Playlists

Hi all!

You may not recognize the folks in the above picture, but they were two amazing musical talents who my husband and I not only knew but had the privilege to call our friends.

I don’t think I’m alone when I say this: when we listen to music, we often make connections to people. A certain song, no matter how subtle the message might be in reality, can make you think of a person; maybe even one you’ve never met. This is part of what makes music so personal. For every single person in the world, one song can take on so many different meanings. Then suddenly, the music that you’ve connected to these people make them feel closer than ever. You don’t have to imagine them; you can feel their presence. That’s the magic, I think.

We’ve all been there. A visit to your hometown—or perhaps, you’ve just grown up and changed while still in your hometown—is met with mixed emotions. It’s like for every fond memory and bout of nostalgia you experience, you also experience equal parts dread and anxiety.

These days, with streaming, downloads, and all the available formats, new and old, it is quite easy for good music to fall under the radar. In that respect, it is an almost an even field, whether music is something you seriously follow or you are just a casual fan. It often happens that your pile of vinyl or CDs just grows, or those downloads and possible streaming links are overcrowding your computer.

Ah, there’s nothing like hitting the open road with people whose company you deeply enjoy—for hours. And hours. And hours...

The music industry is a tough one due to its complexity, demands, and variety of listener interests and talents. "Making it big" takes a lot longer than you might think, and doesn't always look like how we expect it. Nowadays, it simply is not enough to know how to sing or play an instrument. Musical artists need to have a working knowledge of how to use their voice, instruments, social media, sound engineering, public relations, and more. As the general listener, we rarely have the opportunity to see the grueling hours of work that go into the finished product we experience.

Welcome back to Friday's Five at 5, and just a quick thank you for all the support from the first post of the series last week! For everyone that's new here, this is a place where I will share some of the best talent in your local areas every week, based on what YOU have sent in!