I’ve always had eclectic taste in music but I was never a music junky. Till now. This time last year I sat in silence while I worked in my studio. Now I can’t get started without turning on Pandora. My station plays everything from Coldplay and Mumford and Sons to M83 and and contemporary classical (mostly piano). There are times when I need one album to focus my attention on a painting. These are the Big Four that have kept me company the last few months, the albums I can listen to over and over.

Of Monsters and Men (My Head is an Animal), an indie folk band from Iceland. I discovered this album while doing some research on Iceland and current music trends. I heard one track on Youtube and had to have the album.

Cry Monster Cry (Fallen EP), an indie folk band from Ireland. These brothers began following me on Tumblr after I posted something from Mumford and Sons. I listened to their free track below and fell in love. The entire EP (5 songs) is only $3.99 on iTunes.

Lindsey Stirling, an American violinist. Her album is a magical blend of classical violin and electron music. Her album, Lindsey Stirling, always gets me moving.

M83 (Hurry Up We’re Dreaming), a French electronic band from Antibes. I love electronic music. M83 is easily one of my favorites, but coming up the ranks is another band, The Glitch Mob. I’m also quite fond of Zach Hemsey and Rob Dougan but I haven’t bought any of their albums yet.

These are the music artists I’ve been listening to while I painted, The Reluctant King, Skoll and Hati, and Awakening.