Björk – An Unmistakable Voice Coupled with Individuality

There have been so many great musicians that have influenced me while finding my own unique style and voice, both in person and through their music, that it is difficult to pinpoint just a few. One artist, however, has stuck out from the beginning for her creativity, amazing voice, sounds and courage to go where no other artist has gone before. And for a female musician, that has meant not being scared of being labeled as strange, eccentric and even ugly.

I‘m talking about Björk. Her talent has left a deep impact on me and many other female singers. In fact, with her nonconformist and non-feminine style, she has done much to liberate female singers from the cute and perfect image. But first things first. Did you know that Björk, before her commercial success with the Sugarcubes, already was a member of four bands and recorded her first album when she was only 11? At 14, she founded her first group, an all-girl band called Spit and Snot (it was punk, so what other name would you expect?).

Always the versatile artist, at 15, she was a member of the jazz fusion group Exodus. At 16, she formed another band called Jam-80, which released their first album two years later. The band KUKL (or “Sorcery”) followed soon after, playing something they called Gothic rock. It was with KUKL that Björk debuted her trademark singing style, punctuated by shrieks and other sounds and noises. Though the band released two albums in 1984 and 1986, they disbanded soon after the second one.

Image: Masao Nakagami

Soon after, some band members and other artists created a new band, also called KUKL but later changed the name to The Sugarcubes. Their first single, “Ammæli” or “Birthday” became a surprise hit in the UK and from then on, the band went on to become a big success. Almost immediately, they signed up with the new record label One Little Indian and soon had a cult following in the US and UK and became one of the most successful Icelandic rock bands of all times.

When the Sugarcubes split up in 1992, Bjoerk moved to London to pursue her solo career. Her first solo album (actually her second, counting the one when she was only 11) was called Debut and became an overnight success, especially her first international solo hit “Human Behavior”. Songs like “Venus As a Boy” and “Violently Happy” left few untouched – some rejecting them, some wholeheartedly embracing them. I remember that “she listens to Bjoerk” became something like a statement when being introduced to someone, as if that set you apart.

Image: Cristiano del Riccio

From then on, it went only up for Bjoerk, never a stranger to controversy, but also winner of many prizes and awards: She has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, 2 Golden Globe Awards and an Academy Award. Her performance as a composer and actor in the 2002 movie Dancer in the Dark, Björk received the Best Actress Award at Cannes. One of her latest projects has been “The Comet Song” recorded for the children’s movie The Moomins and the Comet Chase. (Did you know that Bjoerk has two children? 24-year old Sindri and 9-year-old Ísadóra?) Here’s the video:

From punk, jazz, avant-garde to pop, ambient, electronic, classical, folk and alternative rock, Bjork has done it all and her amazing soprano voice with incredible range allows her to pursue all those different musical directions. A true inspiration!

Related post: The great tribute of Michael Jackson, Annie Lennox, The great white Soul singer, iMix with Bjork and other great singers, Discover Great New Age Singers, Peter Gabriel – The man, the mission.

Marcome’s Ambient music iMix 3

A selection of smooth electronic ambient musics to enjoy after a busy day! My iPod is full of those airy tracks that allow my big head to unwind. From Daft Punk to Enigma passing by Portishead and Delerium, discover the smooth side of those great artists!

May you find time to relax and chill out in the next hours! Amitiés, Marcomé ♥

Other iMixes you might enjoy: New Age Music Classics , Smooth music to relax , Ambient and Dance music , Great Female Artists, Smooth Techno Music to Chill out.

Marcomé’s Ambient Techno Music iMix 1

Here is a collection of smooth ambient and techno music I listen to chill atmosphere in the living room before we get to jam in between friends! This is good cocktail music as well. I must say that my son plays a big role in my musical discoveries! I even get to share his library, it really keeps me young at heart! Air and Bjork are probably the only artists I knew before my son.. Hope you’ll discover something new…

Happy next hours! Marcomé ♡

Other iMixes you may enjoy:

Other iMixes you  might enjoy: New Age Music Classics , Smooth music to relax , Ambient and Dance music , Great Female Artists.

Marcomé’s Ambient and Dance Music iMix

I feel alive when I dance!  What better way to get your body moving than to put on some exciting, upbeat music?  When its time to clean house or get outside for some exercise, I love listening to the selections on my ambient and dance music iMix.

Its easy to be your own record producer at iTunes!  Simply select your favorite artists or the songs you love to hear time and again, then pull them together for your personal iMix.  I’ve created seven iMixes – so far – that range from new age music to ambient, chill and dance tunes.

In this Ambient and Dance Music iMix, you’ll find 23 songs from Madonna to Fat Boy Slim!  If you’ve ever wondered what’s playing in a singer songwriter’s iPod… take a peek here.  If you love it, you can download a copy for yourself!

Its my favorite selection of electronic, dance and ambient musics.

Go move! Marcomé ♥

Listen to Marcomé’s Ambient and Dance Music iMix

If you liked this post, be sure to see Marcomé’s New Age Music iMix and New Age Music Classics: iMix 2.

Make Room for Space Music

You’ve probably heard of chill music, ambient music, and world music.  But what about space music?  The term isn’t as “out there,” as you might believe!  In fact, it is quickly becoming recognized as a sub-genre of new age music.

Even though space music is more often described as a feeling, or a mood evoked from listening, perhaps its not surprising to hear that its often played at planetariums and in film soundtracks.

As described on Wikipedia:

“Space music ranges from simple to complex sonic textures, often (though not exclusively) lacking conventional melodic, rhythmic, or vocal components, typically evoking a “continuum of spatial imagery and emotion”, beneficial introspection, attentiveness for deep listening, subtle trance effects called “spacey”, (defined by the Compact Oxford Dictionary as “drifting and ethereal”) and psychoacoustic spatial perceptions, particularly, sensations of flying, floating, cruising, gliding, or hovering.”

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