May 30, 2008

THE ALBUM CHASE


Check out these guys - Alejandro Manzano, Fabian Manzano, Daniel Manzano from Florida. They're brothers who make amazing music. Just a handful of people might have heard of their music in the US and they’re practically unheard of in India. But on the strength of their incredible performances, they have grown to own a solid fan-base which is no easy goddamn task.

I stumbled upon their music on Youtube at the beginning of the year and since then I’ve been a dedicated fan. I’m particularly excited about their new album- ‘All You’re Meant To Be’, primarily because it’s their first release since I got to know them. More importantly, they also sang covers of some my new favorite artists- John Mayer, Chris Bown, Carrie Underwood and Leona Lewis. Liking the covers, if I’m 100% honest, really says I like who this band was, the new album will determine if I like who the band is.
Boyceavenue’s here for the long haul. Their performances are phenomenal and the members themselves make clear one thing: that they’ve set the standard and all you have to do is turn up the volume, hit the repeat button, and your troubles, for a blissful three minutes or so, will disappear.

Spin It Around: New Music in the Public's Hands





Karma6 launches their label on Monday in Mumbai. Wish I could go… Oh I wish they had it in B’lore. I mean they’re from here, after all. With the launch of the label there will be a good chance to check out new music and I know there’s a thirst for new live music out here. A lot of positive things happening right now and the scene is on the brink of a major upsurge. Friday’s here! Music and water – that’s how I’m spending my weekend.

To Sheet’s, Runa, Ru and my frequent readers:

“well open up your mind and see like me


open up your plans and damn you're free


look into your heart and you'll find love love love love


listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me


ah, la one big family….”

- Jason Mraz- “I’m Yours’’

Medicine Music


I was around twenty when I first touched a dead body. My aunt was pretty young when she died of cancer. I was at the hospital the evening they gave up hope and stopped doing anything for her. I was standing near the doorway when I saw her take her last breath. I remember hearing her struggling so much to breathe. Every sound that escaped from her mouth sounded painful to my ears. I asked my mum to hound the nurses and tell them to check on her. They came around, took a look at her, gave a resigned shrug and told us they could do nothing.
A few minutes later, we heard the last long breath and I knew she was gone. I was afraid to touch her because I'd grown up with her, seen her laugh, eaten numerous lunches with her, seen her share tons of memories with my family and I couldn't quite believe that she was gone. With a lot of difficulty I went close to her body and touched her arm for only a second and then I walked away from her, out of the room, crying and ashamed and certain that I never wanted to touch a dead body of someone I had known and loved. I didn't want to accept the fact that life had just left her and all that was left was this body I knew but it couldn’t move, it couldn’t do anything that I had known her to do.


When I had returned home, I pulled out three songs that sorta helped me through this time.


Sarah Maclachlan- I Will Remember You


Garth Brooks- More Than a Memory


Kansas- Dust in the Wind


I listened to them and thought of people I had once known and cared about and how they were off on long journeys, how they left this place forever, who dreamt of having better things and living better lives and how they are in a place far better than they would’ve ever dreamt of.