|
"First, the Word of God. Then, music." I love music. Anyone who knows me knows that. For the most part, my tastes lie in the 'easy listening' genre: I like classical crossover, Celtic, jazz, classical, gospel, and some light indie and pop. I love a variety of artists; both soloists, instrumentalists, and choirs; and I always like to support new and young artists. On this page, I have listed 5 artists I think you should know about. I hope you will watch their videos and enjoy their music as much as I do!
Hayley is my all-time favourite singer. She is a soprano who sings classical, Celtic, and folk music. She began her career by busking on the streets with her brother and sister for pocket money, which she then used to record a demo CD. Her popularity in her homeland of New Zealand skyrocketed, and she got a record contract at just 13 years of age. Today, at 20, she's recorded 5 beautiful CDs, one of which broke records in the UK charts. She's sung for the Queen and President Bush; duetted with the likes of Andrea Bocelli; and travelled to Ghana as a Unicef ambassador, starting a project to provide girls there with bicycles so they can get to school. Despite selling over 2 million records, she is still very sweet and down-to-earth: close to her family, appreciative of her fans -- so un-diva-like, she's the complete opposite of your typical celebrity!
Leigh Nash is an indie artist who began her career as the lead singer for the Contemporary Christian band Sixpence None the Richer when she was just 16. In 2004, the band broke up, and Leigh has been recording some excellent solo material. I am a huge fan of all her music... it's a great way for me to unwind.
All Angels are a classical girl-group from Britain -- the first to break Hayley's UK chart record! They consist of Charlotte, Melanie, Laura and Daisy. Charlotte has acted in Harry Potter; Melanie is learning to fly a plane, Laura is the BBC Choirgirl of the Year, and Daisy recorded an amazing solo jazz album at just 15. Obviously, the girls are very different, but when they sing together, their voices blend so beautifully, the thought of angels immediately springs to mind!
Josh Groban has been the face of classical crossover for several years. His career began when he was asked to stand in for Andrea Bocelli to rehearse "The Prayer" with Celine Dion at the 1999 Grammy rehearsals. A little while later, he recieved a record contract and recorded his debut CD. He has gradually been moving away from a predominantly classical repertoire, taking pop charts by storm, and earning hundreds of fans called "Grobanites." I think Josh has a great voice, and I'm grateful for what he's done to make classical music more accessible to people who wouldn't normally listen to it.
I hope you guys have enjoyed listening to some of my favourite music. Please come back sometime soon! :) |
