The Season of Acoustics

Acoustic music will always be the genre that embodies autumn the best (in my opinion). I always associate the resonating strums of a guitar or the twinkling notes of a piano with the image of somebody whittling away hours on end with a book and an everlasting hot beverage of their choice. I have a soft spot for acoustic tunes because it really strips a song down into the basics, which is something I've always appreciated an artist for doing. You can also get a real sense of what their vocals (might) sound like under all of the heavy bass and synthetic instrumentals. I've constructed a couple of my favourites to help transition into the season of yellow leaves.

Passenger is a one man band fronted by Michael Rosenberg. Though the original version of 'Let Me Go' is predominantly acoustic, it is still layered with the drums, piano and bass- this version takes it all back to one single instrument. His distinct voice paired with the quiet picking of the guitar he wields makes for the perfect song to set in the background while you digest a snack or get lost in a novel on a foggy afternoon.

If you haven't heard anything by Adele before, you've certainly missed out on a couple years of your life. She's most famous for her powerful and melancholy love songs, such as Set Fire to the Rain and Someone Like You, respectively. It's always nice to hear Adele's voice without additional instrumentals because her voice is so raw and unique to herself. Her lyrics show a more vulnerable side to her music, which I'm sure most of us can relate to.

Keaton Henson is a singer-songwriter, artist and poet from England. Like Passenger, Henson also has a very distinct voice which captured the nation when he performed his song "You Don't Know How Lucky You Are" on BBC Radio 1 in 2011. Henson started making music after a friend encouraged him to post some of his work online. Ironically, he also suffers from extreme stage fright, so seeing him in concert is a rarity. Still, that doesn't take away from the fact that his ballad is anything other than extraordinary.

Lights is a Canadian artist from Toronto that usually creates synthpop music. When she was young, her father taught her how to play the piano and guitar, so she holds the idea of being able to strip a song down quite close to heart. Lights is actually one of my favourite artists, and I appreciate the fact that she puts out acoustic albums for her fans to enjoy. "...And Counting" is a song off of her second studio album, Siberia, and I must say that when it first came out, I wasn't really a fan of it. When she released the acoustic version, it made me appreciate the original more. 

William Fitzsimmons is an American singer-songwriter with a really rad beard (let's be real: it's what everybody notices first). Two of his songs ("Please Don't Go" and "Passion Play") were featured of Grey's Anatomy, which brought him much popularity and credibility in his musical career. I chose this version of his song "Beautiful Girl" because it showcases his talent much more than the original song (which is still all acoustic, only using the piano, guitar and mandolin). You can find the original version here.

Artist Spotlight: Lorde

If you haven't heard Lorde's latest single "Royals", you've been living under a rock for the last month. The song has blown up in terms of popularity, climbing to the number one spot in the US, Canada and New Zealand, where she was born.

Believe it or not, Lorde (her stage name; her real name is Ella Yelich-O'Connor) is only 16 years old (turning 17 in November). She writes her own songs, creates the music, and sings as well as someone in their late twenties, making her an artist well beyond her years. She was signed to her record label when she was 13 after being discovered when she won her school's talent show.

In a VEVO interview, Lorde talks about her influences coming mainly from old records that her parents (whom she credits as the source of her first exposure to music) used to have, namely Fleetwood Mac's Rumors. She also read many books while growing up, wrote short fiction, and took a liking to Raymond Carver, a short story writer who used a very minimal amount of words when telling tales- she used this principle when she wrote her own music. Her more recent musical influences include Sohn, Majical Clouds (they're Canadian!), and Yeasayer. Her music takes on a gritty, rhythmic tune with a very hip-hop rich beat, even though she identifies as an electro artist.

Lorde says that she writes about "[her] friends and [her] life, the strange social situations and...the uneasiness of being [her] age", as well as "loneliness, fake friends, and real friends". By having such relatable topics in her music, she draws audiences from all across the globe and keeps them hooked to her infectious tunes. If you don't know her by her signature brunette curls, you're sure to know her by her unique sound.

A Dedication to Summer Beats

Leaves are starting to change from green to gold, the air is sweet and crisp, and pumpkin spice lattes are becoming increasingly popular, which can only mean one thing: fall is among us, and that means that music is transitioning from summer's pop anthems to autumn's mellow melodies. It's quite sad to leave behind the warmth of summer, but diving into the tunes of autumn is also something I, along with many others, look forward to. As a final farewell to the warmest months of the year, I've compiled a few tracks that embody June, July and August (Or December, January and February if you're in Australia) as a whole that'll keep your toes tapping for as long as you want summer to stick around.

Hailing from Manchester, England, The 1975 have been around for more than ten years, starting their musical career in 2002. They have recently blown up since covering One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful", gaining fans all across Europe and North America. Their music embodies the perfect mix of synthrock and lead singer Matthew Healy's vocals are rich and raw, giving their songs a fresh, modern twist.

Claire is a collaborative band from Munich, Germany that formed when Matthias Hauck, Nepomuk Heller and Florian Kiermaier produced a song with songstress Josie-Claire Burkle. Their efforts were recognized all over Europe and featured on multiple blogs, radio stations, and prolific on SoundCloud. Their music shifts between electropop, hip-hop, and half-time beats to create a summer-like vibe. 

Another electro-heavy band, CHVRCHES comes from Glasgow, Scotland and brings to the table a variety of keyboards and synthesizers that fuel the fire of kinetic energy in their music. They have played at multiple music festivals such as SXSW, Sasquatch!, Electric Picnic, and even right here in Canada at the Canadian Music Festival. 

The Mowgli's is an 8 piece band from Southern California (beginning in a garage in San Fernando Valley, according to their website) that tries to convey the message of "universal love and togetherness" (awe). True to their sound, the songs they've released have a very breezy-folk, psychedelic-rock, Californian beach vibe to them that makes me want to pop my head out of a sun-roof and belt the lyrics out to the whole world. Basically, this band's music is a mixture of caffeine and a group hug. They've performed at music festivals like Lollapalooza and Summerfest.