Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

This year Carbon Leaf once again decided to break the mold, by re-making their seminal album, Indian Summer in order to reclaim the songs from the label that owned them. When the band came through LA, I was able to sit down with singer, Barry Privett and talk about the album that basically defined my college years. It was thrilling!

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

I’d been hoping to see Emerson Hart and/or his band Tonic for years now. This year, I got to see both! This song was a standout from Emerson’s show at The Hotel Cafe. What’s more is that I got to interview Tonic bassist, Jeff Russo, at Comic Con as part of a panel of film and TV composers where I learned about a different facet of music-making.

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

In November, I went to a conference in DC. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore another music scene and while I concluded DC is quite a bit different from Los Angeles, I had a great time at U-Street Music Hall seeing Lewis Watson. This kid has certainly grown since I saw him in LA last year. As the year comes to a close, his album, The Morning, is the one I’m obsessively listening to.

 

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

I first came upon this band from Sweden in my listening for SXSW. This song in particular put them on my “must see” list. Tracking them down proved a bit of a challenge and in my first encounter with the band I might have frightened them with my unbridled enthusiasm. They made their return to the US in October for Culture Collide where I got to see them three times and did a fun interview. The piece I wrote from this interview became one of the most clicked articles on our site all year!

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

Here’s another one that I’m happy I got to see at SXSW before he blew up. Sam Smith’s album, In the Lonely Hour, is a bit hit and miss for me, but I still contest that he has the voice of an angel as evidences by the acoustic version of “Latch” off his Nirvana EP.

 

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

The best show of the year award goes to Augustana at The Troubadour. To think I almost didn’t go to this show makes me shiver. The band released a fantastic new album this year, Life Imitating Life, but the show packed in everything. All the hits from all the albums. Song after song of breath-taking musical beauty. It was an elevating experience.

 

 

~ Kristen

Here it is, the mix of songs that helped define my 2014.

Their song “Golden” was all over the NBC coverage of The Olympics, but I prefer this song off the Golden EP. Parade of Lights was one of our first LMN Band Loves. I’m so happy to see where this band is going and that they’re still making music! *waves hands in the air*

 

~ Kristen