Lamp is a Japanese band that's been publishing music since 2003. Ever since I listened to their album Lamp Genso in 2023, I have been absolutely obsessed with this band. In their first few albums they have a really light and fun pop sound that's really fun to listen to. Some of the tracks from that time have a very playfull side to them, like Windy Afternoon or The Night Squall, and I really love that.
But the reason that they are my favorite band of all time is the album that I mentioned earlier. What I like most about it is the 60s folk influence it draws from, especially with songs like 密やかに (Hisoyakani) and ゆめうつつ (Yume Utsutsu). I love folk music from the 60s, I find the sounds very soothing from a sensory perspective, and it works so well with the other aspects of the album. The vocals are beautifull, the synth are beautifull, I absolutely adore this album.
I dream that one day they'll come to Europe and I'll get to see them live.
Simon & Garfunkel
As I said when I was talking about Lamp, I really like 60s folk music, and Simon and Garfunkel are the best representation of everything I love about this genre.
One of the reason I find this genre so calming and so soothing, is because a lot of the time it includes these really beautifull vocal harmonies, and Simon & Garfunkel did that so so well. Sometimes when I'm anxious and stressed out, I use their songs to slow down and just get lost in music and it really helps. Songs like "Bleecker Street" and "Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M." work really well for that. As soon as I hear these vocals it releases the tension in my body. It's like if I'd been shivering in the cold outside, and I finally get home where it's warm. That feeling of dropping your shoulders after beeing tensed up for so long is beautiful.
And it's not just the pretty melodies and harmonies I like, I think their lyrics are also really really great. Like, their song "The Boxer" is one of my favourite songs of all time, and it's so so well written. I've known this song for a very long time because my parents listened to it when I was little. And even after knowing it so long it can still really move me. The final part of the song especially. When I'm in the right mood it gives me chills all over my body. And the way it goes from this dramatic and loud part to the end of the song is so so great. All the tension that was building up is released and it feels so relieving and so sweet.
Music
Video Games I love
Animal Crossing
So as you can probably tell, I am a big Animal Crossing fan, although I haven't played all the game in the series.
My introduction to animal crossing was Wild World on the DS. It was a game that my sister would play very often, but I resisted playing for some time. I had a smuggish destain for the game because it looked so girlish and childish (I was very dumb and annoying). But after a while I ended up playing, and I fucking loved it. I played it so much that, at night the music and sound effects would play on repeat in my head and I couldn't sleep because of it.
Although I love this series I have never played some of the games! Since I never owned a 3DS I never got to play New Leaf, which is a real shame because so many people seam to say it's the best one. I think I'm gonna end up buying a second-hand 3DS just to play this game.
Animal Crossing is a series very special to me, and I'm really excited for a potential new game coming in the next few years (hopefully)
Music
Video Games
And it's not just the pretty melodies and harmonies I like, I think their lyrics are also really really great. Like, their song "The Boxer" is one of my favourite songs of all time, and it's so so well written. I've known this song for a very long time because my parents listened to it when I was little. And even after knowing it so long it can still really move me. The final part of the song especially. When I'm in the right mood it gives me chills all over my body. And the way it goes from this dramatic and loud part to the end of the song is so so great. All the tension that was building up is released and it feels so relieving and so sweet.