Just One Second by London Elektricity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LERwqzaZXA

I have told people that this is my favorite song of all time. I feel like I could listen to it for days.  What makes this song special is how it makes you depressed, yet happy at the same time. This mixture of feelings is what makes house music one of my favorite genres. It may not be my favorite genre, but there’s no other song that can make me feel the way it makes me feel. The way the artist’s voice mixes with the fast paced instrumental is a nice combination of calm yet frantic. I’ve shown this song to my friends at Miami and they feel the same way. House music is special in a way in that not only the lyrics can sway feeling, but also the instrumental. This is not found for me in rap or rock music. 
The Retirement of Swedish House Mafia

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steve-angello-on-swedish-house-mafias-retirement-it-was-time-20120802

A direct quote from this article features: Angello, who is hosting a label showcase for his Size Records imprint this September in Central Park, adds that Swedish House Mafia’s retirement is one way in which he can help shake up a genre whose fans, he says, are starting to take an influx of music for granted.  “


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/steve-angello-on-swedish-house-mafias-retirement-it-was-time-20120802#ixzz2CdhAKXOW

 It also mentions how DJ’s are releasing stuff very often. This, to me, explains one of the insurgences of house music. It has surrounded the music industry. Most songs released have or had a techno influence. A particular example would be Justin Bieber’s song: “As Long As You Love Me.” In the middle of the song comes a dubstep-like bass drop that caught me by surprise. It seems as if artists you would never think even attempt to make a techno-like song will.
Rap compared to House (in my opinion)

Often times, music depends on my mood. It’s always been to my curiosity how someone can be a fan of house music 24/7. For me, at least, house music is reserved for occasions when I am doing something that requires long-term focus. Mostly when I’m playing video games. Nothing can be more soothing and relaxing then having a progressive tune play in the background of your mind while you focus on the campaign of Halo 4 or Call of Duty Black Ops 2. 

I reserve “music listening sessions” to rap or rock music, where listening to the lyrics is an important part. So if House music is more of a background music, why is it so popular in Miami?

When house music is played in concerts, the song content is sometimes one of the least minded things. While it sounds harsh, it is true. For example, people go to Ultra Music Festival in order to have fun, dance with their friends, and be in a carefree environment. T 
What is considered House music?

Keep in mind before reading the rest of this blog that I am open to all kinds of music. I am not a particular fan of any one type of genre and I do not listen to only one type of music. I am a fan of all music, from classic to rap and country to rock. 

With this, what makes me a fan of House is the progressiveness and feeling it evokes. The definition of House music is so broad because you can have different moods from different songs. Sometimes a song will make me say: “Wow. I feel like I can move mountains right now.” to “I just want to sit in a corner and not talk to anyone.” It can make the difference between a bad day and a good day. While some house music can evoke depression, it’s a good kind of depression. As weird as it sounds, this is the good kind of depression. 

By definition, house music is a “genre of electric dance music that originated in the American city of Chicago in the early 1980’s.” But I don’t really care. I like it.  
Feedback on Andrew Lydon’s Post

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The Underground Rap Industry

The life of an independent artist is a grind day in and day out. I want to talk about how artists and groups, especially Macklemore and Ryan Lewis struggle to keep their independence without signing to a label while making a profit at the same time. Many rappers who sign to a label are pressured to make decisions that they do not want to make. Record labels have control over their artists so they can choose what songs get produced and what shows artists have to perform. Signing to a a label signifies to many fans, that the artist has sold out and is no longer a respectable artist. I plan on talking about the ins and outs of the underground rap industry and the artists that struggle to make a living within it. “

This is interesting because I can relate very easily. I tend to find rappers before they become signed to a major label or famous. I listened to rappers such as Sam Adams and Wiz Khalifa before they were featured on the radio and it’s weird because I tend to have liked them more before they were “mainstream.” 
House Music Industry in Miami

I believe that with the surplus of music festivals and events, the house music industry has boomed in Miami. In all honesty, I don’t see how you can’t attract cultural influence from a city such as Miami. WIth the beautiful weather, beaches, and world famous attractions, Miami has become a hotbed for foreign influence. When a city becomes a hotbed for foreign influence, visitors tend to stay and enjoy the place more which results in diversity in population. This led me to believe to make the parallel that popular things tend to grow in popular places. The insurgence of house music could only spread in areas where it could thrive, such as a large and diverse community that could be found at Miami. 
Miami’s Interest in House Music

Before I came to Miami, I was told that my taste in music is the most varied they have ever seen. From the playlists on my iPhone, my friends could hear songs from artists from Notorious B.I.G. to Miley Cyrus then all the way to Disturbed and Miley Cyrus. My iPhone had it all. I, personally, love all genres of music. My taste is not limited to rap or rock, but also includes genres such as classical and techno. 
However, when I moved to the University of Miami, I found everyone either loved House/Techno music or Rap. There was never an “in-between” for the students. It was only this extreme or the other extreme. 
Rap is a universal favorite. With the emergence of hip hop came the arrival of rappers such as “Chief Keef”, “2 Chainz”, and Rick Ross. It is not uncommon for college students to enjoy rap music and it was not a surprise to me since most of my friends in Tampa listened to rap music.

However, my taste in techno was not common in Tampa. In Miami, it’s the complete opposite. Artists such as Kaskade and Avicii are among favorites and techno music can be heard through the hallways of my dorm. This led me to ask, why is House Music dominant in Miami?
Just a few weeks ago, the scramble for tickets to Ultra Music Festival came and so did my answer. Miami is a cultural hotspot, which is why Ultra Music Festival chooses South Beach as its location. House music is a favorite in Europe, and Miami attracts plenty of foreign visitors who choose to live here. On a larger scale, Miami has become such a cultural hotbed that even minor cultures such as music have been altered and adjusted accordingly.  



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