They say all good things must come to an end, and since today is the last day of June, it’s time to put the finishing touch on this year’s 30 Day Song Challenge. If you’re interested in going back to check out my previous picks, I’ve collected them all at this link. I had a lot of fun mulling over, listening to and writing about music again this time around and I’m already looking forward to next June.
Today’s prompt asks for a song that you discovered this month, while doing the challenge. I actually doscovered a lot of new music this month, mostly thanks to friends far and wide who were playing along with me on Facebook, Twitter or on their own blogs. So it’s funny, I suppose, that I “discovered” my pick for today right in my own backyard.
I’m really super-excited to share this song and this artist as the grand finale to my 2015 30 Day Song Challenge.
Meet Arean Alston (pictured above): Memphis native, transplant Los Angeleno, pianist/guitarist/bassist, vocalist, producer, songwriter, joy giver, funk layer-downer, smile inspirer, truth speaker, soul lifter and all around First Team BAMF. I first a met her last December when she and several friends showed up to help me record and produce the “Joyful, Joyful Ode To Memphis” song/video. I could tell right away that Arean was nothing short of a force of nature: energetic, talented, overwhelmingly positive. She is the living, breathing poster-child for what people around these parts call “blessed.” We quickly and easily became friends.
I’ve kept up with her over the last six months, but it was only a couple of weeks ago that I discovered on YouTube a performance of her song (along with her Double A Band) “Clap Your Hands.” I’m not even positive if that is the correct song title. (It might be “Clapping My Hands”) Whatever it’s titled: I. Loooovvveee. This. Song. It’s been running through my head for days and days.
I’ve only been able to find two videos of it. The first, from an appearance on one of our local television stations, has better audio, so you should click that link to hear the track more clearly. The second, which I’ve included below, is from a live performance at the Hard Rock Cafe and really captures Arean with all her musical joy, improvisational skill and infectious energy. (Also keep an eye out for my good friend Suavo J on trombone in both videos.) Here it is, my last pick of the monh:
I can’t wait to get that joint on my iPhone so I can listen to it all the time. (COME ON AREAN, PLEASE RECORD THIS SOON!) Keep an eye out for this girl. She’s the real deal.
That’s it. Another 30 Day Song Challenge in the books!
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