humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of music professionals, amateurs, inspiring students, celebrities, lifestyle influencers, and general feel good human stories in the music sphere.
Just Sing
Eight or nine years ago, my son announced he wanted to use his birthday money to buy a ukulele. This was something of a surprise to me, as we’d never exposed him to the films of George Formby nor to any music not from my extensive collection or 90s indie rock. His school had started a ukulele club, and he wanted to join. We bought one. I helped him out tuning it, and strummed a few chords. “This is fun,” I thought to myself, and ordered myself a cheap uke (this is how ukuleles spread, like a cheerful disease). I found a local pub jam, Ukejam, where I would take him for the first half (it was always on a school night, so we had to get home early). Ukejam is a large amount of people sitting in a pub, strumming ukuleles and singing to popular songs. I would sit there mouthing the words.
By Catherine Rogan7 years ago in Beat
Being a Musician Is Hard
Being a musician is one of those hard things to do that nobody outside of your field understands. As a musician, seriously putting time into your craft, you start to notice that you pull away from certain friendships. Family members give you crap because they don’t see why you’d rather put faith in something unstable rather than focus on getting a job you hate. Relationships tend to go sour really fast with the wrong people.
By SeDari World7 years ago in Beat
Life Without Words
The well used wooden bench squeaks against the floor. Chipped, yellowed keys that have also been well used, some more than others, are revealed under the cover. My fingers brush over black and white, feeling the hum of the piano. I settle myself and breathe before my fingers take me away to a gondola ride in Venice.
By Clair Solstice7 years ago in Beat
10 Songs That Get Me Emotional
Music gets me in a lot of feelings. I can have the worst day and all I have to do is put on some songs to get me dancing or walking in a good mood. The same goes for the other way around, I can have the best day of my life and something can cause me to have a bad day off so I listen to music reflecting what I'm feeling. These 10 songs in no particular order gets me emotional and it usually depends because sometimes I can understand the lyrics, but I can also focus on the way it sounds, so some songs may not be emotional to whoever reads this but maybe they share how I feel as well.
By Don Anderson II7 years ago in Beat
A Musical Love Affair
So, music. That beautiful combination of sounds and words that can take us anywhere, cure our aching heart and make us all feel like a single lady. Whilst trying to apply to internships in just about everything, I started writing this. And then it became clear that it was not one of those things I could whittle down to just 500 words. So here I go…
By pickled eggs7 years ago in Beat
Never Underestimate the Power of Music
Music is one of those topics that sounds easy to talk about, but when it comes down to it, it leaves you speechless. Heck, it was difficult to write this article. It isn't one of those topics that you can research and find the answers to, because it's too complex for a definitive conclusion. Listeners and creators come to their own conclusions about music; it's individuality within it's own rights, it's powerful in it's own unique way, but how does music exhibit such power in 3 minutes or more? I’ve come up with a few reasons why music shouldn’t be underestimated for it’s power down below…
By Tiffany Purcell7 years ago in Beat
Writing a Song
I started playing ukulele 10 months ago. It was a creative outlet for me in a place where I felt trapped. Oftentimes, I would wait until I was alone in the house before searching some easy tabs on the internet and attempting to strum them out. I’ve always loved music, but I’ve never felt the need to write anything for myself. Copying was easier anyways. It was a way to learn how to recognize the differences between the notes and pick up the patterns when strumming.
By Will Jackson7 years ago in Beat
Being Smooth and Cool Through Music Was Amazing
Music is amazing, isn't it? You can experience so many emotions and moments with music, it's pretty crazy because there is a lot of music when you experience moments like when you like someone, a song may remind you of them or if you're in a good mood, your favorite song can come on and it can make you dance. I've had moments like those too but there are a select few moments that I can barely remember, however, these kind of moments are starting to stick a little.
By Don Anderson II7 years ago in Beat
My First Time Listening to The Weeknd Leaves Me in Tears
The last time I cried listening to music was in 2012. I had turned 18 and I was talking to someone I liked at the time; she liked me as well but unfortunately, there were other guys on her radar and out of nowhere, she just got rid of me and like that, I had my first genuine heartbreak. The song that broke me down was, "Just One Last Dance" by Sarah Connor. Yes, there is a singer named Sarah Connor and I couldn't believe it either. The heartbreak hurt like hell but I got through it.
By Don Anderson II7 years ago in Beat
My Rebirth: A Fate Meeting with Hayley Kiyoko: ‘Lesbian Jesus’
Sunday July 29, 2018, was a day that felt like I’d waited a lifetime for, and it is a day that I will never forget. On that day, I attended my first queer event, my first pop-punk show, met an online best friend for the first time, saw another special online friend, and most importantly of all, met and had intimate dialogue with “Lesbian Jesus” herself, Hayley Kiyoko. I had built up gigantic “Expectations,” for this show and the long awaited meet and greet with Hayley Kiyoko, and I can honestly say that Hayley, the evening, and her team blew those “Expectations,” out of the water in the best way possible!!!
By Carrielee Crenshaw8 years ago in Beat
