Out of Excuses

Tanisha's Pick:

I've run out of excuses not to post on the blog. I am not traveling, I got a new laptop, I have Amazon Prime music and I even made time this week to listen to lots of music. I love the rawness of acoustic music, and this one is done so well. The piano drives the melody and the guy singing has a great range. Enjoy.

For Myself : Etham

Sudhir's Pick:

So you know how much I love The Killers. I thought I had my favourites set until I remembered this classic, which I think might be their most underrated song. It's been on repeat for most of the day.

The Way It Was : The Killers

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

Songs for Non-Summer!

I loved your song last week. I don't usually follow Britain's Got Talent but if it keeps producing gems like this maybe I should. On a slightly different note, I think you will like this song a lot. Seems perfect for the colder winter days with a nice cup of chai. You will like it, me knows.

-S 

Lost in My Mind : The Head and the Heart

So nice catching up yesterday! Been long overdue. Britain's Got Talent doesn't always have stuff that's this exceptional. I only skim through their online videos and watch the music acts (usually hidden between the dancing dogs and magicians)

Good song choice. The Head and the Heart have very wintery-warmth music! Delhi has transitioned from endless summer weather to not-hot weather. Waiting for the days when it's cold enough to have hot chocolate every day!

Here's another wintery one! Have a good week
- Tanisha

Feels : Son Mieux

Paper Plane Pilot

Hey hey,

Very easy listening track to go with my laid-back weekend. I went to a documentary screening and an art exhibition today- a very art reflective kind of day. 
Hope your weekend was good. We must catch up soonly!
- Tanisha

Paper Plane Pilot : Sean Christopher 

Sudhir's Pick:

Rut : The Killers on Sound Exploder

Hey you!
Doing something different this week. Sharing an exciting podcast I have found which dissects new music along with the artists. There is an impressive list of artists on it including The Killers talking about their new song "Rut". Since I can't find the song anywhere online, this blog serves as a great substitute. This Killers song is exceptional and the story behind it hits you in the feels.

Anyways, here it is - Song Exploder. Will be very excited to hear what you think about it.

Flowers and the Weatherman

Sudhir's Pick:
Not sure if you listened to this one when I sent it a few weeks ago so sending it again. I am slowly appreciating Flowers' solo career. They seem like they are lyrically richer than the Killers stuff but you can tell that the band should be together. Hope you enjoy.

Magdalena : Brandon Flowers

Hey you,
Sorry I forgot. It was a busy week. My mum and brother are here to visit. We went away to the mountains for the weekend. My favourite kind of getaway. Here's a song that sort of describes what that feels like :) Back in Delhi, and ready for the week. 

Till the Sun Comes Up : Jack and the Weatherman 

Showboats and Dives

Sudhir's Pick-
I think I have sent you Josh Ritter music before. He is good especially in this song. It's got a nice jazzy feel and very cool lyrics. Hope you like.

Showboat : Josh Ritter

Hi, it's been a long week, but a good one :) Hope yours has been good. 
Here's a singer from South London. I love listening to live/acoustic versions of songs. I really liked this one. Have a good week yo!
- Tanisha

Dive In : KYKO

Brightside and Shadows

T,

This is the week. It's here. It is! It's the week I get to listen to Mr. Brightside live. In honour of this exceptional week, I am sharing one of my favourite lesser known songs. I thought you would appreciate the sax in the middle of the song. I really hope they play this. No doubt, next week will another Killers song. Get excited.

:)

I Can't Stay : The Killers

Ah, the Killers! Any day is a good day to listen to them :)
Sorry for such a laaaate post! Being in Bangalore the past few days gave me lots to do and I forgot about the blog! 
Here's one from my "watch later" playlist on YouTube. Hope you like.

Shadow and Light : Martin Luke Brown

Crystal

Sudhir's Pick:
I realize I have been slacking a lot of late and I have no good way of making it up to you but I am going to try my very best through this post which mixes a good song and some epic trivia which I think you would appreciate.

While this song might not be your favourite genre, it is cool because the video is where The Killers got their name from. Please note the name on the drum kit in the video. The first song that The Killers wrote was Mr Brightside and they performed it for the first time at an open-mic night with their name "The Killers".

-S

Crystal : New Order

Hey Sudhir,
Yes, you have been slacking. Better win the next few weeks with more good music! (Until then, I shall hang on to the trophy :P) 
This one was a random YouTube find. What a solid voice (see what I did there!). But really, such raw emotion and intensity in his voice. Barely needed much musical accompaniment. 
Have a good week :) 

Solid Ground : Alex Vargas

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

Mango Trees

Sudhir's choice:
I thought you would like this sweet melodic piece to help start your week off correctly. Once again, Spotify is to blame for helping me discover this song. Hope you like it. Also, how awesome is her voice? 

Oh Please My Heart : Redbird

Tanisha's choice:
The music video shows the singer, his manager and film maker traveling from Edinburgh to St.Ives couch surfing and performing in a variety of places. It reminded me of when Prateek Kuhad was in Bangalore and wanted to do a home gig, and we offered him your halli garden. I don't know how he chose any other option over singing under the mango trees in your house. We could even offer him tents and campfires, and plenty of people to perform for. His loss! 

The past two weeks been super busy- my fault that we skipped posting last week. Hope you've been good. Enjoy the song :) 

St.Ives : Charlie Straw

Everyone's Talking

Hello!
I might have sent you this guy a long time ago. But he's been making some new music, so here he is again. I am in Bangalore right now. But it's for work, so it's kinda awesome and kinda weird! Haha. Have a great week.
- Tanisha

Everyone's Talking : James Hersey





Sudhir's Pick

I think I have found my new favourite beat - Afrobeat. Seun Kuti is the son of a legend of the genre and has taken over his father's band, Egypt 80 on his father's death. A friend of mine went to his concert yesterday and highly recommended his stuff. I think it's pretty cool. Take a listen.

-Sud

Black Woman : Seun Kuti & Egypt 80

What You Know

Hey hey,

Thought you might need a spunky exciting tune today. I certainly did. Such a cloudy day. Hope you likes.

-S

What You Know : Two Door Cinema Club

Hello.
It's been a busy week with house hunting and lots of things going on at work. Haven't done my usual amount of music listening, except for yesterday. Had a perfect Sunday of walking around Hauz Khas Village, eating in a nice cafe and did some baking in the afternoon. Heard this track- a nice airy light song for my Sunday. 
Btw, I've listened to a lot of  Albin Lee Meldau- quite an awesome artist! Great share last week. :) 

Sweetest Thing : Allman Brown

London Days, Eternal Craze

This week we have the awesome and splendiferous Namrata Praveen share her awesome music with us. Namrata and Sudhir have been friends since their time in London in 2013. A lawyer by profession, she finds ways to spice up her life by listening to and recommending exceptional off-beat music to fellow music- lovers. Here are her songs this week.




Hey Spudding (Sudhir),
I stuck with your alliterative theme for lack of better idea.

Here is Dizzy Gillespie's riff on Mas Que Nada. I heard this song often as a child and it never fails to put me in a good mood. Listening to it now with my eyes closed puts me a million miles away from grey London. 

Mas Que Nada : Dizzy Gillespie

Next is Jain's Makeba. She had a really multicultural upbringing and I think that's reflected in her music. The video is fun as well and I'm forever grateful to her for introducing me to the inimitable Miriam Makeba. 

Makeba : Jain 

Hope your listeners have a lovely Monday :)

- Namrata

Nights and Days

So this may not be the most exciting song. Definitely out of character for a choice I would send you but the lyrics make it pretty interesting. I would recommend having them open when you listen to it.
Hope your week has been good.
- Sudhir

:)

By Night : Puzzle Muteson

Hey you,
Interesting song choice for sure- read the lyrics while I listened.
I had a couple songs stocked up the last two weeks, and today I just couldn't remember what they were. Oh well, luckily I found an interesting track (even though the lyrics are a little depressing) today while listening to a soundtrack of a movie I watched last night. It's never too hard to find good music.
Added bonus is that the track has a fun stop motion music video to accompany it.
My week was pretty good despite dying from the pollution in the city! Arrgh- enjoy the clean air in London.
- Tanisha

Day to Day : Eulogies

From Jiu Jitsu to Music

Divya and I go a long way back- back to long summer vacations at neighbouring grandparents homes -climbing trees, hide and seek, and all things that could fit into summer afternoons. When summer ended, we kept in touch with handwritten letters, with more stickers than writing. And when childhood ended, we lost touch until years later we connected again through our love for architecture, travel, food, blogging, and I guess music too!

The whole point of this blog is for friends to share good music and it's awesome to have two friends share their music exchanges here. Thanks Divya and Ed. :)
-Tanisha

Edward: Thank you for having us as guests on your awesome blog! Divya and I met earlier this year while training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). At first, I didn't know what to think of her. But as I was sparring her, I could tell she had a strong fighting spirit, but needed some work on her technical proficiency. So I made it a point to work with her. Since then, we have gotten to know each other more. And I am constantly impressed by how much this young lady has experienced and accomplished in just 27 years - from studying architecture, to aviation and more. Meanwhile, I can barely chew gum and walk at the same time!

Divya: Haha. What an intro! Edward actually works as a detective with local law enforcement. Currently a BJJ purple belt (read: waay more experienced than me), he's also an expert at self-deprecation. He's secretly a ninja who, in his own words, looks "like a 16-year-old kid." He crushes me at BJJ and chess, and I.... eh, I occasionally crush him at verbal sparring? Anyway, in one of our recent banters, we traded songs. And I thought it would be fun to share that exchange with "Monday Mephobics." From two goofy friends in Maryland to you! :)

Grandma's Hands : Bill Withers

My song is called "Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers. You've definitely heard him before - he sings "Ain't no Sunshine," which is one of my all-time favorites. When I was a child, I used to visit my Uncle Greg on the weekends. I would help him with chores around the house, and we would listen to music from his era. Bill Withers was one of his favorites. So this reminds me of those times. Hope you enjoy it.
-Ed

Il Valzer di Un Giorno (The Waltz of One Day) : Gianmaria Testa

Ed,

That is a beautiful song! Paints such a gentle picture of kindness and care in the most ordinary of circumstances... "old gnarled hands" and all. Very cool that it's tied to memories of your uncle too!

My song is also tied to memories. But this one is of memories of a beautiful place - the Tuscan Valley in Italy. I spent a week there as part of a summer course in college. Unforgettable. So this is my 'Tuscany song.' It's by Gianmaria Testa and in Italian (rough translation: here).

You know how you talk about daydreams being a mental escape? Well, if daydreams needed a soundtrack, this could easily be on the soundtrack for mine.

Monday? Are you Serious?

Open Up Your Eyes: Tristan Pettyman

Fun choice for you for this week. Acoustic version of the original but as you know I am quite a fan of the acoustic covers. This song is just beautiful from her voice to the lyrics. Take a listen.

-S

Are You Serious: Andrew Bird

I needed 'Sunday Morning' music today and was listening to a selection on 8tracks. One of them included a fun track by this guy. I listened to more of his music- quite the talent. This track especially- not sure what genre this is even; some random Spanish flamenco vibe along with the crazy violin and there's even some parts similar to a Brittney Spears song. Can you hear it?

Hope you find some time in your busy week for music listening.

- Tanisha

Some Love and Hate

Hey hey!

As you probably know, I love discovering songs from TV show. There is nothing better than a scene unfolding on TV timed to perfectly- chosen music. The Blacklist does this really really well on numerous occassions. This is one of those songs. Hope you likes!

-S

Someone You Love : Tina Dico

Hello!
Took me so long to find a song for this week. Most people have heard this guy's voice from the track 'Runnin'' which he sings with Beyonce. Such a rich powerful voice really needs more fame. Enjoy :)

Love and Hate : Arrow Benjamin

You Don't be Numb!

Hey hey!

So I heard this song recently and couldn't get it out of my head. Mainly because of the original 1963 Lesley Gore song. This track is great because it goes old school and has some decent rap on it.Put it on repeat. I think it will really grow on you. Hope you like it.

- S

You Don't Own Me: Grace





Hey you,
Few more Mondays of posting while we still live in the same city. For the sake of the blog, being in new cities will hopefully open up new ways of music discovery. 
This week's selection was a random find. He hasn't been recording his music for that long. This song is his most popular (for good reason).
Enjoy your week :) 

Numb : Max Jury

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

Take Yours, I'll Take Mine

Hey you,
In celebration of a pretty fun filled weekend, I decided to share two songs that I listened to last week. This song just seemed so familiar when I heard it, I was almost singing along. It must be from some movie or an ad. I know you're not the biggest fan of folk (and with the banjo, this is super folk-y), but you might like this one.

Take Yours, I'll Take Mine : Matthew Mole



I almost got a bit teary eyed with this song by Frances. I was torn about which song I wanted to share of hers- but have chosen a live acoustic one, because it was on repeat all day.
Enjoy your trip this week.
- Tanisha

Set Sail : Frances

Hey hey!

Not sure if you have heard this before or not. But it is definitely worth a share.
I think I have mentioned that Death Cab for a Cutie's Plans is one of my favourite albums of all time - definitely in the top 3 most complete albums. They are back to perfection with this song. I can't believe I haven't heard it until now. Hope you like it.

- Sudhir

Black Sun : Death Cab for Cutie