First up is our very favourite human and Vancouver-based photographer, Braden Paul. (Looking very awesome in this picture here I must say!)

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If I was to make a 16 song mix-tape of all my favourite songs right now what would they be?

That is such a difficult task Pam I despise you for making me think of ONLY 16 songs haha. I’m honored
at the same time having gone to one of the greatest music festivals ever with you guys last year! 4 Kiwis
a Mexican and a Canadian. There better be a sas reunion next year with an added little bambino.

Anywho where to start. Music to me is not only sound it’s emotion, art, life and some songs, dare I call “little
pieces of heaven”. As a photographer music is not only all of that but inspiration and I am always drawing emotion and inspiration from music while I shoot.

Well with probably 10000+ songs on different computers of mine I had better get started. I’ve decided to put these in no particular order since that would be impossible and I would probably regret every placement of every song in a couple hours from now. Anywho here we go. There are a few I can slam on the list right away. They might be songs I’ve loved for months or years but some are just songs I’ve come across in the last little while and fallen instantly in love with.

1. If I Had A Boat – James Vincent McMorrow

A friend of mine sent me this song recently and it was an instant repeat which means its amazing!
Thanks Emily! I usually have my iTunes set to shuffle and let play through, so when I have to stop and repeat several times you know its good.

This next song I had to really crank up the volume to really figure out what song from Fleet Foxes amazing new Helplessness Blues album I wanted to choose. After narrowing down to 4 (Montezuma, Helplessness Blues, Grown ocean and…) and listening to each song several times I’ve come to this. Disagree or Not. You’re probably right. This decision was too difficult but I had to put something from Helplessness Blues on the mix-tape.

2. The Shrine/An Argument – Fleet Foxes

Well that was way too difficult for the second song… we’ve got a long way to go. This one is easy. Thanks to my pure youtube luck I stumbled across this last week and well hear for yourself.

3. Atlas Hands – Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Alright this one was one that I actually haven’t listened to for a while but while I was playing Atlas Hands I noticed a few artists below this and instantly remembered how amazing it is. It’s now living up to my memories.

4. 3 Rounds And A Sound – Blind Pilot

Here we go trekking right along. 4 down 12 to go. This one is another artist starting with B. But unlike thelast song I intended this on going in from the get-go. Quite possibly my favourite artist and the greatest song I have ever heard live. Though people have often told me Flume was “my song”. The live performance of this song will never leave me. Cant wait for the new Bon Iver album out at the end of this month! (This playlist might substantially change at that point).

5. The Wolves (Act I and II) – Bon Iver

This next one I’m not entirely sure on when I heard it for the first time but the sound was just so… Overwhelming. I haven’t stopped listening to this song since. It’s also become something of a song you might call “our song” with a friend of mine from Calgary who I only get to see probably once or twice a year. Miss You JB.

6. Excuses – The Morning Benders

Alright before I forget because I know Tess would kill me if I didn’t put a Patrick song in this playlist. Such talent in Patrick and it’s hard again to decide which song to put down. After some thought I’ve decided on this.

7. Man Like You – Patrick Watson

This is seeming to get easier. But then again hit the last 6 or so and it will get real tough. Saw this guy 2 weeks ago. AMAZING. and I have to brag that after his encore when everyone was standing cheering Kristian straight to me and hugged me. I later went backstage and had a wee chat. If you haven’t heard it give it a chance, his voice will take you off guard but he is seriously the Bob Dylan of our generation.

8. King Of Spain – The Tallest Man On Earth

HALF WAY!!!!!! It’s ok, if you’re still actually reading this you don’t have to suffer my babbling much longer. This one is gonna catch you by surprise if you have been seeing a trend in my music choice. Time to turn up the bass and get your soul ready!

9. I Need A Dollar – Aloe Blacc

So I got a mellow side and I have a soulful side. Now lets spin it around a bit again and get a bit more…
I’m not entirely sure how to genre-ize this but probably say pop/dance/electro. Featuring the gorgeous Giselle how could you not love this catchy tune.

10. Crave You – Flight Facilities

Here we go. I’m sure this is on everyones top 16 after that adorable little girl sang a cover of this with her dad and mainstreamed this “indie” group and song to the world. But you know what!? It deserves to be on everyones top 16! Yeah thats right by our fun, goofy and still talented group of Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, here it is!

11. Home – Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros

Oh only 5 more and I’m still finding it easy. Thats not a good thing though cause that means I’ll miss out on so many good songs. I heard this in Starbucks a while back and had to find out who it was. Yes Starbucks isn’t always playing crap and has the occasional good song playing while you sip your latte. This one is a close your eyes and drift away song.

12. Norway – Beach House

Now before continuing on I’d like to write a formal apology to Pam, Tess, Pabs and Kathrine.. Ivan you don’t count cause you are just a mexican living in NZ… My apology is for adding a couple of your Ausie enemies here. It had to be done. They are just too amazing to skip out on. Once again choosing only one Stone song is difficult but it has to be done or this list would turn into 1000 of my favourites instead of Pam’s limit of 16. Gah this is so very frustrating. So this is it. It Could have been so many other Stone songs. But this is my final decision. (Note from Pamela: We LOVE Angus & Julia!)

13. The Devils Tears – Angus And Julia Stone

This next song is great driving music. If you blast this in your car while driving down the highway, whether at night, sunset or sunrise. This song will not disappoint. The smokey voice of Ray could drive you anywhere with a mellow sense of joy and nirvana.

14. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise – Ray Lamontagne

Wow this is rather difficult now. I think i got it though. This next song is someone who I am going to see with Chantel this week. She surprised me this morning via text telling me she bought me a gift. Friday night we are off to see the mellow, soothing and extremely talented William Fitzsimmons. My day has been made! Second last song of what turned out to be a very long list of 16.

15. Beautiful Girl – William Fitzsimmons

LAST ONE!!! But certainly not least. I wanted to go out with a bang! A mellow bang haha, as you can tell most of my music choices are pretty mellow. This one is one I’ve just recently discovered. I’ve been listening to Phosphorescent for a while now but was never REALLY into him. Always liked never loved. Anywho I had my iPhone on shuffle the other day and this caught my ear. I guess I had never really given Phosphorescent the time. When this played I thought it was amazing and grabbed my phone wondering what angelic being had been snuck into my phone. Phosphorescent was given new life in my mind. Here is our last song on this rambling mix-tape. Hope you enjoy!

16. Wolves – Phosphorescent

Sorry again for the babbling! Hope this might open up new artists or songs to your “world of music” and maybe possibly you’ll go out and buy one of these artists cd’s. Pam and Ivan since I spent my entire afternoon putting this together for your blog I hope your little bambino grows up with these songs.

Until next time.
Much Love.
B

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Braden, our little girl just spent the afternoon listening to every song on this list! Beautifully put together, thanks so much for starting mixed tape mondays for us. Much love x

If you would like to listen to all the songs, click here for the youtube playlist, kick back and relax.

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