What’s an album that has got you through some tumulus times? For me it is Stars’ Set Yourself on Fire. Songs like “Calendar Girl” are the reason that I’m alive today.
Last night, the band celebrated the 10th anniversary of the album and I screamed all the lyrics along with the packed audience who probably shared some similar connections to the album.
I believe that all music that connects with someone is important. What is an album that has got you through some tough times?
Tonight I saw a show I wasn’t allowed to shoot. Phones were even put away for the most part. My hands were a bit fidgety but I was able to thoroughly experience the moment of two incredible artists. Sometimes it is worth it to unplug.
The day is here! I am hosting my first show tonight at the Handlebar. I am nervous and excited but the support I have received from friends is overwhelming.
I have also been seeing my poster around town, including a late night Poutine stop.
I always have the paranoia that no one will show up but by the amount of friends that have messaged me in the past week I know that won’t be the case.
It’s rare that in 2015 that a new RECORD STORE would open up but Dead Dog Records appeared in my neighbourhood. I finally ventured in to find out that they sold some records for lower prices than what I could find online.
I picked up a bunch! I’ve been eager to grow my collection ever since I bought my new record player. Dead Dog’s selection might be smaller than Sonic Boom but if you’re lucky there are some cool deals on awesome finds. Plus, since it’s small you can pretty much look through the entire place every time you go there, so you’re bound to find something you like!
I cherish physical copies of music still (but not CDs) and there is a magic I feel when pulling a record from the shelf and the warmth it brings to the music playing. This active relationship with music is so important, in a world where music is often as seamless as water with life. To keep these physical copies alive we have to support the artists that make them and our local stores that sell them.
I haven’t been in the audience of an arena show in a long time. It was quite spectacular to see The Weeknd, Banks and Travis Scott when they were in Toronto on November 5th. Being part of the crowd as a spectator (rather than a photographer) enables me to appreciate so much more of a show: the production, the music, the energy. It’s something I sometimes lose when I’m behind a lens so going to shows without thinking about producing content is something I need to do more frequently.
I’ve wanted a better record player for ages. I had one of those 3-in-one box things that were a CD player, radio and vinyl player at the same time. The problem was that it often didn’t work well for new records because the needle weight couldn’t be adjusted. I usually would mend the problem by putting dimes and nickels on the needle but I came to the realization that it would not be healthy for my records as my collection started to grow. I headed to Planet of Sound for some help.
They were super helpful and was able to find a perfect player for my needs and price range. They’re super honest about quality (price doesn’t always mean it’s better etc). I ended up choosing the TEAC TN 300 which has a built in pre-amp and also the ability to connect to the computer via USB if I wish. Not to mention it’s beautiful.
Planet of Sound helped me set my needle weight, as well as put the belt on properly at no extra charge. I was afraid I’d break it if I did it myself.
I also bought a Harmon Kardon Aura speaker. It has both Bluetooth and Airplay wireless capabilities. I can also plug it into my new record player. It is perfect for me because I don’t live in a big apartment so this is super simple and the sound fills the entire room.
I am now prepared for the best of both worlds, analog and digital. I can’t wait to annoy my neighbours blasting Carly Rae Jepsen or Arcade Fire. Investing in systems to play all my music is so worth it.
Tomorrow is exactly 3 months from the day Apple Music first launch, so it means that those of us who signed up on the first day for the free trial will realize that it comes to an end and be charged $9.99/month if you don’t unsubscribe.
I decided to unsubscribe. To be honest, the only reason for my unsubscribing is a big one. I can’t use it in a browser. What both Spotify and Rdio have going for them are browser versions that I can use literally anywhere, including at work. To keep up with Apple Music means I have to keep an updated version of iTunes, which results in fighting with IT to let me download something that they might not deem worthwhile.
The interface and selection were great. Beats One has some interesting artists as guests, but all this goes to waste if it remains inaccessible to people who don’t have wifi at work (waste of data on phones and devices) or can’t download iTunes on their computer.
Over on Ride the Tempo we released a compilation of the weirdest Canadian tunes we’ve posted so far on Tuesdays! The compilation is a free download on Bandcamp and CDS are available for a small fee. Get weird.
Last weekend, I attended WayHome music festival in Oro-Medonte, Ontario. I finally have all the photos and reviews up on Ride the Tempo. Read them here.
I’ll have a food and non-musical adventure wrap-up of the fest soon!
It’s Canada’s Day here! To celebrate on my blog Ride the Tempo we wrote a huge feature on what Canadian music means to a variety of different artists. Head over here to read it now!
Tiana Feng 