(19) Earcandy overload

Random shot at Laneway Festival - thanks Denise for the polaroids!

It's the start of February and I apologize for the lack of updates! I've been crazy busy and stoned, sorting a lot of stuff out for myself before I head down to school. Just hoping I can settle all of it and celebrate the Lunar New Year without a worry. Still working on a new theme (definitely) and I know it hasn't been exactly concrete throughout but I'm thinking it's worth a try, yes?

So I caught two festivals - Laneway Festival (happened 26 Jan) and Big Night Out (30 Jan) within the span of five days and wanted to explode as I bombarded myself with a whole lot of new music and saw the new boundaries being made and pushed (for my ears and the audience).

Major disclaimer is that I apologize for the lackluster Instagramin' and ok don't hate on me (if I haven't hit on the right kind of music that oughts to be given a million stars to) but I haven't exposed myself enough and definitely am not considering as any review of some sort so there goes. I was just kinda amazed by most of the acts I caught despite some of them being new to me. I didn't capture every single moment because I was so absorbed (and yes dying from exhaustion at Laneway especially) but anyway, there are a few not too decent, but acceptable ones.

Kings of Convenience at Laneway Festival

I think I liked Kings of Convenience (one of the best for me actually) a lot because it was my first time catching them live (missed too many of their shows in Singapore dayum). You can't not love Erland for his kooky moves (TOO CUTE) and Eirik's mesmerizing smile throughout the set. The energy really exploded when their full band came on, it just really expanded the sound that the usual Kings had on record. It seriously just, got / out / of / hand. I kept squealing and laughing because it was too cute to resist (I know I might be biased but I'm a girl anyway). I'd rather dance, any day, yes? Hah.

There were so many awesome acts in just one day (12 hours is quite crazy, really) and I couldn't decide which was the best but I really thought Of Monsters and Men were quite the crowd getter and I quite liked Nicolas Jarr and Alt J as well.

Tame Impala at Laneway via ST

Tame Impala really left me in awe though. They really sounded like a revised John Lennon to me in a good way. Feels like I'm going backwards again... HAH.

But, my absolute favourite was still Kimbra! I loved she brought the whole house down (!!!) Some serious girl power happening right there. I CANNOT CONTAIN MYSELF. Fine, extreme bias over here but I love everything about her - from her quirky dress and explosive personality to her crazy energetic set. Check out this vid of her rocking out her breakout single, Settle Down and mashing it up with Daft Punk magic.

And I'm definitely not missing out on giving Gotye due credit for the music he makes. To be honest, I wasn't a real fan of Gotye's and didn't really give him much of a listen. As it goes, I only knew that one song everyone else knew (it was Somebody That You Used To Know). But Gotye really surprised me and got me dropping my jaws at some songs because he was just like a male version of Kimbra, equally creative, has great vocals and never sold out on the kind of music he wanted to make at the end. I think my respect for him (beyond that one song) has grown a lot more after Laneway!

Kimbra and Gotye at Laneway via Her World Plus

And ok, I already kinda guessed this Kimbra actually singing with Gotye this time round is going to happen, and it did hah.

Big Night Out was great too! I went to catch Vampire Weekend, also for my first time. I apologize I'm not over enthusiastic about Yeah Yeah Yeahs or Band of Horses but I have to admit that they really were in control and knew what they were doing - in an absolutely good way of course. I really danced and had a lot of squealing moments hahah but yeah, it was one of those moments were I could see almost the whole crowd indulged in the wonderful music.

My abstract Instag shot of (a very mini) Vampire Weekend on stage

I really loved them and just screamed at every intro of the songs they played man! It's amazing how they reproduce every single bit of what they do on record, live! Diplomat's Son was probably one of my favourite songs for the night... or maybe just everything hahah.

And on an absolutely random note, The Strokes have announced a new album and you can check more via their site for their brand new single, One Way Trigger here.

Anyway, I would love to hear what's your favourite and if you've got any specific song that you might wanna highlight if you have. I'm absolutely open! And here's me ending off with a random #instacollage (???) of my friends and I at Laneway and BNO (if that is how it's supposed to roll in the first place). 

Thanks for reading if you do, and have a great day ahead! (;