The Beauty of Florence.

- FLORENCE AND THE MACHINE

Music for me is almost like a daily routine. I wake up turn on my radio and begin getting dressed for the  day's events. Then i'll jump in my car and drive to my next destination, all the while tuned into Triple J. For me music is an amazing thing, firstly, it can make you feel all different kinds of emotions and even remind you of people, things or moments in your life. One song.... yes it only takes one song to spark some sort of thought or mood and i find that just insanely mind-boggoling.
One band that i want to write about and maybe even introduce to you readers is  the incredible indie rock band: 'Florence and the Machine'. What a band!!!!! Incredible is only one word that i would use to explain them. Simply just their tones are honestly the most beautiful sounds i've probably ever heard and even more thrilling, Florence Welch, what a remarkable and original voice she has. If you are unfamiliar with who im talking about or what amazing sounds i'm indulged in take a quick peak on Youtube. To make it a little easier here are some of my favourite songs from the English band that i love; Shake It Out, Dog Days Are Over, Ship to Wreck, You've Got The Love, St Jude and Delilah
Once i began writing each song that i love i really couldn't stop, the list just got longer and longer. It is really quite amazing how many incredible songs the band has produced that i'm completely obsessed with still to this day, since the band first released their music in 2007. To sum up the band's sound in just a few words or less, i would describe it as a combination between the rock and soul genres. Not only are their creation of tones inspiring, but even the music video's are simply just beautiful. The depth and emotion that is put into each video is so entertaining and my eyes are glued to the screen every time i play a song on Youtube. My friends and I recently played one track from the band and we couldn't stop at just one song, we played the whole album of 'How Big How Blue How Beautiful'. So there were eight eyes just drawn to the computer screen, just simply watching the delicate shots and listening to the waves of pure and perfect melodies. 
I wouldn't be completely honest with you if i didn't tell you that i am actually listening to the band right now as i project my thoughts on to you. 
To me its almost completely insane to be so obsessed with a person's sound or even their talent to make the sounds. Yes i guess it might be insane but it's pretty incredible when you think about it. You know how if you play a particular song that your crazed about over and over again and then you tend to get over that song within a week.... Yeah that's not the case with any song from Florence and the Machine. For every first time i hear a new song from the band i am instantly attached to it, and as many times as i overplay it on Itunes when i'm at work or Spotify before i go to sleep, i can never quite make myself annoyed or i guess over the songs. Personally i think thats an amazing trait that a band can have. Im in awe pretty  much every time i hear a song and i'm super excited to share that i'll be seeing the incredible band at Splendour In The Grass (SITG) this year!!!!!!!! yes i still cant believe that i'll witness their sound and their presence live. 
If you have heard them live or will be at SITG this year too than what a moment we will be living or for some of you have lived. I definitely think it will be a memory for the record books. 
I recommend you take a quick listen to at least one of the songs i wrote in the list above, although be aware you may become hooked!!!! 
Well now i think it's time to leave you to stop reading this post and switch tabs to Youtube where you will bless your ears with a song from Florence and the Machine. To be honest i'm going to go do the same thing right now. Readers enjoy the magic that awaits you.... just over on the other tab.

- HK.

The Stones

'Angus and Julia Stone' - The perfect duo

Every night when i come home and feel like I'm in a zen mood or need to get in a zen mood i always open up my Spotify playlist and play a song by Angus and Julia Stone. I can't even explain to you the feeling i get when i hear their voices sing together as a duo. The brother-sister folk blues duo are the perfect partnership that produce calm and reflective music. There voices are so different than any other band, that when i play a song i can just lay back and shut my eyes, and feel a specific sense of emotion depending on the song choice. Whether its 'Big Jet Plane', 'For You' or 'Just a Boy', i can never bring myself to fast forward the song or to change it. The sense of calmness i feel and even purity from the instruments are so admirable and comforting. FreeStyle readers i suggest you log into YouTube or Spotify and search an Angus and Julia Stone playlist. Not only will you bless your ears with the beautiful sounds but it even lets your emotions flow. One of my favourite songs form the pair is 'And The Boys'. Julia Stones voice is so soft and subtle and with the accompany of tones from other instruments for instance, the drums, keyboard and acoustic guitar, it really makes up a beautiful song. All of The Stones songs they have produced, have meaning and after reading several different lyrics they can be relatable for many people. I just wanted to share with you guys one of my favourite bands that i really enjoy listening to and for me never gets old. Below i have made a list of a handful of songs by Angus and Julia Stone, and i hope that you find time to listen to some of them to brighten your day, let emotions run or even to feel a sense of calmness and zen. 

Take a peak at some of 'Angus and Julia Stones' incredible songs:

Just A Boy

Hold On

For You

Mango Tree

Big Jet Plane

And The Boys

Reader i hope you enjoyed this little post and feel free to give me feedback and dont be shy to interact by commenting below. 

- Hann

My Splendid Experience

'Splendour In The Grass' Music Festival 2014.

It has been exactly 19 weeks, 154 hours, 14 minutes and 56 seconds (and still counting) since i experienced the most thrilling music festival; 'Splendour In The Grass' in Byron Bay. The three-day festival was full of excitement, good vibes, awesome music and unforgettable memories. I remember sitting with my friends during our lunch break at school as we were rattling off ideas, trying to figure out if we should attend the festival. My friends and I were unsure if we should make the decision to go, as we were in year 12, therefore had ridiculous amounts of assessment to complete, as well as realising we only work part-time jobs, so could we really afford it. Once i came to terms that i couldn't miss one of the biggest events of the year, it took a little bit of convincing through the parental's to let me go. Thankfully i was aloud to go, purchased tickets and accommodation and turned my wardrobe upside town to get prepared for the exciting festival. Finally the 24th of July came and my three friends and I were on our way on the Bruce Highway during the early hours of the morning, heading to Byron Bay.

I feel as though there is just too much to tell you guys yet not enough time or space to write it. Starting from the drive down to Byron Bay, to the Backpackers Lodge we lived in for four days, the festival in itself and the bus rides home. I guess ill skip to the most important part of the weekend, which is the only reason why we were attending the festival in the first place, and that is if you cant guess it....... THE ARTISTS! Me and my friends were astounded by the lineup and we couldn't believe that so many popular artists were playing over the three days. I could go on forever explaining every  band or artist that we watched in so much detail. I even get excited about telling you all who we saw and what songs i literally died listening too! Here are a few of my favourites that were incredible during the weekend: The Preatures, Grouplove, Rufus, Foals, Peking Duk, Foster the People, Childish Gambino, Sticky Fingers, Nina Las Vegas, City and Colour and OutKast! Yes i couldn't just narrow it down to two or three, that just wouldn't be fair. Get this over 80 Australian and International acts played over the weekend on three different stages and i was there!

Each day we would arrive to the Byron Bay Parklands around 1:00pm and we would leave around 1:00am, sometimes even later depending on if we could get a bus or not. The time spent at the Parklands went by so quick, and each day would be over before you knew it. Each night the girls and I would legit have a debrief of the day and it would go on for hours. There was just to many memories to cover in the one day.

I love spending time in Byron Bay, cause i feel like it's a place filled with chilled vibes and no judgement and 'Splendour' was definitely a place filled with both of these things. Each stage i went to had such a good ambience, its hard to even explain. I replay the videos i captured of each band, listening to the music and even watching the crowd just melt at what they see and hear. This is one of my favourite videos that i could honestly watch on repeat. Firstly, The Preatures are playing and they one of my favourite bands, but secondly watching the crowd bop around to the song "Is This How you Feel!"and lastly you cant beat that subtle afternoon light, it really does set the ambience. I was also sneaky as i captured my best friend Michaela smoothly dancing to Isabella Manfredi's luscious voice. i have to show you guys the small clip just so you can have a glimpse of what the vibe was really like.

Not only was the music unbeatable, but the style that caught your eye everywhere you looked was incredible! i could just sit down somewhere and watch everyone walk past, as i was so driven to each and every different persons sense of fashion. The style i saw really did excite me, as everyone looked so different and it was cool to see the variety of expression through clothes. There were probably two trends that you would see about 100 times a day, and this was flower crowns and bindi's on the face; Not judgements here, but it just interests me with what trend is popular at the time. Every morning when i was figuring out what to wear for the day, i didn't feel like there was boundaries for what i should or shouldn't wear. I found that you wear what you want and what you feel comfortable in, as i felt like there is no judgement when you got to the festival.

Not only did 'Splendour In The Grass' for 2014, meet my expectations they made them better! I have now installed an app on my phone called Countdown, just so i can countdown the days until next years 'Splendour' Festival. And if you were wondering we have 226 days until 'Splendour' in 2015. Just if you guys are interested in seing the wrap of the festival for this year, here is a video where you can watch what the overall vibe was like over the three days, instead of me just explainig it to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEKoFG9G898

I seriously get goosebumps every time  i watch the video because it excites me for whats to come next year. Anyway i feel as though i could write forever about the festival, and i don't want you guys to have to sit here and read 100 pages about the one topic. To wrap this up, all i have to say is you guys should definitely think about attending next years 'Splendour In The Grass' music festival in Byron Bay, if your interested in awesome music and good vibes. You may even decide to write a 1000 word essay like me ;)

Thank you FreeStyle Readers for letting me express my excitement and memories with you all!

- Hann