Evil – PHOX

I recently posted a song by PHOX on my winter mix, but this video explains exactly PHOX should be streaming from your earbuds every day. Describing themselves as “a gaggle of goofy wizards performing minor illusions and bigtop music,” PHOX is one of my favorite up-and-coming bands. Check out Evil by PHOX! 

If you like this, you’ll be sure to enjoy the rest of their “Live at iTunes Festival” album.

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The End – Macklemore

photo credit: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Towards the end of my time in high school, I struggled to find my niche. I spread wide across friendship layers, never diving deeper than the surface, just dripping. My unique past full of complexities and lacking in Birches, I found myself lost. Lacking a clear identity, I turned to music. This is when I found Macklemore. 

I’m not going to be the trite guy who states he knew about an artist before they were cool. Or sit here complaining about how so-and-so artist sold out, and is now mainstream. Those topics are old, dried-up play-doh (useless and hard to make anything new out of). Why I bring up Macklemore is due to his music being the hand out of the abyss. I connected with his lyrics, what he stood for as an individual, and his struggles growing up. Never before had I felt an artist evoke my experiences through their words in the style which Macklemore presented. Walking out of a cloudy youth, I emerged with a clear cut vision.

Fast forward to present day, I just went to his concert in San Diego. It was my third time, and every time he stands up on the stage, he leads a congregation with his words. I stood with five thousand other fans & felt at the same time, alone with his music, and as one united force pushing the meaning into the air with our carbon dioxide fumes. I’m not sure why I’m sharing this with you right now…maybe it’s because I want you to feel the same thing with an artist, or just to scrape my layers back for exposure.

All I know is that this song below, The End, is my favorite song by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. It heaves and flows, just like my last five years – still etching new tornadoes on my blackboard of life. 

“You whispered, ‘don’t you love music
It’s such a gift and I’ll give it to ya
But you gotta use it'”

Latch (acoustic) – Sam Smith

I know I already posted about Sam Smith, but this version of Latch is just…well..impeccable. 

The Blackest Wave, A Winter Mix

I spent this past weekend with friends on a boat off the coast of San Diego. I woke up early and laid out on the deck, watching the winter sun rise above the eastern mountains, illuminating the black waves beneath the molasses ocean. And within these depths, I found inspiration for this mix.

I’ve fought hard this semester through the challenges of friendships, romance, school, and those unknown variables life threw at me. But the sun rose. Again. 

Although it’s winter (and finals)…hunker down and push through. There are moments in life that will define you. Right now, studying for finals or biking through freezing wind – these aren’t those moments. But those black waves you wade through will crash, and soon you’ll ride them home. 

I hope this mix will serve as a slow, methodical, and meaningful exoneration from your current state and find you knee deep in the holiday season. Cheers!

If you enjoy this mix, check out my others here!

Volume 1: Mix 6
The Blackest Wave, A Winter Mix

Faithful Heights – Night Beds
Medicine Shows – Wool on Wolves
Follow You Down – Matthew Mayfield
Dream Team – Aiden Knight
The City by the Sea – David McMillin of Fort Francis
My Backwards Walk – Frightened Rabbit
Poison Oak – Bright Eyes
Sorrow – Tyler Lyle
Barside – PHOX
Unbroken Promise – Erick Baker
The Learned Thief – You Me & Apollo
Winter Song – The Head and the Heart
I Need a Change – The Shouting Matches
Threes (demo) – The Format
Meet Me at Home – Will Samson
Festival – Sigur Ros

Oblivion – Bastille

This thing called finals has been usurping my every moment and I’m apologizing for my lack of posts. To remedy this, I have a winter mix coming out incredibly soon – and this video from Bastille. Although I’m not their largest fan, this song, with the string section finish, is too much to ignore. Take a look.

Wyoming – Water Liars

“The world needs depressing songs. They let the common folk live those stories via their deafening headphones so they don’t have to go out and actually suffer through them. Because, you know, we can only discover what’s wrong by either doing it or learning it. Though, remember what Aristotle said, “Moderation in everything.” I warn you: DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS SONG ON REPEAT…”

The Coldest State – Donovan Woods

The Sixes post is late, I know…but bear with me a take a listen to this. It’s a sure way to start your post-holiday week off on the right foot.