For this week's #mondaymixtape post, I will show you some of the new music and interesting covers that I have discovered lately. I can not even remember the number of times I've been playing these tracks today and the past few days! HAHA!
Some guidelines as you participate in the #mondaymixtape conversation:
Tell us why you like them. Point out features that surprised you, stuff you learnt from the song, etc etc.
There! Enjoy! :)
1. Vancouver Sleep Clinic - Someone To Stay
Lately, I've been addicted to the sound of Vancouver Sleep Clinic and other related artists (Novo Amor, Bon Iver, Barcelona, etc). I would usually describe this sound as indie folk, or indie rock, or electronic pop but I feel that these artists transcend these labels, so I choose not to define them altogether. But because there's this nagging feeling to try to describe it still, I googled what this sound is supposed to be called. I found that the closest label that may describe this sound accurately is probably shoegaze. So there, end of the lesson. Haha! Anyway, because of this new discovery, I now have a new playlist consisting songs of artists that I believe resemble Vancouver Sleep Clinic. Someone to Stay is one of Vancouver Sleep Clinic's popular songs. Well-written and catchy tune! Easily my fave now!
2. Imagine Dragons - Zero
Zero is one of the tracks in the OST of the film Wreck it Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks The Internet . First time I heard this, I immediately thought that this is a relatively new sound for Imagine Dragons. That distinct Imagine Dragons brand consisting of heavy drums, solid bass sounds, and orchestra-esque voices may be lacking in this song, but one will eventually like how playful the sound of "Zero" is, staying true to the film's peg. The video is really cool too!
3. Sam Concepcion - Maybe The Night (Cover)
In the 4th episode of the Coke Studio Homecoming, Coke Studio Philippines paired indie-folk band Ben&Ben and R&B singer-actor Sam Concepcion. For this episode, the fans asked both artists to do a cover of the other's song. Sam Concepcion chose to do Ben&Ben's Maybe the Night. Those who have heard the original version of Maybe the Night will most likely think that Sam Concepcion and Maybe The Night will not work. Well, if you doubted Sam, prepare to be proven wrong. This version is such a fresh take on Maybe The Night that DEFINITELY worked!! The band's solid arrangement contributed a lot to the flawless performance too. I've always been skeptical of artists trying to recreate a song and give it an R&B flavor, especially because I have yet to see a successful R&B cover of a not-R&B song. But, Sam clearly did this effortlessly for Maybe the Night. Call me biased, especially because I have always been a fan of Sam Concepcion, but I am confident to say that this version did not disappoint and might have even exceeded expectations.
4. Ben&Ben - Dati (Cover)
"Dati" is a Tagalog song written by Filipino songwriters Thyro Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana as their entry to a songwriting competition here in the Philippines. The song, which was performed by Filipino artists Sam Concepcion, Tippy Dos Santos, and Quest, won first place in the said competition. Since then, "Dati" (rough translation: Back then) has been
one of Sam Concepcion's iconic songs to sing for when one needs to convey uncomplicated childhood love. Ben&Ben's take on this song invites its listeners to nostalgia overload, which took the already warm throwback feels that the original version offers to a whole new level. Each member of Ben&Ben is remarkable but pay close attention to the bassist and don't sleep on her hard-not-to-notice mad skills!!!
5. Ben&Ben and Sam Concepcion - Balik-Balikan
This is a collaboration we never knew we wanted! Enough said.
