Thursday, August 27, 2015

REVISED About If You Are and the Person Behind It

If You Are looking for a music blog that made its own box because it couldn't fit into a pre-established one, then you are in the right place. Welcome friend!


This blog was created in a time of a lot of personal revelations and self discovery. My hope for it is to use music as a mechanism to push the envelope of how we all see ourselves, and the world. That may mean me stepping out of my comfort zone as the author, and it may even ask you as a reader to step out of yours. As a wise man named Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. once said, "A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions."


By now, you must be wondering what you can expect on this blog. Honestly, the best understanding I could give you is to expect the unexpected. However, the posts will go something like this: Songs/Artists/Albums/etc. for If You Are... (and fill in the blank with an emotion or the type of day you may be having). Then there will be a list of songs/artists/albums to go with that mood, along with a review of them, and why they're great for that type of day or feeling. The whole premise is to explore both a variety of emotions and a variety of music styles. So, posts could range from music for quirky days, to music for raging anger, to music for happy roll-your-window down days, to music for after a break-up, and everything in between.

I aim to make this a place of community for everyone, no matter your background or what you’re going through. Piggybacking off of that, this is a judgement-free, come as you are, love what you love with no shame place. All are welcome here. Music can unite people of all walks of life. Who would I be to attempt to constrict that?


Speaking of YOU, I'd love to hear from you. If you love the blog, awesome. If you hate it, not so awesome, but your opinion is your opinion and you'll do with it what you will. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that.


So now, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Jo, and I'm a different crayon in the box who is learning who I am and who I want to become. A little bit about me and music: I love playing guitar and singing. Some of my favorite songs to play and sing to include an acoustic version of “Creep” by Radiohead, “Blackbird” by the Beatles, “The Scientist” by Coldplay, “Ex’s and Oh’s” by Elle King, and “Giving Up” by Ingrid Michelson. If that blend of music doesn't give you an idea of the variety you'll find on this blog, then I don't know what does. My favorite artists include Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michelson, The Avett Brothers, The Hunts, Jason Derülo, Beyónce, Evanescence, Mumford and Sons, Barenaked Ladies, and Axis of Awesome. 

Beyond music, I love photography, reading, coloring books, and adventures. I love to travel, love trying new things, and you will usually find me singing, whether I realize I am or not. I'm also a freshman student at University of South Carolina. This blog is actually for an English class, but only time will tell what comes out of it. Stick around to find out.

I'd like to close this with something to lift you up, because people get enough tearing down in this world and there's no such thing as too much positivity. So, If You Are reading this, you are loved, you matter, and you are important. Never forget it.