Beard Jams: OctaHate by Ryn Weaver

Posted on July 1, 2014 by djvalhalla22

Stop what you are doing and listen to this amazing summer jam that is on the rise! The song OctaHate by Ryn Weaver is full of life and will have you dancing to the energetic beat all day long. The thing that I love the most about this song is that there are a lot of little things that grab my attention. The finger snapping, the light xylophone that plays in the intro leading into the powerful chorus, and the short breathed vocals in the transitions between verses and choruses, as well as the beginning and end of the song.

Ryn Weaver has recently hit number one on the billboard chart of emerging artists! Not only are fans all over the world loving this new track, but so are well known artists. This song has been receiving praise from artists such as, Charlie XCX and Jessie Ware. This song has also been produced by the lead singer of Passion Pit, Michael Angelakos, who had some help producing the track from Cashmere Cat and Benny Blanco.

You may have actually heard of Ryn Weaver’s music before and not know it. Before she changed her name, it was Aryn Wuthrich. Under this name, she appeared on the song “With Me” by the Cashmere Cat’s. She has also put out a really cool cover as well as other music under the name FemFemFem. I really enjoyed listening to the cover of the Peach, Pear, Plum, which is originally by Joanna Newsom. Weaver did a beautiful cover of this song and the vocals are absolutely outstanding and wonderful to listen to. If you have a moment, I would definitely check out her earlier work as well as her new song.

While I can’t find any dates of her currently performing, I encourage you to keep an eye out  for her. Ryn Weaver has a beautiful voice, an amazing new single, and I can’t wait to see where her career takes her. Hopefully she’ll be in the area and I’ll be able to cover one of her shows! Until then, check her out on some of these sites below!

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/rynweaver

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RynWeaver

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RynWeaver?ref_type=bookmark

Instagram: http://instagram.com/ryn_weaver

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Beard Interview: Davino at the 2014 Insomnia Music Festival

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Musicbeards

Hey everyone! This is Dan. Remember that awesome preview we did on Davino before the Insomnia Music Festival? Well, we met up with him at the festival and talked about his music, other people’s music, and food! Check it out and share it if you like it! 

Additionally, this starts the release of our own YouTube channel! We will be doing more interviews in the future. I’ve been on “tour” essentially meeting up with some cool bands and interviewing them lately! More videos will come out in the near future. 

The interviews and videos will always be on our main site, http://www.musicbeards.com, as well as all of our other platforms. 

Anyways! I had a lot of fun interviewing and hanging out with Davino at this years Insomnia Music Festival. Oddly enough, he reminds me of Jack White when I look at him. It’s neat. Davino was really cool and fun to hang out with. Be sure to check out more of his work and until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

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Beard Jams: Teen by Jaylis

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

  

   What’s going on everyone?! This is Dan once again. I’ve had a pretty sweet summer so far filled with some pretty cool shows and people! I’m back though with another great song you should check out. It’s entitled Teen it’s by a group known as Jaylis! This group comes from Switzerland! 

   I really love the intro. The whistling with the acoustic guitar sounds great. The whistling is soft and distant. When I hear the intro, I feel like I woke up in a peaceful forest and the sunshine is glistening through the trees as the day starts. It’s a nice feeling to have. It’s great that this song makes me envision a picture literately seconds into the song.

   I also enjoyed the bass in this song. It doesn’t really come in until the middle of the first verse, but I like that it doesn’t come in until then. It helps to keep the energy fresh and helps develop the song. It’s a catchy bass line. I found myself humming the bass line while writing this. I love bass lines. 

   Sandra, the lead singer, has a beautiful voice. It’s very sweet and relaxed. It reminds me of Lauren Mayberry’s voice; the lead singer of the indie pop band Chvrches. If you imagine Lauren Mayberry singing folk and soft acoustic pop, that’s what I picture when I hear Jaylis. Sandra’s voice is sweet and adapts to whatever mood is being conveyed through the song. It also has a soft and storytelling quality to it. I really enjoyed Sandra’s voice. An acoustic Jaylis show in a peaceful forest would be wonderful.

   Overall, I really enjoyed this track. It’s a peaceful sounding track that is great for any time of the day. The intro is one of my favorite parts of the song with the acoustic guitar and the distant whistling. You can even hear the whistling in-between the verses as well. The bass line is catchy and helps the song develop. It’s not too flamboyant though. It fits in perfectly and has just enough action to it to keep it interesting. The vocals help pull the peaceful feeling together by having a soft and focused quality to them. If you like acoustic pop, indie pop, or folk, this song is for you. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone!

   To check out more of Jaylis, follow these wonderful links below!

Site: www.jaylis.com 

Bandcamp: www.jaylis.bandcamp.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JaylisMusic

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaylisband 

 

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Insomnia Music Festival Preview: Tension (Original Mix) by Barnzy

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

 

   Hey everyone! This is Dan once again and for the next Insomnia Music Festival Preview, we have Barnzy with his track entitled “Tension.” (Original Mix)

   I love the intro! It’s filled with a vibrant energy that instantly makes you want to dance. This track actually reminds me of when I went to Mysteryland USA a few weeks ago. Great bass and synths that will make any EDM fan smile and dance. I also admired the build up to the drop. While it’s building up, the melody is still going on in the background. A very unique approach to a buildup. I loved it.

   Another part of the track I really enjoyed was the piano part! It was a chilling break from the bass and synths. It created a chilling atmosphere that also felt unique. The synths and bass do come back in with the piano part and help carry the song to one last danceable moment. The piano part provides a great contrast from the rest of the song. It provides the listener with a nice, relaxing break. It also helps keep it fresh and enjoyable throughout the duration of the song. 

   Overall, this was an awesome track. I found myself saying the word unique a lot while listening to this song. There is a great attention to detail to this song that will make any EDM fan happy. I enjoyed all of the layers present in this song, and how those layers mingled with each other during the song. In my opinion, this was Mysteryland USA caliber material right here. I’m really excited to see Barnzy perform at this years Insomnia Music Festival.

   Before we go though, let’s see what Barnzy himself thinks about the song and the festival! Enjoy.

Musicbeards: What was your inspiration behind this song? What made you write and record it?

Barnzy: “As far as my inspiration for the song goes… I just wanted to make something heavy yet still bouncy. Something Hardstyle fans can get down to along with progressive house fans.”

Musicbeards: Describe the writing and recording process for this song. 

Barnzy: “The process was quite simple actually. [I] just pretty much made a heavy synth with some punch to it that would drive most of the tune. Listened to a lot of Bigroom house and Hardstyle to get some inspiration and figure out how I was going to arrange it. Throw a big distorted kick on it, and boom boom boom boom.  Sounds simple, but this tune took me a very long time regardless lol.”

Musicbeards: What are you looking forward to at this years Insomnia Music Festival? 

Barnzy: “What I look forward to most is what I look forward to every year we play this festival; friends and fans i’ve yet to meet. There is nothing better in this world than meeting new people with such a common interest in music. It truly is like being on a camping trip with your closest friends and of course, the music. I know most of the artists personally and have played shows with them before. They kill it to say the least. Can’t wait.” 

Musicbeards: Can you tell us anything about your set at the festival? What can we expect by seeing you at the Insomnia Music Festival?

Barnzy: “This year, the only goal I have for my set is to keep people jumping [and] singing along with the lyrics. Even laughing and the occasional ‘did that really just happen?’ lol. Dropping edits of tunes you haven’t heard since the 8th grade is one of my favorite things to do for sure, so be ready for that lol.” 

   Be sure to check out Barnzy’s set at this years Insomnia Music Festival in Owego, NY on June 20th and the 21st. It’s going to be a blast, and I hope to meet some new faces there! I’m looking forward to all of the sets as well. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone. 

To check out more of Barnzy before the Insomnia Music Festival, follow the links below and be sure to share this post!

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/joshbarnes24

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barnzy/287809151249767

 

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Insomnia Music Festival Preview: Unleaded by DJ Feel Real

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

 

   Welcome back everyone! This is Dan once again. For our second preview for the Insomnia Music Festival, we bring you a track entitled “Unleaded” by DJ Feel Real!

   This song is pretty cool. The beauty in this track comes from the simplicity demonstrated in this instance. There are different layers to this song that develop over the course of the entire track. It starts off with a echo-y voice sample paired with a light drum sample part. The more you listen to this song, the more layers get introduced, and this song blossoms into a sweet and simple EDM track. 

   The drop in this song is huge! Literately the equivalent of doing a cannonball into a pool in the summertime. This was one of my favorite parts of the song. The bass sounds great. It’s big and makes you move. I also really loved the synths that were present during this drop/chorus. It was a unique texture that paired up really well with the bass. 

   Overall, I really enjoyed this track! The verses were spacey and mysterious, while the drops/chorus parts were big and unique. There are some great sounds present throughout the whole track. As I mentioned before, my favorite moment comes with the bass drop paired up with the synths. It’s a beat you just can’t help but love! Definitely take a dance break with this song. 

   I like to hear from the artists or bands themselves for a preview post. Especially since I’ll be seeing DJ Feel Real this upcoming weekend. I like hearing another voice talk about the song and the festival. I reached out to DJ Feel Real and he was very kind to take some time out of his day to answer some questions for you all! Enjoy. 

Musicbeards: How did you come up with this song? Was there any inspiration for making the track, or did it just come to you?

DJ Feel Real: “There really was no inspiration behind the track. I just wanted a fun and interesting track that had a different kind of feel to it.”

Musicbeards: Describe your writing and or recording process behind this song.

DJ Feel Real: “I just sat down one night and played around with a vocal sample I had and “Unleaded” was the final result.”

Musicbeards: What are you most excited about for the Insomnia Music Festival? 

DJ Feel Real: “I [am] most excited to be playing alongside Dj Marbles together as TR!CK D!RTY this year. I met him in person for the first time last year at Insomnia 2013 and we decided to join forces and create the duo TR!CK D!RTY as a chance for us to bring a different vision to the way we DJ and Produce.”

Musicbeards: Anything you can tell us about your set for the Insomnia Music Festival? What can people expect from your set? 

DJ Feel Real: “I can’t really describe what my set at Insomnia is gonna be like since I don’t even know. I usually start off with creating a familiar but different live edit to raise the energy and work from there. I’m a huge fan of trippy sounds in my sets, so there will definitely be a weirdness to it. I do know I’ll be dropping some new tracks I’ve been keeping to myself.” 

      The 2014 Insomnia Music Festival takes place this weekend, June 20th and 21st at the Champion Speedway in Owego,NY. Each night starts at 12am and goes until 6am. [A very fitting name for a music festival at night]. If you’re in the area, definitely come on out to the event and see some great DJ’s and producers perform, including DJ Feel Real! We will be there covering the festival and we are very excited for it. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

   In the meantime, check out more of DJ Feel Real at these fine links listed below. 

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/feelreal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djfeelreal

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DjFeelReal

 

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Insomnia Music Festival Preview: Soul Searcher (Original Mix) by Davino

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

 

   Hey everyone! This is Dan. I’ll be at the 2014 Insomnia Music Festival in Owego, NY on June 20th-22nd! I’m really excited about the festival. If you’re going to the festival, find me and say hello! Anyways, I thought it would be cool to preview some of the artists who will be at the upcoming Insomnia Music Festival. The first artist is known as Davino. Here is his song entitled Soul Searcher!

   This song starts off in a unique and interesting way. The intro is simple, but sounds really cool. It almost reminds me of a warning alarm due to the repetition of the synths and drum pads on the down beats. You could also look at it as it sounds like a warning alarm because the song is about to develop and blossom into EDM bliss. It builds up very quickly and then drops into a pleasant piano and synth part. This piano/synth part is really nice and relaxing. It’s a great little melody and it is catchy! 

   As the song progresses, the intro is combined with this pleasant piano/synth part. It made me think of how you can have something that relaxes you, but at the same time have something that’s crazy that coexists with everything else going on in your life. In simpler terms, I like the contrast of the intro with the piano/synth part. 

   Overall, this song was really cool. There are some unique and interesting dynamics in this song that will have you dancing. Each part sounds great and the song gains even more dynamics and energy when these parts are combined! I also think that this track would be a cool intro track for a live set. This is a great song to listen to at night. Perfect timing because I’m writing this at night, and the Insomnia Music Festival is also at night! 

   I wanted to know Davino’s thoughts about this song and the upcoming festival as well, so I reached out to him and asked him a few questions! Enjoy! 

   Musicbeards: Describe how you came up with the song and the inspiration behind it.

   Davino: “Hmmm, inspiration huh? Well… I was at a local park in Johnson City, [NY], while it was raining one day. I sat on a mildly damp bench listening to some ambient electronica, (The group Royksopp to be specific.) I began to just let loose a lot of stress and tension I had built up from living in this convoluted world when I started humming to myself this quite entrancing little melody. I sat home in the pouring rain and some of the pitter patters of the rain started to resonate with me. I remembered the days I would sit among the planty atmosphere deep in the woods meditating. The memories, feelings and sounds sort of spelled the track out for me and in a way used me to write the track that was never meant to be a hardstyle track, until a friend of mine suggested it to me. I think I remember him saying ‘you should use the kick from your last track (memories) over this and crank up the BPM’…. The rest, well, is history as they say.”

   Musicbeards: Describe the writing and recording process for Soul Searcher.

   Davino: “The process for me is always the hardest to describe… I like to think of myself as a chaotic producer but with an organized method. Writing Soul Searcher was a voyage. It began with some piano that became recorded guitar that I then copied the harmonic structure over to form a nice guitar/harp combo. Keep it fluid is what I always say. Then I thought some nice pads would do great. To be quite honest, it was intended to be an ambient piece… I think I sat there hand crafting bits and pieces for this track on and off for four to five hours a day. After a friends suggestion of cranking the BPM and adding the kick, I moved some stuff around and the arrangement came to be before I added a quick pre master and sent it in to my label.” 

   Musicbeards: What are you most excited about performing at this years Insomnia Music Festival? 

   Davino: “What aren’t I excited about? Insomnia is such a fantastic collaboration of music, people and atmosphere. I have some massive things planned for my performance there this summer and I assure anyone who is a fan of my music and performance will not be disappointed. Of course, I am just one entity in this crazy collective of local talent so be sure to catch all of the performances on each night because I am positive that no one is gonna disappoint.”

Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! The Insomnia Music Festival takes place in Owego, NY from June 20th-22nd! See you there! 

   To check out more of Davino, check him out at these fine links listed below, and be sure to watch him at this years Insomnia Music Festival! 

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/djdavino

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavinoOfficial

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@Davino_Official

 

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Beard Jams: Look Alive by Yabadum

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

  

   Hey everyone! This is Dan and I have an awesome song for you all today and for this weekend! It’s called Look Alive, and it’s by a band known as Yabadum! Look Alive comes off of their latest album entitled Careful Kid

   This song is really nice! The song really picks up after the first 30 seconds with a catchy and fun verse. All of the instruments sound great together during the verse. The bass line with the piano and drum part make for a relaxing and enjoyable verse. It’s nice and light but also very fun. It makes me think of a nice stroll through a park on a Sunday afternoon. It’s nice.

   Things get even nicer when the chorus comes along in this song. If you liked the verse, you’re going to love the chorus. It’s filled with a fun, light, bouncy and vibrant energy. The drum part sets up the energy and all of the other parts help develop this fun sound to it. There’s even some synth thrown in as well that sounds great. A really nice chorus. 

   The vocals are nice as well! The vocalist has a really nice tone to his voice. The verses fit right in with the rest of the instruments, while the chorus vocal part provides the energy to push the chorus over the edge, [In a good way of course.] There is also some background vocals that sound cool as well! 

   Overall, this was a really nice song! I really enjoyed everything about it. The verses have a great story-telling quality to them, while the choruses are filled with a vibrant fun energy and sound. All of the instruments sound great with each part having unique qualities to them. Vocals sound great and provide just the right amount of energy in each section. Definitely check this one out if you need some fun indie rock and indie pop that’s filled with summer fun. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

   To check out more of Yabadum, find them at these lovely links below! Be sure to check out their latest album entitled Careful Kid!

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/yabadum

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yabadum

 

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Beard Jams: Mustard by The Toothe

Posted on June 11, 2014 by djvalhalla22

 

The Toothe is an indie folk band that consists of members Myles Holy, Ben Melton, and Paul Blackwell. If you like The Decemberists, Mountain Goats, The Avett Brothers or The Last Bison, then you’re definitely going to want to check out The Toothe’s new self released EP entitled, Talons. If you’re a big fan of college radio artists, then this is right up your alley. Seeing as how they are an upcoming band, keep your eyes on the CMJ line up for the fall because I can definitely see this high energy, folk trio playing there this year.

The Toothe has a great blend of acoustic guitars and folk instruments in their songs. The vocals sound great and at times reminds me of the lead singer of The Front Bottoms. Their song Mustard, is filled with the amazing sounds of banjo, mandolin, harmonica, acoustic guitars, tambourines and more. The song has a lot of  high energy and catchy lyrics that will be stuck with you all day, in a good way! If you like what you hear, you should definitely check more of their music on their bandcamp page.

This indie folk band has a lot going on in their songs that makes them each unique. My two favorite songs that I have gotten my hands on are Mustard and Talons. Mustard is upbeat, catchy, and has a nice vibe to it where you can listen to and it fits to any mood you may be in. Talons starts out slow with acoustic finger picking and then slowly picks up while gaining some energy to the song. It has a nice build throughout the song and ends beautifully with a few chord progressions to finish it off.

Take a few minutes of your day to check out this band, they’re definitely worth it! Check them out below on some of their social media sites!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetoothe

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/the-toothe

Bandcamp: http://thetoothe.bandcamp.com/

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Beard Jams: Happy With Me by Holychild

Posted on June 5, 2014 by djvalhalla22

Even though this super cool pop duo has been around for a few months, I’m still reviewing their song Happy With Me. This song is by Holychild and is filled with energy and electronic beats. It’s fun to sing along to the catchy chorus and is definitely a good summer jam. It’s an upbeat song filled with catchy hooks, head bobbing, and experimental sounds mixed with a nice pop sound.

This creative duo consists of Louie Diller and Liz Nistico. They both went to the same college and were working on a school project together, which later turned into Holychild. They have been writing together ever since they met each other in college and now have their own EP out. Their EP is called Mindspeak and is filled with poppy songs that are guaranteed to have you hooked. They even put out music videos for three out of the four songs on the EP, which were directed by Nistico. Both the songs and videos are amazing and should definitely be checked out.

Holychild has a lot going for them. They just came out with their EP, they have music videos for the songs, and are currently performing with great bands such as Fitz and the Tantrums, Max Frost, and the Knocks. I was happy when I listened to the EP and was satisfied from start to finish. I can’t wait for the full album to come out! So in the meantime, check out Holychild on some of these websites.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/holychild

Website: http://www.holychildmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holychildmusic

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Beard Jams: Problems by Pinegrove

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

   I’m back with a sweet indie rock song entitled Problems by a band known as Pinegrove! Pinegrove comes from Montclair, New Jersey! 

   This song starts off with a great deal of energy. This song doesn’t wait for any fancy intros. It gets right to the point and delivers a great indie rock sound. The song itself isn’t that complex, but that’s the beauty of it all. It’s simplicity in sound and instrumentation make it enjoyable and unique. The acoustic guitar part is big and something that I really enjoyed about this song. The guitars are a vital part of this song, along with the vocals.

   I really like the vocals in this song. The melody is catchy and reminds me of something that you would get the whole crowd to sing along to at a show. The lyrics are nice as well. They have a nice flow to them and don’t feel rushed or forced. The lead singer has a great voice. The voice really fits every moment of the song. The upbeat moments in the song gain a little extra energy with the singers part, and the soft moments are sweet and delicate. I love the last set of lyrics in this song; “It was supposed to snow, but it didn’t, so there’s no excuses now.” The ending of this song makes me want to go make a cup of green tea chai. I love green tea, so it’s awesome that this song makes me want to relax and indulge with some green tea at the end. If you don’t like tea, it’s alright. Pick your favorite hot beverage of choice.

   Overall, this was a nice indie rock song! The whole song was great, but the vocals, lyrics and guitar parts stood out the most to me. It’s a simple song, but the simplicity makes it easy to listen to. This is a great song to put on repeat. Each time listening through the song felt just as exciting and fresh as the last. Check it out and see what you think! If you like it, support the band and share our post! Pinegrove is currently on a USA summer tour until early July! Check out their tour dates and see if they are coming near you! Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

   To check out more Pinegrove, find them at these fine social media links! 

Bandcamp: www.pinegrove.bandcamp.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Pinegroveband

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Pinegroveband 

 

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Beard Jams: Lucky Earth by Troxum

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

   What’s going on everyone?! This is Dan and I’ve got a sweet electronic song for you all to check out. It’s entitled Lucky Earth and is by an artist known as Troxum! This song is off of the debut EP, Gaia Omen.

   I have always admired electronic songs and artists because I feel like there is the potential to create a truly unique piece of work that creates visions and evokes a story from the song. Music in general can provide stories and visions, but I find myself having more ideas while listening to instrumental electronic music. This song definitely paints vivid pictures in my imagination, especially in the beginning of the track. I love the delayed synth that happens that starts of the song. Then, this spacey and echoey synth combines with the other synth, and then eventually all of that is combined with a beat. It sounds amazing. 

   I find myself getting wrapped up in the sounds from this song and becoming relaxed and lost in the music. The end of the song approaches and then I realize I was enjoying the sounds too much to think about how long I had been listening to the song. Although, I don’t think you can enjoy these sounds too much. Please, get lost in this song and relax and enjoy. It’s one of those songs where every time I listen to it I hear something new. Definitely play this one over and over, especially at night when you are becoming tired. 

   The sections in the song where the pitch shifts and or the key changes provides some interesting textures. It helps break up the song and keeps the song new and exciting. This song is an exciting musical journey wrapped up into one song. It’s wonderful. 

   Overall, I really enjoyed this song. I always enjoy a good electronic song with great synths, sounds, and textures. This song delivers all of that while making me want to listen to it over and over again. This song definitely kept my attention throughout the song, and even after the song ended. It’s a nice beat and melody that truly had me relaxing and thinking. Be sure to listen to this one and indulge in the beautiful sounds that are present. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

   To check out more of Troxum, check out the following social media sites provided below and make sure you grab the debut ep entitled, Gaia Omen.

 Bandcamp: http://music.troxum.com/releases

 Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/troxum 

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/troxum 

 Twitter: www.twitter.com/troxum 

 

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Introducing the Musicbeards Staff

Posted on June 2, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

Hey everyone! This is Dan here writing for this article. (There’s a reason why I’m using my name now. Let me explain!) Up until now, the Musicbeards posts have always been entirely produced by myself. I started this blog with the intent of giving up-and-coming bands and artists some well deserved publicity by promoting their work to people who may have not heard about them before. The name [Musicbeards] was absolutely random. I was trying to come up with a cool name for a blog, but I was having trouble picking one out that I liked. I eventually decided on Musicbeards. There was no particular reason for that name. I obviously liked music, and I had a beard at the time. Boom. That’s how this blog was born! I decided it would be a fun experience to have, and it fit right in with my life as I was a college radio dj at the time. I’ve had a great time with this blog so far and have had the pleasure of working with some great artists, bands, and people. 

   Doing this alone has been pretty cool, but it’s even cooler when you have a close friend that wants to join in and help out as well! In fact, this person has been secretly helping me all along anyways, but now she’s about to be Musicbeards official. Allow me to introduce the newest member of Musicbeards, Valerie! 

   Seeing as most people don’t really know either of us, I figured that we would do a little question and answer with each of us! (Woo, yay! That sounds great! You’re totally reading my mind right now!) Let’s start off with Valerie!

   Name: Valerie

   Favorite Food: Burritos, Waffles, and Avocados

   Best Concert experience so far: The best concert festival I have been to so far was Bamboozle in 2010. There were a bunch of bands that I had discovered during high school and the majority of them were at this Bamboozle festival. There were bands such as Angels and Airwaves, Paramore, Relient K and more! There were a lot of cool vendors and great bands that made for an awesome day. It was the third concert I had ever been to and it was my first festival. It was definitely a memorable day out of all the concerts I have been to.

   Favorite Band or Artist: [At the moment] Said the Whale, Dresses, Saintseneca, and Foster the People. 

   Favorite thing about Musicbeards: My favorite thing about Musicbeards is that there is always new music reviews up with links to the artist or bands on the site so you can check out more of their music. 

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   Name: Dan

   Favorite Food: Pizza

   Best Concert Experience So Far: I’ve been to so many great and memorable concerts that it’s hard to pick one. I loved seeing Grouplove in September of 2013. It was a magical show and the music was great live. Other memorable shows that I have been to include: Mysteryland USA, Warped Tour of 2012-2013, and the CMJ (College Music Journal) Music Marathon of 2011 and 2013. In 2011 at the CMJ Music Marathon, I saw The Wombats perform. It was magical and I’m a lifetime fan of The Wombats now.

   Favorite Band or Artist: Again, it’s hard to pick just one. All time favorite band would have to be Motion City Soundtrack. I really love the lyrics in MCS songs and the different instrument parts and layers. They always sound amazing while maintaining a unique character to their music that makes it unique to MCS. Lately though, my favorite band would have to be Grouplove. I absolutely love everything about them right now. They have got a great sound that is infectious to me and makes me smile, sing, and dance every time I hear them. 

   Favorite Thing About Musicbeards: Well, I’m kind of biased because I created this blog but I love being able to help up-and-coming bands and artists expose people to their music. I love telling people about new music and I love helping out the bands and artists who are great but are unknown at the moment. Hopefully, once we make a post, people check out the song and then if they enjoyed them become life-long fans of that band or artist and their music. I’ve met some awesome people along the way, but it’s not about me. It’s all about the music. 

   Last Thoughts For The Reader: Keep on sticking around and discovering some great new music. Any little thing you do makes an impact on this blog. Whether it be listening to a song we post and then buying it, or just liking the band or artist on the social media sites. (As well as following the Musicbeards site and social media.), Anything helps the bands and artists as well as with us. As I say at the end of my posts, until next time have fun and stay safe everyone.

   If you’re a band or artist and want us to check out your music, or you want us to come to your show or music festival, email us at musicbeards@gmail.com!  

P.S. The awesome photo for this post was brought to you by our good friend Ariel! Valerie is on the right and I’m [Dan] on the left. Check out her work on her flickr page by following the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/whoiseinbinder/sets/72157641745805985/ 

 

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Beard Jams: Hideaway by Kiesza

Posted on May 30, 2014 by djvalhalla22

Canadian singer-songwriter, Kiesza, has recently released a single called Hideaway, which is off her new upcoming album. This song is influenced by 1990s dance music and has an electro-pop vibe to it. Her vocal range is incredible and extremely pleasant to listen to. I really like the build up in this song. It starts of soft with soothing vocals and then as the verse leads into the chorus it starts to become more loud, upbeat and danceable.

Just when I thought this song couldn’t get any better, I saw that there was a music video for the song. The music video for Hideaway was recorded in just one take and features Kiesza dancing in the streets of Brooklyn with a range of back up dancers throughout the song. Not only is Kiesza an amazing singer-songwriter, but she’s also a beautifully trained ballerina, creates her own artwork, and also writes songs for other artists as well.

Kiesza will be performing with Holy Child on June 13th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY. Put away your wallets, because this show is for free! You must be twenty one to enter though. I highly recommend going to this amazing show or possibly checking out her tour dates for the summer! Don’t miss a chance to see this super cool artist! If you want to hear her amazing vocals, look at her artwork, or see what she is up to, check out some of the links below.

Website: http://www.kiesza.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/kiesza

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kiesza

Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/kiesza

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Beard Jams: Stay All Night by Tape Waves

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

   

   I’m back with one of the most relaxed and refreshing indie pop songs I’ve heard of in a long time. This is Stay All Night by Tape Waves.

   I love the guitar riff that goes on throughout the song. It’s fun, playful, and relaxing. Seriously, when I listen to this song I feel like I’m just lounging in the sun. It’s wonderful. This guitar riff is very enjoyable and will be stuck in your head for a while. 

   The vocals are really nice. They are very smooth and flowing. This vocalist has one of the most intriguing and relaxing voices I’ve heard of in a long time. As with the guitar riff, the vocal melody is also catchy! Great vocals that are very fitting for this song. 

   Overall, I really enjoyed this song. I found myself in a very calm and relaxed state after listening to this song. It’s very easy to get absorbed by this song and just relax. That’s not a bad thing either! Definitely feel free to lounge around with this song. You can also dance too! Just make sure you keep on hitting repeat. All of the parts in this song are flowing and get wrapped up with each other to create a delicate and delicious sound.  This is a great song after a long day in the summer sun. Check this song out and see what you think! If you like it, share the song and this post with your friends! Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

   Be sure to check out more of Tape Waves at these fine social media sites!

  ~ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tapewaves

  ~ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tapewaves

  ~ Bandcamp: http://tapewaves.bandcamp.com

 

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Beard Jams: Waves by Beach Youth

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

  

   What’s going on everyone?! Todays song is a sweet indie rock jam entitled Waves. It’s by a band known as Beach Youth! 

   This song is really catchy! The syncopated guitar part along with the sweet bass line sounds great! These guitar parts are great on their own, but also sound great when blended together. The overall beat and sound of this song makes me want to dance. Hopefully you want to dance as well while listening to this song as well!

   The smooth vocals in this song give it a relaxed feel. The vocal part reminds me of watching a wave at a beach. (Very fitting with the song name and band name.) The singers phrasing feels like a wave to me; starts off mellow and becomes more energized and then goes back to being relaxed and mellow. I really enjoy the vocals in this song and it fits very well with the instruments.

   I can also see the song itself being like a wave. I feel like when the instruments are playing alone without vocals, the energy is a little more upbeat. When the vocals come in, the song is still upbeat but it’s a little more relaxed. Then when the instrumental parts kick in again, it feels like another burst of energy. Just something unique I thought about while listening to this song.

   Overall, I think this is a great song. It’s upbeat, fun, and catchy. Everything you want in a summer indie rock song. Listen for a subtle cowbell part as well. It only comes in for a little bit, but it’s a nice texture in this song. As I mentioned before, this song makes me want to dance. It also makes me want to go be outside and enjoy the nice weather and sunshine. (Too bad it’s dark out as I write this.) Anyways, enjoy the song. If you like it, be sure to share the song with your friends and loved ones. Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone. 

   To check out more of Beach Youth, head on over to these sites:

~ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beachyouthband

~ Twitter: https://twitter.com/beach_youth

   As always, feel free to share Musicbeards as well! We are on our site as well as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and now Flickr! Take care. 

 

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Beard Jams: The New Colossus by Cloud Caverns

Posted on May 23, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

  

   Hello friends! This song is a new one from Cloud Caverns entitled The New Colossus off of their latest album, Gypsy Loft.

   I love the beginning of this song. The floor tom with the intricate guitar part sounds awesome. The shaker in the background is a nice touch. It really captured my attention and left me wanting more. (So naturally I listened to the rest of the song.) 

   The guitar has a very interesting part in this song. There are some great licks and riffs throughout the entire song. There is also some nice off-beat chords that sound splendid. The chords helped give this song a bouncy feeling and kept the song moving along. I dare you to not be amazed when you hear this guitar part. It fits the song perfectly and is interesting and fresh throughout the entire song. 

   Vocals sound great as always. The singer has this wonderful quality to his voice. It’s beautifully dry and raspy at times. Even though it’s a little raspy, it keeps on flowing and moving with the song. It’s not raspy all of the time. There are moments when it kicks in, and it works very well in this song. The melody is great. It’s been stuck in my head for the last 20 minutes now. It’s a catchy melody that sticks with you. 

   Overall, this is another great song from Cloud Caverns! There were many great things about this song that made me want to listen to it over and over again. This song keeps your interest the whole time while still having a structure to the song. All of the parts were very interesting and delicate. If you like acoustic, folk, or light pop, this song is just right for you. 

  Be sure to check out Cloud Caverns at these fine social media sites, and don’t forget to pick up their latest album, Gypsy Loft, which is available now! Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone.

Bandcamp: cloudcaverns.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cloudcaverns

 

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Beard Jams: Til Tomorrow by DWNTWN

Posted on May 21, 2014 by djvalhalla22

 

Searching for an awesome new band that you can dance to while driving in your car this summer? Then you better check out this band DWNTWN who has just released their self-titled EP. The thing that I love most about this EP is that the music is upbeat, filled with catchy lyrics, and has these really cool synth parts embedded in the indie pop music. This EP will make you want to dance, but not too hard. Songs like Til Tomorrow and Skins, are the most upbeat and synth driven on this EP. If you’re interested in songs that are just as great, but are slowed down a bit and have a nice chill relaxed vibe to them, I would check out songs like Missing, Heroine and Blankets. 

DWNTWNs hit single Til Tomorrow, features both Jamie Leffler and Robert Cepeda performing dual vocals that intertwine very nicely. They both have soft voices that flow well with the spaced out sound of the music while still having an indie pop base to the music. This is personally my favorite song off of the EP. I love driving around in my car with the windows down and jamming out to this song. Along with the two lead vocalists, there is this really cool electronic feature that the band uses as backing vocals and it sounds amazing. That’s the main feature of the song that really hooked me in while listening to it for the first time and is also featured on the other songs on this EP.

DWNTWN was created by Jamie Leffler and Robert Cepeda in 2010. Leffler was actually dating Robert’s brother and when they broke up, Leffler  immediately started up a band with Robert. They had been experimenting with making folk pieces while adding indie pop sounds to it and then recording them on their iPhones. This duo made their first debut with “See My Eyes” and “Move Me”, which were featured on two separate Kistune America compilation albums. These two amazing tracks charted at #2 on the very well known music blog, Hype Machine. With a couple of outstanding singles and adding two more members to the band to create a four piece for live performances, DWNTWN has grown as musicians and is spreading their  indie synth pop sound. If you like the track above and are looking for more tunes by DWNTWN, check out their earlier EP’s, Cowboys and The Red Room.

To learn more about DWNTWN and to listen to their music, check out the links below!

http://www.twitter.com/dwntwnmusic
http://www.dwntwnmusic.com
http://www.soundcloud.com/dwntwnmusic
http://www.youtube.com/dwntwnmusic

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Beard Jams: Bridges by Broods

Posted on May 14, 2014 by djvalhalla22

 

 

Broods is a pop duo from New Zealand, which consists of brother and sister Caleb and Georgia Nott. They are at the surprisingly young ages of 19 and 21. Caleb is a multi-instrumentalist and assists with backing vocals while Georgia provides the lead vocals. This super talented duo seems to be the next big thing happening over in New Zealand. For this EP they worked with producer Joe Little, who is known for his work on the production of Lordes new album.

They have a really cool synth-pop sound to their music. In certain songs it has a nice echo effect that adds a relaxed vibe to the synth-pop beat. It’s upbeat enough to dance around a bit or bob your head to the beat while relaxing. This band reminds me of a mix of Ellie Goulding, Shiny Toy Guns, and Chvrches.

Give their hit song Bridges a listen! It starts out slow with just the lead vocals and soft sounds of a keyboard playing. Then the song starts to build up and when the chorus hits, you’ll definitely be hooked. I found myself singing the catchy, upbeat chorus to myself after just a few hours of hearing this song for the first time.  If you like what you hear, their full-length album will be released in August!

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/broods

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/broodsmusic

 

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Beard Jams: Heart Stuck by A Yawn Worth Yelling

Posted on May 12, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

  

   Hello everyone! Here is another song that you need to listen to right away. It’s entitled Heart Stuck, and is by the band known as A Yawn Worth Yelling! They are from San Jose, California! 

   The verses are nice and dreamy. The guitars are nice and light while the drums add a nice texture to the song. It’s simple and light, but it keeps the song fresh and still moving forward. The vocalist has a great voice as well! I feel like I want every story ever created sung to me by him. Great voice that fits right in with the music.

   I really enjoyed the chorus sections. They still have a light and crisp feeling to them, but are more emotional then the verses. (As it should be with a chorus section.) The group vocals on the chorus section are a great touch. It’s definitely one of my favorite moments on this track. I feel like it’s warm and inviting. It makes you want to jump in with the rest of the band and start singing!

   I also really enjoyed the key change in this song at the end. Not only do the higher vocals sound cool, but there’s something just so right about that key change at that moment. I guess it freshens up the song to me, while at the same time makes it feel like it’s naturally coming to an end.Overall, this is a nice indie pop, indie rock song to listen to! Enjoy while in the sun, or finishing up your day with friends and family or outside on a beach.

   Be sure to check this out this song, and share it with everyone if you enjoyed it! Songs are even better when they are enjoyed by cool people like you. Be sure to check out A Yawn Worth Yelling’s latest album, Nights Like These, on their website! (ayawnworthyelling.com) Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone! 

 

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Beard Jams: Terrapin by Marsicans

Posted on May 10, 2014 by Musicbeards

 

   What’s going on everyone?! I’ve been very busy, but I need to let you guys know of some awesome music that has come out! Luckily classes are over for me and I’m just waiting to graduate! It’s been way too long since I showed you all another song. This one is entitled “Terrapin”, and is by our friends Marsicans!

   The drum beat is the first thing to come in and set the mood. I really like the floor tom rhythm. It’s simple, but effective.  When the verse comes in, the drums and bass work really well together to make a very catchy rhythm part. The guitar part sounds nice as well. It’s nice and light and fits right in with the rest of the song. There’s a nice guitar riff towards the end as well! The bass has some great bass lines. They sound like they would be really fun to play. In the chorus, the bass plays a vital role of getting us back into the song and transitions out of the bouncy feeling. 

   Vocals are nice and crisp in this song. The melody is pretty nice as well! The vocals really help keep the song moving along in the verses and the chorus sections. The singer has a nice range as well that is demonstrated a bit in this song. 

   When I hear this song, I instantly think of the summertime. It’s a fun song that makes you instantly want to dance. The chorus is simple with the instruments playing on the beat, but it is in that simplicity where it makes the song fun and danceable. It really has a bouncy feeling to it in the chorus, which naturally makes you want to move with the song. 

   Additionally, another cool concept that I thought of when listening to this song is that when the verses come in, it’s daytime and you’re on a beach. When the chorus comes along, you’re still on that beach but now it’s nighttime and you are having a bonfire. Just another quirky thought that popped into my head while listening. Don’t mind me. 

   Overall, this is a another great song from our friends in England who are known as Marsicans. Definitely check this one out, and add it to your summer gatherings and playlists! Grab the song over on their bandcamp and check out their website as well! Until next time, have fun and stay safe everyone!

Bandcamp: www.marsicans.bandcamp.com

Site: www.marsicans.co.uk 

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