Playlist: HITS magazine

To celebrate the release of our first print issues, here's a playlist featuring all artists involved.

HITS x Berlin

We hosted our very first live gig in Berlin - and this is what it looked like.

Cover The HITS

Our latest video series - covers performed by our favourite acts, exclusively for us.

Video Interview: Scenic Route To Alaska

Melting away in front of Stuttgart's castle, we had a chat about touring, band names, Toy Story and a lot more.

Find us on YouTube!

Visit us on the 'tubes for interviews, exclusive performances and outtakes.

Showing posts with label playlist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label playlist. Show all posts

Playlist: Christmas 2019

23rd December 2019 //

Hey everyone!

We almost didn't make it in time.

The past few weeks have been a wild ride and pre-Christmas excitement has been on shoved in the backseat.

But then we had a realisation: music is such a big part of Christmas - whether you celebrate Christmas or not - the cheerful songs are everywhere.
And as a source for brilliant music, we'd be missing out if we didn't share some of our favourite holiday songs of 2019 with you.

We hope that you can relax, recharge and just drop feeling any of the pressure we've all been feeling over the past 50 weeks.
The holidays should give us time to reflect, to set new focus, but most of all, to just be.
Be whatever we want to be without any deadlines, any worries and any stress.

If you aren't able to have a cheerful holiday season, we hear you.
 Hang in there, it will get better and you're not alone, no matter how dark it may feel.


To make sure we can supply you with some wonderful music for this festive season, we made you a playlist and hope you'll find yourself singing along.




Please enjoy our Christmas 2019 playlist:



Featured artists: Alex Francis, Oh Wonder, Hudson Taylor, Gabrielle Aplin, Hannah Grace,
 Rhys Lewis, Taylor Swift, Jane's Party, Wrabel, Jonas Brothers, Sigrid


While we are very much in need of just dropping it all for the rest of the year, we'll still be looking back on 2019 within the next few days.


Happy Holidays!






Thank you for your visit!













Credits // Words & Image: Vanessa Jetwash

Playlist: house in the sand magazine issue #1




Hey everyone!

On July 4th we released our first ever print issue and boy, we're still beyond thrilled about it.

This magazine took a while to make and is the result of hard work and dedication.
And you know what we love doing after a good work session?
That's right, listen to music.

We think the blend of artists we've talked about before and artists that are new to HITS really makes this magazine special. It allows us to discover more new faces and get even more familiar with the ones we already know.

To be honest though, we are still getting used to not being able to click "play" on paper,
and so we thought we'd make a playlist including all artists featured in the magazine.

That way you can listen to them as you read the pieces - and we're all online again.

In case there are songs you want to add to your own playlists or artists you want to follow on social media, we'll have a list of everyone below, just to make it easier for you.


Before we get completely lost in the music, please let us have a few lines to thank you.
The support with this first issue has been absolutely mindblowing and we couldn't be more thankful if we tried. It means so much to us that you have been interested in this and that you actually support us in real life.
It's such a joy to see the mag arrive at your doors and to hear your thoughts on it, so please keep it coming. We love hearing from you.



Now here's the first ever house in the sand magazine playlist:



Here we go - click on the title for the YouTube link and click on the artist's name in the text blurp for their social media.

"Hey Thomas" - ROE:

We first featured ROE about two years ago and we still remember the moment we first heard her music - because our jaws dropped. That's why it's so extremely exciting to have her as our first cover artist.

"Battles (Live)" - Hudson Taylor:
Catching Hudson Taylor live is something we hope everyone gets to experience at some point. Their live sets are so energetic and passionate - which is exactly why we wanted to talk to them about touring. This live version of "Battles" is everything.

"No Roots" - Alice Merton:
How those one describe this song without using the words "absolute banger"? Pretty sure it's impossible! We absolutely love Alice Merton's sound and are so happy that she took the time to have a chat with us.

"Down Under Girl" - Mark Mathews:
Mark Mathews has been part of what we call "the HITS gang" (we just totally made that up right now) since 2013! That's absolutely amazing and there's no way the mag would've been complete without him featured.

"Blue Luck" - Josh Savage:
Josh Savage is another artist we have been bothering for years and don't plan on stopping any time soon - because listen to his music! The lad is going places!

"Over Us" - Kemelion:
So, this mag was created partly in London and partly in a very small town near Stuttgart. STR is our city when it comes to live music and with Kemelion we finally have a local artist! This is huge!!

"I Couldn't Want You More" - Joe Probert:
We were introduced to Joe Probert while finalising the lineup for the magazine - and it only took one listen to this track for us to know that we wanted him to be featured. And honestly - we would love to see your reactions to this track - bet you're jamming. We certainly are.

"Put You Away" - Katie Bird:
The first time we heard Katie Bird's voice, we ended up sobbing. Not much has changed, to be honest. The clarity and depth of it and the honesty she shares when she sings, honestly - it just has us bawling our eyes out. In the best way possible.

"We Should Talk" - Liam McClair:
We should really talk about how brilliant this song and the piece Liam McClair wrote for us are. This song has so much grip and power, making it the perfect track to turn up the volume for.

"Wrong Directions" - Martin and James:
Come on, you knew this was coming. house in the sand wouldn't have a name, let alone exist, if it wasn't for Martin and James and this gorgeous song. Having a chat with them for this magazine was such a wonderful moment and honestly, we bloody hope we made them proud. Afterall, they could still sue is for using a line from their song...

"Don't Need Me" - James Hersey ft. narou
Don't let James Hersey confuse you with that title, because we all really need this song on the playlist. It's the perfect mix of calm, smooth and danceable.

"Lamplighter" - Ben Barritt:
Ben Barritt is an absolute essential on a good playlist. He just knows how to craft songs that make you think and boogie at the same time, which is why we just had to ask him to chat us through each track on his latest album.

"Sun Skin Air" - Sun Silva:
If you just want an upbeat, atmospheric and slightly mysterious track to move to, Sun Silva have delivered just that. And they've talked us through the process in the mag.

"Girls" - ROE:
It's only fair that we've put two ROE songs on here.

"Pieces" - Declan J Donovan:
Declan J Donovan took the music world by storm and you really won't be hearing any complaints from us. In fact, we are thrilled to have this talented musician featured again.

"Follow Your Fire" - Kodaline:
Kodaline were the first act we interviewed for the mag and ever since we first met them in 2015, they've been so kind and supportive. Having them as a part of this first release is super special and we certainly can't wait to hear what you think.

"If You Don't Love Me" - Ida Mae:
When we first heard this track by Ida Mae, we knew we had to feature them in any way. So to have them chat us through the writing process of this gorgeous song is just super fascinating.

"They Own This Town" - flora cash:
flora cash have also been introduced to us while we were already working on this and we can't wait for you to discover why we just had to add them to lineup.

"Flatline" - Orla Gartland:
Having a chat with Orla Gartland was pure joy, and we hope that you'll get all the happy vibes when you read the piece. And make sure to listen to all of her releases, because she's so brilliant.

"Gold" - Sister Sparrow:
We were introduced to Sister Sparrow earlier this year while we were already knee-deep in the creative process. But goodness me, how could we not feature such a powerhouse? We're so excited for you to get to know this incredible artist.

"Hold On To Happiness" - Rhys Lewis:
Rhys Lewis - man, he's just fantastic. We first discovered him at a festival - all we wanted was shelter from the rain and he performed in the barn. We got shelter and found one of our favourite artists - it was a win-win.

"When I'm Alone (Piano Version)" - Lissie
We first heard of Lissie way before we even had house in the sand. It was this exact song when it was first released - so being able to chat to her about her music was mindblowing and just such an exciting moment.




- get your copy of house in the sand magazine issue #1 right here -




house in the sand online: Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTube | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!
















Credits // Words & Images: Vanessa Jetwash

Playlist: ultimate girl gang




Hey everyone!

Happy International Women's Day!

While having a day dedicated to us, doesn't really change much -
it's a good way to remember that there is a lot of work yet to be done.

We think that if you are here reading house in the sand,
you already know that we haven't reached equality yet & we also think that you know what to do to make this world a better place for women.

We want to use this day to shine the spotlight on some of our favourite ladies,
so we made you a playlist featuring some badass music making women.

You'll find the list below,
but we actually made you two more lists - one including some of our favourite bloggers and one including some of our favourite photographers.


ultimate blogger gang:
Dale at Peanut Mixtape
Savannah at The Music Mermaid
 Abby at Indientry
 Nessi at carpe carmina
Katrin at In Bed With 


ultimate photo gang:
 Saar de Graaf
Melissa Rodriguez
 Sam Lichtenstein
Gabby Ames
Carolyn Lederach
Janet Eckles
The Photo Ladies


Here's our ultimate girl gang playlist:




What do you think of our playlist?


Which badass ladies do we still need to add?

Go tell us about them!



https://houseinthesand.bigcartel.com/





Thank you for your visit















Credits // Text: Vanessa Jetwash | Graphic: Chris Stringer ft. Vanessa Jetwash

Playlist: the HITS essentials



Hey guys! 

We've had a face-lift on social media.

Okay, wait - that sounds like we've live streamed our face being lifted - which was not the case.
(Phew! I know.)

No, we just got a new logo for our social media channels and I'm absolutely in love with it.
You can find it by visiting our channels, they're all linked below.

It was designed by the brilliant Chris Stringer who has been a part of the HITS gang for multiple years. He's one of our favourite musicians and he's also super talented when it comes to graphic design.
So please go check out his work - you'll love it.

Graphic Design | Music


I'm so thrilled about this little change up on our socials, it just feels fresh and inspiring - which is exactly what we've needed around here.

So to celebrate our hip socials, I made a (not so) little playlist.

As you've noticed in the title of this post, it's called "the HITS essentials" - please let me explain that:

We love the music we share all year around - we wouldn't share it, if we didn't like it.
That's just the way we handle things around here - why write negative reviews when you could just focus on spreading the word for the musicians you do believe in, right?

So this playlist doesn't mean that we only love the featured artists.

The HITS essentials are songs by artists that either are part of our little gang or that have been interviewed and photographed by us and were a delight to be around.

(Please note - this playlist originally was 4 hours long, we had to cut it down a bit. So if you are an artist and are not featured on it, please know that we still love you!)


house in the sand has been built on friendships, we wouldn't be where we are without the friends we've made in music.


So, why don't you press play and check out a few stories below: 




Now, this wouldn't be house in the sand if I didn't write about a million words about the songs above.


The first track you'll find on the playlist is our title track - "Wrong Directions" by Martin and James.
This blog is named after a line from the song. ("I'll build my house in the sand until the waves knock it down.")
I first heard this song in 2011 when Martin and James supported Taylor Swift.
A year later I started a blog and needed a name for it - the song came to mind and soon the line became our name.
Seven years after hearing it for the first, Martin played the song for us at the house in the sand show in Berlin. Talk about things coming full circle!

Of course we needed a Jack Garratt track on here because he's mega fun to chat to and a musical genius.

ROE found us through the Jack Garratt interview and we fell in love with her sound.

Kodaline are still the winning champions of  the unofficial "funniest band to interview award". And I will always cherish the moment I made them read the lyrics to their songs in different accents.

When we discovered Rhys Lewis at Barn on the Farm in 2016, we felt like little talent scouts who predicted big times for the brilliant musician. AND WE WEREN'T WRONG.

Back in 2014 we met Jamie Lawson for an interview and a session right before he supported Ed Sheeran.
I still remember him playing "Cold In Ohio" for house in the sand's third birthday - it was so simple but so breathtaking. Jamie is one of the nicest people we've met through music, so it's always a pleasure to have him involved.

When I first heard The Lunar Year's "Porcelain", I cried.
(Okay, I also cried when I heard it the second, third and seveny-sixth time.)

Ben Barritt is part of the original HITS squad and his music is a playlist staple for sure.

We'll admit, we haven't interview Hozier (yet) but as a writer, his music inspires me to push myself and to be bold, yet artistic. Therefore his latest, "Nina Cried Power", just needs to be on this list.

The day I was in the studio with Jim Kroft and ended up singing choir vocals on "Redemption", I knew that this industry is the most random thing I've ever been a part of. And for that I love it.

Right after recording that song and getting a total of 5 hours sleep within 48 hours, I went to a cool hotel in Berlin to film an interview with Gavin James. He was so bubbly and fun to chat to, so that made being awake so much easier.

When Sony Music invited me to interview Tom Walker in early 2017, I said yes after hearing 30 seconds of his music. Of course I've been cheering for him when "Leave A Light On" went viral. So well deserved! 

The Vaccines are on this playlist because I did my first ever phone interview with their bassist - and I was so nervous. But it ended up being super fun and interesting, just like their live shows.

"Don't Act Like You Know Me" by The Arkanes will probably still make me boogie when I'm 80. Guess they'll always be my brothers.

Because we can't have enough rock music in our lives, Novatines just need to be a part of this party playlist.

Liam McClair was the first friend I've ever made in Manchester and he's the best tour guide who made me fall in love with the city. So, "We Should Talk" (about Manchester).

Tom Odell was the first artist I photographed as an official music photographer. Every time I've had him in front of the lens, I was blown away by his growth as an artist. I also still remember hearing "Another Love" for the first time and being drawn to his talent from the very first second on.

Wrabel is the kind of artist I want to be best friends with. So if anyone finds out where I can apply, please let me know. Until then I'll be sobbing to "The Village".

In 2010 I went to see Rooney live. They were the first indie gig I went to and I had my point and shoot camera with me, standing in the front row and snapping away. I remember how much I loved the results and being able to re-live the gig through photos so much, that I knew I wanted to be a music photographer. And look at me know, I regularly have the time of my life in photo pits.

Of course I had to end this playlist with a Paramore track. There's no other way to do this. I've loved their music since 2009, so in some ways they've made me


And that's it!


I really hope you'll love the playlist as much as you do. As you can tell the songs and artists mean a lot to house in the sand and I hope that the playlist is a nice way to support them.

I also want to thank all of you reading this for being a part of house in the sand - you give us a reason to re-do all our logos, to lose sleep over details in the designs and to have the best time of our lives creating content and sharing the music we love with you.


Here are all the platforms you can find us on, just click the little icons and they'll take you to our channels:


www.twitter.com/houseinthesand  www.facebook.com/houseinthesand  www.instagram.com/houseinthesand  www.youtube.com/houseinthesandBlog  https://open.spotify.com/user/houseinthesand?si=ez8xJSdtRGmAyrkPgLfKHQ  www.soundcloud.com/houseinthesand






Thank you for your visit!














Credits // Words: Vanessa Jetwash | Image: Chris Stringer x HITS

Playlist: female equals future



Hey guys!

I grew up surrounded by women who taught me that hard work gets you places,
that loving unconditionally is the only way to love truly,
and who taught me that women are capable of literally everything. 

My first favourite band was a fieve piece girl band.
They were the first band I saw live when I was six years old and I wanted to be as expressive with my life is they were with theirs. 

In kindergarten, I hung out with boys and was never excluded from any games. They treated me like one of them. 

When I first started out in the music industry at 16, I was guided by some of the most supportive men I've ever met.

Once I decided to turn photography into a serious part of my job, I found so much support and help from a female collective.

Why am I telling you this?
Well, to show you that I grew up, thinking there was no such thing as inequity between men and women.

But - spoiler alert: there is.

I could write a million and one posts about this topic (and I have written one, click here),
but instead I've decided to turn my frustration into something joyful.

And so I've created a "female equals future" playlist for myself and everyone else to enjoy.

Female artists struggle in many ways and so this playlist is dedicated to all of them.

I want to comment on every single track, so I'll try to write a little summary of the playlist.

So my idea is for you to hit play and read along to my commentary as you're listening to the tracks.
If you don't want to do that, that's fine - but please check out these talented musicians.

Every artist/band name is linked to their website, so if you like something - make sure to visit their pages and support them.


Enjoy "female equals future"!



Of course I had to start off with some Paramore.
Yes, they're not all women in the band - but front lady Hayley Williams was one of the first women I've looked up to for her creativity and her ability to turn emotions into music.
"Hard Times" is yet another masterpiece.

Dagny's "Love You Like That" is one of the loveliest love songs on the playlist and it's so refreshing, so energising and just a beautiful pop song.

I first listened to Liza Anne about four years ago and have been in love with her sound ever since. She's evolving so much and "Paranoia" might just be my favourite track of hers.

Black Honey is another female fronted rock band that you need in your life, so start with "Hello Today", if you don't know them yet.

Laurel's voice is so expressive and so hypnotizing, "San Francisco" will soak you in and not let go. You'll love it.


"Used To Do" by Gabrielle Aplin is yet another proof that she can pull off any change of style - whether it's Folk or Pop or Rock, she's got it. 

Anne-Marie is one of those exciting acts who still has plenty of surprises coming up for us, "Heavy" showcasing her melancholic and soft side.

Kat Frankie is my latest discovery - and holy moly, I'm so glad I found her music. "Bad Behaviour" speaks for itself, so give it a listen and you won't be disappointed.

Lissie is a remarkable lady who has written multiple stunning albums and has found a sound that couldn't work better for her. "When I'm Alone" is just genius.

If you haven't heard of Bryde before - you're gonna thank me for adding "Desire" to the list. It's her latest track and it's mysterious and badass and overall brilliant.

Fenne Lily's "Top To Toe" is one of the most calming tracks you'll find on this playlist. I fell in love with this song when it randomly played on Soundcloud and I haven't been able to stop listening to it since.

Keeva has been featured on HITS a couple of times before and it's such a joy to finally have another track to share with you. Warning - "Whiskey" might make you cry. Her voice is pure gold.

You're already crying? Let me add fuel to the fire with The Lunar Year's "Porcelain". Another female fronted band that has touched our hearts with this stunning track.

Sigrid had a big year and if you listen to "Dynamite", you'll know why. I can't help but get Adele-like wow-vibes from her extremely expressive voice.

Every lady featured on this list blows us away with her voice - and Hannah Grace is no exception. Keep your love is firey, souly and just fabulous.

Kid Wave combines moody beats with sunny riffs and give us magical vintage vibes with "Everything Changes".

Say what you want, I like Taylor Swift and thing her evolution sound wise is nothing but fascinating. "...Ready For It?" is exciting and futuristic.

If "Woman (Oh Mama)" by Joy Williams doesn't get you stomping your foot, please see a doctor. It's infectious and such a perfect anthem.

To give you a moment of peace, I had to add Rachel Sermanni's "Breathe Easy" to the mix. It's so calming and so comforting, you might shed a tear or two. (I shed three.)

Nina Luna is a HITS favourite and her creative approach to music is so fulfilling, you don't want to miss out on "Hope Run Wild".

I have to admit, I don't know many Lady Gaga songs, but I wanted to end this playlist with her piano ballad "A Million Reasons" because it left me speechless.


And that's it for the playlist.

I really hope you've enjoyed it - thank you for checking it out.


If you know any female musicians you'd like us to feature in the future, please get in touch!


house in the sand online: twitter | facebook | soundcloud | youtube | instagram


Vanessa online: twitter | instagram




Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Spotify Playlist: Vanessa's picks // September 2017



Hey guys!

We have embraced 2017 and just created a Spotify account for house in the sand.
We're now where the cool kids are, whoop!

To celebrate our debut, I have accepted the challenging task of creating our first ever playlist.

It's a "personal picks" kind of list.
The playlist is filled with songs that I listen to, when I'm not reviewing anything for HITS.
I've realised that my personal music taste likes to have a mixture of new and exciting acts, as well as those acts I've loved for years - kind of like a safety blanket.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE discovering new music, but sometimes I just want to sing along to tunes I know well.

So, this list below makes me super happy.
It's playing whenever I get the chance to play it.

It starts off with "Rose-Colored Boy" by Paramore, which I have loved since I first heard it in May.
I've loved Paramore for a good seven or even eight years. This song makes difficulties sound so good and for that I love it. Rose-Colored Boy makes me dance, even when I'm feeling terrible. 

Wrabel's "The Village" is one of the most powerful, most emotional songs I think I've ever heard.
We have such outspoken and clever artists out there, who stand up for their beliefs and who stand up for humanity- and we need to celebrate them.

Amber Run aren't really a "insider tip" anymore, but I still feel like mentioning the acoustic version of "Fickle Game". I fell in love with the lyrics and think that this intimate setting showcases them in such brilliant way.

"Top To Toe" by Fenne Lily was one of those lucky discoveries I stumbled upon on Soundcloud.
I remember being completely hypnotized by Fenne's stunning voice and immediately hitting the replay button. Multiple times.

I don't really use the term "that's my jam" often, but it describes how I feel about "Knife Edge" by Martin Luke Brown. That beat and groove can get me moving so quickly. Martin is one of those exciting acts that keep on evolving and never fail to amaze.

Jon Bellion is one of many discoveries that have surprised me so much. There are so many details in "Guillotine", the first time I listened to it, it blew my mind.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "Weathered" by Jack Garratt is one of my all time favourites and gets me emotional 99.9% of the time. I highly recommend you listen to that song and pay attention to the lyrics, as well as the backing vocals. Just thinking about this song makes me emotional.

Yes, I've added Taylor Swift's new track, "...Ready For It?". I like it. I think it's exciting to watch an artist try out new styles and I'm digging this one. You may throw your sticks and stones now.

"Darkness" by Oliver Daldry is one of those tracks I listen to at night, when I'm getting ready for bed. It calms me down without ever boring me. 

If I remember correctly, "Your Lips" was the first track I listened to when I found out about Josh Savage's music. And three (or four) years later, it's still one of my favourites of his - so of course, it's featured on this playlist.

"Burning Flame" by The Franklin Electric is my most recent discovery. I love it when a submission is exactly my cup of tea and I get to add a new band to my favourites. The more I listen to their music, the more songs I'm going to add.

"Gift" by Madeline Juno. A German song. Can you believe it? I can't.
I know most of you aren't German, but I just wanted to add this track, because I never listen to German songs. There's something about my own language that I don't enjoy in music, but Madeline has proven me wrong with this incredible track.


Maybe these teasers made you curious?
The full playlist is below and I'm pretty sure you'll find at least one track you'll love.



Have a listen:



I'd love to hear what you think, so feel free to drop me a comment or get in touch via one of the channels below. :)

If you enjoyed it and want to save it, you can follow the playlist on Spotify.



Follow house in the sand: Twitter | Facebook | Soundcloud | YouTube | Instagram

Follow Vanessa: Twitter | Instagram





Thank you for your visit!















Credits // Words & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Playlist: Christmas 2016



Hey guys!

For the first time ever I've decided to put a little Christmas playlist together.

The older I get, the more I realise how much music can influence my mood.
(And I say that at the age of 20- what other realisations will I be facing soon?)

Because I wasn't quite feeling festive this season, I figured a Christmas playlist might do the trick.
So little, desperate me went on Spotify to listen to all the usual Christmas playlists.

But guys, what kind of music blogger would I be, if I didn't feel the need to create my own playlist?

So when I've noticed that some friends started uploading their own versions of classic Christmas tunes, it was my time to open a new post and type away.
(More like, "embed" away.)

And here we go!
Below you can find my personal Christmas playlist which I shall have on repeat until Christmas!


I hope you enjoy!


Please feel free to share this with your friends and leave a comment telling us your favourite Christmas song!

_________________________________________________________________________

"White Christmas" performed by Martin Kelly

This song is one of my favourites, so it was super interesting to see where Martin would take it.
Obviously, he did a fantastic job and therefore makes the perfect opener for this playlist.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" performed by Ciaran Lavery

Another classic, another classy artist!
Ciaran's voice paired with the softly played guitar and the beautiful string section, just create the perfect Christmas scene.



_________________________________________________________________________

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" performed by The Ragamuffins

Alright, if you haven't done at least one intense performance; dancing around the room, singing Mariah Carey's mega hit song, you're clearly missing out.
The Ragamuffins have had the guts (and the talent!) to publish their version of it and I LOVE IT.

Now, let's DANCE! (And leave the music to the band, they do it so much better!)



_________________________________________________________________________

"Oh Holy Night" performed by Bastille

This is just great. There's not much to say other than that.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Fairytale Of New York" performed by Gavin James

Gavin James released a Winter EP and made my heart melt with it.
It was really tough to pick a song to put on the playlist, but his version of "Fairytale Of New York" was the one I wanted to share with you.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Baby It's Cold Outside" performed by Lewis Watson and dodie

Not only do I appreciate this beautiful version of the well known duett, but I also appreciate that Lewis and dodie also take a bit of time to question the lyrics. This just shows our standards and expectations have changed a lot - and we should be proud.



_________________________________________________________________________

"River" performed by Lissie

Joni Mitchell's "River" is one of the most beautiful songs out there, am I right?
When you love an original version of a song so much, it can be strange to hear a cover version.
However, Lissie has nailed it and delivered a stunning version of this song.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Merry Christmas Everyone" performed by Lucy Rose

Okay, I've got a confession to make - Shakin Stevens' hit song is my favourite Christmas song ever. I love the upbeat and cheerful vibe.
So, of course, I was excited to see a modern day artist put her own twist on it.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Lonely This Christmas" performed by Kodaline

From a cheerful tune, to a rather sad one. But it's Kodaline covering Elvis - what's not to enjoy?



_________________________________________________________________________

"Spending All My Christmas With You (Next Year)" by Tom Odell

Don't you get sad, here's an uptempo and mega rock'n'roll track for you to boogie!
Tom Odell is just fabulous.



_________________________________________________________________________

"Silent Night" performed by Tori Kelly

This stunning acapella version of this beautiful classic is honestly breathtaking.
I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I do.




And now I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas,
whether you celebrate it or not - I hope you'll have a wonderful time off.

Let's all use this time to find ways to make this crazy world a good one again.
I think we need it.




Happy Holidays!











Credits // Text & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Playlist: Comfort Songs




Hey guys!

I think music is a very powerful thing.
Most of the times that I listen to music, I care about the lyrics. Sometimes they're the make it or break it factor for me.

But sometimes there are those days where you've already cared about too many things, those days you feel a bit overwhelmed by whatever you're dealing with. And at least I find it nice to let something distract me when I'm having one of those days.

Just recently I felt a bit down because of something blog related and I found so much comfort in listening to the songs below, so I decided to throw them into a playlist.

Maybe some of you are having some moments where they just want to relax and I think I've got the right music for you!

Enjoy!


"Holocene" - Bon Iver
I've first heard this song as a part of a soundtrack I got to review.
There's something about the chord progression that calms me down and makes me enjoy this song so much. I find so much comfort in this song and really cherish it.




"Safe In My Arms" - Tom Crouch
Even though I just found out about this song about a week ago, it has to be on this playlist. Tom's vocals are incredibly powerful, but they're still very calming. The way the guitar accompanies and duets with the vocals is arranged so beautifully.



"Wrong Directions" - Martin and James
This song has been a part of my life for the last five years. It's the song the line "I'll build my house in the sand until the waves knock it down" comes from, and as weird as it might sound - this song feels like a home to me. It's probably my number one comfort song.




"High Hopes" - Kodaline
Kodaline and their harmonies - talk about soothing voices. Don't get me wrong, I love their upbeat tracks (I really do!) but this one is a classic and so is this performance.




"Helplessly Hoping" - Crosby, Stills & Nash
When I'm having a rough day, the first thing I do is putting my Crosby, Stills & Nash vinyl on. You can't imagine the pure joy it brings to me! I highly recommend listening to this band if you're one of my younger readers who might not know about them yet.




"Now" - Ben Barritt
Ben Barritt gigs are probably my favourite gigs to just get comfortable and enjoy music at its' fullest. Ben's musical arrangements are on point and let you dive into his music in such enchanting way. This song is his first song I heard live and I hope you check it out.




"Your Lips" - Josh Savage
Talk about soothing! Even though this song is a rather sad song, it still really calms me down. Josh's voice is incredible and the combination of the strong drums in contrast with the delicate strings is just absolutely gorgeous.




"Home" - Gabrielle Aplin
The melody of this song does make it feel like home. There's something so familiar, something so powerfully soothing about this song. And the harmonies in this performance just seem to hug you as a listener.




"Left For America" - Ciaran Lavery
When I heard this song live just recently, I realised how comfortable it makes me feel. Put this on, get a cosy blanket and enjoy.




"Stop This Train" - John Mayer
John Mayer, a hero for comfort songs. When I was moving flats, things got so chaotic and busy that his live album was on repeat to calm me down. I just love his guitar work.




"Cherry Wine" - Hozier
Whilst most of Hozier's song have the opposite effect on me, this one is a real diamond in the see of calm songs.




"Weightless" - Tommy Reilly
I think when I'm looking for soothing songs, I care a lot about light instruments. Tommy Reilly offers those with beautiful vocals on top. What a treat!



"Waiting For The Gods" - Jim Kroft
I'm lucky to call this artist a dear friend of mine who's helped me through some rough minutes with his words and wisdom. His music has been part of so many different stages of my last four years and it's always a go to when I need comfort.



"Northern Lights" - Ryan O'Reilly
Harmonies are an incredibly soothing thing. This song gave me the chills when I first heard it live and immediately made it onto my comfort songs playlist.




"Called On" - Hudson Taylor
If you ever get the chance to see Hudson Taylor live, go and take it! Until then, listen to their music and find hope that there are still some quality acoustic/folk duos out there.




"Stay Tonight" - Tom Odell
I remember Tom's speech before performing this song at one of his gigs. He shyly said "I'm not a good guitar player, but I really like playing this song. I hope you forgive me for my bad playing." And I was prepared for a rather disappointing performance, and then this happened. Beautiful.




"Eggshells" - Rachel Sermanni
Had the pleasure to do a little skype interview with this talented lady after falling in love with her gorgeous music. I mean... those vocals! Comfort level: 120!




"The Boxer" - Simon and Garfunkel
Whenever I edit gig photographs, I put my Simon and Garfunkel vinyls on. I don't know why but it became a little tradition which I love a lot. It's a very positive experience!


"Lego House" - Ed Sheeran
Yeah, Ed Sheeran is the master of soothing acoustic songs. We can't deny that and we embrace it! This song is gorgeous and I could probaly listen to it on repeat for days. Or weeks.





And that's my comfort songs playlist! I really hope you enjoyed this and that you'll come back to this when you need some comfort in form of songs.

Please feel free to share your personal comfort songs with me in the comments or on Twitter/Facebook. I'd love to listen to them!


Thank you for reading!







Credits // Text & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske | Videos via YouTube


Playlist: 2015 favourites (so far)



Hey guys!

It's been a while since I last threw a playlist together.

I live on certain playlists and have about twelve of them on my iPod. I enjoy having lists of music because you can create them for whatever mood you're in.


The title of this playlist is a bit confusing, it sounds like the playlist consists of songs which have been released this year, but it's not.
This playlist is about acts I've been loving in 2015 so far.
 Some of them have been part of my playlists for years, some are acts I just found out about this year.
But all of them have written incredible songs which I enjoy listening to regularly.

Here they are, below is a little commentary for each song:





"Work Song" by Hozier
I've been listening (and loving) Hozier for a lot longer than just this year. There's something about the way he arranges his songs from the backing vocals to the riffs. And yeah, let's not forget about his incredible voice!

"Big Bad World" by Kodaline
I was introduced to Kodaline ealier this year when I got asked to interview them. I quickly became a fan of their sound and still can't get enough of both of their albums.

"Sirens" by Stephen Langstaff
Stephen performed this song for our Birthday Countdown and blew us all away with it. Of course we need it on the playlist!

"Northern Lights" by Ryan O'Reilly
A blog reader introduced me to Ryan O'Reilly and I'm very happy about that! Soon after that I got to work with this talented act and the Northern Lights EP is definitely one of my favourites.

"Hey Little Bird (demo)" by Martin Kelly
I knew this guy way before I even started blogging! Martin is a part of the duo Martin and James and like I said, I've been enjoying their music for about 4 years now. His solo project is just as fantastic and I'm excited to see what he's up to.

"Light Up The Dark" by Gabrielle Aplin
Gabrielle Aplin is that kind of musician I can listen to whenever. I feel like she has a song for every situation you can possibly find yourself in. My favourite thing about her is the way she writes, her lyrics are just on point.

"If You Wanna" by The Vaccines
Another band I got to know because I got offered to interview them.
Indie pop at its finest. Infectious instruments, attention grabbing vocals - brilliant combination.

"Dapper (demo)" by Alex Stockley
A song that just makes you get off of your seat and dance the hell out of dancing!
That's the only way I can describe. My writing skills are failing me because I'm busy dancing!

"Your Lips" by Josh Savage
Sometimes it's the emotional songs, the violins and slow guitar riffs that just need to be on repeat. Josh Savage sure knows how to enchant us with a gorgeous tune.

"Ghost" by Winter 1982

Very pleased to be working with the incredibly talented Winter 1982. Quality music which you need on your playlist.

"Called On" by Hudson Taylor
What I love about Hudson Taylor are the harmonies the brothers Harry and Alfie sing oh so well. Another set of fantastic writers of wide range of sounds.

"The Great Doomsday Story" by Jim Kroft
This guy. I'm sure in about 5 years the fantastic Jim Kroft is still going to be on my playlists. His work is just so inspiring and never boring.

"Holocene" by Bon Iver
I first heard this song on a soundtrack and I remember being completely paralyzed by it. I just had to listen from start to finish without doing anything else.

"Boxer" by Ciaran Lavery
Ciaran Lavery treated us with his beautiful EP and "Boxer" really stands out. An artist to watch!
(And to listen to, obviously.)

"Clocks Go Forward" by James Bay
This year I really got attached to James Bay's music. There's something so unique about his sound, he just combines all the beautiful singer/songwriter elements in an exciting way.



And that's my playlist of acts I've been loving in 2015 (so far). I really hope you enjoyed it and found a few songs you're going to put on your playlist.

Feel free to let me know who's on your playlist at the minute!


Thank you for reading!











Credits // Text & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske // all uploads on soundcloud belong to their rightful owners, this is just a collective playlist

Playlist: Spring 2015


 

Hey guys!

It's the 20th of March! This means it's officially Spring in Germany!
Spring is my favourite season; the cold winter period is over, the flowers start blooming (which is probably my favourite part) and to me it feels like the new year really begins.

Playlist are always so much fun to create because they allow me to put a big variety of genres into one post.

I don't really think my taste in music changes with the seasons but there are some tunes which represent Spring in such perfect manner.
I guess you could say that a light acoustic/folk track works best in Spring, and I agree.
 But I love rock music just as much and I'm a music blogger, so I always need "new" stuff as well.
This means this playlist holds multiple genres, represents multiple feelings and hopefully sounds like Spring.

Long story short - here's my playlist for Spring 2015, I hope you enjoy!

Feel free to press play and read my commentary whilst listening. 

P.s.: some of the songs are downloadable for free - so make sure to look closely.





"Big Bad World" by Kodaline
Recently fell in love with Kodaline's sound. Fantastic vocal and harmony work, brilliant instrumentals and storytelling lyrics. 

"Broken" by Recruits
Keep an eye and ear on this band! So much potential, so many great tunes!

"Hold Back The River" by James Bay
What beautiful song this is! I love when the chorus kicks in, that's when I get the 'Spring vibe' from this song.

"Elisabeth" by The Rose Affair
This was our song of the week just a little while ago, still not over how fantastic this track is.

"Tonight" by Cable Car
"Get out of your comfort zone!", that's what they all say. Alrighty then, here's something I usually don't listen to but still enjoy. 

"Chasing Rubies" by Hudson Taylor
Yeah I know, folk music isn't everyone's cup of tea. But I love some of it. Hudson Taylor do a phenomenal job playing and writing it.

"Fate" by Lowrise
Alright, let's groove a bit. Spring leads to a lot of happy moments which need to be celebrated with some dancing. Here's the perfect music for that.

"Note Alone" by Matt Mure
This song is absolutely well produced and sets such a perfect scene for car rides in Spring.

"Invisible Dance" by Panic Tree
You want more electronic stuff? Here you go! Great beats, absolutely well arranged vocals.

"I Hope You Know" by Tiz McNamara
Spring is also a great time for day dreams. Calm music helps, here's a beautiful ballad.

"Hammer And A Nail" by Vienna Ditto
Some quite dancy song should not be missing on a Spring playlist, should it?

"All I Want" by Kodaline
Kodaline... once again. Couldn't resist.

"Northern Lights" by Ryan O'Reilly
Ryan already enchanted us with his music last month. I'd describe this song as a gorgeous song we all need to listen to in Spring.

"Blame It On Me" by George Ezra
It's a bit groovy, it's a fun, after all - it's Spring!

"Watering Can" by Liza Anne
I was told about Liza a little while ago and instantely loved her sound. This song is my favourite of hers.

"Your Lips" by Josh Savage
Good lord of Spring! We need this!

"Wicked Ones" by Dorothy 
Craving some badass rock tune? Me too. Let's have this one!

"I Hope You Know" by Jim Kroft
Mr Kroft always manages to write song which make me feel understand and comforted. Can't credit him enough for that!

"Terrible Things, Terrible People" by The Cape Race
I've been following this band for quite a few years now and their sound just keeps on getting better.

"The Wire" - HAIM
You know... I like it.

"North North West" by Matt Creer
Amazing use of percussion paired with warm vocals. What else would you need?


HAPPY SPRING!



Thank you for reading!



 



 

Credits // Text & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske

Playlist: Autumn Time 2014



Hey guys!

A wee look outside the video this morning definitely proved it - it's Autumn. The leaves turn from green to yellow, orange and red; it's starting to get foggy in the morning, darkness kicks in earlier and stays longer.
This also means we slowly but surely need to turn our summery roadtrip playlist down and switch to the Autumn playlist. 

If I was a fashion blogger I'd show you the boots I'd wear for this season, but I'm a music blogger, so I'll show you what I listen to when the days get shorter.

The autumn playlist consists of tunes I can't stop listening to by artists I've worked with already, artists I just really dig and some brand new stuff which was submitted via Twitter.

You can listen to the songs and find what I have to say about them below.
Hope you enjoy! :)




 "Evergreen" by  Jason Tyler
This song just screams autumn. The atmospheric guitar based ballad won me over with Jason's soothing yet expressive vocals. Great way to start the playlist!

"Chasing Rubies" by Hudson Taylor
I've got a soft spot for good harmonies. Harry and Alfie definitely got me. This is such a lovely up beat folk track, you just gotta have it on a playlist.

"Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene" by Hozier
Hozier... I'm obsessed with his music. This tune show cases his voice and writing skills in such perfect way. Calm in the beginning, grooving as it marches on.

"Last Penny Blues" by Dirty Rotten Souls
There's no season I could survive without rock'n'roll! Thank god the Dirty Rotten Souls submitted their track. I love it!

"Veins" by Shoot The Rabbit
The rabbits, great friends and even greater musicians. "Veins" is one of their rather calm and acoustic ones and really suits the autumn theme.

"Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
Shame on me but I just recently got into Nirvana. I just never really had anyone hand me one of their records until now. Now I'm absolutely hooked. This one's a classic!

"About A Girl" by The Academy Is
Throwback! There was a phase, years ago, were I loved this song. Randomly found it online and gave it another listen, turns out I still quite enjoy it. 

"This Is Our Cloud" by Nick Liam
Piano based ballads, definitely an autumn thing. Nick has such brilliant voice!

"Clueless" by Orla Gartland
Miss Gartland, a bubbly and passionate musician. And so is this tune, lovely for a happy walk in the forest.

"Never Gone Far" by Alex Stockley
Alex Stockley is such a talented guy and I'm really glad he contacted me. We need to keep an eye on him, I'm sure he'll be big soon. Honest and talented music for the soul.

"Left For America" by Ciaran Lavery
This song has been on my playlist for months now, I can listen to it whenever. Of course it's on the playlist. 

"Keep Them" by Keeva
I know I'm going to make her happy when I say she's the female version of Elvis and John Mayer. One hell of a talented artist! Really glad to know Keeva and her tunes.

"Hate To Love You" by Sarah Bollinger
Did somebody ask for powerful soul/pop? Well, here you go! This slightly funky tune is for those minutes where you just NEED to have a good time dancing around in your room.

"It's Just My Skin" by George Ezra
Yeah, his voice is fantastic, isn't it? Seems like he could make the phone book interesting by singing it. A slower ballad for those dreamy moments in autumn.

"Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran
Get a cup of tea, a blanket and relax. Ed's gonna help you.

"Willis" by Yinka Oyewole
Enough with the relaxing, let's get grooving with Yinka Oyewole. Brilliant submission! Really not what I usually listen to but this is fun!

"Alive" by Bella Loka
Had the pleasure to interview this pop duo, "Alive" is one of their newest tracks and convinces with charming electronic elements and of course singer Tea's voice.

"I've Been A Mess" by PARLA
I love the calm moments in autumn where it's all about enjoying the beautiful nature and the freedom outside in the woods or somewhere. PARLA definitely wrote a soundtrack for that.



Thank you for reading!





 Credits // Text & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske

Playlist: Readers Request



 Hey guys!

I created this blog about 2,5 years ago because I went to a gig and was absolutely over the moon about it and wanted to share my impressions and opinions with, well the internet.
Back then around 20 people read the blog.
Today more than 3000 people a day read the blog.

We also went from only me sharing what I love to interacting more and sharing great music with each other.
So a while ago I asked you on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share YOUR favourite songs with me. 
Little did I know this would create an amazing playlist with all kinds of genres. From hip hop to acoustic to rock to pop and back.

On the list are some quite new tracks as well as some tunes from the 80s. You see, I'm amazed by the variety.

Jayden requested: "Runaway" by Kanye West
Eileen requested: "All I Want" by Kodaline
Ryan requested: "Southern Sun" by Boy & Bear
Chris requested: "Fault Line" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Andrew requested: "Fall At Your Feet" by Neil Finn (Crowded House)
Brophy requested: "No One Knows" by Queens Of The Stone Age
Andy requested: "What Have We Sown?" by The Pineapple Thief
T-Mac requested: "Sho Ya Right" by EntaPrize feat. Triumph, Munee$ & Lano
Kathie requested: "Uncover" by Zara Larsson
Jake requested: "Swim And Sleep (Like A Shark)" by Unknown Mortal Orchestra
1inFive requested: "This One's For You" by Motorbiscuit
Sabine requested: "Colors Of The Cold" by Rocco DeLuca
Kitti requested: "Songs About Roses" by Owl John
Mike requested: "Black Lake" by 1inFive
Rachel requested: "Messiah" by Prides
Nessi requested: "Wolves In This Town" by Plastic House
Lukas requested: "Heart Keeps Dancing" by James Gruntz
Jeffrey requested: "Spanish Sahara" by Foals
Jana requested: "Come And Get Your Love" by Redbone


Once again - many thanks to everyone who shared their favourite song with me. I absolutely love interacting with you and hope we can keep things on this level.

Let me know if you want more readers playlists! :)
(I freaking love them...)


Thank you for reading!






Credits // Text & Image: Vanessa Jertschewske | all songs were submitted by house in the sand readers

Playlist: Summery Road Trip


Hey guys!

Sometimes I get a little clueless of what to post.
Whenever that happens I tend to ask you guys for help and you are always there with brilliant ideas.
In other words - you are amazing!

This time you suggested a summer playlist and a road trip playlist.
I fell in love with both ideas so I decided to put them together and do a 'Summery Road Trip Playlist'.

Please keep in mind that I don't try to pick the "newest" songs. I don't even know what's in the charts.
I basically just picked a ton of songs I love to play in the summer time.

Hope you enjoy!


'Fallen Off Earth' - Keeva ft. George Glew
We want to start our road trip with a calmer tune, right? Keeva and George Glew wrote the perfect one to get into the mood.

'Bones' - Chris Stringer
I really think having some slow songs on the playlist is lovely. 'Bones' by Chris Stringer is such a jewel, we just need it on here.

'Lose Your Colour' - Lizabett Russo
Happy, light instrumentals and infectiously catchy and beautiful vocals. Oh it's summer.

'Blood Fountain' - Panic Tree
Alternative songs with slight electro-pop sounds really get me in the Summer time. Panic Tree treat us with this fantastic track.

'Fools Parade' - The Rivertairs
This is 'just a demo' but me oh my of course it's on here. If this doesn't get you moving, I don't know what will.

'Orphan' - Ciaran Lavery
Stuck in traffic? Turn this up, have a little jam session and I'm sure it's all good.
 
'Heal' - Shoot The Rabbit
Yes yes yes - cruising down the highway, blasting this = Summer!!!
 
'Finest Hour' - Nina Yasmineh
Let's calm down for a second and collect some energy for the next dance party again. Nina Yasmineh totally helps by enchanting us with her beautiful vocals.

'Feel It Ticking' - The Plea
Mysterious rock music - yes, please!

'No Idea' - Ben Barritt
A funky, jazzy, folky singer/songwriter tune to enjoy our road trip even more.

'Command:Turn:Revolt' - The Arkanes
The volume needs to be loud for this one. L O U D.

'Honey' - Liam McClair
Out of breath? Yeah me too. No worries, Liam has got us covered with a brilliant song to chase the sunset.

'The Wire' - HAIM
Thank god the wire of our radio is plugged in. 

'Ain't It Fun' - Paramore
Ain't it fun being on the road?
 
'Battles' - Hudson Taylor
Folk rock with sassy lyrics. What a combination. Oh, let's sing along like there's no tomorrow!
 
'Blame It On Me' - George Ezra
I don't mind, blame this playlist on me. I'm happy with it. Whoooohoo.
 
'Matilda' - Martin and James
If you don't know the words to this, go and learn them. We need to sing along! This song represents Summer!
 
'Don't' - Ed Sheeran
I love this slightly bad-ass beat. Perfect for a nice trip to your favourite city.

'How Do You Feel Today' - Gabrielle Aplin
There are also clouds in the sky in Summer so it's ok to listen to some ballads.

'Little Elle' - Alex Stockley
You're welcome!

'Superstition' - Stevie Wonder 
A classic. For a reason.


And that's the whole playlist. I really hope this helps you when you're on the road.
I'm definitely off to spend some time road tripping now, byeeeee.


Thank you for reading! : )




 
Credits // Text & Photography: Vanessa Jertschewske