Tag: music review

Sziget Festival – Part Three

Hola everyone.

How are you all doing today, guys? I hope you’ve all had an amazing weekend and that you’re feeling well. Am I the only one who feels like time is literally flying by in full speed? I mean, September is just around the corner and, I swear, I’ll be moving to London in no time. How is summer already over? I can’t believe it.

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No wonder I’m so drawn towards the idea of sharing every single amazing detail of Sziget festival with you. I just can’t let it go. So far, I hope you’ve had fun reading about the first three days. About Ed’s gig on the first day, how Marty’s show blew me away, how I met Gabe Fraboni (let’s go Team Garrix) and how my mum and I went to bed at quarter to 6 am and didn’t crumble into pieces the next day. Actually, the not crumbling part and the two fantastic days that followed will be today’s topic, so I hope you’re excited to hear all about that. I, for my part, am extremely happy that I get to share all of this with you. So, without further ado, here come day 4 and 5 of my week at the legendary Sziget festival.

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Day 4

You can probably imagine how day 4, the day after Marty’s show and the day after I had gone to bed when the sun was already rising again, began… I woke up, felt like someone had whacked me on the head and immediately wanted to curl up into a ball under the covers again. I think we had slept for about four hours, which, for someone who usually sleeps about ten hours if she can, wasn’t nearly enough. Far away from it, actually. But obviously, I had to drag my body out of bed, because there was another phenomenal day at Sziget waiting ahead for me and no matter how tired I was, I wouldn’t let any hour I could spend in paradise go to waste. On another note, I also woke up with little to no hearing and my voice was pretty much gone, so yeah. I was in a STATE. But still happy. As always.

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Thankfully, I already knew that day 4 wouldn’t be as extreme as the previous one, as it wasn’t filled with lots of concerts and I could give my ears and body a bit of rest. And here once again comes the reason why I love Sziget so much – even if the lineup isn’t for you, you’ll still have so many other things to do, you’ll never get bored. Never ever. Even the opposite, because if I remember correctly, we couldn’t even do all the things we wanted to and we were there for a whole week. That’s how much this island has to offer.

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It all started off with mum and I making our own bracelets (I made a yellow one… I wonder why…) and then we went on the hunt for all the stamp spots on the island for our Szitizen passport. I know, what the hell am I even talking about? If you’ve never been to Sziget, that last sentence was probably very confusing to you, so please let me explain. At Sziget, once you arrive on the island, you get a Sziget passport to become a Szitizen. And as with usual passports, you can visit different areas where you can get stamps from, so you know you were there. You can also go have a picture taken and printed out and then you can go to the official immigration office and then you will become an official Szitizen. Which, obviously, my mum and I had to do. That means we are now official Szitizens. And I know it might sound a bit freaky, but it actually feels really nice. I’m happy to say that this island, this paradise, this place of music, love and happiness is my second home now. I feel honoured.

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Besides that, we pretty much just wandered around the island, from one show to another, and enjoyed the moment to its fullest. Music-wise, the highlight of the day was definitely Macklemore, who I had never seen before but who actually really surprised me by how good the show was. I usually don’t really listen to his music, but I really enjoyed his gig. I loved how energetic he was and how he managed to get 75.000 people to party with him and his band (who was amazing as well and super hilarious). Also, from what I could tell, he seemed like the nicest guy ever and it looked like he was really enjoying himself, which made the gig a thousand times better. And just a side note – Foo Fighters were playing on the last day and you would think that they would have a big crowd, but I swear to god, Macklemore had a far bigger crowd than them. The field was packed. Not as much as for Ed, but close. Like I said, I was blown away.

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In full, those are all the acts we got to see that day:

  • Tamino
  • Hearts Hearts
  • Roosevelt
  • Macklemore
  • Wanda
  • The National
  • James Blake

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Another highlight, besides the gigs, was a venue called Fulldome, which again looked like a huge plastic, walk-in balloon, just like the Luminarium. But here comes the fun part: on the inside, it was like a cinema. So, you get inside this huge plastic bubble and then lie down on cushions so you look up, where the round top turns into a screen. It’s supposed to be some kind of virtual reality thing, but while I was lying there and watching some kind of magical sea creatures swim across the screen, I couldn’t help myself but think how amazing it would be to watch actual movies like that. Like, imagine watching Infinity War like this, where it actually feels like you’re part of the scene and the movie. It would be absolutely fantastic. Maybe I’ll change my career and just do that. The bubble cinema.

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Obviously, we didn’t leave the island before 1 am that night, even as tired as we were. Sziget is way too amazing, leaving just isn’t an option. And just like the previous days, we had again spent a few fantastic hours in paradise and while I was finally falling into bed, I couldn’t wait for what was still to come.

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Day 5

Here comes the most relaxed day out of the whole week. In fact, it could actually be described as a very long arts and crafts session with a few concerts squished in between. I remember the day the full lineup got released and I saw what Sunday looked like, I was a bit disappointed because there wasn’t much for me to look forward to. But now that the day had come, I was actually thankful for a bit of quiet and relaxation. No stress. No worries about how we would get to the front row. No waiting for anything. When I woke up, I already knew that it would be a good day.

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Like I already mentioned, we spent most of the day walking around the island and taking part in different activities and doing anything fun we could find. We did some kind of pop-art, stick-different-magazine-cutouts-on-a-piece-of-wood-and-call-it-art thing, which was fun. I even made a Sziget magnet, which I’m actually pretty proud of. And after that, we went to an “all love is equal”-party at the main stage, which was super cool and then spent the rest of the night checking out different gigs and visiting the funfair again, which was another highlight. We even went on the small, new ferris wheel. It was super cute. Oh yeah, and we also went to the circus and watched a group of acrobats act as if their bodies were made to fly. Absolutely incredible.

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All in all, the whole day was a nice mix of great shows and fun activities and I’m honestly really glad that it wasn’t fully packed, as I knew that the upcoming two days would be quite intense. In total, here are all the acts we saw that day:

  • Jungle
  • Post Malone
  • Honne

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You might ask now, what I am doing at a Post Malone gig? Well, wait for him to play Sunflower, obviously. No, but in all honesty, he was actually really good. I’m not really a big fan of rap music, as you might know, but he actually has a good voice. Once he sat down with his guitar and it was just him and his voice and the instrument, it was really really nice. I think even my mum enjoyed herself. Just another reason why I love going to festivals so much. Of course you get to see your favourite acts and maybe bands you’ve already seen a few times, but besides that, you’re guaranteed to see bands and artists you’ve never heard of. Some will be good, some will be bad, maybe one will even become your new favourite band. But they will all be new. And that’s exactly why festivals are so much fun and so exciting.

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In total, the day was absolutely beautiful all around. Again, I can only point out how absolutely freaking amazing Sziget is and how much love I’ve got for it. It really has its own special place in my heart and I can’t wait to go back as soon as possible. It’s something else, it really is. And while mum and I were walking home that night, night 5, I couldn’t wait for the next two upcoming days to come. I felt like I was living my ultimate dream and I never ever wanted it to stop.

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And on that note, here’s the end of today’s post. If you’ve made it this far, thanks so much for reading all about my time at Sziget, I hope you enjoyed it. Of course, I would love to hear all your opinions and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to leave them down below in the comment section. And, as always, I wish you all a lovely week and, again, thanks for reading. x

Sziget Festival – Part Two

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to my blog and another Friday. I hope you’ve all had an amazing week and that you’re doing good. And, regarding what we will be talking about today, I hope you’re in the mood for another trip to paradise – aka Sziget festival – and that you already enjoyed my recent post about the first two days of the festival (click here if you want to check that out). I am so excited to tell you all about day three and seeing Marty again and what happened after that and how my mum and I got home at half-past 5 in the morning. In short, I’m crazy happy to tell you about anything and everything and I can’t wait for you to read it and to relive all these moments with me. Are you ready? Yes? Then let’s jump right in, shall we?

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Day 3

As I mentioned in my previous post, Sziget couldn’t have been more perfect than it was. It was an absolute dream come true and I’d do lots of crazy, crazy things to be able to go back and do it all over again. And Day 3 especially. The moment I woke up that day, I knew that exciting things were ahead. Because it was the day I’d finally be seeing Marty again, after a year. Some of you might know that ever since seeing him live for the very first time in 2015, also at Sziget, I’ve been to one of his shows every single year. It’s become a full-on tradition now. It’s become my thing to see him every year. And I couldn’t wait for the fifth time, especially because of the fact that it was at Sziget. Our five-year-anniversary and at Sziget, just like the first time. It was bound to be perfect. And on top of that, it was also STMPD-Day, so after Marty’s show, his label would be taking over a stage for the rest of the night and I was so ready for that.

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So, as soon as my mum and I got on the island, we once again went for a little walk around the island and went to the beach (yes, the festival even has its own beach). There weren’t many acts on for us to see, so we still had some time left to just wander around, do some people-watching, visit the funfair again and get some food. Again, I need to mention that the whole festival is an absolute paradise and crazy beautiful. I love it with my whole heart.

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At about 4 pm we walked over to the Volt Stage to see Wild Front, who I was super excited for, as I had already seen them at the beginning of the year in Brighton at a teeny-tiny venue. As you can imagine, it was pretty cool to see this small band play at my favourite festival. I don’t know, it just felt like some part of Brighton was visiting me there. And obviously, they were absolutely fantastic. If you haven’t heard of them, you should definitely go and check them out – here’s the link to their youtube channel. And after seeing them, it was already time for us to head to main stage and to get ready for Marty. Just like in 2015, mum and I wanted to save ourselves a spot at the second barrier, so no one would be jumping around in front of us. So we waited, about 3 hours, but unfortunately, at first, we didn’t really get a good spot for us to stay at. There was no way we would be able to see anything if we weren’t right at the front – I don’t know what happened this year, but somehow all the other festivalgoers seemed to have grown way more than us. They were all so freaking tall. But, obviously, it wasn’t the time to give up. So while my mum stayed at our spot and watched 6lack (some kind of rapper/RnB artist), I went over to another stage to check out Gang of Youths and then go on the hunt for a good spot. And guess what, we really managed to get front row, right at the barrier and I think even at the exact same spot we were in 2015. It was quite emotional, to be honest.

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So we waited through Tove Lo, who we had both already seen at a Coldplay gig, and then it was finally time for Marty to come on stage. I was so hyped up, not only because I would be seeing Marty again, but also because I would finally be seeing his ANIMA show. Every year Marty and his team premiere a new show at ADE and then work with it until the next year. And this year, it was the ANIMA tour and as for all the pictures and videos I had seen online, I was more than ready to finally experience it all myself. See it with my own eyes. Feel it with my own body. And mentally bow down to Gabe Fraboni and Lorenzo de Pascalis and the rest of the team for creating something as genius and beautiful as this.

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When I look back at how the whole show went down, I still can’t believe that I really got to experience all of it. For me, it actually started as soon as Tove Lo had left the stage and they started to build Marty’s set-up. Because that’s when his team came out. And when I got to see Gabe. I couldn’t believe my eyes. As some of you might know, I don’t just listen to Marty’s music and go to his shows. I watch his videos, behind the scenes clips, heck, I even watched the movie he was in. Usually, when I’m a really big fan of someone, it’s the most important part for me to familiarize myself with the whole team and not just the band. I basically want to know everything and everyone. And Marty’s team was no exception. So I haven’t just been a fan of Marty since 2015, but his whole team. Of Gabe, Louis, Lorenzo, Damien, everyone. And just the simple fact of actually being able to watch Gabe prepare for the show, set up the lasers and get everything ready cranked up my excitement by a thousand. It was all really happening.

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And it didn’t just end there. Gabe (Marty’s show/creative director) wasn’t the only one who was there. I saw Louis (his photographer) and Watse (his manager) and then his mum came around and Julian (one of his closest friends and also DJ) and some of his other friends and I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I was at that very moment when I saw his whole team come together. All the people I had watched clips of for years were suddenly all there. And because of his mum and his friends, it felt like it wasn’t just another show, it felt like a family event, something very personal and special.

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Obviously, my excitement peaked as soon as Marty came on stage. It felt so good to finally see him again and hear his music. And god damn, the show was absolutely mind-blowing. It was really out of this world. I remember once hearing Gabe say that ANIMA was their best show to this day and, wow, he wasn’t exaggerating. There were fireworks and lasers and breathtaking background clips and the phenomenal music and then the team handed out glowsticks so the whole crowd turned into a huge rainbow and it was all so perfect. And Martijn just looked so good. Holy moly. I felt like I was in a dream, like it all was way too perfect to be real. But it was really happening. I was really there, having the time of my life. And once in a while I turned around and looked at the back tower where the mixing board was and where Gabe was working his magic and just watched him do his work. Watched Marty’s mum dance a bit. And I might just add that one point, Louis was suddenly standing right in front of us, taking pictures of the crowd and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I mean, I literally have his photography book at home and now he was standing right in front of me. I was shook.

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Altogether, I can just say that the show was freaking fantastic. I danced and jumped and laughed and cried more than once and I felt so at home and happy, I never wanted it to end. Marty is just such a phenomenal artist and live act, I could go to his shows every single day and I wouldn’t get bored. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend going to one of his shows. You won’t regret it, I swear. And I loved Marty’s energy. You might know that about two months ago, he had to have an operation on his foot and then wear a plaster until about two weeks ago. I bet it still hurt a bit, but he fought through it like a trooper and just jumped around on one foot. Talk about being absolutely adorable. And he also looked so happy. And I was so happy that he was happy. In short, the field was packed with happiness.

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But that actually wasn’t the highlight of the day. No no. The highlight happened when the show had already ended. You should’ve seen me at the end when Marty played his last song. I cried so freaking much, but not because I was sad, but because I was just so happy and full of gratitude and love. First I had watched his mum film the crowd from the tower during the last part of the show. And then after Marty had left the stage, everyone came up to Gabe and they all hugged and clapped and celebrated and by witnessing all of that, I felt like I was part of that too. Like I was seeing something very special. I cried so much, I think my mum was actually weirded out a bit, but in a good way. I mean, she knows me and she let me hug her very tightly and shed a few tears on her shoulder, so it should be fine. And then she followed me through the crowd, because, obviously, now that the team was packing up all their stuff, I had to try and get a closer look while they were still here. So I dragged her back to the tower and there he still was, Gabe, the first one to show up and the last one to leave. And I just stood there, looking up at the tower, watching him. But, you know me, obviously I had to say something. I don’t even know what got into me, I just knew that I probably would never get the chance again to talk to him. So I went up to the barrier and called his name. And what happened then is basically the cutest thing ever. He had his back facing me and then turned around when he heard me, but at first he didn’t know who had called his name, so I called again and then he looked at me and suddenly the biggest grin spread across his face. I’m sure I must have looked like a total mess who had just cried her eyes out, but I was smiling at him nonetheless. So we grinned at each other and I shouted how amazing the show had been and thanked him for everything and he thanked me back and smiled. And although the whole interaction probably lasted for about 30 seconds, it felt like an eternity for me. But it didn’t end there.

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After having packed up everything, he came down from the tower and proceeded to head to the stage and then backstage, which meant he had to walk past us. You can probably guess what happened then. Of course I had to walk up to him and talk to him. And he was literally the nicest guy ever. I again told him how much I had enjoyed the show and thanked him for his work. And then mum took pictures of us, which turned out to be the cutest pictures in existence. And then he left, but not without taking the time to talk to everyone who was waiting for him. I wonder if it feels weird for him that Marty’s fans know him as well and want to have a chat with him. That he has his own fans too. I just hope that he knows that he’s an absolute genius and that ANIMA is a total masterpiece and that there’s a reason why people adore his work. Meeting and talking to him was the definite highlight of my week at Sziget, because, for me, he’s an absolute role model when it comes to believing in your own work and talent and to working your butt off to create something you can be proud of. And I never thought I’d ever get to meet him, but it truly happened and I’ll be forever grateful for that (after I’ve finally realized that it wasn’t just a dream).

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After that, being all high on happiness and emotions, mum and I headed to the STMPD stage. The plan was to at least stay there until 4 am, so we could also see Julian, aka DJ Julian Jordan, so we knew that we had a long night coming up. But a fun one. I remember when Sziget announced that Marty would be playing again, the next thing I was hoping for was a STMPD stage. And I’m still so grateful that that dream really came true as well.

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

  • Wild Front
  • Grace Carter
  • 6lack
  • Tove Lo
  • Martin Garrix
  • Bart B More
  • Mercer
  • Justin Mylo
  • TV Noise
  • Julian Jordan

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I don’t think I have to mention that the whole night was absolute craziness. At one point, mum and I were even sitting on the ground in this huge tent, leaned against a pillar and having the music blasted into our ears at 3 am. Yes, we were tired, but I can promise you that we couldn’t have been in a better mood. All the acts were absolutely fantastic and I’m so glad I got to see them all. Also, at this point, I have to thank my mum for being basically the best mum ever and a real trooper and for staying with me the whole night. She’s the coolest and I’ll be forever thankful that she endured hours over hours of EDM music, that she’s not even the biggest fan of, just for me and just so that I could see all these acts and be happy. Mum, you’re the best. And I love you.

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I went to bed at a quarter to 6 am that night (morning?). It’s the longest we have ever been at any festival and although I had little to no voice nor hearing the next day (which I will tell you all about in my next post on Monday), it was all totally worth it, because it had been such an epic night that I’ll never ever forget. Even the walk home was magical. The sun was just coming up, the sky turned into beautiful shades of pink and orange and I introduced my mum to the sunrise, as they hadn’t seen each other for a long time. Altogether, it was an absolutely unforgettable day/night and I loved and cherished every single second of it. And I can’t even put into words how much I miss Marty and his team already. I can’t wait to see them all again soon (hopefully).

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And yeah, that’s basically the whole third day of Sziget. I’m sorry this post ended up being quite lengthy, but I just had to share all these phenomenal memories with you, guys, so I hope you still enjoyed reading all about them. Being able to share all of this with you means a lot to me, so thanks if you’ve made it this far. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below and, of course, I wish you all a nice weekend and thanks for reading. x

New Music Friday

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to another Friday. And, also, to another episode of our all-time favourite series – the New Music Friday. Amazing, new and exciting music that you can relax and/or get hyped to. Music that you can fall in love with. Could there be any better way to start off the weekend? I don’t think so.

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As the last New Music post was done at the end of May, you can probably imagine the huge bulk of music I’ve collected over the past two months. I don’t think the list has ever been that long. But I’m honestly so so so happy I get to share all these fantastic songs with you guys. There’s so much waiting for you to discover. Ed just released his new collab-album, or as he calls it, his new project. Amber Run are back in the game. Two Door Cinema Club also moved on to their new phase with their new LP. Tyler still owns my heart with his reconstructed versions of some songs. And Hippo Campus blessed us all by releasing all their demos. I mean, what more could you wish for? The more music, the better. So, let’s jump right in and please enjoy.

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Antisocial – Ed Sheeran ft. Travis Scott

To say that this new album and also this new song blew my mind would be a huge understatement. I mean, we all know Ed and his typical style of music. You get the idea. Good. Now throw all of that away. Because “No.6 Collaborations Project” is anything but what you would expect to hear from Ed. And that’s exactly what makes it this good. Especially the last song, “Blow”, with Bruno Mars and Chris Stapleton is absolutely mind-boggling. I was so shocked when I listened to it for the first time. Actually, I think I’m still a bit shocked. I won’t spoil the surprise, just listen to it yourself.

But that’s not the song I want to share on this list. It’s “Antisocial”, with Travis Scott, featuring the weirdest music video ever. I still have no idea what’s going on or what the idea behind it was. I just know that I absolutely love the song and its vibe. That’s a hype up song right there. Well freaking done, Ed. And Travis.

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Affection – Amber Run

Ever since hearing “I Found” by this absolutely amazing band, I’ve been attached to them and their music. Joe, their lead singer, has such an incredible, distinct voice that I really don’t know how to describe it. They are just one of those bands that you listen to whenever and wherever and their music will always be great and make you feel good. Which is also why I’m so damn happy that they’re back with new music. I honestly can’t wait to see them live. Finally.

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Wallflower – Larkins

This is one of my newest finds, but I’m so happy I stumbled upon it. You know, every single year, when the weather gets nicer and everyone starts to cheer up and the sun tries to burn you alive once in a while, I try to look for a few perfect summer hits. And this right here is one of them. While listening to it, I can already see myself lying in the sun in my garden or on my way to a festival. It’s pure summer.

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So Many People – Two Door Cinema Club

Oh, how I long I’ve waited for this album to come out. And I have to say, although it has some ups and downs, I’m so damn glad the guys are back in the game and doing exactly what they want and love. Some people might say that compared to their last album “Gameshow”, their new “False Alarm” isn’t really much of a change, but I don’t think so. And this song right here proves it. TDCC never fail to grow. Nor to make me love them even more.

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Runaway – Half Alive

Sometimes I’d really love to give YouTube a big thank-you-kiss on the cheek. Because if it wasn’t for this amazing platform, I would’ve never found this band and I would’ve never gotten the chance to listen to this beautiful song and watch this stunning music video. If you aren’t a fan of this band already, you definitely need to check out this song and all their other stuff. They’ve got big things ahead of them, I just know it. And I’ll be right with them to experience it all.

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Superlike – The Academic

Well, well, well, as if we weren’t here just about a year ago. A year has passed since I found this band and fell in love with their music. Since I saw them live and then loved them even more. Now, a year later, nothing has changed. I still love them. I still want to see them live again. And they still manage to release absolute hits you can easily get addicted to. They just know exactly what they’re doing and this song shows that. I’m not going to make the really bad pun and say I superlike it… but I do superlike it.

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What I like – Archie Faulks

Another one of my newest additions to the list and a slow one as well for a change. As far as I can tell, Archie is one of those artists who’s are just getting started and I’m already so excited to see where his path will go.

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Chlorine & My Blood (Reconstruct Versions) – Twenty One Pilots

Honestly, guys, do I need to say anything? I don’t, right? I think I’ve talked enough about this phenomenal performance in one of my latest posts (click me), though I could easily talk about it for hours and hours and hours. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve already watched this video since they put it on YouTube. And I still can’t get enough of it. Though I think I never will. Tyler’s talent just never fails to fully blow me away, especially with these two performances right here. During My Blood, I highly recommend paying extra attention to minute 3:28. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. This band is such a blessing, honestly. Wow.

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Everything Means Everything Meant Everything – Hunny

Guys, it doesn’t get any newer than this song. Hunny just released their new album “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.” (yes, that’s really the title of the album) and I’m honestly so happy that it’s finally out and about. Thank god. I’ve waited so long for this. Though it definitely was worth the wait, because it’s simply fantastic. It’s a Yes. Now, can they please come tour in the UK so I can see them in London? Thanks.

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Kentucky & Chapstick (Demos) – Hippo Campus

Have you ever had the urge or maybe just the pure interest to listen to demo versions of songs of a very cool, very great band? Well, ask no more, because your wish just got granted. Hippo Campus did it. They released all their demos from their latest album “Bambi” and now I basically want every single band and artist to do the exact same thing. Yes to more music. To more like these two songs. So damn good. Also, fun fact, when I first listened to “Kentucky” I immediately started to cry and I honestly can’t tell why. Again proves that music can trigger emotions simply by having a special rhythm. The power.

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Best Part of Me – Ed Sheeran ft. YEBBA

Well, we started off this list with Ed so we might as well end it with him. I’m not gonna say much about this, just that Ed is an angel, especially towards the end, that YEBBA is breathtaking and that this is what heaven must sound like.

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And that’s it, guys. These are the incredible songs I’ve been in love with the past few days and months. All of them are very special, very beautiful and very unique in their own ways. And I’m honestly so happy that I get to share them with you and hope that you love them just as much as I do. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below. And, of course, I wish you all a lovely weekend and thanks for reading. x

The night of songs and roses

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to another week. Happy Monday – and also Happy Easter, actually. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I spent most of it down at the beach here in Brighton as the weather has been so incredibly nice the past few days. I’m not doing to lie, I felt like I was on a holiday, lying there, in the sun, my lunch propped next to me. It’s crazy when you realize that you actually live in such a place. I feel incredibly grateful. Especially when I went for a walk in the evening, walking barefoot, feeling the sea water between my toes and the sun setting in front of me. Talk about feeling like you’re stuck in some movie scene. So, yeah, that was my weekend.

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But let’s talk about today. Today I’d like to share a very very special evening of my life with all of you. One that I honestly never thought would happen and one that I will definitely never ever forget. The evening I met Tom Rosenthal and saw him live for the very first time. Still sounds absolutely crazy when I say it out loud, to be honest.

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It all began last year when Tom suddenly announced the show in London. His very first show ever, like ever ever, to be exact. I couldn’t believe my eyes. But that happens when you listen to a guy who has two young daughters and an info on his official website saying that he’s not planning on going on tour because of them. So out of all the artists and bands I listen to, I wanted to see Tom live the most and was expecting to actually ever get to see him live the least. But there it suddenly was, the date of his first ever show, perfectly scheduled for me as I knew I’d be in Brighton/London around that time. And I mean, I don’t have to make a big story out of it, of course, I bought a ticket the second they were available. And of course, it was sold out within an hour. And of course, Tom had to add another two shows. And guess who’s in the middle of a full-on tour right now? Still can’t believe it, honestly.

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For those of you who don’t know who Tom is, here’s why I love him so much in a nutshell: I adore his music with all my heart, listen to it 24/7, he has basically helped me through my whole Bachelor degree and has been my most listened artists for two consecutive years and counting. So, yes, I love him and his music a lot.

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And on the 15th of March, it was finally time for me to make my way to London to see him. Obviously, I was very very nervous and uber-excited, but not just because of the concert. Before writing this post, I was debating on whether I should tell you this or not, but it’s just such an important moment in my life, I have to share it. I didn’t drive to London just to attend Tom’s show, I also went there to meet him beforehand and do an interview with him. There, I said it. Yes, guys, it really happened. I really had an interview with the one and only Tom Rosenthal and I still can’t wrap my head around it.  And I still feel incredibly honoured and grateful that he agreed to chat with me. I’m obviously not going to make a big story out of it, that’s not who I am. I just want to say that he was incredibly nice and absolutely lovely and I felt so welcome around him, so yeah. Definitely something I will never ever forget. Thanks so much, Tom, for everything. Also, as I did the interview for my uni magazine, I’ll try and post the link of the published article on here as soon as it’s out, so stay tuned for that.

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So, after that incredibly unreal interview had happened, I went to get dinner in London and went straight back to the venue – which was a literal church (St. Pancras Old Church) and also the most beautiful place ever. Obviously, the room was already packed, which just proved my point that the world had only been waiting for Tom to finally come out of his shell and do a few shows. He told me that he actually doesn’t want to get big, but I don’t think there’s anything he can do about that. It will just happen, naturally. Because everybody loves him and his music. That’s just how it is. Which was also something you could actually feel in the room as soon as Tom and his lovely band came on stage and started to play. God, it was just such an incredible gig. Tom even sounds better live than on his studio versions, which didn’t surprise me at all. He’s just that talented. And he was so funny, holy moly. Cracking one joke after another. Even though it was his third ever show, he already had the whole stage presence thing nailed down. And I was standing there, watching him and taking it all in, soaking up the beauty of the moment. I think throughout those two hours, I didn’t stop smiling, even when I was crying and silent tears were rolling down my cheeks. Happy, emotional tears, of course. It was just such a beautiful gig, honestly. A small church, about 70 people, Tom’s incredible band and his angelic voice. Nothing can compare.

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I remember that I went home, completely mesmerized by what had happened in the past few hours. And I still can’t fully believe that it all happened. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling of gratitude and happiness and incredible luck I feel whenever I think about it. And I hope by reading this post, I could translate some of those feelings over to you as well. As I mentioned before, Tom is currently on tour, so I can just highly recommend attending his shows and experiencing this magic live – here’s a link to his website, where you can find his tour dates. And until then I hope you enjoyed this post. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below. And, of course, I wish you all an amazing week. Oh, and just as a short info – I won’t be posting anything until next Friday, as Leni will be visiting me here in Brighton this Thursday until next Monday. We’ll be watching Endgame on Friday and, honestly, if I could put into words how excited and also frightened we both are, I would, but I can’t. So yeah, I’ll see you next Friday, obviously with a whole post about Endgame. What else. And until then, thanks for reading, guys. x

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New Music Friday

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to a new session of our all time favorite series – the beloved New Music Friday. I mean, at least I hope you all love it. I do (hehe). And guys, you seriously have no idea what’s coming at you right now. Buckle up and getting ready, because this is gonna be a hell of a ride.

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I know it’s been quite some time since the last edition of New Music Friday, which also means that tons of new music have just been waiting for me to work and listen my through them. And oh wow, to say it was quite an experience would be such an understatement. It always makes me so so so grateful for you guys and this blog, because I actually get to share my passion and love for music with the world. I’m already spending my life doing what I love the most and I’m so thankful for that. And if I get to listen to such amazing music on top of that, then that’s just the little red cherry on top. But I know you want me to stop babbling now and just get to it, so, without further ado, let’s jump right into it, shall we?

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Someone You Loved – Lewis Capaldi

If you’ve read my recent postings, you’ll know that I’ve just had the honor of seeing this Scottish lad perform live, which was such a beautiful experience. And now, just a few days after the concert, Lewis has once again decided to bless all of our ears by releasing another EP and with it releasing this gem right here. Again, it’s one of those songs that just make your heart break and your breathing stop for a second, but in the best possible way. It’s raw and honest and sad and melodic and so so soft. Honestly, I just adore Lewis’ music so much, I can’t help myself. I mean, listen to it. How breathtaking is this?

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You Know Me Too Well – Nothing But Thieves

You guys know that I’ve been in love with these guys for quite some time now, so it probably won’t be a surprise to you to hear that I freaked out a bit when I saw that they had released a new EP. And if that wasn’t enough, the EP featured this piece of musical heaven that I can’t get enough of. For me, especially this one track is a completely new sound for them and I’m so up for it. It’s refined and soulful and the rhythm just completely draws you into it within the very first second. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate Conor’s voice? God, it’s so amazing. Well one, guys, well freaking done.

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Love – Imagine Dragons

Like I said at the beginning, there’s has been quite a huge mass of new music waiting for me and this one right here is no different. And it couldn’t get any newer than this one, as this amazing band just released their new album “Origins” today. And holy moly, what a masterpiece that is. Honestly. I mean, I’m usually the indie rock/pop kinda girl and if this album doesn’t do one thing, then it’s indie rock. But I still adore every piece of it. What is happening to me? Since when do I like this kind of music? It’s nearly unfair to be this good at making music. The lyrics are fantastic and truthful, every single track hides a bit of a secret and surprise and last but not least the amazing beats. Those are what make this album get a kind of EDM vibe to it. It’s so heavenly produced and even if you don’t like this type of music, you just have to appreciate the flawless production. And “Love” is just as awesome. I love it. Also, please listen to the lyrics. That’s what I’m talking about. (ps: please use headphones while listening to this, seriously)

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Worst Nites – Foster The People

My boys are baaaack. Finally. See, that’s what I would call a groovy, flowy and funky piece of music. It’s one of those songs that just make you smile and your body move. And as with every Foster The People track it’s just another musical surprise. So, guys, when can I finally see you live? Please go on tour, yes? Thank you.

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Bleed Magic – I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME

This is one of those songs I once again have to thank Spotify for for recommending it to me. And no, I’m not screaming, that’s truly this band`s name. I don’t even want to imagine how many of my now favorite artists I wouldn’t know if it wasn’t for this platform and its amazing, personalized mixes. And once you listen to the song, you know exactly why they chose to put it on my playlist. That’s indie rock/pop at its best. It’s rhythmic and weird and just pure fun. A typical Laura song, I would say. Also, it reminds me of how a song would sound if you put The Killers and Weezer into one box and quickly shook it to get it all mixed up. A Weezer and The Killers baby. And what a beautiful one.

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Sula – Hippo Campus

So, here we are again. Back with one of my favorite boys. But let me tell you one thing – this track right here is everything but new. Actually, this is one of those songs that didn’t make it onto their albums, so they just decided to release them on their own now. And honestly, I think that’s actually the most fantastic idea ever. Imagine how many songs and hidden gems never made it onto the EPs or albums of your favorite artists and are now just waiting to be released. I’m looking at you, Ed. Yes, you. Go on. But jokes aside, “Sula” honestly is an amazing piece of art and I’m so happy that they decided to put it out into the world. Thanks guys.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0ruS7RQkjQ

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Echo – Saint Raymond

And last but not least we have Callum, better known as Saint Raymond, once again blessing us with his angelic voice. I don’t know about you, but I just adore his music so freaking much. I’ve been in love with it from the very first time I saw him live, which was also the first time I saw Ed live. Two incredible singer-songwriters packed into one evening, what a dream come true. But honestly, I’m still so thankful that Callum was part of this show. And I’m so happy that he’s back with some brilliant new music.

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So yeah, there you go guys. That’s another New Music Friday right there. I hope you enjoy these tracks as much as I do. Honestly, I really recommend checking out some new music playlists on Spotify or Apple Music or Amazing Music or whatever. You can never know what’s waiting to be checked out by you. Maybe your new favorite song is just a click away. And maybe you even find your new fave in this list. I’d be super happy if that was the case. And even it isn’t, I still hope you enjoy this little playlist.

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As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts and comments down below. I hope you’re all doing good and wish you a great weekend. And, of course, thanks for reading. x

Ps: Guys, guess who managed to get tickets for the one and only Tom Rosenthal today?! And no, I’m not kidding. Tom is seriously doing some shows live in London next year and I’m being part of it. I can’t believe it. I would’ve never thought that that would really happen. I feel like the luckiest person on the planet, honestly.