Music is in my core being. Growing up in a musical family, I was surrounded by different instruments, musicians, genres, and anything and everything in between. My house was never quiet; and looking back, I wouldn’t have it any other way. As a child, I grew up learning and listening to classical and jazz music primarily (I’ll do a post on my favorite composers/jazz musicians later). They are two of my favorite genres hands down. As I grew up, my musical preferences were/are all over the map.

If you shuffled the songs on my iPod, you could go from, Death Metal, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Punk in 5 clicks. Seriously, I love it all! Each style of music offers its own uniqueness and complexities, you just have to be open to listening for them. Full disclosure, country isn’t something I can get on board with. While I admire the musical talent of country artists, a lot of the content is very depressing. That said, there are still some country songs that I tap my toes to. While I love almost anything under the sun, there are a few musicians that I can never grow tired of.

4. Killswitch Engage

I’ve been listening to Killswitch for about a decade now (gosh I’m old) and I’ve loved everything they have put out to date. I remember when I first heard them, I was about 13/14 years old. I was intrigued with their sound because they were blending metal with a melodic chorus which was odd but amazing at the same time. My Last Serenade is still one of my favorite songs of theirs to date while My Curse has to be my absolute favorite. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them live twice now with both Howard and Jesse as the lead singers. I don’t listen to them as often now, but they’ll always still hold a place near and dear to my heart.

(Warped Tour 07′ and Extreme Thing 14′)

3. Disclosure

Words cannot describe my love for Disclosure. Their chord progressions are out of this world and Latch, dare I say is pure genius. That song is like sex for your ears. I’m not one to put songs on repeat, but I could listen to that song forever and ever and still find something new to love about it. Aside from that particular song, Disclosure’s music is all really good. I have all of their albums and EPs and everything is legit. I have yet to see them live, but before I leave this world, you’d better bet it’s going to happen.

(Their live set in Paris, which is awesome!)

2. Fink

I first discovered Fink back in 2008 when I heard Trouble’s What You’re In. If you couldn’t tell by now, I love emotionally evoking music, and Fink does not does not disappoint. He is another artist that I’ve yet to experience live, but on my short list of live acts I need to see, he is on the top of that list. There aren’t too many artists that I continue to grow with throughout the years, but I doubt that I’ll stop enjoying Fink anytime soon. I highly recommend checking out all of his albums though I will say that I love them all equally and for different purposes.

1. Bonobo

Last but certainly not least, Simon Green A.K.A. Bonobo is on the top of this list. Aside from the fact that he is positively gorgeous, his music is as equally, if not more beautiful than he is. I have no clue how he does it, but Bonobo manages to capture the emotional equivalent of the human condition in his work. Every one of his albums is vastly different, especially his older stuff, yet they all have that unifying quality that is, Bonobo. Each of his albums speaks to me in varying ways and I always find them applicable in different aspects of my life. If I’m happy? Bonobo. Feeling down? Bonobo. Dealing with anxiety, Bonobo. Just wanna groove? Bonobo. If I sound crazy, it’s all good, he’s just that legit. I actually saw him play this year in Vegas with a live band, and it was hands down the best live performance I’ve ever experienced. 

The audience embodied a hugely diverse group of people, yet you could feel the sense of unity among us. Peace, harmony, and acceptance filled the energy of the room. Everybody was swaying to the groove of the music. It was one of the most surreal and ethereal experiences I have had to date (no I wasn’t on drugs). If there’s anything you get from this post, it’s that you need to listen to Bonobo, preferably live. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.

(Bonobo live at the Brooklyn Bowl LV this year)

(Recurring- My favorite Bonobo song of all time)

So these are a few of my favorite things, lol! Listening to music is such a huge part of my life, as I imagine it is for most people. I hope you check out these people above as I love their stuff immensely. Also I just realized that 3/4 of these Artists are from the UK. Hm even more reasons for Abbey and I to get across the pond sooner than later, lol! Who are the groups/bands/artists that you can’t live without?