Julia Nunes has been a singer-songwriter since age 13. She plays guitar, ukulele, melodica, and piano, but she also uses household items, such as pillows, water bottles, tissue boxes or an old slinky, for extra percussion. Her charm is best displayed on stage or in the videos she posts on YouTube. Using video/audio layering and a unique approach to song arrangement, Julia has created over 60 music videos of originals and covers, most of which have been viewed an average of 650,000 times
The Early November / Hair When I listen to this song, I allow myself to be as cynical and damning of the world as I can possibly get, and still have a spring in my step. I envision a Barbie version of myself making her way through the world, becoming self aware and crestfallen with a smile frozen on her face.
Australian rockers Powderfinger’s new album Golden Rule was again recorded with Nick DiDia, who was responsible for their massively successful Internationalist, Odyssey Number Five, and Vulture Street albums. The band are the headliners for the Big Day Out and Homebake, and are also curating a festival in Brisbane.
Rolling Stones / Gimme Shelter From the guitar intro solo genius and riffing, through Mick’s insightful lyric, to when Mary Clayton’s spine chilling vocals break at the peak of the song, it is a benchmark for me as to how a song can have restraint and be heavy at the same time. It wreaks of a band in fine form. I’m also a sucker for a dirty harmonica. Give me dirty harmonica!
Boasting members of Serena Maneesh, Harry’s Gym and Danielson, revolving around frontman and songwriter Frode Stromstad — with the album’s supporting cast including Sufjan Stephens and Gary Olsen of Lady Bug Transistor — I Was A King are a misty eyed pop-gaze of West Coast harmonies and ringing Rickenbacker. They have just released a new single — Norman Bleik — through Sonic Cathedral.
Flaming Lips / Slow Nerve Action The last song out on one of my favorite Flaming Lips albums, Transmissions From The Satellite Heart. I think Flaming Lips are responsible for creating the coolest drum sound ever.
DePedro, known for his work as Calexico’s guitarist, was recently featured as National Geographic’s first record label release, with his album The Sun People.
The Beatles / A Day In The Life A beautiful way of using an entire classical orchestra in a pop song.
The Marches debut album, 4 a.m. is the new midnight, is a blend of electro and Motown, with heavy doses of indie dance thrown in for good measure. The band are in the studio right now working on their second album but will be performing a live full set on a Nov 24th podcast for Radio Hotbodies.
The Beatles / You Know My Name Look Up the Number Preempting the next sentence, I know what is about to be stated will sound ridiculous because hip-hop has sampled from even pre-60s eras. But the first six seconds of this song is possibly the first hip-hop beat. It is the first time a beat actually sounds like a sampled hip-hop beat before the concept existed. And I hate to give the Beatles anymore credit, because they have so much already. If I’m not wrong, you heard it from me first.
Os Mutantes were formed in Sao Paolo Brazil in 1966 by Sergio Dias and his brother Arnaldo, who blended their love of English rock n roll, culled from shortwave radio broadcasts, with American psychedelic in the spirit of Jimi Hendrix and traditional Brazilian music to create an entirely new sound to match an equally turbulent time in Brazilian history. The recent release of their latest album, Haih, marks the band’s first recorded material since 1974 and their first album to receive a worldwide release.
Stravinsky / The Firebird It’s just so beautiful. It’s a study of how to develop a melody and pushes the envelope in all directions. It’s constantly evolving all the way through.
Before teaming with Airgo Music in 2008, Frankie Negron was signed by WEA at the age of 17, releasing seven albums between 1997 and 2003. He spent the next three years and two albums with Sony Music. Over the years, Frankie Negron has received several Latin Grammy Award nominations, multiple Billboard Award nods, and two Premio Lo Nuestro Awards for Song of the Year. His latest release is Independence Day, his first album in three years and his first album in English
Bruce Springsteen / Born to Run Whenever I hear this song, I crank it up all the way. It’s definitely one of my all time favorites. Any time I’m driving down the Jersey Turnpike and need a pick me up, this is the song I play. Jersey Baby!
Ethereal guitars and lyrical quirks will transport the listener to a dark, watery world of mystery and enchantment, and leave their heads swimming with unforgettable melodies. Sydney’s Deep Sea Arcade’s reverberated pop recalls The Beatles at their psychedelic peak, yet with a character and charm that is undeniably unique. Their single Don’t Be Sorry is the first release to come from the past six months of recording both at home and at BJB studios in Sydney with their co-producer Simon Berkfinger.
Pink Floyd / Paint Box Listen to it on a rainy day the morning after you got really drunk and did something stupid and embarrassing. I especially like when he sings: ‘Arriving late, there she waits looking very angry, as cross as she can be a-bee-a-bee-a-bee-a-bee’. The way I interpret these lyrics is that he’s pissed some girl off. She’s really hot and probably dressed in something from Carnaby Street. He wants to say he’s sorry but he’s taken too much acid and he gets distracted by a bee.
Depending on your background, the term “power trio” may bring to mind the ’60s sonic depth-charges launched by the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Cream; the twisty prog-rock styles of mid-70s King Crimson and Rush. Or the post-grunge bash of Seether and Wolfmother. In the case of Civil Twilight, as evidenced on their self-titled debut album, the term means all of that. And much more.
Grizzly Bear / Two Weeks I love this whole album. In fact, our whole band has been getting into it and really enjoying it. It’s a super creative and fun album that seems to transport one to a magical world of sounds and pictures, melodies, rhythms and harmonies that the Beach Boys would be proud of.
Three-piece Bleech hail from London’s East End. Still reeling from the success of debut single, Is It True That Boys Don’t Cry?, these young upstarts bagged a place in the final in the Road To V competition, from more than 3,000 submissions. Things are set to get even busier as the band have confirmed the first ever residency at KOKO’s Club NME. They play a melodic, grungy, guitar-led sound reminiscent of Nineties Brit Pop. Their second single, The Worthing Song, is out on August 17th through Billie Records.
Blur / This Is A Low We recently had the privilege of seeing Blur twice on their ‘comeback’ this summer, at Goldsmiths University (capacity 400) and Hyde Park (capacity 50,000). This wasn’t a ‘comeback’, Blur never left. They were two completely different gigs, both equally as good but This Is A Low was for me a stand out track at both gigs.
My Secret Playlist is a music discovery website and weekly email publication. We invite our favourite bands and musicians to give us the rundown on their eight favourite songs right now. These are their words on the music that inspires them.
