Music

Feature: Sounds Like Moving

Just released – the video for the song Black Roses by Sounds Like Moving:

Directed, cut, filmed & edited by Lucas Peña
Music: Sounds Like Moving
Label: 100 Songs

This song means a lot to me.
I first heard it about a year ago, at an intimate gig here in Stockholm, and it instantly spoke to me. I was still struggling with a lot of things in my life, trying to deal with the darkness both in myself and in others, and the theme, lyrics and strong performance just cut straight into my heart. It takes a lot for me to cry at a concert, but that performance brought tears to my eyes.
Since then I have seen him perform the song about half a dozen times, and it remains one of my absolute favorites.

Read about the making of the video here:
http://beehy.pe/premiere-sounds-like-moving-black-roses/

Both Sides Now (Cover)

Nearly two years after her death, another unreleased Mindy McCready song has surfaced – this beautiful rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now:

BOTH SIDES NOW
Lyrics and Music by Joni Mitchell

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere,
I’ve looked at clouds that way.

But now they only block the sun,
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done,
But clouds got in my way.

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels,
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real,
I’ve looked at love that way.

But now it’s just another show,
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know,
Don’t give yourself away.

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know love at all
Really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud,
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds,
I’ve looked at life that way.

But now old friends they’re acting strange,
They shake their heads, they tell me that I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day.

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know life, really don’t know life at all
Really don’t know life at all…

Portrait: Veronica Ballestrini

This month’s portrait is unusual – instead of drawing and writing about someone who have had a big effect on my life and art I have chosen someone who just recently appeared in my life. The portrait was made with soft sketching crayons and is the first ‘two toned’ portrait I’ve attempted – as such, it was a bit difficult to get the detail I would have wanted, but I’m still pleased with the end result.

There are several reasons why I chose Veronica Ballestrini for today’s portrait: First of all, because she is such a talented singer and song writer – second, because the story of her career is inspiring – last, but definitely not least, because today is her 23rd birthday!

So, Happy Birthday Veronica!

VeronicaBallestriniVeronica’s career started with cover song on MySpace when she was thirteen, and two years later she won 1st place at the USA World Showcase in Las Vegas. Eight years ago today, on her fifteenth birthday, her parents surprised her with a trip to Nashville to pursue her dream. In 2009 she published her first album, What I’m All About. Since then she has continued to work on her music, touring and writing songs, and earlier this year she released her second album, Flipside.

Her name appeared briefly on my radar years ago, but it wasn’t until she started following me on twitter that I got my eyes and ears on her music. Since then I have returned to her songs over and over, and several of them have taken place among my absolute favorites. I’m not going to add more praise than that – if you haven’t heard her music I suggest you go and have a listen.

Oh, and Veronica? You still owe me that Skype-call 😉

You can find Veronica on Twitter, Facebook, and here on WordPress