It's the last week of the year 2016! & a lot of crazy things have happened this year! Starting my 2016 in Queenstown, NZ with family I decided to start the year with something amazing! I went white water rafting through the Shotover & Kawarau River & from that point I knew 2016 was going to be something magical! Throughout the year I've seen live music, tackled another year of uni (down now with nearly 6 months left!) & then in the later part of the year I was lucky to see the wonders of Autumn in Japan. I wonder what 2017 will bring!
Well Merry Christmas also & hope its been super relaxed! Christmas for me is a time for family & a time to step back & look back at the year that was. I'm still amazed how quickly this year has flew but super excited for the year ahead! & thanks to work but I also got a good couple of days off till the 3rd Jan which will be a nice excuse to get everything back to normal; still have uni work to go through, friends to see & TV shows to watch!
Christmas was at my family friends Sue & John's this year, so my family who held Christmas last year had only a few things to put together. It was a very chill day indeed. We had breakfast, opened presents & spent some time floating in the pool. Mum made her famous trifle & I had a second attempt at a gingerbread cheesecake (not bragging, but seriously this is the best cheesecake I've ever made!) Christmas is just a lovely reason to see the people you love & to remind you that you shouldn't just see them that one time of year. It's a time for presents, but also a time for presence & Christmas was just lovely seeing everyone, sitting around the table & laughing/enjoying each others company.
Musically the world has been hit with another blow, on Christmas Day we lost an 80s music icon George Michael. I couldn't really say I was a huge fan especially as I only knew a couple of his songs. I do have memories of my Aunty playing his music videos/concerts regularly on the TV but he was well known for his fashion sense, flamboyance, human rights & being quite the sex icon. Tying it back to why I love music so much is due to the power behind music. We will lose over the years many amazing music artists but their music will carry on & stay in the hearts of fans as well as the hearts of new listeners & that concept is just amazing!
Well what a year musically it has been! For a overall review music wise of my year, please find below my top listened artists for 2016!
My top artist to listen to was CHVRCHES, my favourite song was RUN by Tourist & my favourite album to listen to was Gang of Youths "The Positions".
Also to throw in some good news, last week I got promoted to Office Manager at my work (woo woo!) Looking forward to more responsibility & new challenges! It was all discussed earlier in the week, but it became official on the last day before the Christmas Break. To celebrate & to also celebrate the start of the Christmas Break I met up with a mate at the Mercantile in the Rocks for a few bevvies. Starting the afternoon with a cheese platter, then a couple of roses, there was then a guitarist playing some classics as well as Christmas songs to get everyone in the merry mood (& we definitely sung along!) I was in such a brilliant mood that I've actually impulse bought a ticket to Babylon Music & Lifestyle festival in the Blue Mountains next year. So in March I'm going to the Blue Mountains for a musical weekend getaway! Looking forward to being surrounded by nature, morning yoga, good vibes & House DJs! I'm going with Grace & Blair whom I went to the Ivy Courtyard Party with last week. We're keen to get a crew together for March it's going to be awesome!
So now that it's the final week of the year, it's a time to look back on the year that was! Looking at last years New Years Resolutions I've still got a few things to work through & will roll through to 2017 - but the most important goal was to remain happy!
New Years Resolutions (Here's mine in no order)
1. Finish Uni
2. Learn Yoga/ tone up
3. Move Out
4. Learn electric guitar
5. Be happy
I finish uni officially (hopefully!) in June next year, I've had a few people offer to teach me electric guitar when I finish uni & also found someone who wants to learn guitar with me. My family also got me a fitbit for Christmas so remaining healthy & happy into 2017 will continue to be a goal of mine!
Looking back on the year of gigs as well;
Jan 16 - Flaming Lips @ Sydney Festival Bloody Beetroots @ Greenwood Hotel - Australia Day
Feb 16 - Laneway Festival with the likes of CHVRCHES, Beach House, Health, Purity Ring, Violent Soho, Hermitude, Flume, Grimes, Shamir, The Internet & Japanese Wallpaper
Mar 16 - Workaholics @ Beach Rd Hotel feat. Cosmo's Midnight DJs, LK McKay & Jess Kent Ladyhawke Album Launch @ Newtown Social Club
Apr16 - Matt Corby @ Enmore Theatre; saw Vera Blue & then Matt Corby called in sick!
May 16 - Matt Corby @ Enmore Theatre
Carlos C Major & Band @ Soda Factory - my birthday!
Jun 16 - Curve Ball @ Carraigeworks feat Zhu, Cosmos Midnight, Joy, Basenji & Nicole Millar
Jul 16 - Alex Lahey @ Tokyo Sing Song - B Grade University EP Launch
Sept 16 - Flight Facilities feat. Sydney Symphony Orchestra @ The Domain Duck Duck Goose @ Frankies Pizza
Oct 16 - Shake your Blood @ Frankies Pizza
Young Henrys Rock 'n' Roll Circus @ Frankies Pizza
Dec 16 - Ivy Courtyard Party feat; Tube & Burger, Justin Martin & Miguel Campbell
The track I'm going to share this week has given me goosebumps for the past few weeks, it came to my attention before I left for Japan but since a month of being back & hearing this track more & more I'm hooked. What a way to end the year! Wrap your eyes & ears around it below:
Amy Shark is a brooding song writer, filmmaker & producer from the Gold Coast. An artist founded through Triple J Unearthed Amy Shark is a hidden gem that I feel since this song was released end of July/August that I'm a little bit slow!
Keep your eyes peeled for this artist as she is definitely one to watch for 2017!!
Here's to a fabulous new year! may you face challenges with no fear, always remain positive, always believe in yourself & remember to spend moments with those you love the most. Looking forward to another year of discovering new music & artists!
Cheers Amy
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