Tag: headphone nation

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(via Standover)

Singapore punk rock band Standover walks the line between punk rock and full-on metal. The sound is self-described “Japanese style skate-punk,” which, from listening to A new Chapter, sounds like punk music that’s as aggressive as possible without losing a sense of melody. If you’re a fan of Saves The Day and other heavier emo bands, you’ll love this band.

These songs are technically just demos, but they’re still fun to listen and, dare I say, skate to. Watch the video teaser here. Keep watch for a new full release hopefully soon.

Standover:

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(via Yemi Alade)

OkayAfrica declares Yemi Alade‘s latest song, “Want You,” to be this year’s feel-good summer jam, and I agree. Produced by Maleek Berry, the Nigerian Afropop singer’s latest release is the follow-up to her last album, this year’s Mama Africa (The Diary of an African Woman). Hopefully this is a preview of a new album, but at the very least, the upbeat, electronic Caribbean groove stands strong on its own as a welcoming late-summer hit. The video, directed by Ovié Étseyatsé, is equally sunny, with Alade dancing on the California beach with her friends (I need friends who can dance as well as Alade’s friends. Also, I need to live near a beach.)

Nigerian Afropop, as Pitchfork noted a while back, was one of the world’s most exciting scenes that most Americans weren’t paying attention to. In our defense, we don’t pay attention to most things outside America (and Alade’s 2014 hit, “Johnny,” did get some decent airplay here), but we need to do better. If Alade is any indication, Nigerian Afropop is still alive and well, and Americans need to shape up and listen.

Yemi Alade:

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(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

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(via Mekaal Hasan Band)

Mekaal Hasan Band (MHB) is a Sufi rock band from Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, and is led by composer-songwriter and guitarist Mekaal Hasan, who is famous for being the first Pakistani to attend Berklee. Hasan’s guitar playing is jazzy and furious, which both soothes and rocks the soul. The rest of the band keeps up as well, combining jazz, classical, soul, and metal into one strange yet engaging sound.

Sufism (also known as Tasawouf) is an esoteric school within Islam that believes that true and divine love comes from the direct and personal experience with God. This niche thinking is a more mystic approach towards Islam that is reflected in the kind of poetry and storytelling that Mekaal Hasan Band combines with Van Halen guitars.

Mekaal Hasan Band:

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(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)

Headphone Nation

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Headphone Nation

I’m incredibly proud of the new Headphone Nation with its new look and direction. The blog will now exclusively cover international music outside the United States. Follow for the best modern sounds from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Europe, and beyond.