Rain, rain (don't) go away...

I love the rain. No, I REALLY love the rain. I love the smell of wet grass, the freshness of cleansed air, and the rainbows in puddles on the roads. Rain is sensual. Rain, for all man's existence, has been associated with cleansing, rebirth, growth, fertility, and renewal. Rain is paired with every living thing like an undying marriage, giving birth to change and new beginnings. I love the sound of rain on a car roof when you're warm and safe inside. I also love to open my windows and listen to music when it rains. I don't mind a few stray raindrops getting inside, and I welcome the wind as my stereo serenades me in my solitude. I have created a list of songs I recommend for rainy day enthusiasts (Seattle-ites will hate me for this blog entry!). I dare you to make a "rainy day mix" and set it aside until that gray day arrives. Pop it in, get warm and comfortable, and bask in the mix!

13 & God- "ghost work" (the whole album is perfect)
Pulp- Being Followed Home
Fever Ray- If I had a Heart
Brother Ali- Rain Water
Devics- Keys
Portishead- Teardrop
Telepopmusic- Sonic, Don't Look Back
Weezer- Sweater Song
Erykah Badu- On and On
Nina Symone- Four Women, Mr. Bojangles
Beatles- Blackbird
Amy Winehouse- WIll You Still Love Me Tomorrow
Ani DiFranco- Little Plastic Castles, Gray
Radiohead- No Surprises
P.O.S- that one, been afraid
Atmosphere- Bleed Slow
Louie Armstrong- What a Wonderful World
K.- Jenga!, Riderback
Guster- Rainy Day
Bush- Letting the Cables Sleep
Better Than Ezra- A Lifetime
Billie Holiday- Rain or Shine
Bjork- Gloomy Sunday
City and Colour- Comin' Home
Soulcrate- Novacaine Rain
Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Coldplay- Trouble
Chris Thile- Raining at Sunset
Radiohead- House of Cards
Jeff Buckly- Hallelujah
The Cure- Desintegration
Mariah Carey- Butterfly, Music Box, My All
Bill Withers- Ain't No Sunshine
Elliot Smith- Angeles
Garbage- I'm Only Happy When It Rains
Regina Spektor- Lacrimosa
The Cranberries- Dreams
Dessa Darling- Into the Spin


These are only a handful contributed by myself and Chris and Botzy. If you have any ideas, feel free to add!

Hip Hop Matchmaking: the Dream Team Edition

We could talk music for days and not run out of excitement or things to say. Tonight, like one too many nights before it, we fantasized about what our dream collaborations and tour line ups would be. Few of these pairings came easily, since we have very different individual tastes. Salina is almost completely unfamiliar with Samiha's favorite collective while Samiha is just beginning to dip her toes into NW hip hop. We welcome the opportunity to learn from one another and exchange new and old favorites on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes down to picking three dream collaborations and three dream line ups, "convince me" becomes the theme of the evening. After much back and forth, some compromise, and a few "gimmies", we give you the artists we wish had met in space camp.

Whenever the conversation of dream collaborations come up, the first suggestion is ALWAYS "El Guante and Macklemore, right?" There are not many things that we instantly and wholeheartedly agree on, so when we do you know it is something special. There is the perfect symmetry of similarities and differences to make for a really amazing track (*coughalbumcough*). Both emcees bring a brave honesty to their lyrics. Just as Guante emphasizes the importance of crafting an insightful and interesting angle for every story he tells, Macklemore picks apart every concept, experience, and emotion to create his own original yet relatable take. At the same time, it's exciting and comforting to know that their collaboration probably wouldn't be entirely serious; both emcees have been known to occasionally let their humorous, sarcastic, and playful sides run wild. Guante and Macklemore could probably create the type of perfectly cohesive and balanced yet layered song (*coughalbumcough*) that rappers and fans just dream about. (*coughproducedbybudoandbigcats!cough*)

The second duo also needed no argument or clarification was Mac Lethal and P.O.S. Having already toured and recorded (unreleased) music together, the collaboration was easily a slam dunk. Coupled with the fact that the collaboration seems to be so close to materializing, we could not help but make one more plea for it. Their chemistry would be great; it would be like listening in on a hilarious and completely uncensored conversation between two friends. We can't of course take full credit for coming up with this one, but it's hard not to daydream about what they might come up with together over a Lazerbeat.

When Salina proposed Mike Mictlan and Invincible, Samiha had to take a pause to let the idea fully sink in. Mike was definitely on both our lists, but Samiha had him paired a little differently. After some back and forth it was agreed that this was undoubtedly a dream collaboration for both of us. The blend of sounds and two emcees who can not only match one another evenly but can also challenge one another to step it up intrigued us. It's just crazy enough that it makes total sense.

Creating a concert series of perfect line ups was a little more difficult than our first task. In fact, the only indisputable line up was the often-drooled-over-on-Lethalville teaming of Black Clover Records and Doomtree Records. With both labels bursting at the seams with insane energy and live talents, the possibilities are endless. Plus, what better venue to debut that Mac Lethal/P.O.S. track?

On a Northwestcentric note with a pinch of Midwest flavor, we thought of Thee Satisfaction, Candidt, Step Cousins (Macklemore and Xperience), and Muja Messiah. This would not be one of those nights where half the acts sound the same, while the other half lack the stage presence or crowd awareness to keep you from checking Twitter every few moments. Four acts with chemistry for days, they could offer a little something for everyone. Candidt would get the party started, Thee Satisfaction would get everyone vibing, and Step Cousins or Muja would burn the joint down. You'd dance, you'd bob your head, you'd wave your hand in your signature cool hip hop way, you'd get a full body workout.

After attending so many straight-up hip hop shows, it would be nice to do something a little different: a night of singing, piano playing, band performing, and rapping courtesy of Tonedeff, Louis Logic, and Dessa. Dream Team Unplugged edition. Ego and braggadocio would be set aside for another type of swagger. The three artists would put their raw talent on display, proving that they can sing ballads with just as much confidence, poise, and charm. And maybe there would be time for a jam session, one that would be so creative and productive that the three artists would then leave the show and head straight to the nearest studio to record a genre-crossing, mind-blowing album? *Sigh* If only we should be so lucky....

So there you have it. After much debate, good natured name calling, and endless "ZOMGS!" we give you matches made in Samiha and Salina heaven. We brewed them up with love and care in our super secret special Lovefest laboratory deep within our underground lair with the aid of a little love potion number nine and our Mr. Wizard chemistry kit. We prefer hate/love mail in the form of mix cds. Beware of dogs.


-Salina & Samiha