Thursday 6 November 2014

Let Music Calm the Savage Beast



When asked about their music preference, most people will reply with an answer such as 'I'll listen to anything'. There are exceptions to this rule, of course, but in general, people will listen to most music types, but usually, music will reflect the listeners mood or vice-versa.



When I am working on a PC. I like to have music, or even a TV show or Film playing in the background, usually on my phone connected to Youtube or Vimeo. I won't watch the image, but I will listen to the content. If I am in the kitchen, then it is usually something upbeat, such as a trance remix or mashup collection, or lately a Kygo remix. When I feel pensive, however, I may listen to some Pink Floyd or even Mozart or Vivaldi, or even some old school blues.



I have on occasion, sat and listened to mood music for stress relief, due to the fact that I have difficulty getting off to sleep. It can be for various reasons, usually I can't get my head to shut up. The events of the day will still be rolling around in there or I have a song stuck in my head, etc. and I usually end up sinking a few beers to help me along, and sometimes I would try Youtube, and look for relaxation music and lie down with the headphones on. This was not always successful and I would drop off around five or six, and would get just a couple of hours. A number of years ago I actually suffered for a short time from what my doctor described as 'hyperreality' due to serious sleep deprivation, but that's a story for another day. 



I really will listen to anything, or at least give all music a chance, and long story short, about a year or so ago, came across some A.S.M.R. videos. A.S.M.R. is an acronym for Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, basically throughout your life you get sensations from intamacy or close connections where you feel, what are described as 'tingles' and these are set off by 'triggers' such as quiet repetative sounds like tapping or clicking, or close up ear-to-ear sounds or talking. 


I personally prefer ear-to ear voices and the result for me is relaxation, a sort of numbness and my mind quietens and I can actually drop off to sleep



The leading names in this new field on Youtube are people such as Maria/Маша (GentleWhispering) and Heather Feather (heather feather asmr) and Ally (ASMRrequests) who make not only ASMR video's, but make ASMR a massive part of their life, and with some very specialist equipment, make very high quality video's for the pleasure of helping people. These guy's have patreon pages, because their followers want to give back and show some appreciation, and all donations are fed back into the video making.



I have recently made a tribute video for Heather and posted it on Youtube. I received not only a comment on the video from her, but also a message on twitter. I was elated that she had seen it, and even more so that she liked it. Absolutely made my day


Heather Feather ASMR - A Tribute Video


ASMR is present everwhere, we like certain noises and sounds. Is this why we like certain music types? Is it influences from childhood? I personally grew up with many musical and visual influences as a child, my brother like blues, my parents liked country, my other brother liked chart music and seventies rock. I grew up during the Hacienda scene, so I was exposed to early hip-hop, acid-house, house music, etc,etc. I like trance, mashups, hip-hop, house, classical, soul, funk, motown,etc.
Let face it, I like anything with a beat
a strong beat, a heart beat, a soul beat. 



Enter stage left, the godfather of soul, Mr James Brown and SuperGroup Led Zeppelin
James Brown has always been a difficult one to mashup, but my last post I found a couple of exceptional mashups, today I have another
James Brown vs Led Zeppelin – Whole lotta Sex Machine by Fissunix

James Brown vs Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Sex Machine




Talking of blasts from the past I have found
The Ting Tings vs The Knack vs Toni Basil - That's Not My Name Mashup – Justin Kayes
Dutch music producer/mashup DJ Justin Kayes @JustinKayes
you can find him on soundcloud




Since hearing Blondie Vs. The Doors - Rapture Riders: http://youtu.be/dnhKPw2NXIw created by Mark Vidler, I didn't think I would find anything to match it.
Then I came across GoHomeProductions Mashup - GHP (I Am The) Trampolene (To The Other Side) Cope/Doors/Beatles/Verve
Less than three minutes, but still well worth a listen.



Staying with GoHomeProductions, I also found - Go Home Productions: My Paperback Sharona (The Beatles vs The Knack)
You may be think 'Sharona has been done to death', but this one works, very well. Nice and simple, not overdone.


Time for a little Mos Def. I was looking for the original video for Pretty Lights - Finally Moving, and found a ton of mashups, mainly done with hip-hop artists such as 2pac and Biggie, and found a good one with Mos Def. I'm not listing all of them here, just do a search on YouTube.
This one is a mix of all of them on Aquatic Bazaar channel
Pretty Lights x Mos Def x B.I.G. x Nas - Finally Moving One Beef Everyday


Thievery Corporation vs Mos Def - Lebanese Mathematics (Trill-Out Blend)

Mos Def - Mathematics vs Thievery Corporation - Lebanese Blonde
these tracks on their own are pretty good, but put together are just sublime. I love this mashup.


If you want tingles, then don your headphones, sit back and listen to Mos Def & Aretha Franklin Blend
Oh! take me away, this mix is beautiful, just beautifully done.
"Ms. Fat Booty ((best of decade I version))" by Mos Defwith the crystal tones of Aretha supported by Mos and halfway through Mos supported by Aretha.


I, Neo (Mos Def / Massive Attack / Matrix Mashup)

Matrix Fans should like this one, well mixed but poor video, worth a listen, quite atmospheric, I like it.


Sunshine Party And Bullshit" Notorious B.I.G. vs Mos Def (Mashup)
This one has been around for a while, but it's a pleasant listen, I found this a year or so ago.


Mos Def | Limp Bizkit - Creamed Beef (Mashup)

This one cracks me up. Creamed Beef by Andrew Schawl. Mos Def – Beef vs Creamer – Limp Bizkit. Just a really good mix


Got a few 2pac mashups now. There are hundreds out there, some good, some bad, some uninspired and there are some absolute beauties.
See if any of these float your boat

2Pac ft. Big Stalks, DJ Ak, Snoop Dogg & Dr.Dre - Takin' Over (D-Ace Mix) [Prod. by G-Dogg]

Produced by the late G-Dogg this mashup is an homage to late and old school rappers. Some good old school beats in this one.


2Pac ft DMX - "No Doubt" - Fitzyy & Dj Boy In The Bubble (CDQ HD) NEW 2011/2012

old school DMX with 2pac – a re-release. If memory serves, this was out about ten years ago, but a google search doesn't confirm nor deny.






Snoop dog when he was still canine

Snoop Dogg ft. 2Pac, B-Real & DMX - Vato (Miqu Remix) (Uncensored Music Video)

Snoop Dogg - Vato vs 2Pac - Fuck All Y'All vs DMX - We In Here
Love this mashup, lot of memories in here.


A couple to finish with

Edward Maya Stereo Love ft. Eminem, Ludacris, Taio Cruz, Kanye West, Twista, & Ke$ha *REMIX*

Didn't know what to make of this at first, but give it a chance, and it works, but give it some volume, this one works better turned up.
Leave the volume up for the next one also

Robin Skouteris - Working Lady Should Be Dancing Like Jagger (Donna Summer/Bee Gees/Maroon 5/Modjo)

Robin Skouteris always gives value for money, squeezing tons of tracks into every mashup.


Last but not least,

Madonna Vs Nancy Sinatra, Kill Bill & more - The Gang Bang Theory (Robin Skouteris & Pat Scott Mix)

Coming in at nearly nine minutes, R.S. does it again. A lot went into this mashup and video, and is incredibly detailed in the song listing, lifting and dropping in just the right places. Excellent piece of work


Wanna say hi, I'm on Twitter @MeadViceMashups
and Youtube - Mead Vice
Mead Vice on Vimeo - http://vimeo.com/user14706990


Mead Vice Mashups on Soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/user1802947