I was supposed to go home to Boston Thursday night for my grandmother’s 87th birthday. After the bombings on Monday at the Boston Marathon, I decided it was not a good time to go home.  Waking up Friday morning to hearing the news about the manhunt for the suspects after the shootout/explosives the night prior in Watertown (what’s up ex-boyfriend’s old stomping grounds.. don’t worry, he’s safe), I am thanking Monday Amanda for making the decision to stay in New York City.  Sorry, Nina (my grandma). I hope you loved the flowers.

Lately, I have been learning a lot about positive psychology, and trying to rework your brain to be a happier person. I consider myself a very happy, fortunate, and positive thinking person, but everyday annoyances, or big, stressful situations get in the way of your happiness sometimes – it’s just a natural part of the entropy in the universe.  When things get in the way of your happiness, you cannot be your full, free, creative, productive self.  You can not be living at your fullest potential when you are not happy.

Where am I going with these topics: the Boston Marathon Bombings and happiness? All week, all we heard about was the real-life episode of 24 happening in Boston. Bombs. Death. Families and loved ones now learning how to cope with less limbs on their bodies. Before the Boston Marathon Bombings, all you really hear about in the news is generally really effing depressing stuff.  Bombs. Death. Families and loved ones learning how to cope with less limbs on their bodies. When it happens in Boston, and not in a country you can’t pronounce halfway around the world, it hits home and we give it a lot more attention, and it interrupts our flow.  You wouldn’t be human if you weren’t shaken up by what happened in Boston, and letting it upset you.

The thing that positive psychology has taught me is to spin what happened into some sort of positive light.  It feels almost impossible, but there are things to work with here.  Facebook and Twitter were blowing up with photos of first-responders and volunteers who were running towards the bombs to help those suffering.  On the news, I saw a photo that a woman took who was stuck in her house on lockdown with her infant, who ran out of milk.  The photo was of a Boston Police Officer hand delivering two cartons of milk to this woman and baby.  The NYPD drove to Boston with grills and meat, to start cooking hamburgers and hot dogs for the BPD.  I have a friend who was 10 feet away from the first bomb who I haven’t spoken to in 3 years – I got back in touch with her (injured, but is safe and will recover). The camaraderie in Boston, and For Boston has been remarkable from the residents and people around the country. It’s been so touching all week. Finding heroes and acknowledging their presence in a world where evil prevails, is the ONLY way to cope with unbelievably horrific situations like the one that happened this week in my home city.

[Because THIS, is overwhelmingly beautiful. We don't SING in Boston. But I have eaten a hamburger with Rene Rancourt at Casey's once or twice.]

Now, for something that ALWAYS makes me happy!? Moo-zik. I have been finding myself seeking out ambient music lately, because I am so impressed with what’s out there these days from the artists in this genre.  Some of this stuff is totally work-out-able, but you have to go into it with a clear mind so you can get lost in it. I think this music is cool because of the vast amount of sound you really hear in every second of these songs.

1. xxyyxx, DMT (4:20): This guy, xxyyxx, also known as Marcel Everett, is going to be big. I can feel it coming. He’s experimental, trip hop, indie, and electronic all in one sound.  This song has an beat you can get down with that isn’t overpowering of the echoey lyrics. 

2. Giraffage (ft. xxyyxx), Even Though (Teen Daze Remix) (5:04): Another one with xxyyxx, and this one’s got more energy in it to help you sweat, with a drop during the 2 minute. I smell a sprint.

3. How to Destroy Angels, The Loop Closes (4:15): This group is comprised of Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails, his wife, Atticus Ross who helped Reznor produce The Social Network score, and Rob Sheridan who has worked with NIN creatively since 1999.  A friend introduced me to this group as we were streaming the Coachella show, and I can’t stop listening to them now.  They’re downtempo electronic, but also experimental and quite trippy.  As we have learned from the past, anything Reznor touches turns to gold, so this is no exception.  This song in particular, The Loop Closes, sort of reminds me of NIN’s “Closer”, which I can’t get enough of either.  It’s a long, steady build, and it just starts to get so loud and nuts toward the end that it makes you want to get a little wild. 

4. How to Destroy Angels, Hallowed Ground (7:19): Here’s more of their sound. This one’s very ambient and relaxing.

5. Active Child, Diamond Heart (Man Without Country Remix) (4:27): Now this guy is cool. Active Child sounds a little James Blake-y, and it’s really freaking good. This songs got a good beat, sounds a little indie, with a pretty female vocalist.  Check this ish out, for sure.

6. Daft Punk, Get Lucky ft. Pharrel (4:20): I mean, are you KIDDING me? How long have we waited for a new album? I won’t count the Tron Legacy album, so thus it’s been since 2008. Five of the most painful years of my life. I think this song, is SO classically perfect. Listening to it, you could think it’s from 1970, or today. It’s disco. Pure and simple. No dubstep. No indie bullshit. No drops. They’re creating something so genuine and pure, which is so hard to come across in music these days. They are the KINGS of electro, and this is why. They are not competing with anyone for anything, and they are simply there to exist and just rule the world. How many shitty remixes have already been created out of this single, I wonder? Leave it be. It’s perfect. Counting down the days until their new album, Random Access Memories, comes out in May. Bravo, frenchies.

7. Pretty Lights, Around the Block ft. Talib Kweli (4:04): Pretty Lights almost never collaborates with singers/rappers… usually his stuff is sampled from past records.  This new single, (which comes along with a NEW CD SOON! Just in time for me to go see him in OHIO AT ALL GOOD this summer! Typical chill PL song with heavy beats, with a rapper! It’s cool to see what he can do when he gets to control the lyrics of a song (although there are past samples mixed in).  PL is the love of my life… I’ll just come out and say it.

8. Ghost Loft, Seconds (2:52): Short song, chill beat, some samples, just an all around good tune. Excited to see where Ghost Loft goes this year.

9. The Black and White Brothers, Put Your Hands Up (5:51): Had to throw some high energy dance music in here.. This is from a few years ago (at least?), and I want to dance my face off to it. That is all.

10. Michael Jackson, Bad (Remix by Afrojack) (4:10): I have fond memories of an extended late-night dance version of Bad at one of the festivals I went to over the years.. I think it was Superball IX. Some kick-ass speaker system was set up at a truck that you could hear from very far away, and Bad could never have sounded better. What a classic.

Someone actually thought my blog was cool enough to let ME do an interview with Latin Grammy-Nominated Bareto,  who recently just played at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas (or, SxSW for all you hipsters out there).

I just want to hang out with them. [image: http://www.festivalperuanodenewjersey.com

They were made famous in Peru for putting their own spin on Cumbia hits (read on to learn more about Cumbia), and have come out with a few EPs and LPs thus far since their inception around 2003 which you can find and listen to on Spotify.  Bareto’s musical versatility brings something exciting and fresh to the game with their classically Latin flavor in a world overflowing with Beibers and babies on laptops trying to become the next Skrillex.

[image: http://p.twimg.com/AwXe6cRCMAA7hNN.png:large%5D

This is one of my favorite jams so far – it’s all instrumental, and it’s just chilled out, soulful, and jammy. 

Here’s a taste of a Bareto song which has some Carribean Ska elements with a really beautiful jam around the 2 minute mark:

I hope you enjoy reading the interview below, and do check them out because I have an inkling they will be getting noticed in the US on a large-scale, and will probably be on some festival bills in the next year.  I can’t wait until they come around to NYC again!

Firstly.. how did a bunch of hot, talented, Peruvian dudes meet to start Bareto?

The starting point was avoiding classes in an advertising institute, where 3 of the founding members of the band happen to study, about a decade ago. The rest of the band joined gradually, first as friends sharing the love for music (specially reggae and ska), and then as fellow musicians, collaborating with the sound the band has these days: an hybrid where influences from dub to salsa, from merengue to peruvian psychelelic cumbia.

Describe the music style “Cumbia” to us American folks who aren’t familiar with it.

Originally, Cumbia is a tropical genre from Colombia. But every where over South America there are different encarnations of cumbia, which is a very easy-danceable rhythm (not as “salsa”, for example, where you have to develope certain skills before you hit the dance floor). Even in Peru, we have different styles of cumbia, depending on the region; we love the psychedelic cumbia from the jungle the most (instrumental bands from the 60s like Juaneco y su combo and Los Mirlos, the likes we payed homage in our second album, called “Cumbia”).

With a variety of sounds and styles in your music, who are your biggest musical influencers?

I would say everyone in the band listens to different styles of music, which is great because we can share and learn from  the others. But in this project, first reggae music (which we find to be very similar to cumbia): Bob Marley, The Skatalites, Steel Pulse, to name a few; then Peruvian cumbia groups from the 60s; and also Latin music, like Ruben Blades y 6 del Solar, which is a more experimental and jazzy approach to salsa.

Although I don’t understand the language, I understand some songs are politically and socially driven. What do you feel is the most important issue or message your music speaks to?

Well, as we have the opportunity to travel all over our country doing what we love (playing music), we think that with that privilege comes as well the responsibility of telling what we see: social differences still reigning, and the macroeconomic numbers of growth and prosperity don’t reach to the people. So we point some of this issues that the media and the higher classes don’t like to see… that’s why the record is called “Ves lo que quieres ver” (in English: “You just see what you wanna see”).

What’s cooler… Being nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2012, or being apart of SxSW in 2013?

Both have been amazing experiences: being nominated is an honor and a kind of “adjective” that will stuck with the name of the band forever: Latin Grammy nominees… until we actually win one! And SxSW has been incredible, to perform in front of people from over the world, to share experiences and to have a glimpse of the bigger acts in the industry right now… we actually met Dave Grohl and took a picture with him. How cool is that?

SO COOL. Pictures, or it didn’t happen. With both a mix of new, underground bands, as well as bigger, established performers, who are you most excited to see/meet at SxSW this year?

We were quite impressed with the Flaming Lips concert (they premiered their new album live that night in an open, free show). We also loved the NPR’s Alt-latino sponsored concert, which featured Latin bands that we love and follow like Cafe Tacuba and Molotov from Mexico, and Bajofondo from Argentina.

Where does Bareto hope to be in a year? Three years?

In a year, we hope we can play as many alternative festivals in the US, working in our growing fan base. In three years, we hope that circuit would expanded to the whole world.

I have a good feeling about that. Three things you can’t live without while on tour?

Headphones, a free wifi source and a selection of the local record stores to attack in our free time.

Band/artist/performer you cannot miss while they’re on tour?

We love going to live shows, perhaps that’s the activity we most share apart from playing together. Me, personally, want to see Tom Petty and Neil Young pretty soon, but they hardly tour south america… so I hope we can cross paths sometime in the future when we tour the US again.

My blog has two themes-music and working out-anyone have a favorite workout routine? Favorite song to workout to? Who’s taken a spinning class before?

I think all of us is really into working out, but most of us have a little stretching routine before going to the stage. I bet none of us has take a spinning class before…

I’ll give you guys a private spin class next time you’re in the city. You guys are so cool, thanks for your time and the best of luck to Bareto! Can’t wait to see where your journey leads you.

I’ve already had the luxury of an unstoppable start to 2013, with an insane Pretty Lights New Year’s Eve show,

Pritty, Prittyyyyyyyy Lights

and I’m still dreaming of the gorgeous vistas (and Australian men) in Whistler from my trip a week ago.

I mean, Whistler wasn’t, like, THAT beautiful..

If you ever have the chance to go to Whistler, you have to, and you have to hang out with my bestie, Lindsey, because she is so cool AND she has pink hair.

That’s Lindsey, with the pink hair, and me, standing in an Inukshuk on top of the world, wearing our helmets, because safety first.

We are about to get, anywhere between, according to Gawker, 3 – 30 inches of that fluffy white fun stuff (not the illegal kind) in NYC over the next two days, so I wanted to make sure I shared with you some tunes to help you get through the stages of a snowstorm.  Not like I have to call them out to the northeastern folk, but in case you don’t live in a place where you get dumped on and have these things called “snow days”, these stages are as follows:

1. Excitement – Fun! Snow!

2. Realization – Wait, we’re getting a shit load of it.

3. Anxiety – How will I make it to work on time? How early do I have to get my ass out of my warm bed up to shovel? I have to shovel ALL that wet, heavy shit so my little, unsafe car can leave my driveway, and possibly kill me on the icey roads?

4. Stress – Will they let me work from home? Will we be open? ARE MY WEEKEND PLANS RUINED? IS MY SPIN CLASS GOING TO GET CANCELLED?

Then it branches off into either a PARTY when you find out your office is closed, or you become a miserable, angry, road raged driver, cursing the whole 2 hour commute into your office. Of course, my office was always open, even after a foot and a half of snow would fall, because as my boss used to like to say after I came home from a 14 hour day, “The environment never sleeps.”  No further comment.

So, here are my favorite tracks of the new year so far, and majority are absolute gold for your workouts! (Listen in Spotify by following me!):

1. Flux Pavillion, I Feel It (5:13): The same guy that brought you “I Can’t Stop” in 2012 is back with a fresh new album called “Blow The Roof”, and it is SO GOOD. I’d paste the whole thing into this post, but that’s aggressive (is it though?).  This song is similar in a lot of ways to his first single, but I can’t stop (not even a pun) dancing and singing all 3 lyrics over and over again to this one.  Another track worth checking out is one he collaborated on with Childish Gambino called Do or Die, which is heavy beats infused with some rap (laughing at myself because I wrote “rape”, but rape is not funny).

2. Motorcycle, As The Rush Comes – Gabriel and Dresden Chill Out Mix (6:21): Very chilled out, as the title states, with some airy female vocals, and slow bass.  I’d totally do a slow, painful, thick climb to this one if I still taught…

3. Get Shakes, Sister Self Doubt (4:26): Very similar to LCD Soundsystem from the electric beats, the cowbell, and even the vocalist sounds a little like James Murphy.  Either way, makes my head swirl, and I’m interested in learning more about them.

4. Toro Y Moi, Rose Quartz (4:13): This guy is going to be huge this year… I already saw his name on the Sasquatch 2013 bill, and his sound is so relaxed, but dancey at the same time, that I think he’ll really be turning heads with his new album, Anything in Return, that just came out.

5. Aenon, This Is What I Meant (4:32): I have been practicing meditating once a day with the new year, and this whole album from this electronic producer has been an easy segway into getting lost in my pea brain, but this song in particular struck me as extra awesome.  It’s all instrumental, and a little trancey, with just the right amount of energy in it.

6. Groove Armada, Lovebox (5:41): I’ve loved Groove Armada ever since the first time I heard “Hands of Time,” and was totally confused when I heard another song by them that was housey… I love their style because they’re a little bit of everything, but this song gets me straight jammin’, which is the way to my heart.  This is another one that’s a little bit trancey, but there’s a lot of different layers to the song that help build it up and break it down.

7. Deadmau5 ft. Alexis Jordan, Happiness (5:41): THIS ONE.  I will never, ever get sick of this song. Her voice is beautiful, so if you like dance music with female vocals, this is for you.  Obsessed.

8. James Brown, Tupac, Unchained (2:52): I don’t see movies often, but when I do, they better involve a James Brown and Tupac mashup.  This song is super awesome for gettin’ your disco and rap fix, and I can’t get sick of it.  Django Unchained was awesomely scary, funny, awful, and incredible all at once. How do you do that so well, Tarantino, you sick F?!

9. Future Islands, Balance (4:07): This is one my favorite friend, Boots, sent me.  The lead singer of this group has got a very odd voice, but I’m so into it, especially paired with the lyrics and the beat.

10. The Source ft. Candi Staton, You’ve Got The Love (NowVoyager Remix) (6:06): This song you may recognize from the very end of the Sex and the City movie (yup, saw that one!) and I always remember loving it, but not until recently did I realize that Florence’s version was a cover!  This song is SO beautiful, and this has a good beat behind it to keep you dancing.

11. Kill Paris, Baby Come Back (3:27): Kill Paris is going to be another huge producer to look out for this year.  His stuff is straight fire, and the right mix of chill, heavy dub, and dance.   I promise you’ll recognize this song in a heartbeat, if not from the radio, then from that Swiffer commercial a few years ago with the broom.

12. Phantogram, All Dried Up (3:47): Yup, still obsessed with this duo, and this song is beautiful.  That’s all that has to be said about this one.

13. Cat Power, Cherokee (4:46): Cat Power’s new album is worth listening through over and over again, but there’s something to this song I can’t quite get enough of.  The chorus to this song is just so good.  Her raspy, cute voice makes me happy.

14. Xenia Dunford, A Love Song (4:16): So I went to middle school and high school with Xenia, and heard she was in the music scene in LA, and OH MY GOD. She is so talented, like her voice is chillingly beautiful.  Check this out for pure piano, soul, love, and flow.

15. Tame Impala, Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (3:13): Got this one from an Aussie I met in Whistler, and I love it… I would like to call them the modern day Beatles, but how could I ever… There’s definitely a little “yellow submarine” in their vocals though, and happy and trippy all at once.  Check ‘em out.

How are you all? I miss you guys… in brief: NYC/my new career is my dream come true, except when some absurd force of nature, named Sandy, who is a huge jerk, kicks me out of my Zone A apartment for 2 weeks. This year has been an absolute whirlwind for me since I uprooted from my home in Boston to give a new career a shot in NYC.  This has been such an incredible year for me (mostly?) in so many aspects of life, and will have been one of the more important years that I will look back on for the rest of my life.

Since no longer instructing spin classes, I am not constantly on the move to find new music, bangin’ remixes, and making super fun playlists to sweat to.  I listen to Pandora Jam all day long at the studio, I hear every instructor’s playlists, so I am constantly hearing the best music all day long, but I am not actively searching it out like I used to be on blogs and music websites like earmilk.com or pitchfork.com.  Then, when I do have the free time, I feel like it’s completely overwhelming to even begin catching up on the websites I want to check out to scour for the next best thing.  I’ve fallen behind, sadly, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still jamming out to only the best and brightest tunes at home, on the subway, struttin’ on the sidewalk, in class, and while running (or what little running I’ve done since it’s become less than 50 degrees out… because who does that?)

So, without further adieu, here are the top 10 spinmuse discovered and approved, played on repeat, never could get sick of, songs of 2012:

1. Phantogram, When I’m Small (4:09): This song was out in 2010, but it was hiding from me until this year.  Phantogram is a duo I have become obsessed with consisting of a chick and a dude, both of which I have crushes on.  I fell in LOVE seeing them this year at one of my first shows in NYC, Governer’s Ball.  They have beats, absolutely gorgeous vocals, lyrics that you can feel, and what some synthesizer-y (I can still make up words even though I don’t blog that often) sounds.  I played this in class a few times, so it’s definitely workout-able, and I have heard it used in many other classes, but really, their sound is so laid back and chilled out that it’s relaxing music. If you like them, check out “Mouth Full of Diamonds“, “Don’t Move“, and “Bloody Palms“, too! 

2. Stateless, Bloodstream (5:14): This is a cool down song for sure.  The lyrics are so romanticly melting, and the piano keys add an extra sexy element to the romance.  Stateless came out with this song in 2007, but again, was not in my obsessive possession until this year.  I’m listening to it as I type this, and seriously, the lyrics… swoon. If you like this, check out “Prism #1” by them, too! 

3. Gardens & Villa, Chemtrails (5:30): Another cool down song… Found this one in the soundtrack from the movie The Comedy, with James Murphy from LCD Soundsystem (one of my favorites, as you know by now).  I don’t know much about this group, but this song is so relaxing and sleep-infused (in a good way!) that I can’t wait to check out their other stuff.  

4. Gramatik, Talkbox Intended (6:10): Are you sleepy now after #3? Gramatik has absolutely killed it this year.  He’s been getting so much recognition in the EDM and bass world, just like I knew he would.  He’s been collaborating a lot this year with GRiZ (calling themselves “Grizmatik” which I am a huge fan of), and this album had to have come out right after I stopped teaching, otherwise you KNOW I would have been all over this in my classes.  I especially like this one for the heavy beat, but also because the majority of the lyrics are “To the Dubstep Sound in the Funk” which is basically what my life is all about.. dub and funk. If you like this song, make sure to read any other post on my blog, because I surely mention how obsessed with G I am.  Did I mention how incredible he is live, too? He’ll be at every festival again this coming year, just like I predicted here.  Stick with me folks, I am like, really, smart. Also, this track is so spinable and funky. 

5. AWOLNATION, All I Need (3:38): I like this guy because they are all over the place in terms of sound.  No distinct characteristics carry over into every song, which is a pretty cool thing to find in an artist these days.  This song also reminds me of one of my most favorite instructors who plays this song to open class with who just moved to the west coast, and I’m devestated over.  It’s such a feel good jam, and the lyrics are so cute… “All I need is you, smiling.. All I need is life, love, with you” and it makes me want to hug my loved ones.  It’s got a good beat for a spin too, if you find the fast beat to it.  If you like this one, check out the song “Sail” by them, if you haven’t discovered it’s tasty synthesizers yet. 

6. Matthew Dear, Her Fantasy (6:15): Matthew Dear came out with a new album this year, and I can’t get enough of this song.  It’s got such a fun, dancey beat, and his vocals have such a David Bowie in the Labrynth feel to them that is so deep and eerie that I can’t quite fathom why I love it so much.  Have a listen though, and dance your face off, because you won’t be able to help it. If you like this, check out “Headcage” for a slower, dancey beat.  

7. Pretty Lights, Hot Like Dimes (7:23): My marriage to Pretty Lights (and his whole music label at this point) is no secret, so I couldn’t leave him off this list – especially since I’m SEEING HIM ON NEW YEARS EVE IN NEW YORK THIS YEAR! Literally can not wait for the 31st, not to mention I’ll be there ringing in 2013 in sparkles and sequins with 10-15 friends. Hot Like Dimes came out in 2010, but I can’t get enough of it; it’s got dub, hip hop, and old vinyl samples. If I was still teaching, would do a sickly heavy climb to this for 7 minutes.  If you like this, check out this post for more Pretty Lights infused playlists.  

8. Mumford & Sons, Hopeless Wanderer (5:07): I can’t mention bands/songs I can’t stop listening to on repeat without mentioning the new Mumford & Sons album, Babel, that came out a few months ago.  I love most of the album, but I especially love Babel, and this one, Hopeless Wanderer.  It starts off really slow for a few minutes, and then picks up in true M&S form for the last two minutes or so.  You KNOW I’d be throwing some resistance on for a hill for the slow part, and then sprinting during the crazy fast.  If you like this one, check out “Babel“, or “I Will Wait.” 

9. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Your Love (Fake Blood Remix) (5:10): My most music saavy friend, Boots, sent me this on Spotify, and I fell in love with this guy (I thought it was a group until reading his bio!) after hearing this remix.  I spent a lot of one of my days off listening to his albums on Spotify (my one true love in this world).  This has got a great, quick beat, with male vocals, and then a female vocalist who sounds like she would be found playing in a gay club.. you know that kind of voice? It’s my favorite, and this songs got it all. If you like this song, check out “Tapes & Money” for some heavy synth dance music.  

10. Ellie Goulding, Figure 8 (The Alias Extended Mix) (5:59): I can’t do a top 10 list without including my girlfriend, Ellie.  I used her for my very first playlist I ever taught (when I thought I was going to puke up my nerves) well BEFORE the “Lights” Bassnectar remix was discovered by the masses (sorry to be that snob, but I can’t help it – it’s my one talent, let me have it).  Ellie could sing about picking up dog doo, and I would still listen to it and love it and want to snuggle with it forever.  Her voice is just too adorable.  This would be a ton of fun to spin to, and if you like this, check out the Jakwob remix of “Under the Sheets“, Alex Metric’s “Salt Skin Remix“, “Hanging On“, and “High for This” which she covered, originally by The Weekend.  

Words of advice for the new year… To the dreamers out there: Follow it. I promise, you’ll love it.

For months, since moving to this place, we have been couch-free.  Here’s the thing though – do YOU want to spend your first summer in the greatest city in the world on one of your days off at an IKEA with a bunch of slow walking morons buying a sofa that you then have to somehow bring home on a water ferry and then put together, all without the help of a burly dude? Or, do you want to take the subway to the beach, or meet your friends for a boozy brunch, or walk around without a purpose at the incredible farmer’s markets?  I know the former is tempting, but… fortunately for me, I’ve been a busy gal this summer, and the latter has been more tempting.

Remember when Liz Lemon and her hot boyfriend test their relationship by going to IKEA together? They broke up in that episode, obvs (I think). (source: examiner.com)

My friend that lives in my building is re-decorating his apartment, and he has been giving us tables, art, and some other cool stuff.. added bonus, he’s an adult, with great taste, who used to be an interior designer.  With that factor, plus the fact that my mother and sister are coming to visit in a week, I have felt that it’s about time to buckle down, hang some ish on the walls, and buy a damn couch.  I also spent 2 of those 4 hours we talked about above on the Benjamin Moore website looking up a color to paint one of my walls.  Did you even know that chalkboard paint existed?? Me either.. pictures to come, since that’s obviously what I’m going to paint my wall with.

I fell into a much needed Spotify hole tonight while surfing the interwebs for apartment stuff, and stumbled across some great stuff. Editor’s note: A Spotify hole is when you just start clicking, and clicking, and clicking, and then you end up on someone’s page who made a bangin’ playlist with a bunch of artists you’ve never heard of and you just keep spiraling down into a hole, where you have no idea how you got there, or no idea how to get out because the tunes are just TOO GOOD to turn them off. 

Those are usually my favorite types of holes to dig in. Usually.

I didn’t originally think I had enough material to make a solid post to share, but now I feel like I’ve got a ton of heaters and variety in there.

So, here are some disco-flavored tunes to check out:

1. Chromatics, In The City (7:30): Instrumental and long – but worth it for a trancey, dancey track to get lost in and dance to. There is actually a version with words, but I like the instrumental. 

2. Massive Attack, Unfinished Sympathy (5:08): I know, when you think Massive Attack, you think of “Teardrop”, their most popular song, but oh my god, check this out. Talk about versatile artists! #discoball

3. Beam Me Up – Jacques Renault Remix, Midnight Magic (6:04): I don’t know anything about these guys, but this was really fun to stumble upon.

4. Hot Chip, Let Me Be Him (7:41): Off the new Hot Chip album that came out a month or so ago, and I just love the soft, soothing vocals with the dance beat.  

Some other on-repeater’s lately:

1. The Lumineers, Stubborn Love (4:39): I’m sure by now you’ve all heard of The Lumineers for their “Hey Ho” tune, and this one is just as good.  Totally reminiscent of Mumford and Sons (which, by the way, have you heard their new single? GO RIGHT NOW) 

2. Florence and the Machine, Spectrum (Calvin Harris Remix) (3:38): I have heard this song at least 1 time a day at work from an instructor playing it in class, and I am still obsessed with it.  I’d go gay for Florence if she would just sing to me at every waking moment of my life.  

3. Kaskade ft. Mindy, Eyes (5:15): I may be late to the game on this one, but I have it on repeat and HAVE to listen to it a few times a day.  I can’t get enough.  

4. Kill Paris, I Wanna Be Your Lover (3:36): Thanks to Meggie for this one – just a straight up chilled out electronic song with a good, catchy beat. 

5. Blondes, Lover (6:42): Off the Blondes new album, which is just as amazing if not better than the first one. Trancey.  Missed their last DJ set in NYC a month or so ago… next time though, next time!  

7. Patrick Watson, Into Giants (4:29): Folky fresh tune. 

8. Mundian To Bach Ke, Panjabi MC (4:05): Bollywood beats that make you want to get down, big time. 

9. Body Language, Social Studies (3:32): Saw these guys at Brooklyn Bowl recently, and loved their set so much.  The female vocalist sounds a little like Lykke Li, so… it’s awesome. 

10. Tommy James and the Shondells, Crystal Blue Persuasion (4:01): Do you watch Breaking Bad? No? What’s your problem, you’re not into meth? Whatever. I am, and this song was just used in Season 5 during a cook montage.  It’s perfect.  Breaking Bad has really fabulous music in each episode, and during my Spotify hole, I subscribed to someone’s “Breaking Bad” playlist on Spotify, so follow me on Spotify, and when you go to my profile, you can listen to the BB playlist and fall into your own hole. 

11. Tiesto and Wolfgang Gartner, We Own the Night (4:30): There’s some sort of electric line in this song right at 1:32 that I don’t know how to describe, but it makes me feel like seriously getting down.  Spin your little face off to this one.

Next time you see me, I may have a couch! Maybe even a curtain rod?? The possibilities are endless, so stay tuned to spinmuse.com.

Birthdays are weird. Some years, you can’t wait for the big day to come; other years, you dread that awful feeling of getting older.  Birthdays are a time for reflection, whether you realize it or not.  They make you think about what you have accomplished in the past year, or where you were 5 years ago, or where you want to be in the next 5 years.  They make you ask yourself, “What the F am I doing with my life? Am I truly happy with where I am? Are my family and friends proud of me, or do they think I’m a delinquent who still doesn’t understand what all those symbols are on the stock market are?”

Last week, I turned 25.  All of the introspective questions floated around in my pea brain during this weird milestone-ish birthday.  Turning 24, as you may recall, I had the birthday blues – big time.  I was heartbroken, bed-bug ridden (thus living out of trash bags at my parents house), frustrated and unhappy at my job.  Things felt out of my control. I was only 24! And Miserable! Something was wrong with that picture. This year? I am so happy to say my reflections were infinitely positive on all fronts.  My heart is overfilled with love from everyone in my life, I live in an incredible place with two amazing ladies, and my job.. I love going to work everyday.  The staff are quickly becoming important people in my life, and the company is someplace I’d like to be apart of for a long, long time.

The point? Find your happiness.  It doesn’t just come to you.  You may have to work at it. You may fail. Then, you’ll try again. Or try a different approach. If something in your life is not working the way you want it to, you are the only one who cares, and the only one with the power to change it. Take risks. I left my family, best friends, a “safe” job, my brand new car, and a region I lived in my whole life, for a brand new everything.  To my surprise, it’s all worked out for the best, and not everyone may be so lucky, but you will never know unless you take those risks.  People will be there to help you if you fall.  Just find your happy. No one else will do it for you.

On that note, more happiness: music.  I haven’t been trolling the internet quite as much as I used to for new music, but I have been listening to a lot of #goodstuff lately, both spin-and-non-spin-worthy.  Also, I have learned in the spinning world that some people (including instructors!) STILL do not use sites like thissongissick.com and hypem.com.  This boggles my mind.  It’s remix city over there, and you should be utilizing that ish if you are teaching! Keep things fresh.

1. Phantogram, When I’m Small (RAC Remix) (4:01): Mixing together one of my favorite remix DJ’s, RAC, with one of my favorite groups out there today, Phantogram.  It’s a chilled out remix, and picks up a little bit towards the last minute or so.  Not to mention that the female singer in Phantogram is a TOTAL babe. 

2. Lettuce, Fly (5:20): New funk/jazz/soul/funk from Lettuce, one of my favorites on the Royal Family Records.  And I’ve got a gigantic crush on Adam Deitch, who is the drummer for Lettuce and Break Science.  

3. Gramatik v. Gossip, Dimestore Diamond Remix (5:34):  The hotness. Gramatik just announced his tour with Bassnectar, and you can for sure bet that I will be there all 3 nights in NYC.  Pretty typical Gramatik, except it’s less instrumental, with more lyrics from this Gossip group.  

4. Dirty Projectors, Stillness is the Move (5:20): Loving their sound, especially Amber Coffman’s voice, who is featured in Rusko’s “Hold On” which I am still obsessed with.    

5. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Dear Believer (4:47): Totally digging Ed Sharpe’s new album, “Here” that was put out recently. I love their back-country folk sound, and their lyrics just make me so happy. 

6. The Rapture, Sister Saviour (DFA Remix) (4:25): Been on a really big DFA Records/James Murphy kick lately after seeing the LCD Soundsystem documentary, “Shutup and Play the Hits.” [editors note: I may have fallen asleep a few times, but we saw a 10:15pm movie! Grams can't handle that kind of wild evening].  This song is great to dance to and to lose track of time to.  Would totally do a heavy climb to this. 

7. Pretty Lights, You Get High (4:27): Banger hit from Derek that I can’t get enough of. Typical down-tempo’d glitch hop, with some heavy bass lines. LOVE. 

8. Ellie Goulding, Hanging On (Syvable and PRFFTT Bootleg) (5:37): I am obsessed with this song, per usual, since everything Ellie puts out is gold. I like this remix a lot, it’s slow, heavy, and feels a little dark and emotional.  Remember like, a year ago when I was obsessed with her? And when I was listening to Pretty Lights and Gramatik a really long time ago and saying Gramatik and Michal Menert would be on every festival bill this summer? I’m onto something over here, you guys, I swear. Stick with spinmuse. 

9. Poolside, Take Me Home (5:07): My friend Michael sent this to me on #spotify (wait, this isn’t twitter?) and I haven’t stopped dancing since.  

Well friends, that’s all I’ve got for you today.  Some wisdom from an old woman, and some fly tracks to listen to.  I still haven’t quite found the direction for spinmuse yet, but keep posted. Letting it flow as it comes. Have an amazing week, and thanks for reading.

Sasquatch Festival was… THE BEST. Awesome music, beautiful scenery, even more beautiful friends and new friendships (including bear friends):

Ted E. Bare is the new bear friend.

God’s country.

I was so excited to get back to work! I came back to a brand new, renovated 70-bike studio with blacklights and a disco ball… This place is my heaven on earth.

After my first day back at work, I came home to some horribly heartbreaking and depressing news.  My 39 year old cousin passed away while I was at Sasquatch, leaving a husband and three very young children under the age of 6 behind.

It was unexpected, tragic, and a nightmare, to put it softly.  I am still having trouble processing what happened.

Some tears were shed, but I was just mostly in shock.  Reality had not sunken in yet.  A few days after hearing the news, I took a spin class with a newer instructor that I really like named Denis.  During the last climb, it was a heavier, slower song, and he was speaking some very powerful words.  I can’t even recall exactly what he was saying, but during that song, tears started streaming while on my bike.  I think it was something about all of the people in my life I am lucky to have an lean on, and riding out this climb for them. It sounds cheesey as I type it, but not when Denis was saying it.

It was a short, therapeutic cry.  This instructor had the power to take my emotional state to the next level, and help me let it all out.  Take out some stress and depression on the bike.

As an instructor, you must always be thinking about your riders.  You’re not only there to give them a sweaty, thigh burning workout, but an experience – one they will remember, tell their friends about (or their loyal blog readers), and make sure to keep coming back to.  Some people work out for the physical benefits, but the mental benefits are unlimited.  When I left, I made sure to thank him and to tell him that he had no idea just how badly I needed that.

The moral of the story?  You should strive to create an experience your riders can truly connect with, just by using the power of words.   You might not realize you are their therapist.

Along the same lines, but on a separate vector… Are you one of those people who believes in signs? I have no idea what I believe anymore, but since music is such an important part of my life (and my blog’s life), I feel it necessary to discuss a recent experience revolving around my cousin’s death.

There’s nothing worse in life than having to attend a funeral. Except when you then have to attend the burial. Someone please do something really cool with my body when I’m out of here, like be the test dummy for glitter paint or tattoos or turn me into a real life hologram, because burials are just so depressing.  It’s too permanent.

After an incredibly emotional funeral and burial, my mom, dad and myself got into the car, and the song that was on was “Turn! Turn! Turn!” by The Byrds.  This song is actually comprised of an entire Bible Verse from the Book of Ecclesiatees (minus the last line) that The Byrds adapted into a song.  Immediately my mom and I had the same thought when we heard it in the car – this is Crissy.  

This song is a classic, and sure, it could have just been the fact that I hadn’t heard any music for a few hours and I was more attentive to it, but check the lyrics:

• To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven;
• A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, a time to reap that which is planted;
• A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
• A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
• A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
• A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
• A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
• A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

After doing a little reading on the Book of Ecclesiatees (cough:wikipedia:cough), it can be summed up nicely that this book focuses on a reflection of life, the meaning of life, and living life the best way that we can.

Sign from God? Not sure. But, I like to believe this was Crissy’s work, making sure this song came on at that exact moment we stepped into the car after the burial to help ease the pain. “Welcome To The Jungle” by Guns ‘N Roses could have been playing instead.. but it wasn’t. Ya know?

Never underestimate the power of music.   

NOW?!

I’m in a swanky lounge in my luxury apartment building (more on this in a moment), stealing free wi-fi and granny smith apples that suddenly appeared in a giant basket in the lounge tonight.

FREE WI-FI AND FREE APPLES?

The move to NYC has felt like free wi-fi and free apples in every aspect.  Bear with me here, I’m really tired today.  Every. Single. Thing. Has. Been. Perfect.

This apartment building is like, rap-video swaggy (minus the bitches and hoes… although..?). It’s everything and more I could have ever asked for moving blindly from Boston to NYC.  We have a HELICOPTER LANDING PAD view of the East River, and even better than that (can you believe it gets cooler than this?):

Oh, hi.

THERE IS A STREET MEAT VENDOR RIGHT OUTSIDE MY BUILDING. LIKE, RIGHT OUTSIDE. AT ALL TIMES. Does the Halal street meat vendor company read spinmuse?

Proof, 5am Tuesday morning. STREET MEAT NEVER SLEEPS. And no, that is not my silhoutte housing a hot dog.

Now, for the whole “reason why I moved” thing.  Work has been amazing.  Every day makes me more excited to go back there than the next.  I have met some super fun people that I work with who I have been bothering the crap out of with questions.  I feel so interested in what I’m doing everyday, because I know that I am a part of helping a studio that sees almost 500 riders a day run smoothly.  I literally am loving what I have been learning so far, which has just been the everyday basics, while I’m still understanding what the manager duties will entail.  I love that there’s weeks of training that I’m undergoing ahead.  I’m learning so much, and I love this company, I love the riders, and I’m excited to go to work everyday.

I get to ride, a lot, and as much as I do miss instructing already, it’s nice to sit back and get to take other peoples classes, instead of working for 9-10 hours a day, commuting for an hour or longer each day, doing my own workout, showering, eating, and then putting all the prep work into making a few rides for the week.  You guys know what I mean, it is a LOT of work! But that’s what sets you apart from the other instructors out there.  I will say I haven’t had a heavy, long, brutal Pretty Lights song climb in a while.  The instructors focus more on movements and speed rather than resistance, but I am getting an amazingly fun and exhausting workout in everyday! The music from the instructors I’ve taken is also so noteworthy.  They get to do what I couldn’t get away with…. almost every song is an electronic and/or dubstep remix.  And it’s super loud.  And I get to hear some version of “Call Me Maybe” like 18 times a day.  HEAVEN. ON. EARTH.

Can you feel the love in this post?  That guy in the sky is finally on my side again!

So, although I still don’t have much of a direction I’m going to take this little hobby of mine, I do have some tunes to share. More of a little encouragement to check out this album that The M Machine has finally put out, after teasing us with a few singles from way back in November.  If you recall, I loved their song “Promise Me A Rose Garden” for rolling hills, and ever since hearing that song and seeing them open for MiM0SA, AND (I’m good at run-on sentences) the fact that they were signed onto Skrillex’s music label, I have been anxiously awaiting this 6-track, “Part 1″ release of Metropolis.

We got 6 tracks here:

1. Immigrants (4:53): All instrumental, some heavy beat drops thrown in, and I would consider it a perfect song for some heavy, powerful hills. 

2. Deep Search (4:38): This song reminds me a lot of two Deadmau5 tracks called Cthulhu Sleeps and FML, put together.  It’s very beaty and a little trancey, all instrumental, and again, I think it’s got a steady beat for a hill climb.  

3. A King Alone (3:47): A softer electronic track, with some male vocals, and it’s pretty soothing.  The beat is a little slower so I would suggest hills for this as well.  

4. Faces (2:47): Not really a fan of this one, it’s got vocals that make me feel weird. No spinning to this allowed. Not even going to post it.

5. Black (5:48): A little slow to start out, but it’s totally a party tune.  It’s got a faster beat than the other songs, a heavier electronic beat, and sexy build ups.  This would be perfect for some sprints. 

6. Shadow In The Rose Garden (3:09): Not to be confused with Promise Me A Rose Garden… This is a slower, bass-ier, dub-step version of Promise.  I love the female vocalist, mixed with heavy bass, and totally bearable dubstep.  Steep hills here. 

Welp, friends, that’s all I’ve got for you this week.  I have taken a major break from the computer since moving and starting a new job, and it’s been pretty glorious.  I suggest you do the same… after, of course, reading this post.  I’m headed to The Gorge in Seattle in a week for the Sasquatch music festival, and I think I’m going to pee my pants when I get there, so expect some reviews of new bands that I get to check out while I’m there! Like this group, which I totally wanted to used in my spin class but never did:

So far, everything has fallen into place so smoothly that it completely feels too good to be true (insert anvil falling from the sky here).  I might break even on selling my car, we found an amazing apartment for the right price, I have a subletter for my apartment in Boston, and my old boss did not actually kill me, despite his threats.

Although technically I am not working right now, my days have so far been filled to the brim with stuff. Stuff of all sorts.  During this time, I have come across some awesome tunes that I figured I would post.  They are, of course, all spinmuse approved spinning songs.

Firstly, and having nothing to do with spin, the new Jack White album, Blunderbuss, is so fresh. He is one of the headlining acts at the Sasquatch festival that I am going to Memorial Day weekend. I can’t wait to see him live.  This albums a good mixture of relaxing, chilled out tunes, with some heavier rock jams.  Here’s “Love Interruption”, which is one of my favorites off this album (lyrics are awesome): 

Secondly, the new Michal Menert album dropped last week as well, Even If It Isn’t Right, and I am loving it.  I haven’t had a chance to truly listen to it in it’s entirety, which you have to do when you’re listening to Michal’s stuff.  His intention with his albums is to make them feel like an art exhibit.  One song drifting into the next, with the whole album telling a story, rather than creating singles.  Here’s a good one called “The Golden Rule” (I’d spin face to this): 

I read a few interviews he did recently, and I respect him even more after reading them.  He is in this grey area in his industry where people like Deadmau5 or Rusko are creating heavy dubstep that draws huge crowds, which he could easily slip into… but he knows that that’s not where he wants to take his music, and he would rather create things that HE was happy with, rather than becoming a “sell-out” (which is not to say I think Rusko or Deadmau5 are sell-out’s at all, but you catch my drift. He could make a FAST buck on that track).

I’m sure there are some banger spin tunes out there on his new album, and I’ll be sure to point them out when I’m done listening to it.  And now, for some fresh spin tunes:

1. Wolfgang Gartner, Bounce (6:47): This song was discovered during a long drive to a Costco yesterday, only to get there and realize you have to be a member to shop there.  WHAT THE HELL? Why is this not known information? ALL I WANTED WAS SOME BULK WHOLESALE TOILET PAPER AND PAPER TOWELS and other stuff I’m going to run out of one day! It popped up in a Spotify playlist that we created for the Sasquatch festival, and I am SO MAD I am not teaching anymore because this is my new favorite song to work out to.  It’s a little long, but you never get bored of it! It’s constantly switching gears (pun intended) and I feel like this would be a good song to switch between surges and jumps of some sort.  Everytime you think you might start to get sick of it, he throws in a new bass line or some vocals, and it’s just perfect.  After I was pissed about the Costco situation, I threw this song on again, danced in my car, and everything was right in the world again. 

2. Alex Clare, Too Close (4:20): My cycle-friend Michael threw this tune over to me in Spotify recently, and I never had a chance to use it in class.  I hadn’t heard of Alex Clare before this, but I feel like he’s up and coming? Or maybe I’m just late to the game. After all, Michael is in his 40′s I think, and he told me about it, so I am obviously uncool.  This songs got catchy male vocals, and then an unsuspecting dupstep drop rolls in for the chorus.  I envision rolling hills for this tune.. 

3. Bassnectar, Cozza Frenzy (DAM Remix) (3:34): Came across this when I fell into a youtube hole last weekend.  I love the original of this song, and this remix is super fun.  If you think you don’t like dubstep, check this tune out and then tell me what you think.  Perfect for heavy hills. 

4. Bob Marley, Sun Is Shining (Smokeout Remix): One of my favorite music blogs, Fighting Musical Ignorance, posted this song and video yesterday.  Who doesn’t love Bob? This remix is really good, it’s a dubstep remix, and totally enjoyable.  Maybe tooooooo slow for spin? Heavy hills? I don’t know.  Either way, it’s awesome, and so is this badass video. I HAVE SO MANY QUESTIONS FOR THESE WING SUIT PEOPLE. How do you stop? How do you start? How do you not die? What is your health insurance plan like? 

5. Crazytown, Butterfly (3:46): Go ahead, I know what you’re thinking.  Is she for realz with this ish? I am. I went to a spin class this morning and it came on, and I got so excited.  It’s crazytown that I remembered every single lyric to this song, too.  Spin your little hearts. 

6. M.I.A., Bad Girls (4:11): I know, this one’s been out for a while. I have been listening to it non-stop though while packing, and it’s a badass music video, too, so it deserves some love.  Heavy jumps on a hill? 

I’m gonna leave you with that so I can finally shower (I took a spin class …. 4 hours ago? I’VE BEEN BUSY DOING ERRANDS, OKAY?).  I hope this suffices as a good post this week.  Next you hear from me will likely be from my new digs in NYC!

Spotify (Rill Rill)

Thanks for the music, Levon.

(source)

Last week, we lost a music legend.  Levon Helm of The Band passed away after a long battle with throat cancer.  I won’t lie when I say that I cried a little when I saw on his website the note from his family about him being in his final stages of life a few days before he actually died, and to send prayers.  The Band has been known as one of the greatest influential acts in music of all time.  That’s like, kind of a big deal.

Levon was still touring and playing up until a month before his death at age 71.  This man meant business.  Whenever he was feeling well enough, he would play an intimate “Midnight Ramble” show at his barn in Woodstock, New York, to help cover medical bills.  This began in the 90′s, and continued up until his death.  I had the pleasure of seeing him perform live in 2008 at the Mountain Jam festival at Hunter Mountain, and he blew me away.  He’s got one of those contagious smiles, and you could just tell how much he was enjoying himself up there.  I almost saw him at the Newport Folk Festival in 2009, but we left before he came on to make a train home (shame on us!).

There aren’t many musicians like him left in our world.  Someone who is so dedicated and passionate, has been in the business for over 45 years, who has seen the decades of music unfold, and still stay true to himself and his roots.  I don’t know of many artists who have continuous tour dates for most of the year, all the while playing shows in your barn every Saturday night for a small group – in their 70′s.  He will go down in the music world as one of the most influential and well-respected artists, and deservedly so.

My co-worker lent me “The Last Waltz”, which I am embarrassed to say I never saw until this past weekend.  I have always heard how amazing it is, and oh were they all right. It’s directed by Martin Skorzeeezzziiiii (if you can’t spell it, spell it funetikally!), and it’s a beautiful tale of The Band’s journey into and out of the music scene.  Lots of great interviews with the band members, including Rick Danko who I have a crush on, but I think has been dead for 30 years.  I’ll see you in heaven, baby. I really recommend renting it if you haven’t checked it out.

So, since Spynergy has video capacity at the studio, I figured I would bring in my laptop and hook it up for a few videos during bike set up and for cooldown.  For some reason, my computer nor my iPhone will connect properly to the videos, so it was a bust.  Here’s an idea of what I WOULD have played had it worked… their last concert was incredible, so many collaborations with other great artists of their time – Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, etc.

Pretty bummed my computer wouldn’t hook up to the video for this class.

So I have completed my last two classes in Boston as a spin instructor.  I was so sad saying bye to the riders who have been coming since day 1 of my first, probably horrible spin class.  I tried to put together a great playlist for each studio I teach at, I hope you enjoy them!

According to my “spin mixes” folder on iTunes, I have provided 588 individual songs to spin to, or 4.97 Gigs of music, or 1.7 days of music on this blog. Dats a lotta music.

Stay tuned for more music soon. Maybe I’ll blog about what I listen to while I pack for NYC? packmuse? uhaulmuse? what-spinmuse-listens-to-as-she-goes-broke-and-lost-in-a-new-city? Lots of EXCITING possibilities, so stay tuned.

I’m only going to post the soundcloud links for new songs… Some of these I’ve used once or twice, if not a few times already (lazymuse?).

Tomorrow May Never Come: 

1. Bob Sinclair, Love Generation (4:51): Warmup.

2. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, I Got My Mojo Working (3:35): I used this for the Woodstock spin, and it’s just amazing. There’s a light resistance pace pickup in there, once or twice, somewhere. I don’t have my notes next to me.  You can listen for it though.

3. Them, Gloria (2:38): Turn it up a little bit, medium resistance, and pick up your pace during the chorus.

4. Boro Beats, Bassnectar v. Kid Cudi (Michael Hayes Remix) (4:53): Super heavy, bass-ey climb here.  Focus on form, breathing, and really feeling the resistance in your muscles rather than speed.

5. Levon Helm, Ophelia (live from Ramble at the Ryman) (3:58):  This was another video I was going to show, which would have been a great contrast to The Last Waltz.  This was a PBS live concert special that Levon did, and this version of Ophelia is incredible.  He’s also probably 70 here, and again, you can see how happy he is performing in this video.  Also, he won a grammy for this special this year, which makes me so happy (but Billy Bob Thorton, why are you introducing him????) 

6. Kanye West and Bon Iver, Lost in the World (4:17): A few runs here, one for 80 seconds, one for 50 seconds, one for 30 seconds.  So vague.

7. LCD Soundsystem, Home (7:53): One of my favorites for a climb, and it was actually hard to chose which LCD Soundsystem song to play.  Steady climb.

8. Jimi Hendrix, All Along the Watchtower (4:01): Some sprints in here for the chorus.  More teaching info at the Woodstock playlist.

9. Pretty Lights, Jay Z Empire State of Mind (4:37): Still one of my favorite mashups of all time.  Heavy climb, switch positions.

10. Michal Menert, Tomorrow May Never Come (5:38): Currently listening to Michal’s new album which just dropped today – get it here for free.  I let the class chose their own resistance for this song, suggested a heavy resistance, and shutup for a few minutes so they could have some time to themselves.

11. Big Gigantic, High and Rising (5:52): As we all know, another one of my favorites to spin to.  Keep it on the heaviest hill of your life for 2.5 minutes, and then when the music picks up, drop a little resistance, and pick up your speed. Repeat when the beat gets faster again.

12. Van Morrison, Into the Mystic (3:30): Mmmmm, beauty.

Rill Rill: 

1. Girl Talk, Friday Night (3:12): Warmup.

2. Outkast, Bombs over Baghdad (5:04): At the 1 minute mark, we begin 40 second pace pickups with 20 seconds rest… Repeat until the end.  Recover on flats, add a tiny bit (70%) resistance for those 40 second pickups – wasting no time here getting our heart rate up.

3. House of Pain, Jump Around (3:38): Jumps! Turn up the resistance to about 75%, or enough that you can stick just to the beat.  We did “4 corner” jumps here – 2 counts forward, 2 counts back.  Once the resistance becomes comfortable, add a tiny bit.

4. Deadmau5, Raise Your Weapon (8:23): One of my favorite climbs.  I love this song so much.  Start out on an easy hill (70 – 75%) for the first few minutes, and then I think around the 4 minute mark, we add it to heavy… 85% when the dubstep begins and the music slows.

5. Flo Rida, Wild Ones (feat. Sia) (Aylen Remix) (5:17): I love this remix, I think I have been using it a lot lately… but it’s fun!  One 15 second sprint at 0:45 – 1:00, and then 30 second sprints at 1:45, 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30.  Recover light in between, and add 75% for the 30 second surges.

6. Sleigh Bells, Comeback Kid (3:01): Been meaning to use Sleigh Bells for a while!  I love their sound – a duo from Brooklyn, who I had the pleasure of seeing live when they opened for LCD Soundsystem before they broke up in 2009 or 2010.  The vocalist has a beautiful, soothing voice, but they use a lot of heavy sounds and basslines and it is really enjoyable.  Jumps on a hill. 

7. Royksopp, Happy Up Here (2:44): Short heavy climb for 2.5 minutes.  My favorite Royksopp song.

8. Skrillex and the Doors, Breakn’ A Sweat (Zedd Remix) (5:32): Been using this remix a lot lately, too.  A few sprints when the beat drops.  No notes in front of me.

9. Alanis Morrisette, All I Really Want (4:45): Record Store Day was this past Saturday, and I walked into Newbury Comics for free stuff, and they gave me an Alanis Morrisette “Jagged Little Pill” CD for free! I got a bunch of other free CD’s, but this was by far the score of the day.  The entire album is sooooooo angsty and good.  Heavy climb here switching positions with the different phases of the song. 

10. David Guetta, Glasgow (5:13): I thought about doing an entire Guetta playlist for my last class, but there were so many other songs I wanted to use.  There would have been too many sprint songs I think.  Would be fun though! Thank you, Aaron, my favorite music sharing partner for this one.  It’s got some great beat drops and electric lines in it… Housey, but not too housey.   Recover light, and there’s a few sprints in here, and when we sprint we add on 75% resistance.. again, no notes in front of me for timing.

11. Gramatik, Funk It Down (2:35): Did I mention how amazing he was live again? So amazing that a few days after the Boston show, I went to NYC for 15 hours to see him live?  Jumps on a heavy hill on our own. 

12. Sleigh Bells, Rill Rill (3:50): Another sleigh bells song, last chance for a heavy climb. 

13. Carly Jae Repsen, Call Me Maybe (Milkman Remix) (4:24): I enjoy this remix. Stop the judgements right there. You like it, too. I think there are two 30 second pickups and one for 60 seconds.  Give it all you got for these last interval pushes. 

14. Van Morrison, Into The Mystic (3:30): Again with the Van Morrison.  Can’t help it, it’s so good.