Two albums of 2013 that you must have

I've been slacking and lacking on blog posts. The first semester of uni was pretty intense for the most part, but it seems as if I've got a grip on it all now. Finally I've found some free time to blog and write.

So it's a new year 2014. I'm a month already in it but I just have to mention my favourite things of 2013.

I could talk about my favourite beauty, skin and hair products of 2013, but I've been using the same brands since time began. But I could do a post on my all-time-fav products? Maybe.

There's one thing that does change every year. Music. New artists, new albums, new sounds.

Here are two albums that I believe are slightly under-rated and are probably my favourite sounds of 2013.

The first is:

Haim - Days are Gone

After hearing Nick Grimshaw rambling on Radio 1 for his undying love for sister act Haim, I was intrigued to find out what the obsession was all about. 

The only songs I knew at first were 'Don't Save Me' and 'Falling'. The songs reminded me of something that I'd play blasting through my headphones and washes the dishes as do a lil girly 80s popping. 

Looking at the Haim girls I thought their sound would be something more grunge or rock n roll. Their long hair and leather jackets made them look like the feminine version of Kings of Leon (fun fact: they are supporting KoL in concert some time this year in Milton Keynes - wish I had tickets). 

The album consists of solemn, smooth bass and drums songs; like 'Let Me Go', 'Running If You Call My Name' and my favourite song that has a splash of r'n'b 'My Song 5'. There are also pop-rock girl power songs that you'd sing over and over and over again on a train journey; like 'The Wire', 'If I Could Change Your Mind' and 'Days are Gone'. Their harmonies are such a breath of sweet new fresh air, you would hear no contrived or over-the-top vocal belting. 

Definitely worth listening to. Especially fans of: Gwen Stefani, Kings of Leon and Arctic Monkeys.

Major Lazer - Free the Universe

When I hear this album three words come into my head, Notting Hill Carnival. Girls in shorts that seem as if they were shrunk in the wash, grimy trainers that survived the battlefield at All Saint's Road, cans of Red Stripe in a heap by the pavement and the sweet wafts of Mary-Jane that tickles your nose hairs. 

You may not understand what I'm talking about but this album is a fusion of Jamaican dancehall mixed with a lil bit of trap and electronic. 

The collaborations on here are incredible: Shaggy, Bruno Mars, Elephant Man, Santigold, Flux Pavilion, Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig and even Haim's Danielle Haim. Weird mix ain't it? 

Songs like 'Jessica' and 'Jah No Partial' have that chilled neo-Rasta vibe going on. The type of songs where you wished you had floor lengthen dreads that you sway when Ezra Koenig says 'you're the girl - I love you lots, and your locks'. 

Whereas there are other songs that make you twerk like a you had a Nicki Minaj derriere, such as 'Bubble Butt', 'Sweat' and 'Wind Up'. 

Generally all the songs on this album makes you want to dance, especially 'Mashup The Dance' and 'Watch Out For This'. I think I've overplayed this album over this winter - please bring on the summertime !


Fans of: Vybz Kartel, Ms Dynamite, Diplo (obvs cos this is his band), Skrillex and Chase & Status

Song of the Week: Iggy Azalea - Work

About last year I started listening to Iggy Azalea - the Australian blonde who raps as if she is a dude straight outta Atlanta, gloating about all her moneys that she be earning with her big booty hoes. 

I briefly read a review about her in some magazine saying how she was the next big thing. Without hesitation, (I was interested what an Australian rapper would sound like to be honest) I searched her up on YouTube and googled her name. 

The first video I watched of her was 'Pu$$y', yes, it was because the name of the song intrigued me. I watched her, in awe - admiration and confusion. She raps in such a fast flow that is slightly incomprehensible at first; maybe this is a trick of hers so you don't instantly get shocked by her crude, vulgar language and metaphors. 

Not only was I confused about what she was saying, but... She puzzled me. Yes I've seen many white rappers, females too. But she literally looked like my Barbie doll. A Barbie doll with a big a$$ and a dirrty mouth. Pretty girls rapping - I loves it.

So I became more interested, went on her website and her mixtape was just sitting there waiting for me to download. 'Ignorant Art' was it's name. And what a fantastic mixtape. Each song had a different flow, a different rhythm, a different purpose and a different meaning. Some spoke about true love, falling in love with the wrong guy, difficulties on being white and female in a male black music industry... and she also mentions sex, strippers and a lot of money talking. I couldn't stop listening to it.

I liked it. I really did. She wasn't really that popular so I made sure my friends knew who she was and I wanted to know their opinions. 

I would trick my friends and say, "oh listen to this rapper, she's real good." They would listen, say "yeah, its cool" then that's when I'd surprise them and admit that she's actually white, and Australian. I could tell they were definitely shocked. Who's every heard of an Australian rapper? And apart from Kylie, who knows that many Australian music artists?

I'm rambling. Only because I wanted to post this like last year. But the whole point of this post was to show y'all that she's got a new song out, and a banging video to go with it. 

This song is definitely the song of the week. Only hearing it on Tuesday, I can't get the lyrics out of my head. I even went to bed singing "no money, no family, sixteen in the middle of Miami" over and over and over and over again. Until I fell asleep thinking I was a rapper. 

There's something about this video I really like. Haha, I've even watched this video everyday so far. 1. I like her clothes 2. I LURVE her hair that whips like a dominatrix 3. that a$$ bro...

(youtube)

Happy Ladies Day

I know it was yesterday, but I only realised it was Women's International Day at 23:58 last night. And it was only this morning that I thought of the perfect song for this day...

There isn't a Beyonce that doesn't get women feeling so empowered.

So, enjoy!!

There's nothing better than pretending you're Beyonce at the VMAs. So enjoy and get up and shake dat boot-tay like Beyonce!

(youtube.com)

LDR for H&M

When I was looking through my recent Elle magazine I froze when I finally saw a printed version of Lana Del Rey for H&M. Then I froze again yesterday when I saw her commercial for H&M. She sings 'Blue Velvet' in her signature style, like melting icing.

I don't know when H&M are realising this collection, but the day it does, I'll be there. Fo sure.

Also, yesterday I heard the full version of 'Damn You'. I remember when I was on Tumblr, I heard a 30 second snippet of the song. At the end of the clip I was nearly in tears because I wanted more. The song matched exactly what happened to me that night. Lying down in my room at 3am replaying and replaying the 30 second long clip.
It's such a simple song. Repeated verses and choruses. Sounds like a song that was made in a day on a cheap digital music software. But it's the simplicity that entices me.

(youtube, my own picture)

Wireless Festival: The Weeknd

Yesterday I went to one of the best day festivals you could ever go to.

Wireless Festival in Hyde Park, London set up tents for acts such as Professor Green, Example, Angel, Delilah, Wiz Khalifa, The Weeknd, Labrinth, Tulisa, Rita Ora, Nero, The Dream, D'banj, Nicki Minaj and, my future hubby, Drake.

Yep, all those acts for the price of basically one of those A-list artists. The weather wasn't brilliant, but as long as you have your weelies, rain-mac and your best singing in the rain voice, you're good to go.

I was super excited to see The Weeknd, as he doesn't do that many tours, this festival was a must. I've only been a favourite of his for only some time now. But I was instantly mesmerized by his cool and seduction voice. He. Is. Amazing. Live. He sounds just as good live, actually even better, then recordings. If you haven't already heard his masterpieces, see below.

Oh yeah, and Drake was incredible. Obviously. To be frank, the sound system wasn't that good, because it is in an open space and I was a bit far away from the stage, nevertheless myself and the crowd around me rapped, sang and danced in perfect unison.

The Weeknd : image taken on instagram

Off To The Races

These are my much loved photos taken by photographer Heinz Peter Knes of Lana Del Rey in Formula 1 jackets.

My friend and I have both agreed that we've never seen any other photos of Lana Del Rey that look as stunning and mesmerizing than these.  

I'm so in love with her.

Beastie Boys : Outfit Day

" Beastie Boys know how to let the beat,

mmm...

DRRROOOP"

Beastie Boys. My boys. I started listening to their music about two years ago, and I was hooked on the first beat. Seriously.  The first song that I loved instantly was Intergalactic, it blew my minnnddd within the first few seconds. I laugh and love their witty, hilarious and complete silly raps and rhymes, "I'll stir fry you in my wok" and "I like my sugar with coffee and cream". 

They will always be the odd, immature and insane white boy rappers that changed the look on rap. They so cleverly fused hip-hop and rap and rock and punk. Complete opposites, yet sound incredible together. 

It's a shame that people my age don't really know about Beastie Boys and only think about Eminem whenever they think of white rappers. Though, Eminem said it was the Beastie Boys that heavily influenced him to start rapping. 

Therefore, this post goes out to MCA, a member of Beastie Boys who has died recently. You'll be truly missed, but never forgotten. Stay rocking in the afterlife. Rock in peace. 

(mine: instagram, tumblr)

Carmen: LDR

3 hours ago my current love Lana Del Rey posted her new music video for 'Carmen'. Surprisingly, it is a quick release of another video after just releasing the remake of 'Blue Jeans'. 

'Blue Jeans' and 'Born To Die' are the typical music videos you would see nowadays, whereas 'Carmen' and 'Video Games' (also the original 'Blue Jeans' video) are short clips of  edited old film effect footage. I must admit, I love both types. The music videos ones have a plot, a fantastic and haunting storyline. It's great to see that Lana can act so tastefully and not that irritating over the top acting. It shows her versatility in artistic approaches - she knows how to stand out from all the other same old common music videos. However the short clips of film music videos shows that she is also a talented film maker. Truthfully she doesn't need to make those typical seen-before music videos - it's just refreshing to see something retro without being cliché. 

In my opinion, 'Carmen' tells a story about a girl who is known to be the hottest, coolest and the most popular girl known. "The boys, the girls. They all like Carmen"  Carmen is that typical girl that all girls want to be; her life seems so perfect on the outside... (I'm sure we can all name a girl we know like Carmen) but deep down there's something dark and troubling about her, "She says you don't wanna be like me..."

It's probably the song on the album that I listen to the least, nevertheless, it's still a beauty.

My new found favourite pictures of Lana. By my favourite, Terry Richardson.

(youtube, terrysdiary)

My French Style Icône

Je t'aime, Francoise Hardy

Today I had to do a presentation in French about French speaking singers. 

I love listening to french music even though most of time I'm only understanding half of what they're saying.

This is her most favourite song, Tous Les Garcons. 

It's about the girls and boys her age all walk around happy and cheerful, but she doesn't. Because nobody who wants or to love her.

At first you would think it's a really pleasant song, especially if you don't understand French, but deep down the beautiful light hearted singer has a deeper meaning.

She dresses so effortlessly and casual chic. I'm in absolute love with her hair; the feathered fringe, her make-up; dark black top liner cat eyed and her smile; so pretty and sincere. 

I would admit that our styles are quite similar, I can't leave my house without my eye-liner and I too have the same style of hair...

Except for the clothes, she has a much more Parisian chic than me.

 

 

 

Slightly reminds me of Alexa Chung

 

 

Keep Calm And Listen To Gwen.

I kinda wish Gwen Stefani would come back to the music scene. But then again, I prefer listening to old songs that you've seem to forget. That feeling of watching a once loved brilliant and quirky video with catchy girly lyrics. It's pure magic.

Her platinum blonde hair and statement red lips. Her super kawaii Harajuku Girls. Her childish funny behaviour in videos. Her amazing artist spin on things. Her sweet and sexy look. Love it all.

Luxurious is one of the best Stefani video, highlighting the cheap glamourous lifestyle putting an ironic twist on the music and lyrics. 

I'm so in love, and thinking about getting, those tacky elongated false nails styled with baggy jeans and cleavage enhanced tops.

This look was inspired by the artist Frida Kahlo. Gwen put a hip hop spin on this by wearing flamboyant and bright colours, flower in her hair and smashing Mexican pinatas. Get it??

 (youtube, google)

Lana Del Replay

Lana Del Rey

A new music icon of mine. 

Always listening to her debut album on constant repeat.

Her jazzy airy sultry siren voice sings enchanting yet sinister love songs.

Whether her trout pout is real or fake, she is still so beautiful.

She may now be able to buy diamonds, but her tacky gold jewellery is a statement of her self named 'gangster Nancy Sinatra'.

There may be a backlash from the States, where she is from, saying how she isn't a breathe of fresh air and performed so awkwardly on SNL (Saturday Night Live). 

As it was her first major US performance, she probably wasn't that comfortable. I would be too, a year ago she was 'a nobody', it was only a few months ago she went viral on YouTube putting her name on the fame game.

Regardless, I love you Lana.