My name is Hayley! I’m a displaced Southerner from North Texas, avid reader, and that nerd that plays wind instruments (flute, clarinet, oboe, and now an EWI). I’m obsessed with tacos, corgis, and warm weather.
Rockers with a Cause: the Dayna Clay Project
“My music is the spiritual expression of what I am — my faith, my knowledge, my being…When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something really good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hangups…” — John Coltrane When it comes to coping with feelings, many people turn […]
Meghann Wright & The Sure Thing Interview
A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of going to Meghann Wright & The Sure Thing’s show at the Tonic Room in Chicago. It’s kind of a small bar, and apparently the fourth-most haunted bar/pub in Illinois. We needed a quiet place to talk, and the owner gladly took us behind the bar […]
New Gear Report: A Tempo Percussion Cajons
Got any cajon players out there? I’m used to hearing crickets chirp after a question like that. Personally, I love the stuff out of playing cajons, even though I’m not a drummer. When you sit atop a cajon and slap out a sick beat, you can literally feel the rhythm in your whole body. A […]
Cage The Elephant – Tell Me I’m Pretty
I know you’ve been listening to the Star Wars: The Force Awakens soundtrack on loop for the past week. Put “Scherzo for X-Wings” on pause for a moment because Cage The Elephant — known for hits like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Shake Me Down” that you probably still hear on your favorite […]
Celine Neon – Kitty
You might remember one of my earlier posts about Celine Neon’s self-titled album that came out earlier this year. Much to my delight, this grungy pop duo (comprised of Emily Nejad and Maggie Kubley) hasn’t lost momentum yet. On their Facebook page recently, they described themselves as “bubblegum pop for bad girls” — a description […]
New Gear Report: GonBops Rumbero Cajon & Zildjian Trigger Sticks
GonBops Rumbero cajon We have a pretty good selection of cajons here at zZounds — cajons of different sizes, shapes, and purposes. The GonBops Rumbero cajon caught my eye because it had a very unique look. It’s made of nogal wood, but take a peek at the top and sides — there’s a gorgeous inlay […]
Dilly Dally – Sore
It was pretty hard to choose just one album/band to cover this month. There’s so much happening right now in music, it’s kind of hard to keep me listening to one thing. My nostalgia went into overdrive when I heard that Blues Traveler came out with a new album in the spring. Then the internet […]
Halsey – BADLANDS
I’m about to talk about an album that’s SUPER fresh — as in, it just officially came out like 3 days ago (even though it was leaked online August 23). Introducing Halsey’s BADLANDS: an album that will easily become the soundtrack to your last couple of weeks of summer. Halsey — legally named Ashley Frangipane […]
Beast Còast – Just Breathe
I need music. But it’s not because I need noise or need distraction — I actually have a need for music in my life. It’s the key to my sanity, and a single track can make my day — or put me in a weird mood. I have a pretty varied taste in music, and […]
