Melodica

You are riding on a gondola over a gentle stream...

That's what a melodica sounds like, at least to me. It has an accordion and organ-like ring that can be used in so many different styles of music. The instrument was one of the best birthday gift's in the history of my birthdays. Any ideas on what to name it?

Melodicas are usually played for solo parts to complement a song. Lately, I've been listening to many indie/folk/experimental bands (if you have to label) and I've noticed a common trend. I guess it's another one of those 'indie' things that comes along with the several other 'hipster' characteristics, but these bands are now opting for unconventional instruments to make what is still in the modern rock genre. Instruments such as the harp (hint hint Joanna Newsom), xylophone (the one's for kids are the best), ukulele, banjo uke, and my dear melodica. Adding to all of these instruments are the homemade ones- picture a cigar box ukulele...nice right? Indie is the answer.

The band Freelance Whales is a great example. The new yorkers use an accordion-organette together with a banjo, ukulele, and a xylophone.



I won't be a hypocrite, I enjoy the bizarre instruments and think they add even more options for musical creativity, however, what's the deal with this new trend? Is it that everything's been done already, so we resort to homemade or odd instruments to attempt producing something that sounds 'new'? What does this mean in the long term? What is the future of music? Are we going to be banging forks and knives together and calling it counter-culture?

Hot Chocolate and Iced Tea in between words...

One of my eternal frustrations is not expressing myself the way I wished- which ideally would be both in Portuguese and English. It's just that there's some words that are better and precise in one of the languages. For example, the word 'chato' can't be perfectly translated in English (can any translation be perfect?)- it can mean a combination of annoying, boring, a pain in the ass...I'm still searching for that word.

I also miss writing in Portuguese. It gives a me different kind of feeling and satisfaction. When I write in Portuguese I feel more romantic and more poetic. Because of the Neo-Latin and Romance roots there is so much richness. It's a different me. Even when I speak it I feel differently. My voice pitch gets higher and I experience a strange sense of warmness. It's like drinking a mug of hot chocolate with little round marshmallows as you sit in your sofa with a blanket over your knees.

When I write in English I feel I can express myself more acutely. With English it's short, quick, and clear. When I speak I feel very straightforward. Speaking in English is like drinking a cold cup of Lemon Ice Tea in your patio on a breezing spring day.

     This is one of the trees in front my house. 

Language, translations, and multiculturalism intrigue me in so many ways. How is it that even aspects in personalities are transformed through language? And how can we further connect language and culture?

So here is a playlist dedicated to uma língua tão linda repleta de tantas cores e riquezas.

Hmm how good it is to fall in love

Don't you just love it when you discover an awesome song? The kind of song that stirs your heart around or gets you psyched or touches you in that 'beautiful' sort of cliche way that you hate to admit...

For me, after I discover the song, I listen to it over and over again. I learn to play it on the guitar or the piano and possibly both if appropriate. I hum it everywhere, sing it in my shower, and basically live, breathe, and smile through that song. I fall in love <3 Unfortunately, like falling in love with a person, there comes a time for a reality check. You end the phase of platonic love and come to your senses. You notice that song is not that amazing and, honestly, you get you sick of it. It's time to move on. It might take time. But one day when you least expect it, you find a new one. A new amazing song to fall in love. For some it takes more time than others, but don't worry, either by luck or destiny,(whichever you believe)you'll listen to it and fall in love once again. It's a vicious cycle.

My current love is Swing by Zero 7. It was love at first listen. I was listening to 88.9 WERS FM Boston and just like that it played. The introduction with the smoky keyboard and the xylophone took me away to a land of gumdrops and playing in the rain. Yes, I know it's a wild association, but songs are really subjective- everyone has there own associations and imaginations.

So here is the crucial moment where I introduce my new love. Hope you like it=)
And if not,no worries because there will be many more to come.

Banana Oat Squares

Lately, with more time on my hands, I've been feeling inspired. Inspired enough to cook (which means really inspired ha). But seriously, cooking can be amazing.  

In an ideal world cooking would be treated only as an art, meaning you would only cook whenever you truly wished. There would be no obligation, no time constraints, and no one rushing in and out of the kitchen complaining about how long it was taking. Unfortunately we don't live in an ideal world, yet we can still have joyous moments of cooking (even if it's only once in a while). 

So, as I was sitting on my couch at home watching the sixth season of Sex and the City, I thought about what I wanted to make and I came up with the perfect combination for that moment- something quick, tasty, and actually pretty healthy (which is always a plus!). 

Here's the recipe and photos to go along...

Banana Oat Squares

Ingredients

-6 table spoons of butter

-1/2 cup brown sugar

-1 egg

-1/4 table spoon of salt

-3/4 cup mashed bananas

-2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats

-1/3 cup chopped walnuts 

First gather the butter, sugar, and egg. 

Beat well.

Then add salt and the mashed banana.

Finally, add oats and nuts, then stir.

Now you are almost done! Just spread it on a pan letting it bake in 350 F for about an hour. After that just wait until it cools down to cut it into squares or any other shape you'd like.

Enjoy! Yum Yum!

And of course, a perfect song to go along with all of this inspiration...

First Post

I'm going to start my first post by introducing myself briefly (because, after all, I don't want this blog to be just about me personally, but about things I find interesting).

I'm Samira, a Journalism student and an aspiring musician. I always find myself asking what it is that makes each of us see the world differently. How do I see the world differently? Is it a matter of background, personality, genetics, or something else that equates to our perception?

Hopefully by blogging I'll gain insight on this question and the endless others I keep in the back of my mind. Or maybe not. Do I need necessarily an answer?

I guess the whole point (at least for me) is to strive for those answers, even though I may never get them.

There goes my first post and a song to along with it!

Start Without Me- Pedro The Lion





Ta-ta!