Synthpop | Snapshots and Needle Drops

Go West, Young Woman

July 14, 2014 by ebembo

Running of the bulls in the Camargue marshlands, France, 1998 I recently rediscovered my old high school diary. It is a treasure trove of late 1990s pop culture gems; no page goes by without some mention of Leonardo DiCaprio, Radiohead, My So-Called Life, or Titanic. None of that came as much of a shock to me. What did surprise me, however, was how much time and effort I devoted to staying in touch with friends. Entry upon entry details the […]

Categories: 80s, 90s, Indie, Rock, Synthpop • Tags: anthemic, Baltimore, bulls, Camargue, France, future islands, indie, music, Rock, Synthpop, travel photography

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The Tree of Love

March 4, 2014 by ebembo

“I just really like my own company. And wine.” Before I get to the brilliant mind behind that quote, some backstory… I live across the street from an elementary school. On Valentine’s Day they strung up these red cardboard hearts all over the trees in the playground. They’ve left the hearts up for three weeks now, and I love gazing out my office window at them, fluttering in the breeze, weathering the snow, the freezing rain, the fierce winds, and […]

Categories: Canadian, R&B, singer-songwriter, Soul, Synthpop • Tags: AKUA, Argentina, Australia, Canadian, Canadian music, friendship, heart, live music, love, Montreal, music, photography, R&B, Scotland, singer-songwriter, Solange, soul, synth, Synthpop, trees, Valentine's Day, wine

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Tickle Me Pink: Color Run Canberra

February 18, 2014 by snapshotsandneedledrops

The Color Run Canberra On Sunday I was FINALLY in the same place as a Color Run. That’s the trouble with all this traveling around- I’m never in one spot long enough to wait for these things to come around. Fortunately, I knew I’d be returning to Canberra for the pleasure of having coloured cornstarch hurled at me. The Color Run has long been a bucket list item for me. It was my first real motivation for being able to […]

Categories: Alternative, Electropop, Indie, Pop, Synthpop • Tags: alternative, Australia, Canberra, color, colour, electropop, Happiest5k, indie, music, Pacific Air, photography, pop, race, running, Swisse, Synthpop, The Color Run, The Color Run Canberra

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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

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Photo taken out plane window of tropical turquoise waters, sea, ocean

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

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.

Tag: Synthpop

Go West, Young Woman

The Tree of Love

Tickle Me Pink: Color Run Canberra

That Expectedly, Unexpected Sound

Vamps from Ipa’hema’

Brooding Vintage Keyboards

Snapshots Has Moved!

All I Ever Wanted Was the World

Best of the Fest: Osheaga 2012