music monday!!

Tell me something, please. No, I really want to know what kind of world this is where the following videos get as few views as they do, instead of going viral all over the digital place?

1. Julia Easterlin - Go Straight Away

If I had known about Julia Easterlin before my own Julia was born, I would have proudly proclaimed that she is who I named my flesh and blood after. Listen to some of her other songs. With nothing but her voice and a loop machine she does a Pixies cover that is creative genius, and a version of Bjork's "Unison" that makes me tingle oh so pleasantly. She is clearly made of music. It is in her bones. And she'll get into your bones, if you're smart enough to let her.

2. Caroline Smith - All That I Know Is

This chick has got so much soul, it doesn't seem fair that she's THAT gorgeous as well. You're welcome, boys.

3. Grace Banks - Innocent When You Dream

Some of you might know what a huge Laura Marling fan I am (really, I'd marry the woman if it wasn't immoral and illegal). I can't say that I've come across a single female musician who seems to hold the same quiet power and innate talent for writing beautifully crafted music and lyrics, until now. Grace, I'm excited to find out what your future in music holds - I'll be paying attention.

4. Little Barrie - Free Salute

Summer jam, anyone? Mmmmm.

5. Beck - Unforgiven

Ummm, hello! The new Beck album is so smooth and mellow, it's like taking off work for no reason on a stormy Tuesday and going to sit by the seashore to watch the tides roll in and out. I think this is my favorite track, but not by much.

And may I take this moment to plug my own most recent addition to YouTube? A slowed down cover of a fun oldie. Hope you enjoy! (bonus: I look like I'm about to have explosive diarrhea in the still...)

music monday

It has been waaaaay too long since this happened! And it's not for lack of amazing music, TRUST me. It is for lack of summer sanity. Although that might not be an entirely viable excuse since I think I haven't been doing music Mondays since a while before the summer... sadface. Now, I can't promise they're going to be back entirely, but I wanted to at least throw you a bone and give you something to gnaw  (I just had to retype that word 3 times, apparently it's a tricky one) on. Sink your teeth into THIS, music fans:

1. Shakey Graves - Late July 

Sometimes I come across someone I seriously suspect of having sold his soul to the devil. Meet the insanely talented Shakey Graves. Who plays guitar like that anymore? And writes songs like this? And wears suspenders?? If you have the patience, listen to the entertaining story of how he got his name. If not, just skip to about 2:00 to dive straight on into the music.

 

2. Cory Chisel - She Don't Mind 

This is simply a beautiful, beautiful song. Cory was pointed out to me by a friend who accidentally saw him in concert. I wish more of those accidents would happen to me!

3. Lorde - The Love Club
Currently a favorite of the kids' to play in the car. I also love the songs Royals and Biting down, go have a listen! I'd also like to note that this New Zealand native is just 16 (!) years old and writes all of her own songs. 

4. Michael Prins - Blackbird 

Sander and I have been watching a Dutch singer-songwriter contest as it aired over the summer, and have fallen for Michael Prins and his rootsy, haunting, and highly emotional songwriting. His voice just kills me with its combination of control and grit. It didn't surprise us one bit when he ended up winning the contest. That said, a more than honorable mention goes to Maaike Ouboter, who was our other favorite for making everyone who hears her song 'Dat Ik Je Mis', cry. Now get your headphones, close your eyes, and let mr. Prins rip your heart right out. I promise you'll enjoy it...

5. The Staves - Winter Trees 

The sisters' big hit is the song Mexico, but I really fell in love with The Staves when I heard this live rendition of Winter Trees. Their voices are so pure and attuned to each other, a perfect harmony that seems reserved for people who share genes as well as history.

hot fun in the summertime

With the temperatures having risen to a steady 85-99 degrees F here in Utah (that's 29-37 C) we have been spending most of our time in the shade, near water, and enjoying our wonderful backyard. While these high temperatures can only motivate me to curl up into a ball of sweaty misery next to the air conditioning vent, the kids seem to thrive on them. They know our summer vacation treat this year is a season pass to the local water slide park and that is the sole topic of harassment. I was going to say 'conversation' but when you have 4 kids constantly bombarding you with whine-question torpedoes, harassment is really more accurate.

*quick in-between-note: Lara just informed me that she will name her first daughter Wendy's, and her first son Denny's. I figure she should just have 4 more boys so she can name them Five Guys. (that one was thanks to my mom's quick wit)*

It's safe to say these guys love the Slip 'n Slide. Unfortunately our outside water pressure leaves a bit to the imagination. Anybody out there have any ideas on how to deal with that? The water is supposed to be shooting up at least 2 feet and instead we get a pathetic 2 inches. Though I must admit the girls found a way to make it work:  

I have to say, I have a feeling this summer is going to be really nice. We have our weekly kid's movie passes ($1 per child for 1 movie each week for 10 weeks of summer), our water park passes, one more month of gym membership with access to the outdoor pool, Oma and Maarten coming to visit in July (yay!), weekly library activities, and the South Ogden splash pad. We've also planned a few short camping trips around Utah. Add to that the yard with sprinklers, jungle gym, and slip 'n slide... and I think we'll be O.K.! 

Oh and I nearly forgot: summer music!

*another side note: Julia knocked on my bedroom door early this morning all wide-eyed and serious looking. Here is what she had to report: "Mom there are ghosts in the living room. I can see them because of the little boy in my brain. He says there is also one in daddy's office but that he is a bad one and we're not supposed to look at him." 

I have put her up for sale on Ebay, she's yours for real cheap.*

secret heart

Have you ever secretly (or perhaps not so secretly) wished that a truckload of presents would arrive, all just for you, ready to unwrap and enjoy? Like Christmas on steroids? That's what it felt like for us when our shipment arrived last week. We arranged a storage box and met the truck there late last Thursday afternoon. Before we knew it the two hardworking drivers (one was tickled to know we were Dutch, because he had had a Dutch girlfriend he had been very fond of) had everything unloaded, checked, and stored in our box. Obviously not the first time they were doing this. Then they left, and it was just us and our 'presents'. 

I hadn't seen these things since early December and going through them box by box resembled something like a Birthday party, and coming home after a long vacation mixed together. Our beloved huge, warm, fluffy bedspread. Max' Buzz Lightyear doll. Our computer (decent blogging access once again!). Books. Journals. All of my sheet music. And lastly, and probably most enjoyable to me, my guitar. I was so excited to see her that I took her out of her case immediately and started tuning her up, and broke a string. I was still excited. Just holding her again, feeling her cool, curvaceous body in my arms, got me itching to caress her strings and make sweet music together once again. Haha, sorry.... Didn't mean to sound like a bad romance novel there and make anyone nauseous. I just feel strongly about my guitar, okay?

So yesterday I got her restrung. I'm still a novice at stringing guitars, having only ever done it 3 times before in my entire life. I realized quickly that the way I did it the last time made getting the old string off a total pain in the buttocks, so I put the new ones on differently. Thirty minutes later we were ready to go... and go we did. I played my little heart out for 20 minutes and had to stop to keep my fingertips from bleeding. Ugh, I forgot all about callous build up. But I couldn't let that stop me in my tracks completely. It had been way too long since I posted anything to youtube (I actually lost 6 impatient subscribers! Sadness!) and I was determined to get something recorded. I rested my throbbing fingertips for a few hours, and later that night, in the quiet of the evening time when children are soundly dozing in their warm beds, I sat myself and my guitar down in front of our computer. I proudly present you with our united efforts (mine, the guitar's, the children's for being quiet, and Sander's for staying out of the shot). Haha, Elliot just ran up and smacked the keyboard, resulting in that period ending the previous sentence. Nicely Done EJ, nicely done. Anyway, here is the video!

 ::pretend crowd going wild::

baby love

I'm a little bit in love with baby Karsten. He is just so teeny and so perfect. The love affair is mutual too - he told me so himself when he was snuggling on my shoulder. Though he was born premature he is doing so very well; drinking like a pro, hardly ever crying, weening himself off the extra oxygen in no-time, and sleeping lots and lots. It almost makes me want to have another one myself. But not quite. Can't wait to see him again.

 Yesterday Sander and I gave talks in church, and the response was overwhelming. So many sweet people came up to us to show us their appreciation and love! We are definitely made to feel at home, it's so nice. One sweet lady even made a point to remember what Sander said about his patriotic love for the color orange, and came over a few hours after church with home made chocolate cookies.... covered in bright orange frosting! Also, they are making such efforts to pronounce our last name correctly. They even succeed once in a while! The language shift is a funny thing, quite literally. For instance, the kids call the Lifesavers candies 'light sabres'. And Max loves to belt along to his favorite Coldplay song (ew, I know) with the words:
Paraaaa, Paraaaa... PAIR O' GUYS. Speaking of that song, I'm sure you've all heard the wonderful cover by The Piano Guys, feat. Alex Boye. Take a listen if you haven't:

I know Alex! We attended one of our church's Young Single Adult's camps - the most epic one there ever was, I might add - and had lots of musical fun together. We also each had parts in the hilarious Star Wars satire, called "Vla Wars", which was shot and edited entirely at said camp. I would add a clip, but alas, they are nowhere to be found on the internets anymore. Alex, well done for getting so far in your music career! (not that he'll ever read this now he's gone on to international youtube stardom.)

EDIT: There IS a video of the Vla Wars film online! YAY!! My google was just too stoopid to find it. Thanks to the amazing Liz for pointing it out to me. Now, without further ado:

I am available for award ceremonies on Friday nights.

new year, new music

Duh! It doesn't matter where I live or what language I speak on a day-to-day basis. All that matters is that I have plenty of ice cream music. Ready if you are!

1. Wild Flag - Romance



2. Seeker Lover Keeper - Even Though I'm A Woman



3. Maximum Balloon - Absence of Light



4. Hem - Sailor



5. Richard Hawley - Darlin'



6. Slow Magic - Moonsong

like, scary good

Do you have any idea the kind of crazy to-do lists you get when you're planning an emigration? It's consuming my life at the moment. In a scary good kind of way. Scary because I am sometimes so preoccupied I forget to shower, and good because... hmm.. how shall I put this. It's just kind of cathartic getting rid of most of your earthly posessions, packing up only that which matters most, and finding that you don't actually need that much to be happy.

We had our final interviews last week and got approved! Again it was like a guardian angel came along and made sure everything went as smoothly as possible. The guy working our case at the consulate even said 'Oh, I saw that you guys were coming in today so I prepared all the paperwork last night to make sure you and the kids wouldn't have to be here too long'. And we weren't. It took less than an hour to get the good news that all our hard work and all the money we've already spent on this hasn't been for nothing. Then upon coming home and getting ready to actually book the flight we had another nice surprise: The ticket prices had gone down with 160 EUR per ticket! 

Now, I just want to say something on my little platform here. I know there are some who are upset and sad about us leaving. Some are worried for us and some just think we are certifiably insane. Some have made up their minds as to our reasons for leaving and some have come to the wrong conclusions. I'm sure there's talk and that that talk is divided between good thoughts and well-wishing, and gossip and lies (let's hope it's very unevenly!). 

I just want to say how grateful I am to everybody who shows their love to us in any way - whether that is through excitement and being happy for us, or by being sad to see us go, or by worrying for us. We appreciate our friends and family and all other loved ones so much. It makes us not want to leave when we think about all of you. If there's anything we can do for anyone, before or after we move, please let us know. 

It's comforting to us to know we have many wonderful friends and family waiting for us 'on the other side'(the dark side, as I'm sure some would call it! ha) in the USA. I hope that can be a comfort to those of you who worry for us. I hope it will also be comforting to know that we know this is the right thing for us to be doing. Ever since we made the decision to do this it has been like the entire universe has moved to open the path for us to go. Miracles have taken place. It has been a very humbling experience for us, one that I am beyond grateful for. Another thing I am beyond grateful for is a strong marriage. After 10 years it feels like Sander and I are closer than ever. Because of that certainty we are hopeful instead of scared and positive instead of pessimistic. We'll be okay because of that alone.

Well! With all of that said, I thought I'd share some of my recent 'likes' on Youtube with you .

1. Charlene Soraia - Bike

2. Winter Coats - Windmill

3. Fanfarlo - The Walls Are Coming Down

4. Sleighbells - Riot Rhythm

5. I Break Horses - Wired

6. Steve Mason - All Come Down

covering Elliott

this post is awesome for two reasons

One.

I made you another mixtape. Put it on late at night, with the lights dimmed, preferably while stargazing:


Night music by hummingdust

1. Balam Acab - See Birds (Moon)
2. Lana Del Rey - Oh Say Can You See
3. Christian Scott - The Roe Effect (refrain in F# Minor)
4. Gayngs - Cry
5. Max Richter - Journey 1 

Two.

I came across this on youtube and am now sharing it with you:

music monday V2.9

I washed my hands before I sat down and everything because, yes boys and girls, it's time we brought Music Monday back. But before I continue I would just like to take a moment to let the world know that I love spray shampoo in a can. With all my little heart. That's been needing to get out for a while now, whew. Right. Back to the order of the day, namely getting you geared up with some loverly tunes to listen to on this unusually sunny Monday.

1. Say Hi To Your Mom - Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh Oh
I was reminded of this when I went to see Crazy, Stupid Love with a bunch of girlfriends. Very nice soundtrack on that, but what was up with the PG-13 rating? Major F-bomb and several extremely inappropriate story lines. There is no way I would want my teenager getting any of the ideas presented in that movie in their head! It seems just not right to me that you would make a film with a story such as that one, and then merely minimise the swearing and actual nudity, just to get it approved for a wider audience. But I guess it would take a fool to go looking for morals in Hollywood. Oh goodness, I'm sounding like my Sunday School teacher. Actually, I am a Sunday School teacher so I guess that justifies that.

2. Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

Love, love, love this. Really though, with a name like that, how could it not be good?



3. Lulu and the Lampshades - You're Gonna Miss Me
For some crazy reason a cover of this (which was good, don't get me wrong) went viral instead of the original which is, in my humble opinion, a hundred times better. And we all remember playing the cup game around the table, don't we? So original!


4.Flight Facilities - Crave You Feat. Giselle
I don't ever listen to the radio, and this is one of those songs I suspect of having been played on the radio for a while now. So I apologise if this is very old news, but how can you not dance to this? I love her innocent vocals over that beat!

5. Owen Pallett - A Man With No Ankles

Don't know much about this guy except helloooooo, this song!


That's it for today! I'm going to gear up to watch the Queen go by in her gold carriage tomorrow with Lindsey. It'll take me a while to get an outfit together that looks halfway regal..

mid-laundry song

As you can tell from the stacks of clothes in the background: I was busy folding laundry.
Laundry - my nemesis.
I watch movies while I fold laundry because it's the only thing that makes it bearable (that, or folding it together with someone while talking) and sometimes when I watch cheesy movies I feel like singing. Today was one of those times. By the way, last night Sander and I saw a movie called 'My Girlfriend's Brother', or 'My Boyfriend's Girlfriend', or 'My Shitzu's Second Cousin Twice Removed' or whatever, starring Alyssa Milano (that should tell you enough right there). Please trust me when I tell you that under no circumstances whatsoever should you ever watch this film - it's bad. Anyhoo, here's a song for you. An old favourite of mine, and probably of everyone who has ever heard it sung by the immortal Patsy Cline: You Belong To Me.

oh look!

I made you another mixtape.


These are happy days mixtape by hummingdust

1. Howling Bells - Low Happening
2. Peter Salett - Sunshine
3. The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
4. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
5. Muddy Waters - You're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Dead And Gone

 oma Ina Blom, me, and baby Marissa, august 1983

i made you a little mixtape

With some carefully selected relaxing songs to help you through the second half of August.

August Mixtape by hummingdust

1. Air - Universal Traveller
2. Lila Ices - Love Is Won
3. Warpaint - Billie Holiday
4. Paatos - Won't Be Coming Back
5. Scala & Kolacny Brothers - Gorecki

take that, America!

For those of you who got excited when you read this post's title because you thought I was going to talk about the recently reunited boyband Take That: you're nuts I apologise. It is nothing of the sort, though I should probably write a post on their iconic selves sometime. (Yes, that was sarcasm. I apologise AGAIN).

What I have to share with you today is of much greater musical value than any boyband, or any band for that matter, could ever offer you. It is me. Singing America The Beautiful. A cappella. 

Oh yes.

I figured that applying for US residency in five-fold would require all the American goodwill I can get. So, I did what needed doing, and recorded and published this ode to the land of the brave, and the home of the free. The sole purpose here is winning the hearts of all the US government employees who might be handling our green card applications. I know what you're thinking: 'Wow Karina, that is so awesome. What can I do to help you along in this brave endeavor?'. Well friends. You can link every single American you know (especially those of the government employed nature) to this video:

Don't hesitate, you'll be making their life better, and helping moi.
Oh. Maybe I shouldnt speak french until we've actually been approved. Sorry, I meant me. ME!

Yay America :)

Music Monday V2.8 - brackets

There are days when you just have a lot of music to share that features brackets in the title. Today is one of those days.

1. Murder By Death - You Don't Miss Twice (When You're Shavin' With A Knife)

2. Sage Francis -The Best Of Times (feat. Yann Tiersen)

3. How To Dress Well - Decisions (Orchestral Version)

4. The Do - Stay (Just A Little Bit More)

on landscapes in the night air, and never forgotten clay pigeons

Whatever is taking up my creative energy lately, it certainly isn't leaving much left to benefit my writing. I have just been sitting here for about 20 minutes writing and rewriting the first sentence to this post over and over again when all I really want to do is share some great music with whoever reads this. So you know what? Forget writing. Forget creativity for now, and just have a listen!

1. Esperanza Spaulding and Gretchen Parlato - Useless Landscape (Inutil Paisagem)

This just kills me it's so beautiful and on the mark. As someone who sings a lot I can tell you how incredibly difficult the singing and harmonising in this is. The restraint, control and technique, and what's more, they manage to add so much emotion and personality that it really just blows me away.

2. Blaze Foley - Clay Pigeons

This man has such an interesting story: He was homeless and never put out an album. His equipment was so old an rickety that he had to keep it together using duct tape which gave some of it a specific sound he became known for. He ended up being shot to death, and if it weren't for the internet I would have lived my life without ever hearing this stunning song. This is really my favourite kind of music. Sincere, beautiful in its simplicity, and moving.

3. The Civil Wars - Forget Me Not

Something tells me I have posted a song by these guys before.. but I don't feel like going back and checking right now and I can't imagine anybody minding hearing another by them if I did. These two make me smile so much, I'm kind of annoyed that they're not a couple (they're each married to someone else) because the energy between them is so great. Also, if there are any guys out there with a half decent voice and some guitar skills who would be interested in doing a cover of this with me, please sign up here: _________________.

4. Jamie Woon - Night Air

Fans of James Blake, pay attention. I came across Jamie about 2 years back when I his version of Wayfaring Stranger got my ears flying high. Well, he put out his first album not too long ago, and when I gave it a first listen I was so, so excited. It's easy to hear why, it has everything I want in music: haunting vocals, soul, slinky beats, and a rather attractive guy with more talent in his right nostril than I have in my entire head. Oh, just one word of warning to the sqeamish: if you can't handle bugs - look away... while you still can.

funny little frog(s)

Remember the blog post with the art by the beach at Kijkduyn? While walking back to the car from the boulevard we took a dune path and on it we encountered hundreds of the tiniest frogs you have ever seen. We initially mistook them for rabbit droppings, and it wasn't until one jumped that we did the same. They seemed to be mass-migrating from the one side of the path to the other because they were just everywhere and we were so scared to step on them as we walked. Lara loved them to bits and at one point had 5 of them in her hand. I think that she's still a little upset with me that i made her release them back into the wild instead of taking them on as part of our ever-growing family. At least we have the pictures! And here is a little song to go with the theme - I love Belle And Sebastian!

shall we shimmy?

Why, yes. Yes we shall.

1. Bill Withers - Use Me

2. Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People

3. Otis Redding - Cigarettes And Coffee

4. Jamie Lidell - Little Bit Of Feel Good

Music Monday V2.7 - Early

I don't know about you but I like how I do Music Monday's on any day of the week nowadays. I'm a free spirit baby, don't try to reign me in! There has been SO much great music I have been listening to lately and what I am about to share with you truly is just the tip of the iceberg. Only a select few that I deem just a little bit more worthy than the rest make it onto The Blog!

1. Audra Mae has one of those voices that I could quite happily never stop listening to. How lucky is it then that she is also a creative and insipiring songwriter and brings natural soul into anything she plays.

2. Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks. This has become my go-to song when I need to shimmy.

3. The Secret Sisters - Do You Love An Apple. Listen closely... do you hear that? Yep, that's the sound of unaltered pitch, perfectly in tune. Old fashioned beautiful talent.

4. Rival Sons - Get What's Comin'. This song is perfect if you want to get rid of your 'softie' image. Just roll the windows down as you pull up to the stoplight and have this song blasting from your stereo. Instant cool. Add some leather and shades for added effect.

5. The Avett Brothers - Murdered in the City. Brothers with guitars, banjo's, beards and sexy voices. Need I say more?

Music Monday V2.7

1. Bobby McFerrin - I've Got A Feeling

This performance has just got it all: It's pure musical talent and near impossible perfect pitch, it swings, it's cool and it'll put a smile on your face that will grow bigger and bigger as you continue to watch it to the end.

2. Kevin Olusola - Julie-O

It's cello, and it's beatbox. I should also mention that in addition to having mastered the afore mentioned arts, the handsome mr. Olusola has a degree from Yale, and is a master saxophonist. Form an orderly line to my left, ladies.

3. Betty Hutton - Arthur Murray Taught Me Dancing In A Hurry

The great Johnny Mercer, who is one of my all-time favourite songwriters in history, wrote this hilarious tune. Betty's performance makes it that much better to watch. Ah, they just don't make em like that anymore!

4. Beastie Boys - Make Some Noise

I remember it well. I was 14 years old and at my very first concert: the Beastie Boys played the Ahoy in Rotterdam on an amazing rotating stage located smack in the middle of the huge hall. My friend Madeleine and I were clear at the front of the crowd and witnessed the most amazing thing I had ever seen or heard in my life. Now, 16 years later, I still love the Beasties on so many different levels and their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2, proves that they have still got it! (Though I must say, I'm not too sure about the reggae song ...) Anyway. This video is great. Watch it several times to find all the cameo's. No, watch it several times to KEEP ROCKING!!