Is School for Everyone?

I don't understand how someone could be so intelligent without an education. They tell us from such a young age that we have to go to school in order to receive a degree and we will achieve our dreams. Yet Ed Sheeran, who dropped out of school and moved away at 16, is one of the most intelligent people I know. He has this crazy theory which he mentions in interviews all the time. He says that if you want to do something that requires a degree, like becoming a doctor or a lawyer, go to school get your degree and start your practice. If you want to do something that doesn't require a degree, like construction work or any sort of art (eg. music, painting, design), get an apprenticeship or internship and work your way up in that industry.

This is so interesting because I never really thought of of it this way. I always thought that you would go to school, and when you finish you have the skills to pursue whatever career you wanted. If you think about it though, if the field you want to go into doesn't require a degree you can start from a very young age and work your way up, giving you four or so years more experience than the people coming out of college with a degree. It makes sense, employers want young innovative people in the field right now. That is not to say that we should all drop out right now. School is important, but if you know exactly what you want to do and school is not making that happen for you, maybe re-evaluate it. Thank you Mr. Sheeran for the wonderful advice!

-Tracy

Working Hard to Make It

There is always a context in what way I like a musician. It could be for their sheer talent, their humble attitude, or the effort they put in to achieving their dreams. For example, I don't necessarily love Justin Bieber's music or his attitude, but I do appreciate him for the hard work he had to put in in order to have a career. He was busking outside a movie theatre as a little kid and sacrificed his childhood to live in this crazy whirlwind that is the music industry. I think as much as his actions may make him look like a douchebag, for lack of a better word, his work ethic is ridiculous. Similarly, Katy Perry got turned down from several record labels because she was simply not good enough. When she finally got a record deal she still had some work to do on her vocals. She worked with vocal coaches and what not and look at her career now. That dedication makes an artist cultivated and worthy of appreciation.

Then there are artists who are just good people. The best example I can think of is Ben Haggerty, or more popularly known as Macklemore. He is one of those genuinely kind people who works extra hard so he can give back to his wonderful fans and to people in general. Even to this day he still throws his annual Fan pizza party where he brings fans in who have an artistic talent or have done something really special and thanks them with a private show, pizza, and a meet and greet. Ben also takes time out of his busy schedule to visit children's hospitals frequently.  Finally his partner and friend Ryan Lewis started a HIV campaign called "The 30/30 Project" which strives to build 30 medical facilities in places of need. As Lewis' mother is an HIV survivor, Ben and Ryan teamed up and made this campaign possible for Ryan's mother. Charity acts are not the only thing that make you a genuine person. Taylor Swift recently has had the spotlight shined on her for the wonderful things she does for her fans, a recognition I think she truly deserves. She has been spending time to find fans on various social networks who have done so much to support her career but have not had the chance to meet her. These fans were invited to her "1989 Secret Sessions" where she invited them into her homes, baked them cookies, and played them her newest album a month before the release. Also, she has been finding fans on tumblr who are having a hard time and sending them early christmas presents just to show them that someone cares about them. I think it's hard to find an artist who would do something so wonderful for these fans she doesn't even know. It's thing like I mentioned that deserve recognition and make a musician at the top of my list. 

Finally there is aspect of sheer talent. Songs or albums that give me goosebumps. These artists deserve recognition because of their ability for me to feel some kind of emotion through their music, which I think is a strange concept. There are many things that make me appreciate a musician, but it's not always about the music.

-Tracy

Newfound Loves

Recently I have come across a few up-and-coming artists that are to die for. The first was Andrew Hozier-Byrne known as Hozier, who I first encountered when Ed Sheeran covered his most popular song "Take Me To Church" in BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge in late September. His self-titled Debut album then released on October 7th. I bought his album immediately was hooked. His unique voice and folk sound landed his album at the top of my playlist. Hozier then performed on Saturday Night Live and his incredible talent was shared with millions of viewers. Some of my favorites from that album are "Work Song" and "Someone New". I see a bright future for Hozier. 

The next artist I encountered was Jesse Ware, who I found on twitter. Her first single off of this album " Say You Love Me" was such a beautiful song, I was immediately drawn to her soothing vocals and lyrics. Ware's harmonies with friend and colleague Ed Sheeran in the single brought this song to its full potential. Her album entitled "Tough Love" Released on October 13. Some of my favorites from Ware's album are "Say You Love Me" and the title track "Tough Love". Jessie Ware is definitely one to look into. 

Next Was James Bay, who I encountered while listening to BBC Radio 1's Breakfast show one morning. The song was "Let it Go" and I instantly fell in love with his acoustic sound. He later performed at Burberry's Show during London Fashion Week. After hearing his performance I was intrigued by his talent. Although Bay has not released a full album I am excited to see what he has to come. 

Finally I discovered Callum Burrows or more commonly known Saint Raymond, who sent me his EP entitled "The Introduction" for free in an email. I had seen the name come up a few times but hadn't looked into him much. After listening to the whole EP I was pleasantly surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. He captured an Alternative sound with what I would label as reggae style. I love the upbeat nature of "Brighter Days" and "Thread" but Raymond also grabbed my attention with the ballad "I Want You". Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the EP as a whole and I can't wait for him to blow up very very soon.

Links to buy the music mentioned are below.

-Tracy

Rant on Taylor Swift

Despite my previous thoughts I was pleasantly surprised with Taylor Swifts new album, 1989. Her previous albums were labeled as Country, even though her songs were pop and far from anything Country. With this album she stopped fooling herself and admitted that this was a pop album. Her previous music was cute and campy and adorable and her songs were catchy. Every album came with a large amount of baggage. There was always some song that was a past boyfriend who had broken her heart and she was getting back at him. It was a huge scandal in the tabloids and created unnecessary drama that kept her name in the press. With this album no one could talk shit. She took a break from country, boys, and relocated to New York City. This change of pace, in my opinion, has changed her album from just another one of her albums to being a genius piece of art. No one can attack Taylor for only creating songs that stem from past relationships because these songs are not about some heartache she has experienced, they're songs that her demographic can relate to easily. She made a damn good album and she worked so hard to make this the best record she could have made, and seeing as it sold 600,000 copies in 24 hours, I can assure you it's paying off. There is no one in the music industry currently who can do what she does, she is making more money than you could imagine and remains humble and grounded. She doesn't flaunt her wealth and fortune and continues to stay detaches from the vortex that is Hollywood. She is literally shitting on everyone in the music industry and this is just the beginning. Now the press has no reason to overlook her music for her promiscuous behavior and has to now fully evaluate her true talent. 

-Tracy