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New Music Friday

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to another edition of New Music Friday. A late night version this time, because, well, where I’m right now it’s pretty late already. But let’s be honest, there’s always time for some good new music, especially on a blog like this one, right? So, without further ado, let’s get right to it – here are some new songs I’ve been digging the past days or weeks or even just hours (yep, that’s how new some of them are).

Bambi by Hippo Campus

Some of you may already know this band from my previous posts, but if you don’t, welcome to this completely new experience, you’re going to love it, trust me. Because Hippo Campus just popped up with this new single and holy moly, what a good one that is. I fell for it the second I heard it. And then even more when I saw that they had also released their upcoming tour dates – guess who’s coming to Brighton when I’m there too… I can’t believe it, I would have never guessed that I would ever see this band live. But here I am, already counting the days to it. I seriously can’t wait to hear this song live.

To You Alone (acoustic version) by Tom Rosenthal

Well, what can I say? There’s no music list without Tom being a part of it, it’s simply impossible. And as if his music wasn’t beautiful enough already, Tom has now decided to bring out a sleepy album (I think I already mentioned it in a past posting), which means he’s producing even more relaxed and quiet versions of his songs, so that people can fall asleep while listening to them. And it works, at least it did for me, because when this song came out at midnight, I crawled into bed and listened to it in an endless loop and then, well, it knocked me out, pretty much. So yes, it’s a beautiful song and I love it. Oh, and it also perfectly fits for rainy weather. Well done Tom, as always.

My Blood by Twenty One Pilots

Attention everyone, we’ve got an extra special piece of music here. If you guys know Twenty One Pilots, you also probably know that they don’t really fit into genres. Josh and Tyler don’t just produce one certain kind of music, they basically experiment, all the time. So it was no surprise that their new song, this one right here, basically knocked me off my feet. It’s such a unique and also new sound for them and has such cool indie pop vibes to it. I love it so so so much. And I love the boys for surprising us all over and over again.

Bee-Sting by The Wombats

This song literally came out of nowhere, I swear guys. I wasn’t even ready and suddenly there it was, right in my recommendations on Spotify. And holy moly, what a great song this is. I mean, you all know how much I like The Wombats and I’d say that this little number here perfectly fits into their album, but it’s also just so good on its own. The drums and the guitars and of course the vocals – it just fits. And I’ve always loved a great indie bop, so thanks guys.

Y2k by The Montreals

To be honest, I just stumbled over this song thanks to Spotify and immediately liked it so much that I had to share it with you. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you about The Montreals, but they are one of those bands of mine that always come on when I just put my playlist on shuffle, which doesn’t make them any less amazing, of course. They produce this really cool indie pop music that is packed with happy, excited vibes and I completely dig that. But just like TOP, they wanted to surprise us all and released this fantastic song that sounds so new and modern and old and retro at the same time. It’s just so cool.

So yeah guys, I think that’s it. Those are all the new bops out there that I’ve been loving the most lately. I really do hope that you enjoy them too, so please don’t hesitate to leave your comments down below. And until then I wish you all a great night and an amazing weekend. And, as always, thanks for reading. x

The Band with the K

Hola everyone.

And welcome back to this new week. I hope you’re all doing great and that so far your Monday hasn’t been all too bad. On my behalf, I’ve got so much to tell you guys that I don’t even know where to start. And everything’s so exciting and I’m so glad that I get to share it with you. Otherwise I think I’d burst or simply bore all my friends and family into delirium – probably the second one, but oh well.

Anyway. In order to at least start ticking off all the topics on my list, today I’d like to tell you about the uber-amazing concert I went to last Friday. Those of you who’ve been following me and my posts long enough will probably know this band. No joke, if you haven’t heard of these guys you’re seriously missing out on something great, because these boys are freaking fantastic. And yes, I’m talking about the one and only band called Kraftklub. Yes, they’re German. Yes, they’re all pretty much crazy, as are their shows. And yes, I freaking love their music. I know I’ve already talked about them so many times, but I just can’t help myself. And when I saw that they would be doing a show, open-air, in the middle of summer and, on top of that, also at my favorite venue ever, I just had to see them again, although it was my actual fourth time. But hey, if a band is that good, you can’t see them often enough, am I right?

So, the concert was at the Arena in Vienna and like I said, it was an open-air concert, which is such an amazing concept on its own. I just really love the venue like crazy, because it doesn’t just have those special indie and alternative vibes to it, it also features a small lawn you can chill on before the show and the whole place has this kind of tilted ground. I know, what a rubbish description. What I mean is that the ground gets lower the closer you get to the stage, which also means that you can easily have perfect sight of the stage, because, like I said, those in front of you will always be standing just a bit lower than you. And that’s so cool, because let’s be honest, I’m not the tallest person and whatever gives me the chance to look over most people at concerts simply gets a yes.

So, the venue was amazing. And of course the show itself was too. Even more than that. God, I had so much fun, I can’t even put it into words. You guys have to know that Kraftklub shows are something else. Like, seriously. Firstly, because, like I mentioned, the guys are pretty crazy and weird and funny, in the best way possible, and secondly, because they have this special fanbase that just knows how to party and perfectly syncs with the band. And then there’s their music, which is like a mix of pop and indie and rap and is just so so cool and so much fun to sing and dance and jump to. And just the whole dynamics and atmosphere are so overwhelming and exciting and they completely draw you in and believe me, even if you don’t like the music, sooner or later you’ll start bobbing your head and it won’t end there. And last but not least there’s Felix, the lead-singer/rapper and for me the heart of the band or at least the show. Because while the other guys just simply step from one place to another, Felix floats, climbs, jumps and tops everything with dramatic hand gestures and a huge smile on his face. Watching this guy dance and party to every single song really gives me life and it’s just so so much fun.

In hindsight, I’d say that out of the four shows I’ve attended, this one has to be my favorite. And not just because of the phenomenal thing that happened during the encore, which I’m going to tell you all bout now. Buckle up. So, as you can probably guess, I know how Kraftklub shows work, I know what happens and when. Thus, when they went off stage before the encore, I knew they would pop up at some other place as a surprise. For bigger crowds they usually use some kind of mobile platform, which they use to “drive” through the crowd. And that’s why, while all the others there were screaming for the encore, I was twisting and turning my head in search for the platform. And then I found it, right at the back of the lawn, next to the tower for the sound and lights techs. And I got all excited and showed it to my mum and was like “THAT’S where they’ll be in just a minute!!!”. And it was so funny, because I was pointing at it, clearly seeing the mics that had already been placed on it, and everyone around me followed my gaze and then looked at me like I was crazy. And I thought “yeah yeah, now you think I’m crazy, but you just wait for what will happen in just a minute”.

Mum and I then decided to just make our way to the platform and started pushing through the crowd. And guess what, we got there right when the boys stepped on the platform. And it was so funny, because even then most people didn’t realize what was happening and Felix was like “hey everyone, we’re right behind you. I know, it’s a bit confusing.” Guys, we were so so close. And it was so much fun. But that wasn’t the best part. After the song they played on there, Felix proceeded to high five my mum and just a second later I was right by her side, shouting “mum, they’ll stage dive now, watch out”. You have to know that my mum is a teeny tiny person and if one of the boys jumped right at her, they would both end up on the ground with a loud thump. And at first she wanted to get out of the crowd that was building up, but I kept her right by my side and I’m so happy I did. Because just after that they all got ready to crowd-surf right back to the stage – which was quite a way to go, to be honest – in order to continue their official crowd-surf competition. Felix then decided to use the part of the crowd we were standing in. And when he looked at me – I was smiling at him with such a huge grin – I just knew he would go right our way. And before I knew what was happening, Felix jumped and I was holding his hand and tried to push him over the crowd. And then he was gone again, rolling over the crowd together with the others like a human ball dressed in black and white. Unfortunately he didn’t win – Karl, the second singer and guitarist, did and, if I’m not wrong, also won the whole contest (the show in Vienna was their next-to-last show of their tour before their upcoming chill-out-pause) – but he came second which is also something, right? And I know, some or even most of you probably won’t find this any special, but for me it’s still like the biggest thing ever, because before that I had always watched them do this kind of stuff from afar, wishing I was there, and it was also my very first time of being an actual part of a “a band does a crowd-surf”-moment and it just makes me so happy and feel all excited.

Apart from that there was simply everything you could wish for at a Kraftklub concert. Moshpits, people crowd-surfing and rowing on the ground, quite a lot of dancing, loud and pretty amazing music, huge smiles, funny outfits, underpants being thrown on stage (mens ones, for the first time ever, according to them), a spinning wheel to decide which song would be played next and someone being brought up on stage to spin it and of course political speeches and actions from both the band and the crowd. So yeah, a perfect show. But what I enjoyed the most was seeing how happy the guys were. I don’t even know how many times Felix thanked us for being such an amazing crowd and for dancing and singing. Which, I have to say, is seriously true, because the crowd really was something else. It was such a great evening, no joke.

So yeah guys, there you go. That was last Friday for me. Oh, and also, just before the concert I drove to my uni and handed in my second bachelor thesis, which means that I’m now officially finished with my studies. How crazy is that? I still remember the first day like it was yesterday. And the concert was literally the perfect way to end it and to celebrate. If any of you guys ever get the chance to check Kraftklub out, please do. They really are such a cool band and deserve all the appreciation they get and so much more. And until then I hope you enjoyed this not so short post about the concert. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your comments down below and I wish you a great week. And, of course, thanks for reading. x

Welcome to Brody House

Hola everyone.

I hope you’re all doing good. Just as a little update from my behalf, the Justin Timberlake concert was freaking amazing, I don’t know if I’ve ever been to such a crazy, ornate show. I didn’t even know where to look, there was just so much going on. And hell, JT knows what he’s doing, he’s such a fantastic dancer and singer. So, looking at that, I’m pretty much on a cloud. But besides that, unfortunately, I’ve been sick since coming home from the concert, which feels so weird for me. Like, I’m never ever sick, this is so unusual for me. And now I’m stuck at home, feeling like a sack of potatoes and I freaking hate it. It’s so annoying when you’re a naturally happy and jumpy person and then from one day to another your body and mind just change into a meh-mood and even walking from the kitchen over to the couch becomes the hardest thing ever. I hate iiiiiit. I so hope that I’m going to feel better soon. Please.

But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you guys about today. So, let’s bring on a bit of a happier mood and let’s get right to it. As some of you may have read in my recent posts, I’ve also just come home from my trip to Budapest together with my mum. And yes, it was so so so nice. It was actually my first serious trip to the city and I really enjoyed it. I was actually surprised by the cuteness and coolness of the city. I really really loved it. I’ll tell you more about the trip in my next posts and of course about our day at Sziget festival, which was a total dream come true.

But today I’d like to tell you all about the hotel we stayed at. It was called Brody House and situated right at the city center, so a perfect spot for us. But that’s not the best, no no. The best part was the hotel itself or the interior and overall look, I’d say. Not to be dramatic or anything, but this is seriously the most beautiful hotel I’ve ever stayed at. I was baffled. If I ever got the chance, I would move in there within a second, it’s just so so beautiful. The most amazing part was the clash of modern pieces of furniture and art with the old and rustic vibes of the walls and window frames. I adored it. If I ever get to live in and decorate a nice flat, I swear I’ll just hand over the pics I took of the hotel and tell everyone to decorate it this exact way. But without further ado, take a look for yourself. And yes, it really looked like that. What a dream.

I know, I know, it looks absolutely fantastic. If any of you ever get the chance to stay at this hotel, please do it. It’s freaking amazing. And you can have your breakfast in any of the rooms. I mean, imagine having breakfast while looking out of the window right at the trees from the park next door while a small breeze twirls itself around your skin and 20s/30s music is playing in the background. Yes, it was that good. What an experience.

So yeah, that’s Brody House. Such a cool hotel. I hope you like it just as much. Like I said, I hope you’re all doing good and that you enjoy this little post and the pictures. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your comments down below. And, of course, thanks for reading. x

Dreamy Nights

Hola everyone.

Today you’re finally going to hear all about two of the most special nights of my entire life – the two evenings/nights I got to see the one and only Edward Christopher Sheeran, my Ed, live. And yes, they were quite something and no, I’ll never forget them, ever.

So, first of all, I need to say that Ed is seriously talented af and I still can’t believe that this really happened and that he’s a real human being. I mean, how can so much talent be trapped in such a small bean. That’s like so damn crazy. I was so in awe while watching him jump around the stage and sing and just to do his thing. And work with his guitar and his loop pedal. I mean, it’s so crazy that he literally produces the whole song live, right there in front of you, just with his voice, guitar and loop. So yes, the shows were freaking amazing. I sang and danced and laughed and cried and seriously had the best time of my life. I enjoyed every second to its fullest.

Ed of course played all the hits, beginning the shows with Castle On The Hill, making everyone cry with Happier, making everyone dance with Sing and probably making everyone look pretty baffled with You Need Me I Don’t Need You, which he played last and which is still one of his coolest songs ever. That guy can rap, oh yes, he can. But apart from all of his amazing songs, there was one special song, one particular moment, that turned the show into something else for me. The best moment for me was when he started playing Tenerife Sea and I, obviously knowing the song from the very first beat to the very last note, started to cry because I was so in shock and so in love. I couldn’t help myself, I couldn’t even relax until it was over. I mean, I felt like I was dreaming. After watching the live version over and over and over again on YouTube and dreaming about hearing it live once but never quite believing it, because it’s such a rarity, I really got to hear it, live, in person, sung by the only guy I ever wanted to hear it from. I’m still so in shock. And oh my god, it was so damn beautiful. On the second night I got to relax a bit more and fully let myself fall into it and holy moly, if I could cuddle myself into it like it was a blanket, I’d never leave the place again, no joke. And it was just so damn special, even more so because Ed told everyone to be quiet and they actually went quiet and all you could hear was him and his voice. And honestly, that’s all I needed at that moment, because if someone can fill up a whole stadium, it’s Ed.

Apart from that I loved that Ed was so talkative. I mean, he always likes good chat during his shows, I know that, but this time he was just so funny and cute and a bit cheeky, to be honest. At the very beginning he chatted a bit about his own manners while attending a concert and it was so damn hilarious, I loved it so much. I mean, he joked about himself dancing a bit weirdly and he even made fun about his appearance on Game Of Thrones. And all of that just made him even cuter and just so so so likable. I think it made everyone admire him even more. And god, I was laughing so hard, I was actually doubling over. The whole stadium was filled with laughter.

And yeah, I just enjoyed being there so freaking much. Sharing the space with Ed after waiting for over a year and then actually being there. This is also why I was so glad and thankful that I chose to attend both concerts, because they were both so different. The first night was like the exciting, super emotional party where I was just so damn happy to be there. I was hyped up to the fullest, basically. And on the second night I got to really really enjoy it, because I knew what would happen. You know, the first over-the-top excitement wasn’t that strong anymore and I could relax and really focus on all the little details and let myself fall. I noticed so many things, like Ed’s tattoos and the way he handles his guitar. Suddenly it all became visible, it was there. And Ed was there and I was there and it all just made me so so happy. I’m just really so thankful that I got experience those two special nights. I’m still so in awe and I really can’t wait to see Ed again, although I already know that it will be quite the wait. If I could attend his concerts every day, I probably would. And maybe spice it up with some of Marty shows.

So yeah guys, that happened last week and I still can’t fully believe it. God, I’m so happy. if any of you have been to his concerts too, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts down below. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Did I mention that I actually lost my voice after the second show? Like, it was gone, seriously. Which was the very first time that ever happened to me, but I guess it just meant that I completed the mission Ed gave us all, which was to sing as long and loudly as we could until we would loose our voices. So yeah, been there, done that.

The crazy thing is, since Martys show at the end of July I’ve been basically living in my concert universe. Because after that one I got to see Ed twice and since then I’ve been to Sziget festival and today I’m actually attending a Justin Timberlake concert, which I’m ready so excited for. JT is truly one of those artists that I always wanted to see live. I mean, he’s JT, you just have to see him live once to experience it all. It’s a must. And I’m so glad I finally get to see it all live. Of course I’ll tell you guys all about it – Sziget, Budapest, JT and everything else. And until then I hope you enjoyed this post about my two nights with Ed. And yeah, as always, I hope you’re all doing good and wish you an awesome weekend. And, of course, thanks for reading. x

My Week at Nova Rock

Hola everyone.

You’re not going to believe it, but the day has come. Today I’m finally telling you all about my week at the Nova Rock festival. And I know, it literally took me ages to write this, but now it’s here and I’m more than excited for you to read this. Let’s go.

So, first of all, I have to say it was freaking awesome and I loved every single second of it and I want to go back. Like, right now. Please? Can we please go now? I need it in my life. It was so so so cool to work at a festival and not just attend it. Can you imagine being handed one of those “all access”-passes that casually has your name written on it. I nearly fainted. I mean, I literally took a step into the world I want to spend the rest of my life in. And even though the music wasn’t really my type all the time as it was a rock festival with quite some metal bands being part of the linup, I still had a grin on my face 24/7. I just felt so alive. Like the first time when you eat Nutella. It just changes everything. What you feel, what you think, what you want. Everything. And that’s exactly what this week did to me. I now know my path in life and I can’t wait to wander along it.

But let’s go a bit deeper, shall we? So, as I already mentioned, I got to work at the festival for a whole week, from Monday to the next Monday. The actual festival went from Thursday to Sunday, so needless to say that those were the most fun days. The first few days I basically just helped with the organizing and the set up, walked around the area and worked with some TV crews, by which I mean that I gave them a little tour of the whole area. And from the first day on everyone was just so freaking nice and welcoming to me. The TV crews joked around with me, the team and I always went to lunch together, we chatted and laughed and I felt so happy and comfortable and just overall like the luckiest girl ever.

During Wednesday night the first bands started arriving and then on Thursday I literally had the best day ever. In the morning I again did a little tour with a TV crew and could even stay with them during their interview with a band. Guys, there was a moment when I was seriously sitting in a freaking tour bus. An official tour bus, with the band, their manager and the crew in it. And me. How crazy is that? But that’s not everything. When I got out of the bus and walked around the corner 2/5 of the band Kraftklub, one of my favorite bands, walked past me. I couldn’t believe it. I was literally starstruck and couldn’t believe my luck. But little did I know that they would walk past me again just an hour later, but this time completed with a little pause and direct eye contact with them. I must have looked like such a damn freak, with my eyes wide open and that crazy, admiring look I always have when I look at one of my faves. Oh well. I guess I need to work on my coolness when it comes to meeting bands. For future references, you know. After that moment the day was officially the best one and couldn’t be topped, because I started to grin and that smile never left my face.

Later that day I met up with my friend who was attending the festival too. Guys, owning that kind of pass is like the coolest thing ever. I felt so damn cool. I even got to watch a few bands from the stage. And I really mean from the stage, because I was literally standing right around the corner on the stage, with the crew and everything. So unbelievable. And then I even had the chance to attend the Kraftklub concert which was so freaking amazing. They’re such a fantastic band and seriously never fail to amaze me.

The remaining days I basically walked around the festival, watched some bands, met up with my friends and helped my team and the other coworkers. I even got to take some pictures for the official Instagram page. And guys, the whole week was literally so much fun. Seriously. I felt so grateful for the chance to work there and still am flabbergasted that that seriously happened. Because for the first time I was truly a part of the community I’ve always dreamed about and want to spend the rest of my life in. And that just meant and still means so freaking much to me. It was like the last little nudge I needed to fully know that this is where I’m meant to be. This is where I belong. Surrounded by music and people who all share the same passion for it. And I couldn’t be happier about that.

So yeah guys, there you go. That’s my week at Nova and basically one of the coolest weeks ever. I hope you enjoy reading all about it. Oh and I hope you’re all doing great and that so far your weeks has been just as good. I’m actually in the best mood ever as I’m currently sat in my garden at home, with Martijn playing in the background and the fact in mind that I’m going to see this cutie again in just a few hours. I seriously can’t wait to jump around again to these songs. God, I’m so excited. I’ll of course tell you all about it. So yeah, that’s my upcoming weekend. As always I also wish you an amazing weekend. And, of course, thanks for reading. x

Black Mountains, White Skies

Hola everyone.

Can you believe it’s already Monday again? Because I can’t. It’s seriously more than crazy how the time is just zooming by. Just wait. I’ll blink once and then it will be September and I’ll be on my flight to Brighton. Holy moly. But let’s not freak out just yet and focus on the here and now, shall we? So, how are you guys? I hope you’re all having a great start of the week. And I hope what’s coming next maybe makes it even better.

So, a few weeks ago my parents and I drove to Salzburg for my cousins wedding. First I have to say that the wedding was so damn beautiful that it’s hard for me to find any words. But what gave the whole ceremony that one special cherry on top was the location. We celebrated in the middle of a valley, surrounded by the phenomenal mountains and the breathtaking nature. I loved it so so so much. And as I of course had taken my camera with me, I took my chance and went hiking for a bit to take some pictures. And oh wow, was that cool. I tried to really capture the vibes that I got, the slightly icy, cool feeling I had and the imposing greatness of the mountains. And I actually wanted to try something different to my otherwise very colorful, vibrant style. So yeah, without further ado, I present you my selection of the best pics I took during the wedding-weekend. What I probably like the most about them is that the actual intensity of the surrounding mountains can be seen on the pics, especially with the ones where both my parents and Molly are walking at the bottom of the photos with the big mountains right behind them. Like, honestly, I really like the pics. And I even more hope that you do too. As always, please don’t hesitate to leave your thoughts down below and I wish you a great week. And, of course, thanks for reading. x