Music is my life...

Today's prompt from the lovely Jenni (who I will be reunited with in a week!) asked us to write about and share five songs or pieces of music that speak to you or bring back memories. Where do I even begin? Music has always been a big part of my life and I knew it always would be, but I never could have known that I would marry a musician (although it makes total sense now).

Music means the world to me. It brightens my day, makes me dance, makes me cry, brings back old memories...it heals me. So how can I choose just five that speak to me or bring back memories? Well, here goes nothing...

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros 

Duh. I mean, I pretty much named my whole blog after this song. I can still listen to this one on repeat and it never gets old. You can't listen to this song without dancing around the room like a fool.

    

 Today by Joshua Radin
This song reminds me of when I first started dating Dave and my trips down to Texas to see him. Joshua Radin was a current obsession at the time and I would listen to this song while I was out on a run (while Dave was at work) and just smile and be so thankful I finally found him. "You looked right through me when there was no one else. I sat beside beside you and became myself...today."     
   

Let the Time Roll By by Onward Soldiers 

I've put this song on my blog before, it's the perfect Friday afternoon song and it puts me in the best mood every time. I also adore the lyrics, “Oh my love, if tommorow never comes can we make the best of what we have today?”        
 

Slow Pony Home by The Weepies
This song floods my memories with our time spent in Maryland. Dave and I lived near Baltimore when we first got married and I got hold of this album...it was probably the only thing in my car CD player the entire year we were there.

We Shall Be Free by Garth Brooks
If the lyrics of this song don't speak to you, you might not be human. I love Garth Brooks through and through, but this song is definitely up near the top of my list. And when he sang this one in concert? Waterworks.

First Time by Dave Owens 

I snuck that one in on you, didn't I? This song brings back so many memories. I have loved this song from the first time (pun intended) that I heard it, but now it holds a very special place in my heart because we played this one while we lit our unity candle at our wedding.

Current Favorites ≫≫



 Below my Feet by Mumford and Sons
 This song really speaks to me. It makes me close my eyes, sway back and forth, and just give thanks for the beautiful life we've been given.

 Anything by Lana Del Ray (obsessed doesn't even cover it), Leona Naess, the entire soundtrack to the movie Once, Of Mice and Men...and the list goes on.

I'd LOVE to hear what some of your choices would be! New music is my favorite...

A new sound coming from my dining room...

Dave had his first practice with a bass player here in North Carolina and I have to say I was really excited about the sound coming from my dining room last night. Robert plays the upright bass and it adds such a rich, gorgeous sound to Dave's music. I can't wait for these two to play live so I can get a good video! Luckily for us, we don't have a table yet so the open dining room made a perfect place for these two to set up...

If you're on Facebook, Dave is SO close to hitting the 1,200 mark...won't you join him on there? Things like social media can be a big deal for someone looking to hire an artist these days, so it really means so much to us when you all share his pages!

Music to Love: Brandi Carlile.

I have always been a huge music lover and take pride in introducing people to new music. That has to be one of my favorite things about this blog is being able to share artists with you all that you might not otherwise have found.

Today I’d like to tell you all about one of my favorite artists, Brandi Carlile. It continues to amaze and sadden me that Brandi isn’t considered mainstream music yet. I hear her music on the radio down here in Austin, but it’s a little different down here than in different parts of the country.

Brandi’s voice is a force to be reckoned with and her lyrics are very powerful themselves, paired together it’s just the kind of music that can rock you to your core. But don’t just take my word for it, listen for yourself…

"All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you"

Did you get it?

So it seems like everyone went out and bought (or purchased on iTunes) the new Mumford & Sons album, but OF COURSE they did...they're amazing. I think my favorite song so far is  Below my Feet, such great lyrics. If you bought it, what's your favorite?

I have to say that there have been a bunch of new great albums coming out the past few weeks, some we've waited a very long time for, but none that I am loving as much as this one.

Music filled home...

Dave has been working on the music for his next EP and I love it. He is constantly writing down lyrics all the time, so to finally have him playing these new songs throughout the house is wonderful. I've heard bits and pieces of a few before, but he has really been developing them this week and it's so much fun to hear them come together...

The other night he did some pre-recordings of a song on his macbook pro. When he hit a certain point I sat on his lap and we listened to it together and made some tweaks and edits...

These moments are my favorite. To me, being a musician's wife isn't about the crazy and wild experiences that may come along with it, it's the little moments like this...the ones when we create together. Now, I know I'm not a musician, but I do have a few things to say when it comes to music...

And even in the moments when I know what I'm thinking, but I don't quite know the technical term for what I'm trying to explain needs to be changed or added in the song, Dave knows what I'm trying to say. We feed off of each other and I like to think it takes the music to a completely different level.


Speaking of the music, Dave is performing for BalconyTV tonight! This is something that Mumford and Sons did back before their album went big, so it could be a great experience. It will air in a few weeks, so I'll keep you all updated on that!

What song do you all think he should perform? Your opinions are greatly appreciated!

The Power of Music.

Maybe it's because I'm extra emotional this week (let's just say I've been eating my weight in chocolate the last few days), but this video made me tear up big time. It's truly amazing what the power of music can do for our emotions and our well being...


...for me, this is what it's all about. All of the sacrifices, moving, crazy schedules, etc. It's all worth it. I know Dave's music has this same power to reach people and it needs to be heard. I've seen the way his music resonates with people in ways they aren't expecting.

Music touches the soul and reaches us in ways that we can't even express. It can change our mood, bring back old memories, and make us tap our feet. What's one of your go-to songs when you need a pick-me-up?

New music...

Happy Friday!!!




Am I the last person to see this video? Please tell me I'm not! I'm usually the one who discovers awesome music related things such as this and it will break my heart if I find out I've failed.

Either way, you have to watch this...just amazing. And it's perfect since SXSW kicked off today. I'm so excited for Dave's show next Friday and we can't wait to head downtown and hear some new music this week.

Friday song...

Happy Friday!!! Dave and I are spending the day preparing for his first show here in Austin. He's off for a run while I do some yoga (wishing I was running, but trying to take it easy since I've been sick), sending out some albums and headbands, and enjoying our Friday :)

I'll leave you with one of my favorite Friday songs, because you just can't listen to this song and not smile...

PS~ Get 14% off in the shop with the code "Valentine"...Happy Friday ♥

Introducing Ranger.

Ranger is a band from Nashville that you all need to hear! They have a very unique sound that left me wanting more...

How long has Ranger been a band? 

Ranger has been together since 2009.

What makes Ranger's musical style unique?
Well, it's interesting you ask that because Ranger's sound has developed so much since our first release.This next album will really harness Ranger's personality. I would even venture to call our first release more of a demo and this will be our first real record.The music and vocals are much more ambient and haunting. There is a strong emphasis on guitars and unique rhythms. Things have become much more intricate and dynamic.

What do you all hope to achieve with the recording of your new album?
As I mentioned above, this new record will be a definition of who we are as a band and where I am as a songwriter. My greatest hope is to create a record that we love.

Website-Twitter-Facebook

...so go say hi! Tell them I sent you...and if you'd like to be a sponsor for February I still have spots available! More info here.

This years love.

It has come to my attention that many people have never heard of David Gray (although he's wildly popular in the UK) or aren't sure what his music sounds like ...if you ask me that's just wrong. His unique, soulful voice combined with the insightful lyrics all put to a beat you can't help but sway to is nothing short of magical.

...I can't tell you what it's like when Dave and I

find out someone doesn't know who David Gray is,

it's like a little piece of me dies.

For me it goes deeper than the fact that someone doesn't like one of my favorite artists. When I find out someone hasn't heard of an artist as talented as David Gray and yet someone like Katy Perry is about to have the number one selling album of all time...it saddens me.

...and this isn't just because I'm married to a very talented musican.

I have always felt this way.

I'd rather support someone who has put blood, sweat, and tears into making sure that their music can be heard. Even if just by a few. Those that put their heart and soul into every word, every strum of their guitar. The musicians that are willing to put it all on the line and go for their dreams, without the assurance of ever making it to the other side.

...David Gray is one of those artists.

So this Music Monday, I just ask that you take a listen

and consider supporting the artists that put their life into their work.

We shall be free...

"When the last child cries for a crust of bread

When the last man dies for just words that he said

When there's shelter over the poorest head

Then we shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin

And the first thing we look for is the beauty within

When the skies and the oceans are clean again

Then we shall be free

We shall be free

We shall be free

So, have a little faith and hold out

'Cause we shall be free" ~Garth Brooks

Gotta love Garth!  He has been the number 1 artist I wanted to see in concert since I can remember.  And after years of thinking I would never get to see him, thanks to numerous "retirements", he finally came back for one last show in Kansas City in November of 2007 and I got to go!  It was amazing.  Jen (my best friend who went with me) will agree, words cannot describe how great that concert was.  His energy, passion, and love for performing combined with all his greatest hits was overwhelming.

Jen and I waiting for Garth to come on stage!

So that all said, you can imagine my excitement last night as Dave and I were walking around Sams and I found this...

New Garth Brooks DVD's with over 7 hours of performances, 15 music videos (including 3 never-before-seen music videos), bonus songs, photo galleries, and more!  We just started watching it and so far it's great...in between almost every song he performs are interviews from that time period, which means this first disc contains some of his first interviews and "meet Garth Brooks" types of videos of him talking about himself. They are hilarious! Just picture Garth back in the 90's with his mullet and wearing his OSU football jersey, pacing back and forth talking about making it big...priceless.  And the performances are ALMOST as good as seeing him in person...

...i'll just turn the lights down and the volume up and pretend I'm there :)