I could never live without music.
Music is important to me... incredibly. I grew up listening to classical composers such as Felix Mendelssohn, the bluesy chops of B.B. King and the jazzy licks of John Coltrane.
Music is life, baby.
My mother introduced me to Jethro Tull... and to this day we continue to blare it on roadtrips while she tells me about the "real" concert experience. My father is the most incredible musician I've ever known, and others would agree. An original member of The Moody Blues, he can tickle those ivories let me tell you.
I have the best memories of going to the auditorium after school because that's where my parents would be... My mum working with the actors blocking and directing the latest musical for the school we lived at, and my father hammering the hell out of the baby grand at the same time. He would move at an incredible pace... standing up... his entire body into the music... head swinging to the beat... all the while playing from memory. With his buddies next to him on drums and guitar, and my mother simultaneously directing each scene, it was amazing to watch them in their element. Although I didn't know what that meant at the time, (this was just what my parents "did" in my mind). Now, as an adult, I wish I could transport back to those days, just to experience it one more time... live.
Music has the ability to strengthen, motivate and inspire us. We listen to music to boost our confidence before going into an interview, to put us "in the mood" for a romantic evening, or even to help push ourselves to the limit so we can crush our personal best in the gym. It colours us a different shade with each and every note, key change and progression... At least, it does for me.
Here's what I'm listening to right now:
1. MOBY whispering wind
2. RADIO CITIZEN the hop
3. PHANTOGRAM when I'm small
4. MASSIVE ATTACK angel
5. THOM YORKE harrowdown hill
6. MÚM the ghosts you draw on my back
7. WIM MERTENS struggle for pleasure
8. JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON a game of croquet
9. ROUGGE fragment 48
10. JAZZANOVA bohemian sunset
Enjoy!
- xomo