Unaware

Sudhir's Pick:

You might have heard this one before. It seems very much like something you will like. Looking forward to seeing you soon. Glad that we are on the same time zone again for a bit.

Unaware : Allen Stone

Hello hello! It's been a crazy busy last couple of weeks, but all full of good things. Back in Delhi and back to good internet and good music streaming. While I was in England, I also downloaded Spotify. Here's something I listened to today. Have a good week! 

Blank Space / Stand by Me : Imagine Dragons

Down in Africa

Sudhir's Pick:
Wow! This was a fun song to listen to. Africa is probably one of my favourite songs of all time and every cover brings something new. This guy is great and you should check out some of his other stuff if you haven't already.

-S

Africa (Toto Cover) : Peter Bence

Tanisha's Pick:
That Peter Bence is awesome. Love the energy! He's almost flying off the stool. Much talent!

I'm sharing one that seems to be popular, but I only heard it for the first time today. Powerful lyrics and an equally powerful accompaniment. Have a good week. :) 

Leave a Light On : Tom Walker

One More For Good Measure

Sudhir's choices:
I heard this song twice in the past two days in two movies. I figured it must have been a way for the universe to get it onto our blog. I really liked this slowed down version. I think you will too. Also, the movie is pretty good too. I would recommend it.

Take On Me (Unplugged) : Aha



One of my favourite Indian singer/ songwriters. I think you will like it. Hope you enjoy it!

Betther Than It All : Raghav Meattle

Tanisha's choice:
I watched the movie "Stranger than Fiction" the other day and I enjoyed it way more than I thought I would when I started it. Feel good, thought provoking in its simplicity, and such a good cast! 
Anyway, in the movie this song by Wreckless Eric is performed. Yesterday I listened to Cage the Elephant's newest live album and they do a very good cover of the song. 

Whole Wide World (cover) : Cage the Elephant

Slow Hands, No Cry

Tanisha's Pick: This guy performed at the Royal wedding this past week and I was wondering where I had heard the name before and finally remembered he and his equally talented siblings were on Britain's Got Talent a few years ago. Loved this cover - a flawless execution.

No Woman, No Cry : Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Sudhir's Pick: Since we are going with British music for this week, I am sharing this song I heard a few days ago by a former One Directioner. I like the jazzy feel and if you listen to it you can tell exactly why I would be drawn to it. I love how different our music tastes are. The cello piece was exceptional. Enjoy!

Slow Hands : Niall Horan

Hello December

Yikes, 2 weeks of not posting! I am sorry. 

Busy times, but a good kind of busy - friends visiting, traveling, mountains, and various other things! I am nearing my social limit and I am ready for evenings with hot chocolate and Christmas movies.

To make up for the slacking, here are two songs...
I know you like Ingrid Michaelson. She made a festive EP for the season. I've been listening to Christmas music for a while now, but didn't find any new stuff worth sharing until this one. These fuzzy warm covers and pretty perfect. 

I've got my Love to Keep me Warm : Ingrid Michaelson 

Also came across this one, and it made me a bit sad. Not having family around and not being in Bangalore makes it a very different December. Here's a mopy song for people like us to sulk with. Super catchy tune though, that's really why I am sharing it. :)

Carry Me Home : Hey Rosetta!

This is a brand new song that I thought you would like it, I have been tripping on it the whole day including acoustic versions, live versions on talk shows and others. I think acoustic might be the best but had to share this one because the video and concept are great. Can't wait for the full video.
- Sudhir

Walk on Water : Thirty Seconds to Mars

Remixes and Mashups

Sudhir's Pick:
I was in Warriar's place yesterday and this came on spotify. At first, I thought it was just ok but it really grew on me and you know my penchant for remixes. Hopefully, it will be an interesting one to start your week off right. Enjoy! Skype soon?

Thinking out Loud : Brother Strut

Tanisha's Pick:
If you watched Britain's Got Talent this year, you would remember this guy. He won the show with his super creative mashups. I've been waiting for him to record those tracks. Here's the one he played at this audition- Clair De Lune by Debussey and Bloodstream by Ed Sheeran- much brilliance!
Yes, Skype. Tell when. :) 

Bloodstream : Tokio Myers

Jazz and More

It's been a while since we've had a guest sharing music on the blog. From family holidays to the mountains, dressing up, hot chocolate experiments, and teaming up with water guns against our brothers, our memories go a long way back. 

This week, Geetanjali is bringing two favourites from her playlist. 


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Hey everyone! This is Geetanjali, Tanisha’s flatmate, and friend since that awkward age when mud used to be a tasty delight.

My journey with music is a little difficult to describe. However, the closest I can get to articulating the value of music to me is in saying that it has served as a portal to many imaginary worlds – similar to the pools in the Land Between the Worlds introduced in C.S. Lewis’, ‘The Magician’s Nephew.’ My current interest usually depends on the kind of world I’m most keen on visiting at the moment. That being said, there are some places I like visiting very very often!

Take Five by the Dave Brubeck Band is best accompanied with a good cup of tea and is perfect to listen to on rainy days and windy nights :)

Take Five : The Dave Brubeck Quartet

This next song was originally done by The Doors. However, I prefer Nigel Kennedy and Jaz Coleman’s concerto version of it. Listening to The End conjures up imagery of a bittersweet trek through the Himalayas away from an oppressive Tibet. 

The End : Jaz Coleman & Nigel Kennedy

Black Hole Sun

Hey,

I went on a Chris Cornell binge the other day, like I'm sure half the world did. What a voice! 
Here's an eerily good cover of one of his most well known songs from Soundgarden. 

How was your week at home?! It rained in Delhi today- that's a big deal after the sweltering temperatures the past week. 

:)

Black Hole Sun (Cover) : Nouela

An original Animals classic, this Lana Del Rey cover presents a new twist to it. I think you may like it a lot.
-Sudhir

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood : Lana Del Rey

No One Knows Me

So since Beyonce more or less (directly or indirectly) owned the Grammy's today, I thought you need some Beyonce in your life (like we all do). But in typical Sudhir fashion, you get a little twist. I am very much in love with this cover and I am sure you will be too. Enjoy!

-S

XO : John Mayer 

Hey,
I was listening to some of the Grammy nominated music today. Lots of impressive music for sure, but not many artists that I really loved in that list. But while listening, this guy came up in the YouTube suggestions. Great song title and a great voice. Thank you YouTube!
Have a good week :) 

(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano : Sampha

Happy New Music to you!

The new year brings scope for reflection and resolution. It is a chance to discard old habits and embrace new ones. For us, we choose to fill our 2017 with more new music. Thank you for being a part of this journey with our little project. Stick around. We have lots more music to be the soundtrack for your life.

Tanisha's Picks

There's something so soothing about this song- the light vocals, the slo-mo video and the waves. I heard one song by the talented experimental musician Tom Misch a while ago, but was quite thrilled to re-discover him through this beautiful track. 
It makes me want to take a rake next time I go to the beach!

Watch Me Dance : Tom Misch

Sudhir! Remember when we loved the Oscars?! Haha, last year we failed to live up to our Oscar madness, but this year we shouldn't let that happen again. I read up about all the possible nominees for this year, watched a bunch of trailers and got hold of a couple movies to start my Oscar marathon. 
I found this beauty during my trailer watching. I love covers, and this one is pretty epic. Starts of with an eerie feel to it and then crescendos to this intense full-blown knock-knocking!  Hope you are just as excited about the Oscars this year.

Knockin' On Heaven's Door : Blackwall

Sudhir's Picks

Happy New Year, Sunshine! So since it is a new year and we talk about new music, I am sending you a newish song and a song which is new to me. The first was just this weekend in 2017 (so it counts :)). I found the second one on Spoitfy which is slowly becoming my best friend. I am sure you will be receiving many 2017 tracks from there. 

My second song is also the 200th song on our playlist. I am so glad that we continue to do this and look forward to awesome ways we can continue to share new music.

Enjoy!

House of Gold : Twenty One Pilots



Over and Over Again : Nathan Sykes

Christmas Feels

Hey hey!
If this is a blog about discovering new music, here it is. Jolan made it big on the Voice UK and his career has taken off since then. I couldn't get this Beyonce' song out of my head and found a perfect mix for you this week. Hope you enjoy!
-Sudhir

XO : Jolan

I know we decided that next week would be Christmas week, but I really couldn't help it. I spent the entire day listening to Christmas music yesterday and then went for a lovely concert in a beautiful cathedral last night- all the Christmassy feels. Makes me miss home.

Here's the nicest find from yesterday. Such a warm cover of the song. I read this description of his music from Facebook.

"You can almost hear the landscape in their songs – melodically rich, sweeping pop that washes over and basks you in sunlight." 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas : Charles William

Good Old Days

It's great to have friends willing to share their music finds with us. This week, our friend from school, Ritvik Carvalho brings three tracks for your Monday playlist.

Ritvik works as a financial journalist in London. He likes a variety of music but especially the "old and classy stuff." You know the type!

Hi Sudhir and Tanisha,
Thanks for letting me do this.
Sudhir, it's been great catching up with you and Vivek in London. Brings back fond memories of old days - prefects in school, Bibles and hymn books, the second "bell" and school captains confusing names of houses leading out of the auditorium.




Island in the Sun : Weezer

It's been a bit of a nostalgic Sunday, and was listening to the kind of stuff we grew up on at school - punk and alternative, mostly. Here's a great track by Weezer, and an equally adorable video. I think this song just makes me crave for carefree childhood and school days more than anything else.

We all had a Nirvana phase back in school, and I've been noting a spate of 'Heart-Shaped Box' covers hit Spotify. It's my favourite Nirvana song, and here are two covers that really stand out -

I've already introduced you to Islandic singer Asgeir. Besides the trademark polished delivery, he lends a slow, meditative feel to the tribute.

Heart-Shaped Box : Asgeir

And here's another slightly upbeat one by South African electro-swing duo Goldfish. Vivek and I attended a concert of theirs in London recently.

Heart-Shaped Box : Goldfish

Here's to not knowing where we're going, but knowing where we've been!
- Ritvik

New Places and New Music

Tanisha,

So much has happened in this past week. Neither of us are in Bangalore anymore and we are on the cusp of new and exciting things. I figured I would find a song which would be good to mark this moment in our lives. I have heard the original before but I actually prefer this cover. Congrats on the start of a new life and cheers to a new phase of Mephobics!

-Sudhir

The Rising : Sting

Hey you,
Almost forgot that today was blog post day. Quite a transition we've both had just the past week. There will be many changes in our lives, but I'm glad that blog won't have to suffer. :)
Heard this song during my travels last week and knew I had to remember to share it with you.

Where is the Heart : Alex Clare

A capella is alright, alright, alright

Hey, 
You wanted an A cappella week, so here goes. As a humongous no-instrument, full-harmony lover, I sifted through the BYU, Mike Tomkins, Peter Hollens and their friends videos and then almost picked THIS because I would move to Slovenia just to have a chance to sing with them! 

But I heard this today and it made me laugh so much. A parody of the most well known a capella group these days; Pentatonix, Ylvis took the bap chooaihs and the scooby scoobs and made it quite an act (far better than the Fox song, I think!) 

- Tanisha

A Capella : Ylvis

OK! So the reason I wanted to do accapella was because I heard this exceptional song by a group called Six Appeal. I am proud to say that the original line- up completely comprised of Concordia students. The current one has two - Jordan and Michael. They have travelled around the U.S. and even opened for Andy Grammar. They put on an awesome live show. Oh, yeah. They are also doing one of my favourite songs of all time. Hope you like it.

-S

Iris : Six Appeal

Like Tomorrow Doesn't Exist

Hey hey!

So as you know I am generally a big fan of covers especially when the artist tries to make it their own. I love Chandelier and I think it is made legendary because of Sia singing it. Emily West (from America's got talent) does a phenomenal operatic version while cutting out some of the poppy repetitive parts. I think you'll really like it.

Chandelier : Emily West

Hey Sudhir, 

These Irish people can sing! This song is an absolute masterpiece I think. One dreamy voice and one guitar and it was just perfect. This guy is going to be big soon. His first album was released this year- you must listen. Also, I would totally go for his concert.

Nervous : Gavin James

The Placebo Effect

Privileged to have Mr. Yasar Hameed write for us this week. Yasar is a multi-talented genius – singer, musician, photographer and overall nice guy. This week he brings us his two tunes that have been dominating his creative headspace of late. Take a listen and get an insight into what makes him Yasar.

Running up the Hill : Placebo

Running up that Hill was a song that was ahead of it's time both lyrically and visually when it was released by Kate Bush in 1985. This Placebo cover gracefully updates the soul of the song to reflect the aura of the times: It's dark, moody and there's a feeling of impending dread breathing down on you throughout it's 5 minute run time.

Wonderwall : Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams's stripped down acoustic version of Wonderwall just feels extremely honest and vulnerable. As much as I hate to admit it, some days, I pretend that Oasis didn't write the original version. 

Fun exercise: Play the track from this website http://www.rainymood.com/ while the song plays in youtube. And imagine yourself in the middle of the swirling riptide of dismal emotions. Just beautiful. 

The Christmas Edition

It's the best time of the year- everything about December. Two years ago, I spent a year in Sri Lanka with my cousins and that Christmas was one of my most memorable.

Living with these two other musical people meant that we filled up the month with things like symphony orchestra concerts, church choir musicals and many many hours singing along to Christmas music at home. Between us, our favourites cover quite a variety of genres from classical, opera, indie and alternative.

For some extra love this season, they're sharing four selections for you all this week. Merry Christmas! :)

From Andre - 

Since it is Christmas, I'm choosing two Christmassy songs. They are not quite traditional because I am tired of hearing the same tunes over and over again. 

O Come, O Come Emmanuel : Citizen Shade

This song is my favourite Christmas song now. I love the minimalism of the piano playing, the way he varied the tune to make it a counter point to the lyrics. I also love the earthy quality of his voice and the amazing range he displays. 

Mvmt 1 Rejoice Rejoice : The Oh Hellos

I love this song by The Oh Hellos because it is so unconventional. I like how they have arranged it with a focus on harmony, and acoustics. It invokes a slightly colder and darker feeling than the original songs but that just places more emphasis on the lyrics and the vocals.

From Cheryl- 

Carol of the Bells : The Bird and the Bee
I love covers of songs, especially when it has a twist to it, and this version has twists everywhere! Slightly creepy and yet still magical, this quirky cover is one of my favourite versions of this old familiar Christmas carol. 

O Magnum Mysterium : Nordic Chamber Choir

This piece of music has long been one of my favourites but I only found out this year that its Latin text is about the birth of Jesus! Though I don't care much for the translation, I love the music because of its light peaceful comforting feeling. I've listened to this at times when I've needed comfort or when I've needed to be led back to God. My favourite part of the music is at 4:38 which is the point where there are 8 different parts spanning 3 1/2 octaves from D2 to G5. 

Give

Sudhir's Pick

So I know December for you means Christmas and all that comes with it. For me, it marks the coming of the end of the year and calls for a time for reflection. I know I have shared a few reflection type songs throughout the year but this might be my favourite. Randomly discovered Foals this past weekend on game night when we were watching a movie channel late at night. Out of the host of songs of this UK based band. This might be my favourite. Take a listen-

Tanisha's Pick

I've been listening to a lot of Christmas music. But, it seems that from the ones I have been listening to this year, they aren't really share-worthy. Hopefully, there will be some better ones soon.
This is one that my cousin found last year. Really like this guys voice and the arrangement of the song. It's so mellow, perfect for cold winter evenings with Christmas tree lights and hot chocolate. 

Chicago or Half the World Away

Sudhir's Pick

So before we descend into Christmas music marathons I thought I would share one recently discovered fantastic jazz song. You know that jazz isn't my most preferred genre but I do like it a lot when I hear it. B.B. King and Clapton rang very highly in my list of individual artists. This song has so many great artists at their best. Hope you enjoy it. Perfect for chill out or dancing when no one is around.



Tanisha's Pick

What are you saying, Sudhir?! It's December tomorrow, so cannot wait any longer for Christmas music. (Actually, I started listening to Christmas music ages ago)
A few weeks ago, I discovered the artist Aurora. Such clear crisp vocals- it's like winter breeze. Was listening to more of her today and found that she sings a cover of Oasis' Half the World Away for the John Lewis Christmas advert for this year. Then I watched their christmas adverts for the past couple years. They are all so beautiful and lovely - this one was my favourite.

So, here's Aurora and some John Lewis Christmas warmth.

Time and Lemons

Sudhir's Pick

Hey yo!

This is my win for the month. Not only do I get to share a cover of one of my favourite songs but it is performed by one of the top 15 performing voices right now. Also, have you heard of Chilli Gonzalvez before? Listen to more of his stuff. He popped up on my Spotify last year and I literally couldn't stop listening to his stuff. Very soothing. Anyways, Enjoy!




Tanisha's Pick

Hi, I spent the whole afternoon trying to find a song. Listened to so many good choices, but I guess they just weren't quite right for this week. I also thought that because you are still recovering from fever, you may not have posted yet and would buy me some extra time, but was pleasantly surprised that you've already written out your post. 

Here's a song I heard recently. It's such a happy warm tune by an Australian trio. I read that they only started singing together a few years ago to raise money for a mission trip to Africa. When they started busking in Sydney, they got noticed and then they were offered an opportunity to record their music.

Hope you like the song and hope you recover soon too!