live – that lemon life

I’m officially old

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to my blog and also another week. I hope you all had a lovely weekend and that you’re feeling great. As you can read from the title, today’s post is going to be a different one. And no, I’m not having a crisis, but only stating the plain and true facts. But let me explain…

I’m officially old, guys. But not in the way you’re thinking. Yes, I’ll be 24 in just about three weeks (don’t talk to me about that please and thank you), but that’s not old. And no, I’m not telling myself that over and over again to keep my heart rate steady. I am fine. The thing that’s putting me off at the moment is that, for the first time ever, I felt too old to be at a gig. Yes, I am talking about the Cavetown gig I went to last Saturday. I felt like I had landed on some weird planet that was full of little kids with kazoos. And I didn’t understand a thing that was going on. At one point, there was a duet happening with – and I’m not making this up – an imaginary character from Animal Crossing. I mean… what?

But it’s not like I wasn’t expecting it to be that way. For those of you who don’t know Cavetown, he’s a British singer-lad, who currently is 21, but who, from what I saw last weekend, is also trying really hard to not be an adult. And I’m not criticizing him for that in any way, because, clearly, it’s working. Selling out Shepherd’s Bush surely isn’t easy, so props to him. The thing is, he is incredibly talented, but he looks and sounds, and sometimes also acts like a kid. Again, not hating on him here, just recalling my experience. Maybe I was also just the wrong person to attend the gig. From what I could find out, his main fanbase is mostly between 14 and 19 years old. I am clearly about 5 years too old for him then. But I can’t even say that I didn’t enjoy the gig. To be honest, I’d actually say I loved it to bits, but maybe not in the way many others did that night.

In short – my friend Lauren and I had a blast. We stood there, didn’t understand a thing of what was happening, were clearly confused when suddenly a huge teddybear named Patrick Stewart was brought on stage for emotional support, but nonetheless, we turned that evening into one of the funniest nights ever. And you know when something is so cute that it’s getting a bit too much, but you can’t be mad at it, because, yes, it’s still cute? That’s what that whole evening was like. Robin (Cavetown) is just the real personification of Peter Pan. An incredibly talented Peter Pan. At least that’s what I got from it.

My favourite part of the whole night – besides finally getting to see HUNNY live as Cavetown’s support – was probably the end of the gig (no, I don’t mean it like what you think, I’m not that mean), when they played the concert-ending track. You know, with bands like Twenty One Pilots or The 1975 you get indie or rock songs. Or with Bombay Bicycle Club, you get a fun dance number from the 80s everyone can dance to. And then there’s Cavetown and we got the Wii music. I am not joking, please take this seriously. Yes, the Wii music. I had the time of my life. Nobody can imagine what a blast I had in that moment, with that utterly stupid but fun track playing, kids running around with their kazoos and Lauren looking at me in a way that said “please kill me now”. It doesn’t get better than this.

But, all jokes aside, it really was a great gig and we really did have a fun night. HUNNY was an amazing support and an even better and funnier group to interview. Cavetown was incredibly talented and I absolutely loved his voice, even more so the stage design which was made up by tons of fairy lights in the background. But, nonetheless, I definitely wasn’t meant to attend that gig. Yes, I saw a lot of parents there, but we all know why most of them were there. I think I’ve just passed the point where I can go to fangirl-packed, kids-filled gigs. And that’s kinda sad, but I feel like also just a natural thing to happen. We all grow up, I guess. But my inner child that loves to dance to the Wii music will stay forever.

And there you go, guys. That’s my story of being officially old. I hope you like it. As always, please let me know what you think. I wish you all a lovely week and, of course, thanks for reading. x

New Music Friday

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to my blog. And another Friday. A “New Music Friday”, actually, which I haven’t been able to say for such a long time. God, I feel like it’s been forever since the last one. And I checked. It was in July. Can you believe that? In freaking July. That’s literally ages ago. But now we’re finally back and back for good, because I really can’t wait to share all of this amazing new music with you guys. I’ve literally been obsessed with music lately, I feel like I’ve been listening to the same 20 songs for the past two months, which could actually be pretty accurate, to be honest. Obviously, that means I’ll share exactly those songs with you. And just as I love them, I hope you will do. So, grab your headphones or speakers (every music lover its own) , sit back and enjoy the ride.

Just Like a Movie – Wallows

When I first heard this song, I literally couldn’t believe my ears. Not just because this song is freaking stunning and I’m deeply in love with this band, but because it did exactly to me what a good song should do – it made me love music. In general. This song proves why music is a gift from heaven and one of the most beautiful things on earth. It’s something so incredible, I don’t think anything else could make me feel so many things at once. What a masterpiece. Wallows, thanks so much for this one, guys. Just wow.

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What Could Be as Lonely as Love / Worship – Amber Run

Well well well. Where should I begin? Amber Run, this freaking fantastic band, has been on my radar for quite some time now and their recently released album “Philophobia” has been one of my most anticipated LPs of this whole year. And damn, they certainly did not let me down. This album, as a whole, is so damn good, there isn’t one song that I wouldn’t say is amazing. This is also the reason why it was so hard to chose the songs to share with you, as I’d have actually preferred to just throw the whole album at you. But as this is a new music list, I did my best and chose the two songs that I’ve been loving the most.

“What Could Be as Lonely as Love” is plainly the one song that gets me going the most, it’s such a bop. But once you listen to the lyrics, you kinda notice that it’s a sad one. But still a bop. And “Worship”, wow, that’s just a heartbreak on a plate. I don’t know who hurt Joe, the lead-singer, this much, but I’d really love to give him a song every time I listen to the song. He manages to put so much pain and sincerity into his voice, I actually teared up while listening to it the first time. It’s this good. Also, please go and listen to the whole album. Highly recommend it, with my whole heart.

Aftertaste – The Academic

It’s no secret that I’ve been a fan of these guys for a few years now and I’m just always so excited whenever they put out a new song. They never let me down. And this phenomenal song right here proves that once again. I really can’t wait to see them live again in a few days here in London, it’s going to be absolutely amazing, I can already tell.

Ice Cream Sundae – Inhaler

Here we finally have the song, the only one, that I got on tape when I saw this awesome band live for the first time back in May at the Great Escape Festival. I might have to add that I literally had no idea who they were back then, but I do now and I’m honestly so happy my mum and I stayed for their gig or I would never know them, which would be an absolute shame. They are just way too fantastic and this song is way too fun to miss out on. And for those of you who are wondering and don’t know them – yes, this is Elijah Hewson, the son of Bono from U2. Yes, really. So, watch out for these guys, because they’re here to stay, trust me.

British Bombs – Declan McKenna

Guys, do you know this feeling when you’re going through your music recommendations and suddenly this one artist, that you’ve been listening to for such a long time but have kinda forgotten about, suddenly pops up on your list with an incredible new song and when you listen to it you fall in love with the artist all over again because it’s just so good? Yes? Good, me too, because that’s exactly what happened with Declan and this “bomb” (sorry, I had to) of a song. It’s so damn good, I don’t even know how I could actually forget about him. I’ve got no excuses, shame on me. But thank god I found him again. The song is so so so damn good. Also, when you’re listening to it, go and take a look at the lyrics. Trust me, you want to know what this song is all about. Declan makes music for politically frustrated indie kids, according to a Youtube comment, so you can probably tell why it’s such an important song and why he’s such an important artist.

Eat, Sleep Wake (Nothing But You) – Bombay Bicycle Club

As I am this typing this, I can’t believe my own eyes, but, guys, Bombay Bicycle Club are back together and back in business and I’m so excited, I can’t even put it into words. I think we all have this one band that we found out about too late or that we were born at the wrong time for. Until a few weeks ago, Bombay was that one band for me. I found them when they had already broken up and I always told myself and everyone else that they were the one band I wish I could’ve seen live, but will never get the chance to. But now these guys actually decided to not only reunite, but also to release new music, a new album and go on tour. And I’ll be seeing them live next February. How is this real life? Oh my god. And could this song right here be any better? I don’t think so.

Insomniac – Dreamers

I recently stumbled over this song on YouTube and immediately was interested, mainly because of the title. Insomniac. That’s something people could call me. Because I’m simply always awake at night. Not that I can’t sleep, I’d just rather be awake at night. But yeah, that’s kinda how I found this song and I’m so happy I did. I can already see myself listening to it while walking back home from work at night. Such a perfect late night song.

BREAKFAST / creature – half•alive

Where should I start? In short – this band is freaking awesome and their album is a masterpiece and definitely one of the most exciting musical experiences when being listened to with headphones. It’s just so damn good. They play with so many different techniques, whether it’s with genres, synths or instruments. It’s a creative rollercoaster and definitely worth every listen. As with Amber Run’s album, it was incredibly difficult for me to chose favourites, so I just took the two songs I’ve been listening to the most the past months. Where “BREAKFAST” is quiet, emotional and gentle and could remind some of Bon Iver, “creature” is intense, harmonic and full. Both couldn’t be any more different and any more perfect.

Was It Something I Said – MyKey

Guys, you’ll probably never believe my story of how I found this song and this artist. Do you guys know the YT channel Jubilee? It’s a really really fantastic channel where they sometimes to this kind of speed dating thingy and this one video was with musicians, where they had to play songs. And this guy, Mikey, right here was part of that video and immediately grabbed my interest because of his angelic voice. And, well, here we are now. Obviously I had to search for him online and quickly found his channel, thanks to other indie fans just like me. And god, what a great song this is. Jubilee, thanks so much for that video. I owe you one.

Boogie Juice – HALFNOISE

And last but not least, here we have the newest banger from the amazingness that is HALFNOISE. If you’re ever on a walk in the city and wanna get in the perfect, chill but still upbeat, groovy mood, trust me, this is the one song to listen to. It’s practically perfect for that. It always gets me in the best mood, no joke. And besides that, it’s just such a fun song to listen to. And this band deserves far more recognition and attention than what they’re currently getting. What a breathtakingly cool band. Damn. Also, they just released their new album, so definitely make sure to check that out.

And with that, we’ve reached the end of this list of awesomeness and this “New Music Friday”. I sincerely hope you had or have fun listening to all of these phenomenal songs and love them just as much as me. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions, so please don’t hesitate to leave them down below. Besides that, I hope you’re all doing good and wish you a great weekend. And, of course, thanks so much for reading. x

Sziget Festival – Part One

Hola everyone.

Where am I? Why am I here? What day is it? And why did I not wake up in Budapest today with the prospect of spending another day at Sziget? Can I please go back? Honestly, reality is so overrated. Living the dream is way better, trust me guys.

But even if I don’t want to realize it, I have to face the fact that Sziget festival is officially over. That I’m officially back home again. And that normality is very dull compared to the past week. Very very dull. But I’m so glad I’m here and you are here, because together, we can and will relive that absolutely out-of-this-world crazy week I got to spend at Sziget. It’s going to be a treat, trust me. And I’m so happy I get to write this, because right now, I’m looking for any chance of reliving my time there over and over again. PCD (post-concert-depression) is really kicking my butt right now, so any chance of taking my mind back to Budapest is very welcome. And as so, so, so, SO much happened in those seven days, plus the tattoo appointment on the eighth day, I thought it would be best to split them up in twos. So, for the next two weeks, it’s officially all going to be about Sziget. Because this festival deserves every recognition it can get. And because it was, without a doubt, the best week of my entire life and I’m literally nearly bursting of excitement and happiness and pure love, so I need to just share it with you. So, let’s head right in, shall we?

Day 1

Okay, so, as some of you might know from my previous posts, one of the artists I was most looking forward to was Ed. Yes, my Ed. Ed freaking Sheeran. At Sziget festival. I’m still not over it. Never will, probably. And he was exactly the one who got to be the very first headliner of the week, so the seven days of madness started with him. I couldn’t have wished for anyone else, let’s be real.

So, on the very first day, my mum and I took the train to Budapest, got to our hotel – Brody House once again (still the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever stayed at) -, got dressed and then headed straight to the festival. God damn, I was so excited. One year had passed since I last had had the chance to be at Sziget, so the anticipation was out of this world. I nearly couldn’t take it. But, obviously, the festival didn’t let me down. It never does. It was as beautiful as ever. And as crazy and weird and fantastic and fun and literally perfect as ever. I loved it the second we got there. And with that, I left behind all my worries and thoughts about the outside world. You know, Sziget is like another universe. A universe, where only music, love, freedom and happiness exist. Nothing else. And now that I’ve been there for a whole week (which felt like a month, tbh), it feels like my second home. My place of absolute freedom and happiness. There’s no other place like this on earth. Trust me.

On that day, besides being in awe because of all the beauty of the festival, we got to see the following acts:

Ocean Alley
Kodaline
Michael Kiwanuka
Ed Sheeran

Obviously, Ed was the ultimate highlight, he was just as fantastic as always. And he played “Remember The Name”, which I was super excited about. It’s just such an incredible song. And I love that he always mixes up his sets. I’ve seen him three times the past three months and every single show was different. That’s what I call cool. Besides that, I was also super happy to finally be able to see Kodaline after all those years, but unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear all their well-known songs as we had to head back to the main stage to get a good spot for Ed. And here comes the small let down. The first day was apparently the only one that was completely sold out. No surprise, if it’s Ed. But they brought more people in than they usually do and the area around the stage wasn’t made to hold about 95.000 people, which we then noticed by the sheer endless amount of people surrounding us and pressing in on us. I literally couldn’t see anything else than just people everywhere. And, in all honesty, it was just too much, because at first, it kind of ruined the experience. My mum never got to see Ed, because there was just no place to go for her where she could see better. And after the show, as everyone wanted to leave at the same time, there was a huge crowd waiting to get out at the entrance, even after an hour when we wanted to leave as well. There were just too many people. I mean, I get that it was Ed and that they wanted to have a full crowd and a full festival, but that was just too much.

Still, the first day was absolutely fantastic and a nearly perfect start of the whole week. And I just loved seeing Ed at Sziget. I dreamed about it ever since being there for the first time in 2015 and now, four years later, the dream finally came true and I’ll be forever grateful for that.

Day 2

When I woke up the next day, I immediately knew that Ed has achieved what he always wants to get out of a show – I had pretty much lost my voice. But as much as my voice was gone, the more had my happiness and excitement grown. I was so ready for another day in paradise and it would be a great one, with The 1975 and many more to look forward to.

Compared to the first day, the second one was a lot more chill, simply because first of all, we got there far earlier than the day before and, secondly, because there just weren’t as many people. And I don’t know about you, but I’m always that teeny tiny bit calmer when I’m not pressed against human bodies all the time. And as we had quite some time left before the first act, we had time to go on a little walk on the island and check out all the other entertainment stuff and venues. Again, I have to point out, the sheer amount of things you can do and go to besides just to the shows at Sziget is absolutely mind-blowing. There’s something for anyone, whether you want to watch a movie, chill in the sun, go to the beach, paint something, make your own shirt or go to a dance class or visit a circus. You can do anything and whatever at Sziget.

One of my favourite venues definitely was the Luminarium. I can’t really explain what it is, but just imagine stepping into a huge balloon, where some calming, mysterious music is playing inside and only specs of sunlight can come through the coloured walls, creating the most beautiful rainbows inside in the process. I know, it might not sound that cool, maybe even a bit weird, but trust me, it’s absolutely magical. It’s like stepping into another world. Another world on top of the other world that is Sziget. I’m so in love with it. And it’s the most fantastic photo spot (check out the pics down below).

After that, we went over to the museum quarter and made our own badges (yep, that’s literally what you can do at Sziget, for free), which was super cool. I obviously had to make one in the design of an arc reactor (Tony stans rise) and then, for my second one, I wanted to make one just for myself, that wasn’t obviously representing anything. That just had a meaning for myself and that looked cute, so I could wear it every day. You can probably guess, as I was already so hyped for Twenty One Pilots, that it had to be TOP related. So, after a few minutes long brainstorm, I ended up with a light pink background and a replica of Ty’s “carpe noctem” tattoo (= seize the night). And I know, you might think now that it’s a bit corny, but if you know me, you know it’s fitting because I’m literally the most extreme night owl. I love the night. I need the night. I live the night. So yeah, it’s pretty much spot on and I’ve been proudly wearing it ever since.

Later on we went to the cinema and grabbed some popcorn, watched an extremely cool athletics/dance team, who were literally throwing their female team members around like they were some tiny, light balls and not heavy human beings (absolutely mind-blowing, honestly), checked out the funfair and just like that, it was time for us to head to the main stage for Franz Ferdinand, who I was super excited for.

In total, these were all the acts we saw on that day:

Franz Ferdinand
Pale Waves
The 1975
Cvrches

Looking at the whole day, I think my mum’s highlight definitely wasn’t a musical act, but someone very different and very special. As Sziget is built on principles like freedom, love, equality and the protection of our environment, being green was an especially important topic this year and thus they also had special events planned for that. And one of those events was a short talk by the one and only Jane Goodall. Yes, that amazing woman who spent many years of her life living with chimpanzees and who’s now made it her mission to spread the message that we need to act now and that we need to live in harmony with all beings on this planet in order to be able to save it. In short, this woman is a hero and I still feel so honoured that I could be in her presence. And as my mum is very much into all that stuff as well, it was extremely important for her too. I’m usually the one in the family to easily get teary-eyed (I cried a lot throughout the whole festival, trust me), but even she got tears in her eyes. And in that moment, I was just so so happy for her.

Still, personally, my highlight has to be The 1975 closing the main stage. I’ve seen this band many many times already, from small shows when they were still supporting Two Door Cinema Club back in 2013, to big headline shows like the one at Sziget. But out of all of those, that one on this very island has to be my favourite one to date. Matty was so hyped up, it was out of this world. I mean, he literally jumped into the crowd at full speed, changed his outfit on stage, did a shot and then handed the empty glass over to the cameraman and cursed at the organizers for telling him to hurry up. He didn’t give a single f*** that night and I was all up for it. You can say whatever you want about him, he’ll always be one of the coolest people in the industry. And he knows that, let’s be real.

And that pretty much was day two. Obviously, we stayed for a little while, walked around the area, checked out the Cvrches gig and did whatever we felt like, but it was just a chill night after The 1975 and I loved that. Sziget is a place where I could spend my whole life. A life surrounded by music, happiness, love, sunshine and good food. Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Well, and there you go, guys. Those were the first two days at Sziget – in short, actually, even though it might not seem like it. Sziget is just so damn fantastic, I could literally talk about it for days. I would never shut up. But those were the most important parts. And I’m super happy that I get to share them with you. I hope you enjoyed reading about those two days and that you’re already excited for the upcoming two. You can be, honestly, because Marty’s show is about to be next and it was such a hell of a ride. I may or may not have had the chance to talk to Gabe (if you know, you know), but I won’t give away too much. I’ll just say this – get ready. And until then I wish you a lovely week, and, as always, thanks for reading. x

The Divide Tour – Part Two

Hola everyone.

Welcome back to my blog and to another Friday. I hope so far you’ve all had a great week and that you’re doing well. Before I get into today’s post, I want to apologize for not posting anything this Monday, like I had promised in my previous post. I went to a The 1975 gig in Vienna with my mum on that day, which was actually a little festival, so I didn’t get the time to write and post anything. I’m honestly so sorry. But better late than never, right? And yes, I’ll of course tell you everything about the gig later on. It was wayyyyy too good not to. But that’s for another day and another post.

For today, I’d like to tell you all about the second Ed Sheeran concert me and my friend attended in Klagenfurt. As mentioned in my last post about the first show (click here), our plan was to camp outside for the first night to get to the front – which we pretty much nailed – and then to sit in front of the stadium throughout the whole second show and basically just listen to him from the outside. I mean, yes, we could’ve bought tickets for the second night as well, in theory. But first of all, it would’ve all gotten a bit expensive, and, secondly, I’ve always wanted to listen to a concert from outside a stadium. And it was so damn nice, I’m honestly so glad we really did that. I know, it might sound quite bland or boring, even I thought besides the show it would be quite uneventful, but oh wow, I was so wrong. Get ready and buckle up for a hell of a ride.

Okay, so, we got to the stadium at half-past 8 at night, 30 minutes before Ed was supposed to come on stage. We quickly looked for the perfect spot to listen to the show and basically set up our whole camp once again. And yes, we had packed everything like we had for the first day – our blanket, the pizza (= our air mattress), food, drinks, basically everything we could take with us. And even just setting everything up in front of the venue was so much fun. I mean, imagine two girls inflating a huge pizza in front of a huge stadium, right at the entrance, surrounded by securities and other onlookers. The whole situation must have looked so hilarious to others, but we were just standing there, laughing and crying at the same time, while holding up a pizza slice made of plastic, and not caring about anyone or anything. Which was also kind of our mantra for the whole night. We had the biggest fun, no matter how many strange looks we got from other people. And it wasn’t like we were alone there. The whole space outside the stadium had turned into a huge sightseeing hotspot as soon as Ed had started playing. At one point, there was literally a group of cyclers who stopped by to listen to the show for a bit. And they weren’t the only ones. Parents came with their kids. A few couples settled down on blankets next to us. Other fans came to listen to Ed too, just like us. Usually, when I attend concerts, I never think that there could actually be people outside, listening as well. But there are. Far more than I would’ve ever imagined.

Overall, the whole night was one of the funniest and craziest adventures I’ve ever had. As always, Ed was absolutely freaking brilliant, even though we couldn’t see him. But we could hear him, very well actually, and it was just so nice to hear his voice so clearly. In the past, I’ve always asked myself how his show would sound like from the outside. Now I know. It sounds like heaven. And hearing the whole crowd sing and scream with and for him was so magical. The power he has, this normal, but crazily talented guy from a teeny-tiny village in the UK, is absolutely mind-blowing.

And although we were sitting outside and Ed was in there, we still partied like he was standing right in front of us. We sang, we clapped and we danced like there was no tomorrow. Again, we must have looked like the craziest weirdos ever. But also the happiest ones. I’m pretty sure you know you’re having the time of your life when you either can’t stop laughing or grinning. And that’s exactly what we did in those two hours.

But that wasn’t the only thing. Because, at the end, we did something neither of us had planned. Something that might even be kind of illegal (???). A teeny-tiny bit, maybe. You can probably guess what I mean. Yes, exactly. We sneaked in, right before the end. And it was literally the best thing ever. Just to mention, I hope I don’t get into trouble for saying this now, but as far as I can say, it was the best idea we had and I don’t regret it one bit.

When we got to the venue, I quickly made the plan to ask the security to let us in for the encore. Which I quickly discarded again as soon as I saw another person try exactly that. Needless to say, it didn’t really work out. They didn’t let him in. So I needed another plan. The plan to wait for our chance and to sneak in. And the chance came. I won’t explain how exactly it all worked out, but let me just say that people walking out of a concert BEFORE it’s even over (which irritates me every single time I see it happening) can be quite distracting for securities. So distracting that they don’t give notice to two girls slowly walking and then running past them at full speed in the opposite direction than everyone else.

So, we ran into the stadium and I swear, the moment we got to the crowd and we could see Ed on stage, it felt like we had just stepped into heaven. Naturally, we both started to scream like some super crazy weirdos, but that’s just what I call having a completely reasonable and natural reaction to seeing Ed freaking Sheeran. So we screamed and clapped and sang to the last 30 seconds of You Need Me, I Don’t Need You and then it was all over again. Ed left the stage, we both looked at each other and then we just started to laugh. We really had managed to see him one last time. And right then and there, we definitely were the two happiest people in the room.

Until today, I can’t really believe that all of this happened. That we really waited for such a long time outside and got through it, still being healthy and happy. That we saw Ed this close. That we even saw Ed. And that we managed to see him a second time, even just for a tiny bit and even though we weren’t really supposed to. Overall, those days in Klagenfurt have definitely become one of the biggest adventures I’ve ever had and I’ll honestly never forget any of it. And I’ll definitely tell my kids about this some time.

But for now, I hope that you enjoyed reading about this crazy, little adventure. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your comments and thoughts down below. And, of course, I wish you all a fantastic weekend and thanks for reading. x

The Divide Tour – Part One

Hola everyone.

How are we all doing on this beautiful Friday? I hope so far you’ve had a good week. I just started working this Monday and am kind of having a bit of a rough time getting into it. But that’s what happens when you’re used to waking up at lunchtime, with your cat cuddled up next to you. Now I have to get up at 7 and needless to say that Peaches for sure isn’t there. But oh well. I’m just proud of myself for actually working for two months, so I can go and continue celebrating live music. Which is something I did last weekend and want to tell you all about today. Get excited. Honestly.

In short – last weekend was definitely one of the best ones of my entire life. Because I didn’t just get to spend it with a really good friend who I’m rarely able to meet up with due to me living in the UK, but because the other person I got to spend it with was Ed. My Ed. The incredibly talented guy with the red hair and the angelic voice. That Ed. And holy moly, I don’t even know where to begin. I mean, if you’ve been following my blog for a while now, you’ve probably already read that my friend and I were planning on driving to Klagenfurt together to see Ed again, before his Divide tour will come to a close. And you’ll probably also know that we had made it our mission to camp outside the whole day and then get front row (or at least very close to that). That was the plan. But oh wow, so much more happened.

So we drove to Klagenfurt on Thursday and thankfully got to stay at my cousin’s house, which was really close to the stadium, for the whole weekend. On the next day, Friday, we drove to the stadium at about 11 am, fully prepared for anything and everything. I had bought a big picnic blanket and a huge air mattress in the shape of a pizza slice (we now refer to it as the pizza, just that), we had packed heaps of food and water, overall, we were ready for what was to come. I think I need to mention that neither of us had ever done something like that before – camped outside a concert venue, waited for hours and hours, literally packed so much stuff that it looked like we were planning on moving into the place. So, it was a first for us. But after everything that happened that night and also the next one, I can proudly say that we totally nailed it. And that we regret absolutely nothing.

After we had gotten to the venue, we saw that the queue was far shorter than we had expected. From what I had seen last year, I thought there would be about a hundred or more people there already. I mean, yes, there were girls there who had actually spent the night outside the stadium, but besides that, it was pretty calm and chill. But it was hot. If I were to say that the sun was literally trying to burn us alive, I wouldn’t be exaggerating. It was so damn hot. Which is why we and a whole lot of other girls quickly decided that it would be best to sit down in the shadow of the stadium, which was about three meters away from the barriers for the queue, and just leave some stuff in the actual queue as a replacement for ourself. It was the smartest thing we could do. We sat down on the pizza, played Barbie Uno (yes, Barbie Uno), chatted with other girls and watched cringy reporters do cringy interviews. All was well. But unfortunately, that didn’t last for long.

Because crowds of humans still and always will function like big crowds of cows or sheep. I don’t mean that in a bad way, but deep down we are all just panicky herd animals and if one moment made it clear, then it was the one when two girls decided to basically ignore the respectful queue system we had previously created and just walked up to the front of the queue and took the first spot without deserving it. I mean, it’s always a first-come, first-serve principle. You arrive early, you’re at the front, you’re late, you stay at the back. That’s literally the number one rule when it comes to queueing. But I guess it just wasn’t for those two girls. So, obviously, after that happened, all of us jumped to our feet like the crazy fangirls we were and are and literally sprinted to the queue. Within a minute, my friend and I were squished together in this crowd of panting, sweating girls. It was half-past one. The doors were supposed to open at four.

You can probably guess that the hours until they finally let us into the stadium weren’t the best. At about two pm, the securities checked our bags and then kept us in a smaller area, still in the glaring sun. They had taken all our food and drinks (I still smuggled our food in, obviously) and while laying there on the hot asphalt, my head stuck between the barrier to at least have it in the shadows, and being handed water from a literal bucket, I felt like a cow waiting to be killed. Honestly. Like I said, herd animals. Needless to say, part of the securities made it their mission to embody literal jerks and laugh at girls who were close to fainting while smoking in the shadows, one meter away from us. That’s how close the place of heaven – also known as the shadow – was. One meter. And they still didn’t let us through, for over two hours. Three girls fainted. It was pure chaos.

Thankfully, they let us into the stadium shortly after that and we could find the spot we would then later stay at for the whole rest of the day. And again, I was so glad that we had prepared so much. We literally got to our spot, I took out the pizza, put it onto the burning hot metal ground, we both sat down and then we continued our game of Uno while snacking a bit and getting weird looks from the people surrounding us. And though so far it had really been super exhausting, we were still in such a good mood. And I’m glad it stayed like this for the rest of the night.

So, we got our spot at about half-past 4, the first support act, Zara Larsson, came on at about 7, shortly followed by James Bay at about 8. Personally, I liked both of them, although I have to add that Zara’s music is the complete opposite of what I usually listen to. Her music is what the radio stations in my home country love to play again and again and again every single day. It’s TOP 40’s music. Something I usually try to avoid (Ed is an exception). But still, I liked her show and especially her background dancers. Just, at least for me, James was so much better. I don’t listen to his music either, but I enjoyed his set so much more, simply because you could actually see how happy he was to be playing for us. He thanked us over and over again. It was really cute.

You might ask now how we managed to not crumble after such an exhausting day and, honestly, I think it was partly because of our preparation and my smuggle of food and also simply because of the prospect of getting to see Ed this close. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a front-row spot, but we were in the 6th row at least, and it was just so damn close anyway. I remember sitting there on the pizza, glancing up to the sky and the stage actually taking up half of the space because we were so close. We were actually sitting underneath it. How crazy is that?

Obviously, the moment Ed came up on the big screen (they always film him walking up to the stage), all the exhaustion, the slight irritation, the weariness, it was all gone. I cried as soon as he got up on stage and I actually saw how close we really were. I can still see myself turning around to my friend and us holding hands and screaming at each other because he was literally just a few meters away. After a whole year of waiting, it was finally happening. And we were both just so shocked to really be there. To have him really be there. I think I needed about half an hour until I finally realized that he was really there. Every time I looked back at my friend and then back at him, I felt this slight shock. He was really, actually there. My Ed.

I think I don’t have to say that the concert was freaking amazing. I mean, it’s an Ed Sheeran concert, of course it’s going to blow your mind. But it was also so damn special. Not just because we were so close that I could actually see his wedding ring and watch his feet work the loop pedal and so on. No. It was so special because of Ed and his absolutely fantastic mood. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone smile this much over the course of two hours (besides maybe me in those very same two hours). And he also just kept on laughing and talking. I mean, he literally asked us how we were and then said, with the biggest grin on his face: “Everyone’s in a good mood. And it’s Friday. Yey.”. I mean, how freaking cute is he? He’s such a bear. I wish I could’ve run up to him and given him the biggest hug.

Apart from that, a few other highlights were that during Thinking Out Loud, the strap of his electric guitar (which is a new one, as I noticed, and looks fire) loosened and it nearly slipped out of his hand, which made him make the funniest face ever and then try his best not to burst out laughing. And that he changed up the setlist a bit and played a mashup of Kiss Me (which I’ve never heard live, but always wanted to) and Give Me Love and also, believe it or not, played a bit of Wayfaring Stranger at the beginning of I See Fire. Honestly, I was in shock. Because that was the very same song he covered at his 2014 show in Vienna, during which he took down the mic and continued singing without it. I hadn’t heard him play it ever since that show. It was such a throwback moment and I’m still so thankful that he decided to play it. Also, he played I Don’t Care, which I don’t like as the studio version, but literally adore live, and he premiered Beautiful People, which was super nice as well.

Overall, the show was definitely one of his best ones I’ve ever attended and it just made me fall in love with him so much all over again. Not that I ever stopped loving him. It just reminded me of the reasons why. He really is such a magnificent human being. One that I would love to cuddle at least once in my life, just to tell him how happy he and his music have made me. I wish I could thank him for everything.

My friend and I went home that night probably as two of the happiest people on earth. We were still humming Ed’s songs, despite being half-deaf and me having lost my voice (as always; Ed is just so demanding). To our luck, there was no need for post-concert-depression to take over, as we knew that we would be at least hearing him again the next day. Which, just like the first day, became an even bigger adventure than what we had thought. But I’ll keep that back for now until my next post for the second part. At the end of the day, I just have to grin whenever I think of the concert. And feel immediate gratitude towards Ed and his team and my friend and also my cousin and her husband for making all of this possible. It was such a dream come true.

And this, guys, is how I spent last Friday with Ed. But, like I just said, there’s still more to come, so please stay tuned and check by again next Monday. And until then I hope you enjoyed this post and wish you a lovely weekend (I’m going to see Spiderman: Far From Home tomorrow, so saying that I’m at the edge of my seat would be an understatement). And, as always, thanks for reading. x

Tim’s last farewell

Hola everyone.

How are we all doing on this beautiful Friday? I hope you are all well. Sorry for not posting anything on Monday. As I had mentioned in my last post, I just moved back home from Brighton and got here on Sunday night, which means the past few days have been filled with unpacking all my stuff, washing clothes and getting used to the literal hell that is the outside until at least 7 pm. Okay, no, I don’t want to be one of those cringy people who complain about the weather all the time. I actually really love that it’s 8 pm right now and that I’m typing this while sitting outside, still wearing shorts. It’s this warm. Lovely.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Yes, I know, the weather is a highly fascinating topic, but no. Today, I thought, I’d finally write my already announced post about Tim’s/Avicii’s new, posthumous album “TIM” that just got released. Some of you might remember that last time, I briefly mentioned the release and that I had gotten the chance to go to the album release event in London. Which is exactly what I want to fully explain today. And, of course, I want to dig deeper into the whole album and tell you my thoughts. So, buckle up for a hell of an emotional EDM ride.

As most of you will probably know, I’ve always been a big fan of Tim. He was the one who got me into EDM and I, for sure, wouldn’t be the person I am today without him. Which is also why his sudden death last year hit me this hard. It was the first death of a celebrity that really broke my heart. Even more so after watching his documentary “Avicii: True Stories” and seeing how the industry and his idiot of a manager broke him into pieces. In 2016, Tim announced his official retirement. This, on the one hand, made me sad, because I knew that I would miss seeing him live. But on the other hand, I also liked how he had decided to choose himself and his health. Not the business. Not the money. He just wanted to get better. And I really thought he had. But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. And now after listening to his new album, I can’t help but ask myself if we maybe ignored Tim’s own SOS.

Here the music, which suggests a pure love for life, there the musician, who himself was anything but happy with his own. But that isn’t the only reason why the release of “TIM” is inevitably bittersweet. On the one side, us fans all over the world now get the chance to celebrate twelve new hits, but on the other side, the fact that the artist behind these songs cannot celebrate them with us fills the music with a deep melancholy and breaks my heart a little. A certain, profound mix of emotions I also felt while attending the album event in London one week before the official release. In different cities all around the globe, Tim’s team had put up cubes that fans could walk into and experience his new songs for the very first time. But besides getting the chance to listen to a few seconds of the album, the whole event meant so much more. Because in order to get to listen to the snippets, you had to put your hand on the touchscreen placed inside the cube. The screen then connected itself to another cube in another city where somebody else’s hand had also been placed on it. As soon as the connection had been made, you could actually see the other hand next to yours on the screen and after that, the song started to play.

I know, you could now say that it was all fake and that they just showed some silhouette of a hand, but it wasn’t. I got connected to someone in Stockholm, presumably a girl, as the hand featured a ring. And I know it might sound strange, but in that very moment, I felt such a deep connection to that person. Two human beings, two strangers, doing the very same thing and getting to hear the very same song at the very same second. It was just so special. And it definitely accomplished its goal, as I did not only get to connect to someone who wasn’t even in the room but also to the other fans who visited the cube. I might not have known Tim personally, but I can definitely say that he would have loved this.

Personally, I would say that the album itself couldn’t be more special and emotional and straight up important. Tim himself was always fond of being one of those songwriters who like to mix heaviness with ease. A concept that runs like a thread through all his musical works – as well as his latest pieces. Because, once you look and listen beyond the fantastic beats and euphoric rhythms of the new songs, you suddenly get to hear lyrics like “Can you hear me? SOS. Help me put my mind to rest.” and “And I think I just died. I think I just died.”. And that is why the release is so bittersweet. The lyrics depict the state Tim was in while writing and producing the new tracks before his death in April last year. They tell the story of someone who was lost but still holding onto the last fragments of strength and hope. But it still wasn’t enough. No wonder I had to fight back tears while listening to the album on the tube in London. Crazy how songs can say so little but mean so much.

In addition to these unfinished songs, Tim also left countless demo clips, notes, texts and emails behind in which he described exactly how his new album should sound. Enough material that his songwriting colleagues Kristoffer Fogelmark, Albin Nedler, Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir (Vargas & Lagola) decided to complete the tracks without him, but as close as possible to his visions. The result can be seen as the late testimony of a troubled but inspired musician. Or simply as a palette of excellent electronic beats that never fail to put a smile on the face of any music lover. I, for my part, have deeply fallen in love with the following three tracks, for various reasons. They all feature amazing beats, fantastic lyrics and make me want to listen to them again and again. But most importantly, I adore the stories they tell.

Although it may just be a small ray of hope in the midst of a tragedy, Tim’s family has recently launched the “Tim Bergling Foundation” to raise awareness for mental illness and suicide prevention in the music industry, which I think is an amazing cause and a fantastic idea. The net proceeds of Tim’s new album also go to the foundation, which I think he would’ve loved as well.

Unfortunately, “TIM” doesn’t give us any answers as to what might have happened to him during the last years of his life. But there is something else in the album – a musical heritage that will shape not only the soundtrack of today’s but also that of future generations. Tim may not be with us anymore, but his music will live on forever. And I know that the world will always remember him as one of the greatest artists. I definitely will.

But what do you think about the album? Do you agree with my thoughts? Please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below, guys. And, as always, I hope you enjoyed this post and wish you all a lovely weekend. And, of course, thanks for reading. x