When I was growing up, I wasn't allowed to listen to "rock" music. At 16, I made my first secular CD purchase of Chicago's "Greatest Hits" album and was immediately made to return it. With tears in my eyes, and all the way back to the record shop, I pretty much vowed that no one would ever choose my music for me once I had the power to select for myself.
A few years later (in 1997 or 98) I was in Architecture school and quickly realized that Chicago was so not the place to be (although they will still hold a special place in my heart), as I was introduced to Modest Mouse, when they were still Modest Mice, Built to Spill, and others that were constantly on loop in our design studio. Mainstream went downstream; and "Indie" was in before it had a name.
My boyfriend thinks I'm crazy, because I almost refuse to listen to mainstream music anymore, which makes it rather difficult living in Dubai, since we don't have NPR radio and I don't have Sirius radio in my car. We don't even have Pandora, so digging for "indie" music has been rather challenging. However, due to the exposure that I've had to the music of other cultures, I've been very surprised by some of the little gems I've come across while living in Dubai. My "digs" have meant longer hours spent looking, which actually results in finding more as well.
The people who know me well frequently ask me who/what I'm listening to, and they always tease me about how obscure it is - but then they end up loving it and coming back for more. It is always my greatest pleasure to turn my friends onto a band or song that I love that they've never heard before.
This blog is an attempt to share my music treasures with a wider audience and hopefully, in doing so, be given new suggestions at the same time.
Thank you for reading/listening and passing this blog onto your friends that might be interested in listening to and sharing music that is anything but mainstream.
Oh...and the name, because I'm always humming little tunes around the house and have hence earned the nicknamed "hummingbird".
As I type, I'm listening to a song that has become besties with my "replay" button this week. If you read my Dubai blog, you've already seen it posted, but for those of you who don't read that, I'm passing it along to you.
Colorfeels - Pretty Walk
www.colorfeels.com
Hope to see you around often!
