Howdy! An Introduction
Howdy! My name is Payne Spiva and this is my blog about my obsession with music.
(Recommendations at the bottom.)
I’ve been known to annoy my friends about what I’m listening to. So, I’m starting this blog with the intention of giving myself a space to nerd out about whatever music I’m into at the moment. My plans are to make a weekly post on fridays that contain five album recommendations/reviews. The format will be something new, something old, something soft, something heavy, and a grab bag slot. I’m aware the last one is kind of a cop out, but I couldn’t decide between instrumental and experimental. Plus, this is my blog and I get to make the rules. Maybe I’ll even tack a couple of singles I’m enjoying on the end if I’m feeling crazy some weeks. Who knows. I’m still figuring this out.
You’re probably wondering why you should care about what I think. Well, I like to think I’ve got pretty good taste, but here’s some actual stuff about me that might convince you.
My dad got me into music really young with bands like U2, The Cure, and The Black Keys. This gave me an early start, but my obsession only got worse when I got Rock Band for my Xbox 360 when I was 6. Here’s a picture of me absolutely shredding on Christmas morning with my dad and brother. That’s me on the right.
I’ve been playing a real guitar for about half my life, I spend a lot of my free time producing music of my own, and if I’m not making it, I’m probably listening to it. I like to spend my free time digging through Spotify, Bandcamp, and artist’s Twitter accounts. According to my last.fm stats, in 2021 I listened to an average of 45 songs per day. (Here’s my last.fm if you want to stalk me.) Of course this isn’t 100% of my music diet, but it’s a good chunk. I also try to get to any show I find near me. Recently, I’ve been to Silent Planet, Weatherday, and Knocked Loose.
If that doesn’t convince you, that’s totally fine. I’m just some 20 year old kid. But, if you stick around, maybe I can introduce you to some cool stuff. My first actual post will be next week, but I’ll link a couple things I’ve been enjoying to give you a taste of what I like.
Brakence - New Tracks
This isn’t an album, but his new singles are stuck in my head. Brakence is an artist a friend showed me in 2020 that I have been obsessed with since. He makes pop music with an electronic and indie rock bend. His music finds itself in the hyperpop scene a lot if you’re into artists like Glaive, Ericdoa, or Underscores. He just released a song today that makes me feel like I picked up one of those invincibility stars from Mario. Funny enough, I’m listening to it right now! I linked my two favorites at the moment, but I encourage you to check out the rest of his catalogue if you like these tracks. I cannot get enough.
Toe - For Long Tomorrow
In an almost 180, I’ve been listening to a lot of Toe lately. Specifically, For Long Tomorrow. Toe is a Japanese post rock/math rock band that’s been around since the mid-2000’s. I found them in high school while I was knee-deep in my math rock discovery. This is their first full length and I find it super satisfying. I like to listen to it while I’m reading or doing homework. It might be the most basic choice, but my favorite track is two moons.
Greyhaven - This Bright and Beautiful World
On the heavier side of things, I’ve been enjoying Greyhaven’s new album a lot recently. I got into the band when I saw them open for Vein.fm. They blew me away with their blend of prog, metalcore, and hardcore with a math edge. For the metal purists who will probably tell me I’ve mislabeled them, I don’t care. The front half of this album has been a crutch at the gym for the past few months. My favorite track is More and More Hands.
I hope this concept interests some of y’all. If not, oh well I think I’ll have fun. Whether you decide to listen to what I recommend or not, keep exploring and happy listening!