Learn to Play the Ukulele (No Lessons!) Part 1 - The Basics

Aloha!

Alright, I'm no music teacher, but this post will give you a guide to follow to become a self-taught ukulele player. I would say I taught myself to play well in a little over five months. But, I was able to start playing songs after only a few weeks. Below are the steps you should follow if you would like to teach yourself to play.

Step One - Acquiring your Uke

I started off by playing on a uke I borrowed from a friend, and if you can, I would recommend you do the same. Too often people go out and buy expensive instruments only to give up on it in a few weeks. To avoid this, I suggest doing a "test run" and playing a borrowed uke for close to a month. Now, whether your ready to buy your first uke or you weren't able to borrow one in the first place, what should you get? Remember, start cheap! The difference between a $100 ukulele and a $500 one are noticeable, but also won't make or break how your playing sounds. I recommend starting with a tenor ukulele over a soprano if you have larger hands. This will make the chord easier to play. DO NOT start with a baritone! A baritone uke has a different tuning than the others, and more resembles a guitar than a ukulele in sound. Therefore, the chords will be different and you'll be learning how to play a 4-string guitar instead of the ukulele. Below are some good cost-efficient beginner ukes.


https://kalabrand.com/collections/satin-mahogany-ukulele/products/ka-s
https://kalabrand.com/collections/exotic-mahogany-ukulele/products/ka-sem
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J49MFHY/ref=twister_B0185RQT3G?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Step Two - Getting Started

The first things you need to learn are basic chords and how to strum. The first chords you should learn are F, A minor, G, and C. These are all easy chords, and with them you can play a variety of songs! Here are some links to learn how to strum and play these chords.

How to Strum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eqH_jZp1Ow
Chords https://ukuguides.com/tips/basic-ukulele-chords-for-beginning-players/

To practice, I would play simple strum patterns with a simple chord progressions. Below are some exercises to try out! (Note: "d" signifies a down stroke, "u" and up stroke, and a space for a rest)

Chords: C - Am - F - G

Pattern: dduudu once on each chord


Chords: Am - C- G

Pattern: ddddu once on Am and C, and twice on G


Chords: Am - G - C - F

Pattern: dd udu once on each chord


Step Three: Playing Songs

I learned how to play the uke from watching youtube videos mostly, and no one is better than the Ukulele Teacher! I will post some links down below to easy songs. This is the absolute BEST way to learn! Just keep practicing and playing!

Playlist of asy songs:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvcoWGhnkDmhQjWXKVAkM34Qx3bxbHTn3

My top picks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12L5oWMUGAI&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmhQjWXKVAkM34Qx3bxbHTn3&index=56

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wftz-OvA7io&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmhQjWXKVAkM34Qx3bxbHTn3&index=30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFBFp6do9WE&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmjlDo_n8XAuJwmJe_uFGDR9&index=20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXGuIacVESk&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmjlDo_n8XAuJwmJe_uFGDR9&index=50

First Song I learned! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoFl8dXU-oY



Step Four: Keep Practicing!

If After about a month of playing and practicing, you should be able to play a few of the songs above! Once you've done this, keep learning new and more difficult chords and play more songs! From here on out, you should be set on your own path to teaching yourself to play the ukulele! Check out part 2 (coming soon) to take the next steps!

George Watsky: Poet to Rapper

George Watsky is an American poet turned rapper who has now published his first book. In 2009, he released his same-name debut mixtape, and mostly recently released the album "x infinity" earlier this year. Despite having a near sold out tour and having his album reach number four on the Billboard rap chart, he hasn't always been known for his rap.
Watsky began as a slam poet specializing in spoken word. Spoken word is a form of poetry written to be performed rather than read. It emphasizes rhyme scheme and wordplay, and to have an overall appeal to the ear. At the age of 18, he became the "bay state champion", winning nearly a dozen slams in 2005 before his team placed fourth in the national championship that same year. In 2006, he featured on the sixth season od Def Poetry on HBO. That year he also won placed first at the National Youth Poetry Slam in San Francisco.


Leading up to 2009, Watsky had begun to pick up a following on YouTube, where he began to release his first rap songs, including "Headphones" and "Who's Been Loving You?. Watsky had always loved rap, but had never considered it to be a career path for him. He began rapping in middle school, using it as a way to combat his awkward social skills. Whether it be battle rapping a teacher he didn't like, or stealing the mic from a DJ at a middle school dance to free style, he was always looking for an excuse to show off. After a few successful songs on YouTube, he released his first mixtape "Watsky".
Watsky's big break came in 2010, when a video titled "Pale kid raps fast" went viral, exposing him to a much larger crowd, and gaining him steady popularity. To this day he acknowledges that this video was the catalyst of his career, saying it's "probably the only reason I'm here". He achieved a large enough of a fan base to have a tour to accompany his 2012 mixtape "Nothing like the First Time".
Later that year, he signed a record deal with Steel Wool Media, a label which would let him keep many of the rights of an independent artist.

In 2013, Watsky released "Cardboard Castles" followed by "All You Can Do" in 2014. Cardboard Castles reached the number the top spot on the US, UK, and CAN iTunes charts, his only album ever to do so. Both albums had sold out tours, and the All You Can Do tour covered four continents with over 60 shows, and featured Watsky's live band "Crème Fraiche".
In 2016, he released "x infinity", as he tour for the album is currently in progress. He still incorporates spoken word into his music today, with songs like "Never Let it Die" and "Springtime in New York". His raps reflects many of the same aspects of his poetry, a dedication to wordplay and clever rhyming.

I love the story of Watsky almost as much as I love his music. To me, a poet becoming a rapper illustrates that rap can truly be an art form. Exploiting the devices of language is a unique skill, and there are few who do it better than Watsky. I look forward to attending his concert in Boston later this month.

A Modern Industry

20 years ago, the only people releasing albums and mixtapes were artists who either signed record deals or had paid a professional studio. Today, just about anyone can create an album and release it. Services such as YouTube and Soundcloud allow anyone to share their music with the world, and anyone can use iTunes to sell their music if there is an audience to buy it. This allows artists who may not have been discovered otherwise to make a career out of music.
This has a brought a new meaning to the term "underground" artist. 20 years ago, this would be the unsigned artist paying a professional studio to record/mix their album. Now, many of these artists are creating music without ever paying a studio. Really, it only takes a few hundred dollars to create a home studio (excluding the price of a laptop or computer). Artists can network with producers from all over the world, who are often willing to collaborate for free, or for a very low price. This allows a great number of people to produce near studio quality albums from their own homes.
I am personally thankful for this innovation, as it has allowed me to hear a great amount of music I may have not heard otherwise. If you don't use Soundcloud, I would highly recommend it. Using it will allow you discover new music that you wouldn't otherwise be exposed to.
Who knows, maybe you or someone you know will be the next artist producing a home studio album.


Thanks to my friend Matteo for developing the version of the "Media Cycle" theory I used in this post.

The Goodbye Post

Well, this will be my last post on this blog. I hope I could expand your musical horizons and share my thoughts on music with you. Maybe you learned something, maybe not. Either way, it's been fun to be able to keep this blog. Remember to never be afraid to like any type of music. Whether it be mainstream rap, Pop you hear on the radio, underground hip-hop, heavy metal, nerdcore, house, local artists, or whatever it is you like. There is no reason to not listen to what you enjoy, but there is also no reason to not try new music. As for me, I have no career as a musician. But, that doesn't mean I won't be involved in the underground music scene. In the future, I will be working as a songwriter, producer, and creative consultant with a few other friends/artists. So wish me luck!

- Tmain

EPIC Cypher on x infinity

Check out this ten minunte song featuring nine rappers including Wax, Watsky, and Dumbfounded! Incredible lyricism displayed here.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrHPTWTSFgc

Learn to Play the Ukulele (No Lessons!) Part 3 - What comes next?

So, if you've made it this far, your probably just as good, if not better, than me. So, what should we do now? Well, for one, we gotta keep practice. I challenge myself to learn a new song every one or two weeks. I'm also practicing my scales and improvising skills (which aren't quite there yet). I'm writing my own songs along side one of my friends. So, what about you? Have you considered writing your own music yet? Give it a shot!

I've also begin to begin trying new instruments. I recently acquired a baritone ukulele, and have begin to learn to play it, and with it I'm also learning the guitar. I think it's important to expand your musical arsenal. If you are looking to get a new ukulele, whether it be cause your ready for and upgrade or want to try a new sounding uke, I personally prefer Kala brand ukes. They also sell guitars and bases. They have everything from cheap fun ukes to good-priced quality ukes, and even an elite collection with prices ranging from $1,200-1,800!

Check them out! https://kalabrand.com/

The only thing to do now is practice. Play harder songs with faster chord changes, complicated strum/pick patterns, and memorize more chords. Once you've reached this point, it really is up to you now! You've successfully taught yourself to play, No teach yourself to get better!


Just for fun, take a look at the ukes I'm DYING to get! Their price tags aren't too much, and their unique sounds would be awesome to add to my collection.

https://kalabrand.com/collections/pacific-walnut-ukulele/products/ka-pwc

https://kalabrand.com/collections/solid-spruce-top-flame-maple-ukulele/products/ka-fmsg

Is Poetry Music?

Honestly, that's for you to decide. Though they are similar, I would not say they are same. There is definitely a cross over, and some poetry is music, but not all of it is. They are both art forms that can stand alone or be joined together. Check out these videos and see for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6n8TG5n45Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GvTLfV8fls

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja-n5qUNRi8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbeK6_R4dFU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcIwZ1Dth0c

Anderson .Paak

Anderson .Paak is a drummer and rapper. Though I like his music, I don't love it. But =, he is a wicked talented guy and deserves recognition on this blog. So, be sure to check him out!

https://www.youtube.com/user/Breezylovejoy

Learn to Play the Ukulele (No Lessons!) Part 2 - The Beginner

Okay, so you've got your uke, you've learned the basic chords and a few songs, now what? This guide will help you take the next steps in what might seem like a point your stuck at. It's true, most people learning to play will experience a period where they feel like they are making no progress (I sure did). But, follow these steps and you'll notice a difference in no time!

Step One: Self Evaluation

Okay, so in order for you to use the rest of this guide, we need to make sure your up to par so far. At this point you should be able too...

Know the most common chords: A, Am, C, Cm, D, Dm, Em, F, G

Be able to play these chords: A7, C7, D7, E7, G7

Use this website if you need a little help: https://ukuchords.com/


Step Two: Challenge Yourself

Now it's time to get outside you comfort zone. Start to play songs with more difficult strum patterns and chord progressions. Often times, this is where beginners struggle, and I speak from experience. I only wanted to play songs with easy chords that I could learn fast, but this will limit what you can play and inhibit your progress. You will mess up, and these songs will take a bit more time to learn, but keep practicing! It's the only way you can get better!

Some songs to try (I also recommend you just play what you like)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5icqntzxOA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3qlaouFEAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FANC-qvJFhQ&index=8&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmjlDo_n8XAuJwmJe_uFGDR9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzRZep_uo2s&index=63&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmjlDo_n8XAuJwmJe_uFGDR9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9YCL3f9GK4&index=19&list=PLvcoWGhnkDmgTRa9GFzuVVJFBrnRW38gy



Step Three: Learning New Skills

The next step in this process is to add some new skills to your repertoire, such as how to palm mute and finger pick. This will allow you to change up your basic strum patterns and give your songs a unique vibe. Below are some video to learn these skills. I've also included a link to learn to play "hallelujah", a song that is very good to practice finger picking.

How to pick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0osv8Z2fbm8

How to palm mute and other skills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FypFf8YjcM8

Hallelujah: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz2uFpAuqiw


Step Four: Learning Music Theory and Tabs

Now it's time to grind out some memorization. Learning to read tabs will basically allow you to play any song without a tutorial. Learning music theory (scales and relative scales) will teach you to write your own songs. It will also teach you how to improvise, which is can lead to fun jam sessions with friends. This is definitely the most advanced part of this tutorial, and is really a learning process that never ends. I'm honestly still on this step, and I wish I had begin to memorize the scales sooner. Once you have picking down, playing the scales is easy, so start memorizing them before hand!

Learn to read tabs:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUp_2mIwM5Y

Learn all the major scales from this awesome app! (Links from video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiJby-D6RJk

QUICK LESSON ON IMPROVISING: Remember, the sixth note of the major scale is it's relative minor. For example, the scale of C major is "C D E F G A B". The sixth note is A, so the relative minor scale is A minor,  "A B C D E F G". However, you can use any of the minor scales for A. The former is the natural minor, but you could use melodic, harmonic, or my personal favorite, the pentatonic minor scales as well.

So, if my friend were to play the chords of Am, C, and Em (all chords in C major), I would finger pick notes from the A minor  pentatonic scale (A, C, D, E, G, A).




Alright! That concludes the second part to my guide on how to teach yourself the ukulele! There will be a far shorter part 3 coming soon so stay tuned!

Gnoosic

Looking for a great way to find new music? Look no further than Gnoosic! It may seem that a website for discovering new music might not work, but in my experience, it has. You enter in some of your favorite artists, and then Gnoosic will recommend new musicians to you. As you through, you can either "like" or "dislike" the artists is recommends. This will help to farther fine-tune the search! I would definitely give it a try the next time you need someone new to listen to!

http://www.gnoosic.com/

Team Backpack

One of the premier platforms for independent artists to showcase their music, Team Backpack has led me o discover many new artists, such as VI Seconds. You should definitely check them out anytime your looking for some new music to listen too!

https://www.youtube.com/user/That1Group/featured

The Human Condition - John Bellion

The Human Condition is the first album Jon Bellion has released in the U.S. The album is labeled as pop, through many of the songs reflective elements of alternative music as well. Overall, the album is very good. It features hits like All Time Low and other great songs like Fashion. Be sure to check it out!

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-human-condition/id1111702597

Great Home Studio for a Great Price

Independent artists are unsigned musicians, who often create their music from home studios.

I am not a rapper or a singer. I can barely call myself an audio engineer or producer. But, I do make music. And I record music for friends. And yes, I have a home studio. This post will explain you can create your own home studio for whatever you musical purposes are. This will apply strictly to those who are just beginning their first amateur home studio. Everything I recommend I have either personally used or know someone who has.

*WARNING* Please think twice before you go out and buy yourself a home studio. I feel too many people are far too impulsive when it come to things like this. If you have never produced, recorded, orchestrated, ect. a song before, you should not be buying this. I have compiled my studio over two years of creating music. Doing so allowed me to be sure this was something I really wanted to do before buying it. That said, if you are ready to begin or complete your home studio, lets get to it.

PACKAGES

Singer/Rapper/Band - A, B, C, (D is optional)
Wanna start recording your songs, whether your a rapper, a guitar player, or a full band? This package is right for you!

Beat Producer - A, B, E

Just wanna start creating rap instrumentals of trap music? This is what you need!

Producer - A,B,C,E (D is optional)

Want to create and produce your own music or music for a friend? Your gonna need the complete package!

A. Computer and Software

If you have a PC... I recommend Adobe Audition

If you have a Mac... Garageband is a great free tool, but Adobe Audition is still the better choice.

https://creative.adobe.com/plans?single_app=audition&promoid=KTKAY



B. Headphones, Speakers and Audio Interface

A great pair of speakers is crucial for mixing and mastering music. An audio interface will allow you to connect your speakers (as well as a microphone or guitar) to your laptop. Below are a few options for each.

Studio Headphones ($77)

https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M40x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR54/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483629823&sr=1-3&keywords=bose+headphones

Mackie Studio Speaker ($100)

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-CR-CR3-Reference-Multimedia/dp/B00KVEIY4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483628204&sr=8-1&keywords=studio+speakers/

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface ($150)

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA/ref=sr_1_5?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483628312&sr=1-5&keywords=audio+interface

Focusrite Scarlett Audio Interface ($100)

https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483628420&sr=8-2&keywords=audio+interface+focusrite



C. Microphone and Sound-Proofing

This is the essentials (obviously) if your going to recording your voice. Below are options of either a standard or USB microphone, and options for soundproofing.

Blue Yeti USB Mic ($110)

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Blackout/dp/B00N1YPXW2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483628620&sr=8-1&keywords=yeti+mic

Floureon Condenser Mic ($110)

https://www.amazon.com/Floureon-BM-800-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B00Q4RGQHY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483628673&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=microphone&psc=1

Acoustic Paneling (12 pack, 1x1, $18)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TP7C9YY/ref=sxr_pa_click_within_right_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=2329824862&pf_rd_r=CSESS8KS583DRXYME5KY&pd_rd_wg=3Ljws&pf_rd_s=desktop-rhs-carousels&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_w=YSpRY&pf_rd_i=SOUND+PANELING&pd_rd_r=Y4P7YZ436RKGV895W8Q1&psc=1

Monoprice Mic Shield ($74)

https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-602650-Microphone-Isolation-Shield/dp/B00GR9W1MS/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483628840&sr=1-2&keywords=mic+shield



D. Secondary Mic equipment

There are a few other things you may want for you mic, such as a shock mount or pop filter. The mount you buy will depend on which mic you choose, but below I've added a link for the best pop filter I've used.

Mudder Pop Filter ($14)

https://www.amazon.com/Mudder-Microphone-Filter-Windscreen-Recording/dp/B01JO5EMNM/ref=sr_1_13?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483628994&sr=1-13&keywords=pop+filter

E. Beat producing

If you are making beats, a must-have is an MIDI controller. This will make producing your songs much easier. If you already have a keyboard, it could likely double as your MIDI controller as well.

Akai Mini Controller ($70-$200)

https://www.amazon.com/Akai-Professional-MPK-Mini-Controller/dp/B00IJ6QAO2/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1483629220&sr=1-3&keywords=midi+controller

My 5 Favorite Albums

This list will be the five albums I listen to the most. These albums all for one reason or another stand out to me as being exceptional. I find that I can always shuffle one of these albums anytime I'm not sure what to listen to. One rule however, one album per artist. Otherwise I'd probably have like three Watskky albums on here...

5. Livin Foul - Wax

This album has by far some of Wax's best songs. "This One's on Me" is my favorite song of his, and one of my favorites of all time. Accompanied by other hits such "Scumbag" and "The Meanest", This album is one of his best selling. The album also contain the epic 10 minute song "No Smoking in the House", in which Wax prominently displays his skill as a writer. Overall, I would have to say this album is my favorite by Wax, although his newest installment "The Cookout Chronicles" is an


4. X - Ed Sheeran

Where do I begin? This is my go-to album when I need to relax. I actually have this album as a CD, and that speaks volumes truthfully. This album is just  a nice change of pace from the typical hip-hop and rap music I enjoy. Sheeran's songs feature catchy chord progressions and his incredible singing voices.

3. Speak Now - Taylor Swift

I love Tswift, and this is definitely my favorite album of hers. There is not a song on this album I don't love. From the emotional songs like Back to December and Dear John to the upbeat Speak Now and Sparks Fly, this album has everything a Swift fan could want. This is by far the most "pop" album she had released before 1989. This album is always a crowd pleaser

honorable mention


2.  Blurryface - Twenty One Pilots

This album is possibly one of the greatest compilations of songs ever. Every song on this album reflects the unique style of the artist. Twenty One Pilots have always had very prominent lyricism in their songs, and tracks like Stressed Out and Lane Boy reflect that. Their style of alternative music makes them an entirely unique genre, so there really is nothing else like it. My favorite song off this album is The Judge .

1. x infinity - Watsky

I know this may be his newest album, but it has quickly earned it's spot as my favorite album of his. The album is packed with great songs, from relaxing tracks like Little Slice and Chemical Angels, to fast-raps like Brave New World, to lyrical masterpieces such as Love Letters and Don't be Nice, to ground-breaking new style songs like Tiny Glowing Screens Pt.3, and all wrapped up with the beautifully epic Lovely Things Suite (4 songs) and the massive cypher, Exquisite Corpse. This album is the absolute complete package. It ties years of Watsky's success together, and has rightfully earned it's spot as my favorite album.

My 2016 Year in Review

This post is 100% my opinion. Obviously my choices for the top releases of 2016 are going to vary greatly from the general public, as I spend most my time on this blog talking about the small group of my favorite artists. If you are looking for something different than that, check out this list: http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-songs-of-2016__17517/ That said, this is my list of the top ten releases of 2016.

10. Stitches by Shawn Mendes

9. Human by Jon Bellion

8. Reborn by Wax

7. Hotline Bling by Drake

6. Little Slice (feat Danny McClain) by Watsky

5.  G H O S T S by Ashtin Larold

4. Heathens by Twenty One Pilots

3. Death of a Bachelor by Panic! At the Disco

2. 7 Years by Lukas Graham

1. Tiny Glowing Screens Pt.3 by Watsky

Album Releases 2017

While most people were losing their minds over the albums of J. Cole and Childish Gambino, I've been waiting for albums from practically unknown artists (though I must admit J. Coles album exceeded my expectations). This post is just a quick update on some of those artists upcoming albums.

Ashtin Larold's album "Jersey Devil" will be released within a month (most likely).

Sir Skitzo has announced his studio album will drop in 2017.

Mat4yo recently started the hashtag "#4nology2017" to promote his first thematic studio album.

My Playlist #3

Here's a look at some of the songs I've been listening too lately. Check them out for yourself!

Fake Love by Drake

Still Counting by Volbeat

Buck by Ashtin Larold

Numb by Witt Lowry



I'm not a huge Drake fan, but he always seems to get my attention now and again with a good song. Honestly, I'm even sure why I like this song so much, but I do.

My friend introduced me to Volbeat a few weeks ago, and while I'm not a fan of all their songs, Still Counting is pretty good. It's very different then what I typically listen to.

Buck is a completely different style from most of Ashtin's music. It has much more of a "party" vibe to it. I've kept this song on repeat since it came out.

Similar to Buck, Numb is a song that gives off a "bump this in the club" vibe. Witt absolutely delivers in this hard-hitting song.

New Music Video from Watsky

Watsky has released a music video to for another song off of his album "x infinity". The video is for the song Don't Be Nice. Check it out!

Christms Music

I LOVE Christmas time. The movies, the food, spending time with family and friends, and the overall positive vibe of the season. But of course, I also love the music. Some of my favorite Christmas songs include Christmas, All I want for Christmas is you, and Mistletoe. Christmas is the one time of year I actually listen to the radio and am generally satisfied with the music. I mean, how could you not be?

With all that said, as much as I love Christmas music, it's not the kind of thing that can get you pumped up. At least, that's what I thought, until Kevin, a friend of mine, had me  listen to Christmas trap music. Typically, this is not my preferred style of music, but something about adding in our favorite holiday hits makes it far more appealing. Taking inspiration from this, I actually created a few tracks of my own which were released today. Check them out the summary below, and then maybe even give them a listen!

Carol of the Bells - No doubt this is my favorite track. This trap remix of the classic song features exhilarating bass and a bombastic, hard-hitting beat. This song has a couple of pretty sweet buildups and drops, and it's sure to get you in the Christmas spirit. This is the song Santa jams to before his big night out.

Dance Of the Sugar Plum Fairy - An edgy synth lead accompanied by a distorted but clean electronic bass, what's not to love? The beat is sort of touch-and-go, becoming more or less complex as the song develops. I had some fun playing with echo in this song, so it's definitely worth a listen. If you let Skrillex direct The Nutcracker, this is what you would get.

Silent Night - Once I get comfortable in one genre of music, I move on to another. The remix of this song is inspired by classic electronic dance music, and is sure to have your Christmas party up and on its feet. The beat remains in the background for the first half of the song, but later comes in with some explosive fills. This is the song all 80's clubs bump on December 25th.

Mistletoe - So now that you've had enough bass drops and earth-shaking beats, you just want to chill and listen to some relaxing Christmas music. That's exactly what this final song offers. Inspired by the Downtempo subgenre of electronic music, this remix is sure to have you singing along (assuming you know the words). Bell and piano style synths replace Bieber on an instrumental created very precisely to mirror the original, while still having it's own unique sound.

What do you think? Do these sound like tracks you'd like to give a listen to? If so, check them out here: https://soundcloud.com/tmainyoutube/sets/christmas/s-pTzqY

Also, follow me on twitter (@tmain4) to vote on an upcoming poll deciding what Christmas song I'll remix next!

Once you've listened to these songs, I'd love to hear you're feedback! Leave a comment here, or hit up my twitter!

New Single off of Jersey Devil.

Last week I wrote a post about Ashtin Larold's upcoming album Jersey Devil, and now we have the his newest single! Check it out!

BUCK - ASHTIN LAROLD