Synthpop | Snapshots and Needle Drops

Sparkling water silhouette Muskoka shadow dog

That Expectedly, Unexpected Sound

April 15, 2013 by snapshotsandneedledrops

The stunning ST a ‘Sparkling Hour‘ in Muskoka Dulling the pain created by the release of Osheaga’s 2013 line-up and the acceptance that I won’t be attending this year is the anticipation of going to the Australian music festival called ‘Groovin the Moo” in two weeks! Groovin’ the Moo has stacked the deck with awesome bands from Australia. And Australia, if you haven’t noticed, has recently been flooding the market with killer new acts. Today’s feature is a band that […]

Categories: Alternative, Australian, Dreamwave, Electronic, Electropop, Experimental, Indie, New Wave, Pop, Post-Punk, Synthpop • Tags: Alpine, alternative, Australian, Canada, cottage, dog, dreamwave, electric, electropop, entertainment, experimental, Groovin the Moo, indie, lake, music, music festival, Muskoka, new wave, photo, photography, pics, pop, post-punk, summer, Synthpop

wave crashing against water-smoothed tree on Mexican beach

Vamps from Ipa’hema’

March 19, 2013 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Tulum (Mexico) beach at sunrise D’ya get it? Vamps from Ipahema. Judge me all you want, but I am shamefully proud of that title. Now that the incredible Osheaga lineup has been announced- even though there is next-to-nil chance I’ll be attending this year- bands will subsequently fall into one of two camps: those that are playing at Osheaga and those that are not. Today we feature Vampire Weekend who are not only playing in Parc-Jean Drapeau this summer, but […]

Categories: Baroque Pop, Caribbean, Dreamwave, Electropop, Experimental, Indie, New Wave, Pop, Rock, Synthpop, World • Tags: baroque pop, beach, dreamwave, electropop, experimental, indie, Mexico, music, new music, new release, new single, new wave, Osheaga, osheaga music festival, photography, photos, pop, Rock, Synthpop, Tulum, tulum mexico, Vampire Weekend, world

Angled shot of bar lights at Kool Haus, Toronto

Brooding Vintage Keyboards

January 14, 2013 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Diamond Rings is 80s revivalism to a tee. With lamenting synthesizers, deep steady vocals, and a glam to rival David Bowie himself, Diamond Rings taps into the power of neon lasers and shoulder-pad blazers. The persona of this Canadian artist was created to challenge the expectations of the male pop star; again… à la Bowie with rock in 1972-73 with Ziggy Stardust. Doesn’t it sound like it would have been perfect for the Drive soundtrack? I’m especially digging the intro, it’s mad rad. As for […]

Categories: 80s, Alternative, Canadian, Dance, Electronic, Electropop, Funk, Glam Rock, Indie, Pop, Rock, Synthpop • Tags: 80s, alternative, Canadian, dance, electronic, electropop, funk, glam rock, indie, music, photography, pop, revivalism, Rock, Synthpop

Snapshots Has Moved!

January 8, 2013 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I have exciting news! Both Snapshots and I have packed up and moved locations. Snapshots and Needle Drops can now be found at snapshotsandneedledrops.com! (You will be redirected from the .wordpress.com domain.) While I can be found enjoying life down in Australia!! It was a bit of a last minute decision, but I did it and I am thrilled. It will just be a quick post this week as I am spending all my time getting set up here, but I thought that […]

Categories: British, Dance, Electronic, Electropop, Glam Rock, New Wave, Rock, Synthpop • Tags: Australia, aviation, British, dance, electric, electropop, glam rock, Goldfrapp, moving, music, nature, new, new wave, outdoors, photography, Rock, Synthpop, transportation, travel, website

Top of the Drops 2012

December 30, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Music and I got off to a rocky start in 2012. Most of the new releases from early 2012 left me underwhelmed. Everyone seemed to be wrapped up in a big electro-techno wave that I was not whole-heartedly on board for. While I see these genres as great platforms for creativity and modernity, the majority of it does little to captivate me. This disheartened attitude took a turn for the better in the summer when I started discovering amazing new […]

Categories: Acoustic, Alternative, Americana, anti-folk, British, Canadian, Dance, Electropop, Experimental, Folk, Indie, Lists, Pop, Rock, Sample, singer-songwriter, Soul, Synthpop, Unsigned • Tags: 2012, Acoustic, alternative, Americana, best of, best of 2012, British, Canadian, dance, electropop, entertainment, experimental, folk, indie, list, music, photography, photos, pop, Rock, singer-songwriter, soul

Hot Shots of 2012

December 18, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Since “Obsessed with 2011” went over so well last year, I decided to include the photos in this year’s roundup of favourites. 2012 had me bouncing all over, hence there is some location variation. I’ve probably gone through background of these shots in their original posts (which can be accessed by clicking on the photographs or their titles), so I won’t bore you and just let you get straight to the pics! Top 10 ‘Snapshots’ of 2012 10. On Returning: Alright… it’s a […]

Categories: British, Dance, Dreamwave, Electropop, Lists, Pop, Synthpop • Tags: 2012, arts, Barcelona, best of 2012, Canada, Ellie Goulding, France, list, lists, Montreal, music, Ontario, Paris, photography, photos, Scotland, Spain, top ten, travel, Vancouver, winter

My Running Jams: Fall 2012

November 12, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

One of the most common music-related questions I get asked is what I listen to when I go running. I used to find this to be a strangely personal request- how am I supposed to know what exact music won’t make you want to just give up and flop into in a sweaty heap on the side of the road? How will I know what you find motivating? Do you run to the beat? To the lyrics? To the gangsta […]

Categories: Alternative, Americana, Canadian, Dance, Electronic, Electropop, Experimental, Folk, Indie, Lists, New Wave, Pop, Remix, Rock, singer-songwriter, Symphonic, Synthpop • Tags: 2012, Autumn, Canada, Country, countryside ontario, dance, electropop, exercise, fall, folk, indie, lists, mix, music, new wave, Ontario, photography, photos, playlists, pop, remix, Rock, run, running, running playlist

Sepia, close up girl in sunglasses, street photography

All I Ever Wanted Was the World

August 27, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

I recently wrote about the joys of listening to country music while cruising down rural roads. And while I am ‘a little bit country,’ I’m really a lot more pop. I usually associate driving with pop music. Undoubtably the result of my local radio stations that typically live in their happy place of top 10 hits, occasionally wading further into top 40 waters. As much as I complain, however, I still secretly love rocking out to the latest and greatest pop […]

Categories: Alternative, Dance, Dreamwave, Electronic, Electropop, Indie, New Wave, Pop, singer-songwriter, Synthpop • Tags: b&w photography, Barcelona, black and white photography, dance, electropop, indie, Marina & the Diamonds, music, photography, pop, singer-songwriter, Spain, Synthpop, travel, vacation

Dancing Concert Girl sitting on shoulders, The Black Keys

Best of the Fest: Osheaga 2012

August 17, 2012 by snapshotsandneedledrops

Alright so Osheaga was almost two weeks ago now…… buuuut how timely was I with that closing ceremony post!? eh?…. ehhh? In a city renown for its music, the crowning jewel of Montreal’s indie-scene is the Osheaga Music and Arts Festival. Launched in 2006 with 25,000 concert-goers this month’s edition hosted more than 120,000 fans. This was even a big jump from last year’s 80,000. I believe the most integral part of any live show is its audience. Joy is contagious, […]

Categories: Concert Pics, Electronic, Electropop, Indie, Pop, Rock, Synthpop • Tags: 2012, Canada, colbert report, concert, concert photography, electric, electropop, entertainment, festival, Montreal, music, Osheaga, osheaga music festival, Passion Pit, photography, pop, Rock, Synthpop, travel

Snapshots and Needle Drops

Music meets international photography.

Category Archives: Synthpop