the door. As soon as I turned around I immediately had an internal freakout because it was Laura Marling herself. Let's just say for the remainder of my dinner - I didn't have much to say and did my best to keep calm but I was sure as hell nervous from the small. She's a bonafide legend in my book, and I am looking forward to catching her in the SXSW atmosphere this year. Now that you're aware of who's on the LYED wish list, stay tuned for Round 2: Acts I've Already Seen Live (that will be at SXSW 2015), but Will Never Say No To.
Make the most of your Monday with FVM#68. It's quite tasty if I do say so myself. "The Graduates" by Speedy Ortiz has been on repeat since they released it last week, during a hard time that Sadie is currently going through due to the loss of her father - so their internet presence may be a bit silent for the time being. I was lucky enough to meet Sadie last March when they played in Fort Worth after SXSW & it's hard to hear someone going through a tragedy like that. *sends positive thoughts your way*
I'm loving the new one from Chromatics (!!!) and it's quite nice to hear from Tanlines again. What's your favorite from this week's mix? Don't forget, this playlist grows until Wednesday night! :) So who knows what will be added onto this playlist within the next 48 hours.
ICYMI: Last week's Friday Fascination was NAVVI from Seattle, and also - FVM#67 a mix that remains as one of my favorites from this year so far.
Can't wait for you guys to see/read my SXSW Wish List for 2015 which drops tomorrow, can you guess who will be on it? Here's my Wish List from 2014.
Hopefully you've recovered from the holiday weekend, and if you haven't then let freshvibesmonday assist you with tackling the bad vibes. If only this blog could dress up & pretend to be you at work today.
ALSO:
Yesterday I decided to switch it up a bit and let a dear friend of mine (and fellow music aficionado) Elysse Ralph curate a playlist of what she's currently listening to. If you missed it, have no fear! Just click here to listen to her picks. :)
