Birdy – Introduction from a Guest Blogger

Hey guys! I’m excited to have my first guest post today! Breann, a fellow blogger and very good friend of mine, was the reader who suggested a do a series on Birdy. I thought it would be fitting for her to tell us all the reasons she loves the English singer/pianist.

Source: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/birdy/images/34608637/title/birdy-photo

So, without further ado…

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A little back story (just to make you love her even more):

Her real name is Jasmine.

Her mother is a concert pianist, and Birdy learned to play the piano at the age of seven, and began writing her own music at the age of eight. She won the music competition Open Mic UK in 2008, at the age of 12. She won both the under-18s category and the Grand Prize, against 10,000 other competitors.

In January 2011, at the age of 14, Birdy released a cover version of Bon Iver’s song “Skinny Love.” The song became her first hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at 17.

Her first album was released on 7 November 2011; the album peaked at No. 13 in the UK, No. 40 in Ireland and number 1 in Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia.

On December 21st 2011, Birdy received a Golden Single in the Netherlands for selling more than 25,000 copies from her début album. She promptly donated it to be auctioned online.

A day later, Birdy received a Golden Single from Studio Brussels in Belgium for selling more than 15,000 copies from her début album. She also donated it to be auctioned online, it was sold for €1,980.

She was nominated for the 2014 BRIT award as “British Female Solo Artist” and won and Echo award for the 2013 Female Solo Artist International. She is 18.

I love love love Birdy. As a pianist myself, I admire her talent on the piano, and her beautiful voice. She puts so much of herself into her music, you can feel her soul when she sings. (Especially in her music videos when you watch her face as she sings). She even plays the guitar very well.

Some people criticize her for making an album of covers only. (This is not even totally true because she had one original track). But her newest album showcases her talent as a songwriter. All her songs are original and are even better than her covers! The album is called Fire Within. Go listen to it. It’s such a breath of fresh air. I listen to it repeatedly when I’m sad.

I love her voice, I love her lyrics, I think she was definitely one of the most talented young artists out today. I look up to her as an inspiration for me in my own musical career. She is honest. I think that’s what I love most about her. Her songs (and she) are just clear and honest and beautiful.

Birdy is totally stylish. She has the most adorable chic-ness about her, and that really comes though in her music videos, which are unique and well-filmed. Everyone should subscribe to her channel on You Tube. (Just do it.)

I could go on for ages about Birdy. I already have. I really regret not going to her concert when I had a chance. Who cares if it was the week of my biggest exams. IT WAS FOR BIRDY. I think I will always regret that. But alas. I will go the next time she has a tour.

I am so excited to see what she does next. I hope the music industry doesn’t get to her, though. DO NOT GO MAINSTREAM DEAR BIRDY.

Some of my favorite videos include: 1901, Wings, Words as Weapons, Skinny Love, and Not About Angels.

To end this little piece, I’ll just say one last fact.

Birdy is perfect.

If you haven’t guessed already, I’m a TINY bit obsessed.

Thanks for reading this!

I love Sara!

xoxo Breann

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Thanks for that awesome introduction Breann! It’s getting me all excited to focus on Birdy this week.

Source: http://nonjudgementalmusic.blogspot.com/2012/03/meet-birdy.html

Please go check out and follow Breann’s blog here. It’s great for avid readers and fangirls alike. Haha

Thanks for reading!

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – Conclusion

Well… looks like it’s time to say goodbye to Jinja Safari.

Source: http://melbourne.concreteplayground.com.au/event/151343/jinja-safari.htm

If you are looking for similar artists, try these:
♪ Ball Park Music
♪ The Jungle Giants
♪ Hungry Kids of Hungary

I had so much fun researching and writing on them. Hopefully you enjoyed reading about them!

Next week I’ll finally be featuring a reader’s request.

Until then,

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – Jacob Borg

Here’s yet another song made by a member of Jinja Safari doing some solo work. The drummer, Jacob Borg, has started a solo project known as Berlin Bar Hounds. I am really liking what I’ve heard so far. It sounds very much like an Australian version of The National.

You can find Berlin Bar Hounds’ first single here. (Again, sorry, I don’t know how to I embed Sound Cloud links).

What do you think about all this solo work the band members are doing? Personally, I really like it. I just hope that it doesn’t mean the end of Jinja Safari!!

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – Pepa Knight

As of late, members of Jinja Safari have been branching out and working on collaborations with other bands and/or some solo songs.

Source: http://ginagraceknight.tumblr.com/

Here’s some of the work that Pepa has done aside from Jinja Safari:

“Rahh!”

“Waves”
by Japanese Wallpaper (ft. Pepa Knight)

And here is his newest single which came out earlier this week!

“Clams”
 (Sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to embed it.  Find it here.)

If you want to read more about his solo writing, check out this article and his Facebook page.

Enjoy!

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – ‘An Instrument Odyssey with Pepa Knight’

Hey all! Sorry I have really neglected this lately. With summer business and being out of town for a few days I just haven’t had the time. I promise I’ll get back on track next week! But for the rest of this week, I guess I’ll just continue with the Jinja Safari, mostly because I love them. Anyhew…

I love it when band members can play multiple instruments and they show that through their music. To me, they are true musicians. Also, I adore when music is not just a job for them, but a lifestyle. Jinja Safari definitely seems to live this way!

Just check out this video. Pepa Knight has so many instruments and he can play them all. I think that is so cool. What an awesome musician!

What are your thoughts on what makes a true musician? Let me know in the comments!

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – Song Sampling

Ready for some sweet music videos and “Forest Rock” music??

“Hiccups”

“Peter Pan”

“Toothless Grin”

What do you think? Would you like me to feature more artists similar to them? Let me know in the comments!

♫ Sara ♫

Jinja Safari – Introduction

This band is one of my all-time favorites. They have such a unique sound. Here’s Jinja Safari.

This five-piece indie band comes from Sydney, Australia. They are both self-produced and self-recorded.

Image from http://www.kierachevell.com.au/jinja-safari

The band began with just Marcus Azon and Cameron ‘Pepa’ Knight when they met at a party. They were later joined by Joe Citizen, Alister ‘Nugget’ Roach, and Jacob Borg.

The band got their name from the town of Jinja, Uganda. Speaking of the name, Azon said “I grew up in Tasmania and my grandmother lives in Uganda, in the town of Jinja – so for some reason I always felt the connection to the music of Africa, and how, despite the oppressions of countless dictatorships, genocide and apartheid, the people of Africa always found a way to smash a drum, yelling with a giant smile, dancing barefoot in the dirt.”

Image from http://www.kierachevell.com.au/jinja-safari

The group’s music and even style is definitely influence by African music and has been self-described as being of the “Forest Rock” genre.

I can’t wait to share more of it with you!

 ♫ Sara ♫

Ben Howard – Conclusion

Looks like our week of Ben Howard has come to a close. I hope you enjoyed it!

If you want to keep up with Ben Howard, check out his official website HERE and his Facebook page HERE.

And we can’t forget similar artists. If you liked his sound, you may want to try:
♪ Lucy Rose
♪ Benjamin Francis Leftwich
♪ Passenger

Image from http://www.etcnortheast.co.uk/entertainment/gig-review-ben-howard-at-newcastle-02-academy/

♫ Sara ♫

Ben Howard – Song Sampling

It was so hard for me to pick just two songs to show you guys! He has so many great ones! Hopefully I did a decent job picking. Let me know what you think of these in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!

“Old Pine”

Lyrics

Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags,
I’ve come to know that memories
Were the best things you ever had
The summer shone beat down on bony backs
So far from home where the ocean stood
Down dust and pine cone tracks

We slept like dogs down by the fire side
Awoke to the fog where all around us
The bloom of summertime

We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning.

Hot sand on toes, cold sand in sleeping bags,
I’ve come to know the friends around you
Are all you’ll always have
Smoke in my lungs, or the echoed stone
Careless and young, free as the birds that fly
With weightless souls now.

We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning.

We grow, grow, steady as the morning
We grow, grow, older still
We grow, grow, happy as a new dawn
We grow, grow, older still
We grow, grow, steady as the flowers
We grow, grow, older still
We grow, grow, happy as a new dawn
We grow, grow, older still

Meanings

This song is about people, probably a couple but possibly friends, making memories together.  It’s good to reflect on those happy memories.  They help you remain happy, even through the tough times, as life goes on and you grow older.

Things to Love

The guitar is simple, yet beautiful.

The emotion in his voice is palpable.  It makes me feel something.  I love it when music does that.

“Keep Your Head Up”

Lyrics

I spent my time watchin’ the spaces that had grown between us.
And I cut my mind on second best or the scars that come with the greeness.
And I gave my eyes to the bottom, still the seabed wouldn’t let me in,
And I tried my best to embrace the darkness in which I swim.
Oh the darkness in which I swim.

Now walkin’ back down this mountain
With the strength of a turnin’ tide
Oh the wind so soft at my skin,
The sun so hot upon my side.
Oh lookin’ out at this happiness,
I searched for between the sheets.
Oh feelin’ blind to realize,
All I was searchin’ for was me.
Ooh all I was searchin’ for was me.

Keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
No, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep your hair long.
Oh my darlin’ keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
Oh no no, keep your mind set in your ways, keep your hair,
Keep your hair long.
‘Cause I’ll always remember you the same,
Oh eyes like wildflowers, with your demons of change.

I saw a friend of mine the other day,
And he told me that my eyes were gleamin’.
Oh I said I had been away, and he knew,
Oh he knew the depths I was meanin’.
And it felt so good to see his face,
The comfort invested in my soul.
Oh to feel the warmth of his smile,
When he said “I’m happy to have you home.
Ooh I’m happy to have you home.”

And I showed my body to the sea again,
And I laughed at her for bein’ so cruel.
And I left these broken bottles, and empty corridors.
And I walked right on through.
And I never, I never dream of you.
Oh honey I never, I never dream of you.

Yeah, keep your head up, keep your heart strong.
Oh, no, no, no, no.
Keep your mind set, keep you hair long.
Oh my my darlin’, keep your head up, keep you heart strong.
No no no, keep your mind set in your ways,
Keep your hair, keep your hair long.
‘Cause I’ll always remember you the same.
Oh eyes are wild flowers within demons of change.

May you find happiness there,
May all your hopes all turn out right.
Ooh may you find happiness there,
May you find warmth in the middle of the night.

Meanings

In one sentence, this song is about a man trying to find himself after a failed relationship.  But really, it’s much more than that.  It’s about how she moved on and left him behind and how that allowed him to realize that he wasn’t really looking for somebody to complete him.  First,  he needed to find himself.  It’s about how friends were there to support him in that process.  It’s about keeping your head up when times are tough and you are struggling.  It’s about staying strong and true to yourself once you discover who you really are.

Things to Love

Well, for one, the lyrics are my favorite.  They have such deep emotion behind them.  I can really relate to them on a personal level.  While no, I can’t relate to the relationship aspect of it, I can relate to trying to find myself.  I think everybody can.  That’s what makes this song so great.  It’s relatable.

It’s catchy! and has an upbeat melody.

Image from http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-devon-20190933

Well folks, that’s it for today.

♫ Sara ♫

 

Ben Howard – Introduction

I’m going to have to postpone the reader request until next week because I’m not quite ready yet and I will be out of town. Sorry about that! Instead, we’ll spend some time on Ben Howard. Go ahead and say hello 🙂

Ben Howard is a singer-songwriter from England.  He grew up in a very musical home, surround by music from Simon & Garfunkel, John Martyn, and others.  He first began writing music when he was around ten or eleven years old.

When Ben started college, he originally began studying journalism.  Yet, just a few months prior to completing his journalism program, he turned completely to music.

Image from http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/ben-howard-every-kingdom/

His music has deep folk roots and meaningful lyrics.  His songs are typically guitar and percussion based.

Look out for more from him this week.

♫ Sara ♫