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Snow isn’t something everyone enjoys. Nevertheless, it is a day to recognize the individuality of each snowflake. Today is Snowflake Appreciation Day, so to celebrate, we’re playing some amazing songs with a winter theme! Fun Fact: Snow can fall at high speeds. A single snowflake may move at speeds between one and nine miles per hour. Photo by Jill Wellington on Celebrating Snowflake Appreciation Day What is a snowflake? You may just think that a snowflake is like fluffy ice. And you are kind of right. According to BBC writer Dale Shaw, a snowflake starts as something else entirely. “Snowflakes or snow crystals don’t have nuclei in the traditional, biological way (that contains genetic information), but they all do form around one single particle whether that’s a speck of dust or a piece of pollen. This makes it completely different from sleet (which consists of frozen raindrops) or hail (which are sleet droplets that collect water as they fall). This original piece of material that formed the flake can be detected using a powerful microscope.” With that in mind, a snowflake can develop in a variety of ways. It’s no wonder that they’re all unique and special. Appreciate snowflakes with this snow-themed playlist. Listen to these holiday favorites while staring out at the snowy landscape. Remember you’re as unique as a snowflake! You are as one-of-a-kind as any snowflake you’ll see this winter season! “Snowblind” Is Covered by System of a Down , Originally By Black Sabbath “Every Snowflake Is Different (Just Like You)” By My Chemical Romance “Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow” Covered by Saw Lamb Originally by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds  “ I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm ” By Robyn Adele Anderson Originally By Billie Holiday And Irving Berlin “ Let It Snow !” By Frank Sinatra Originally By Vaughn Monroe Fun Fact: chionophobia is the fear of snow. The word is derived from the Greek word chion, which means snow. Final Thoughts Photo by Jill Wellington on Would you like more for your holiday playlist? Well, you’re in luck! Which one of these original songs with a winter theme is your favourite? Have we missed any? Tell us in the comments section below or on our social media!

What’s better than homemade brownies? A family recipe for homemade brownies and a homemade playlist for the baker! Check out an Ireland family brownie recipe as well as the music she listens to while baking them. Photo by vjapratama on Introduction To a Family Recipe  We’ve heard from Jade Ireland, all about her love for cooking. She is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. A few of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. She’s spent her life cooking and baking for her loved ones. Today we’re sharing one of those recipes plus a list of music perfect for baking. Below is Jade’s family recipe for delicious brownies. Family Brownies Recipe Here’s Jade’s family recipe for all Switching Styles readers and followers. Photo by Marta Dzedyshko on Ingredient List 125 grams of unsalted butter, chopped 125 grams CADBURY Baking Dark Chocolate, chopped 3 eggs, lightly whisked 1 1/2 cups white sugar 3/4 cup plain flour 1/4 cup cocoa powder 1 tsp vanilla extract Pinch of salt Step 1 Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease a 20cm (base measurement) square cake pan and line it with baking paper. The easy way to line a square cake tin with baking paper. Step 2 Place butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water). Stir with a metal spoon until melted. Remove from heat. Quickly stir in egg, sugar, flour, cocoa powder, vanilla and salt until just combined. Pour into prepared pan. Step 3 Bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging. Step 4 Set aside to cool completely. Step 5 Delicious!! Time to enjoy. Family Brownies Recipe and Baking Music  Photo by Felicity Tai on When Jade is in the kitchen, there’s always music playing. “I find it helps me to focus, every kitchen I have ever worked in there has always been music. Kitchens are a loud environment—all the slicing and dicing. Music also makes the time fun, with all the singing and dancing that happens,” she explains in an interview with Switching Styles. Here’s some brownie-baking music inspired, by Jade’s very own musical inspirations. “ Lyfjaberg (Healing-Mountain) ” By Wardruna “Rún” By SKÁLD “My Mother Told Me” By Alina Gingertail “Valhalla Calling” By Miracle Of Sound Ft. Eric Hollaway and Peyton Parrish “ Seven Nation Army ” By SKÁLD “Let It Go” By Connor Engstrom Music “How Far I’ll Go” By Peyton Parrish ,   Richaadeb , And Jonathan Young “Nobody Like U” Ft.  Halacg And Justine’s Mic “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” By Caleb Hyles “Circle Of Life” By Alex Boye , Alisha Popat , And Lemarti In Conclusion Thank you for reading Switching Styles this fall season. We’ve got many more fantastic articles of all sorts. Check out articles like Local Music Venues: Naked Cyber Cafe and Espresso Bar , Musical Gender Bending , and Starting a Blog about Covers and Parodies .

It’s about time for some Christmas music! Christmas is a time of joy, family, and of course creativity. Switching Styles has reached out to our very own guest writer, Jason Greiner to get his take on Christmas cover songs. Article Contains Paid Content. Learn more Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Introducing Jason Author Jason Greiner has written several printed books as well as eBooks. Jason, who is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, currently resides in Mebane, a tiny but rapidly expanding city in central North Carolina. He has experience as a professional blogger and writer in the communication industry. But there’s more! Additionally, he offers freelance graphic design and photography services. He’s been a longtime music lover and enjoys finding new talent and discussing their creation. But that’s not all; he is also a musician in his own right. Jason’s Christmas Songs What are you listening to during the Christmas holiday? Something hip and trendy or something more traditional? Switching Styles has so much to offer in terms of holiday music. Check out our traditional Jingle Bells Covers Songs, Punk Goes Christmas: Deluxe Edition , Classic Silent Night Covers, and of course, Metal Christmas Songs . He has given the holiday tunes a fresh sound with songs like “I Want a Lobotomist for Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Spock,” “Frosty the Glow Man,” “Circlin’ Around the Parking Lot,” and “Silver Hair.” To add to your Spotify Christmas playlist, choose from the selections below. Visit here to listen to these songs and many more . Interviewing Jason Below we’ve dived deeper into the meaning of Christmas Covers from an interview with our musical guest writer, Jason Greiner . What inspired you to cover Christmas songs? To be honest, I can’t remember how I got started. I guess part of it is having been a long-time fan of the nutty stuff from Weird Al Yankovic. In high school, I made some attempts to write my own mainstream songs, but I found it wasn’t for me. I thought that if I could make people laugh (hopefully) and do so with creative writing, why not give it a try? Some of the original inspirations to try my hand at Christmas songs come from the classic “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer” and newer titles like the work of Bob Rivers in “Walkin’ Round in Women’s Underwear parodying “Walkin’ Round A Winter Wonderland” and “Didn’t I Get This Last Year?” parodying “Do You Hear What I Hear?” Which one of these cover songs was your favorite to write? Why? I’d say my favorite, which was also probably the most difficult one to write, is “Silver Hair.” First off, it was one of the longest ones so far which made it more of a challenge as opposed to simpler songs like “Fleas on My Dog” for example that have a lot of repetition in a very small number of lyrics. Personally, I just think it flows well and provides humor in a high-brow sort of manner. I know high-brow and comedy may not sound like concepts that mesh well but you need not look any farther than classic plays to know it can work. Tell me about the process of creating a Christmas cover song? I start out with either a song I want to focus on or a concept and work around that. It is different every time I do it. I usually start off with one line and build the rest of the song around that. Sometimes it is the title of the song like in the case of “Frosty the Glow Man” and in other’s it’s a theme. What was the process of writing your newest one, “Santa Claus Is Blitzed Tonight”? I was trying to figure out which song to use and my mother actually said, “you haven’t done ‘Here Comes Santa Claus yet have you?” I had the wheels in my mind start turning right away. The first line about being drunk on cheap champagne came to me almost instantly. After I had that I simply needed to build around it and keep the same rhythm. Is the process different from other non-holiday covers? While I have joked around with non-holiday covers, in terms of titles and lines here and there, I have yet to write any. One of the ones I have toyed with is “French Fries” instead of “Fresh Eyes” by Andy Gammer. I assume the process would be very similar. Why is Christmas music so popular when compared with the music of other holidays like thanksgiving, or Easter? To be honest, I’m not sure I’ve heard any Thanksgiving songs. There are songs for Halloween, but the quantity is small compared to the options for Christmas. I tend to avoid primarily religious-themed songs so that is really all there is for Easter. I think the secular and child-friendly element of many Christmas tunes is what makes them so popular. What benefit does music bring to the holiday? Holiday music is one of the many things that come together to give people the full and wonderful experience of the season. Decorations, food, gift giving, they all have their part and music is no different. What is next on your list of projects? No idea in terms of parody tunes. I usually get on my annual holiday-themed tune in late November, so I probably won’t give that much thought until around this point next year or so. As far as other creative ventures, I am always working on poetry when I have something that inspires me to do so. And I work a lot with photography and graphic design. What would you like to say to your listeners? Thanks. Thank you for being as goofy and silly as me, or at least to the point that you can appreciate my efforts. What advice do you have for other musicians? I certainly don’t consider myself a musician. I can’t play any instruments and my voice leaves a lot to be desired. I’m a writer at my core and much of my writing is poetic. Poetry lends itself to music. For those pursuing careers or even serious hobbies in music, I would first say to be realistic about what you have to offer. Don’t take on too much and develop the area(s) you excel most. You will most likely be your own worst critic at times so make sure to be as confident as you can without hitting the point of cockiness. Christmas Music Conclusion Photo by Laura James on Want to learn more about Jason Greiner ? We’d love to share it with you. His work includes a wide range of fantastic music and writings. Check his work out here .

Many folks combine music and cooking or baking. Jade Ireland is one of those types of people. This article delves deep into the relationship between music and cooking or baking. Photo by Felicity Tai on Jade Ireland is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly, she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. Some of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. Jade Ireland Q&A  Switching Styles has contacted Jade to discuss how music combines with her culinary passions. Below is an interview with Jade and some of Jade’s go-to cooking music. How did you get started in cooking? I got started with my grandmother. Every school holiday, we were in the kitchen cooking up a storm. Every event in our lives revolves around foods of some kind. What were some of the memorable events and meals from your childhood? Every Sunday night, we went to my grandmother’s house for dinner. The smells and the warmth of her house are the things I remember. What is one of your favourite recipes to cook? I find this to be very hard. What’s the setting? Who is it for? What type of food do the people you cook for like? I love to cook with an Asian twist, but nothing beats a choc chip cookie I make every Sunday and give to them the people I love. I find they make Mondays better.  What’s one of your favourite Asian-inspired recipes? Sushi bowls love them so easy and quick What’s the secret to a good chocolate cookie recipe?  Your grandmother would never tell you this, but it’s the love they put into it. (And the type of butter, salted) Why is cooking a vital skill to learn? We all have to eat to survive. Why not have some fun with it? The more you work at this, the better you get and the more you learn. I love that it’s a skill I will be forever learning. What advice do you have for people wanting to learn to cook? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Time and practice are the things that are needed. Start with a dish you love to eat. Right now, why is cooking with what you have so important? The world is changing, so much waste is a huge issue at this point. I do believe that if this skill were handed down just like it used to be, waste wouldn’t be such a problem. Scrappy cooking is a thing. What’s the biggest concern that people have when learning to cook? That they won’t cook the items right, or they are afraid of the knives and the skills of using them. What are some tips for people that are nervous about cooking? Keep using the knives. The more you use them, the better off you are, and your skills will improve. Keep cooking, you may burn the items for the first few times, and you know what? That’s more than ok. I have been in the industry for over a decade. I, too, still get it wrong sometimes; I use it as a learning opportunity. Why does it help you to have music while you cook? I find it helps me to focus. Every kitchen I have ever worked in there has always been music. Kitchens are a loud environment—all the slicing and dicing. The music also makes the time fun, with all the singing and dancing that happens. What songs are on your playlist while you work? At this point, I find myself putting on a lot of Viking tunes, the amazing artist Peyton Parrish. In saying this, I have been making a lot heartier meals as we are coming out of winter where I am. Does the playlist change depending on what you’re cooking? 100% it does. I go from Viking to Disney. What recipes do you cook with Viking music versus listening to Disney music? Winter and hearty foods are for the Viking music. Whereas I find Disney is light and summery, so more salads and fruits What are your favourite Disney movie soundtracks? I’m an old-school Disney fan, but I have a list of all the tracks, and I just hit shuffle. Whatever comes on, you just let it go. Sharing Jade Irelands Cooking Music You read it right here! Viking folk music and Disney tunes are Jade’s go-to when it comes to cooking in the kitchen. Of course, we’ve got several examples to add to your very own cooking playlist! Jade Ireland Pick: “ My Mother Told Me ” Old Norse Viking Chant By Peyton Parrish “Ó Valhalla” By Skáld “If I Had A Heart” Norse Version) By Colm McGuinness Music “Go The Distance” From Hercules by Peyton Parrish “ My Mother Told Me ” By  Adam Chance And The Hound + The Fox “Lava” By Bowcut Productions “Arabian Nights” By Lydia the Bard “Part Of Your World” By Ms. Chloe Dichoso “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” By Thomas Sanders “Beauty And The Beast” By Lindsey Stirling Photo by Dapur Melodi on Which of these songs are you adding to your Spotify list? Let us know in the comments below!

Read our Switching Styles article below to get Jade Ireland’s delicious family recipe for chocolate chip cookies and a fantastic chocolate chip-themed playlist. Introducing Jade Ireland and Her Chocolate Chip Cookies Jade Ireland is a fun-loving person who enjoys everything to do with the kitchen. Most importantly, she loves to cook, bake, and create culinary artwork. Some of her main focuses include Sustainable Life, cooking for Diabetics, Permaculture, and Clean Food. Switching Styles has contacted Jade to discuss how music combines with her culinary passions and asked for some of her favourite recipes. Below is Jade’s family recipe for chocolate chip cookies. Photo by Anete Lusina on  Sometimes it’s hard to know what to make or bake. In an interview with Switching Styles, Jade Ireland explained that picking a singular favourite recipe is complicated. “I find this to be very hard; what’s the setting? Who is it for? What type of food do the people you cooking for like? I love to cook with an Asian twist, but nothing beats a choc chip cookie I make every Sunday and give to the people I love. I find they make Mondays better.” Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe  Photo by Brigitte Tohm on Here’s a recipe to improve your Mondays or any day of the week. Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients 150 grams of butter, softened 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup caster sugar 1 3/4 cups plain flour 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup milk chocolate bits, plus 1 tbsp extra 1 egg 1/2 cup dark chocolate bits, plus 1 tbsp extra  Step 1 Preheat oven to 180C or 160C fan forced. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper. Using an electric mixer or whisking, hand beat butter and sugars for 1-2 minutes or until smooth and well combined. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Step 2 Stir in flour. Stir in the dark and milk choc bits—roll 2 level tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on prepared trays, 3cm apart. Press down slightly. Decorate with extra choc bits. Step 3 Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly golden and cooked. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies With Music  Chocolate chip cookies are indeed a classic. What about baking these classics with a fantastic soundtrack? Cookie Dance By Chip Chocolate “Share It Maybe” By Sesame Street “Faraway Cookies” By Caitlin Mc Ewan “Who Stole The Cookie From The Cookie Jar?” By The Jaynetts “ C Is For Cookie ” By Soul Sanctuary Final Thoughts Thank you so much for reading Switching Styles. Check out our blog for a range of different topics. We have many more fantastic articles to keep you on the edge of your seat.

What’s a High Fantasy Themed RPG game without high-fantasy music to accompany the party? Even the most basic ethereal high fantasy games are brought to life with ethereal and immersive background music. Introduction To High Fantasy Games “With the rapid advancements in technology accompanying video games, soundtracks have changed dramatically and have become an important part of the storytelling process,” Explains the writers at Anara Publishing . Photo by Tú Nguyễn on Consider fantasy films like Lord of The Rings, The Dark Crystal, Maleficent, Jumanji, Enchanted, Alice in Wonderland, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. All of them have a fantastic soundtrack that adds to the film itself. With fantasy elements intertwined in the sound effects, ambience, and music soundtrack, there’s so much immersion. Now consider immersion in a role-playing game. whether you’re playing The One Ring Roleplaying Game: Second Edition , Pendragon, D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, D6, GURPS, Zweihander, Ryuutama: Natural Fantasy Roleplay, Journey Away, there’s always a potential for music to add to it. Follow this fantastic topic on Switching styles by signing up for our newsletter or visiting here. High Fantasy Themed Musical Immersion How can audio help RPG immersion? Audio, whether it’s music or sound effects or soundscapes, adds to immersion by interacting with another sense. Typically, in a tabletop RPG game, you’re engaged visually and mentally. Adding another sense makes it easier to ignore the ‘outside world’ while you’re playing the game. Music like the ones we’ve compiled below is a great way to add a sense of realism. Mana Storm By Michael Ghelfi Studios Isverden By ASKII Underdark By Cthulhu Mythos Music Branches By Dreamhop Music Cursed Forest By Michael Ghelfi Studios A New Adventure By Blue Turtle Spirit Of The Wind By Brunuhville Streets Of Eroa By CIRI Dancing With The Elves By Sundew Baggins Astray By Space Wave Photo by Pixabay on Let me know what your favourite was in the comments below! Thanks for reading Switching Styles today! It means a lot to the writers. Follow the blog on WordPress or our social media and never miss an update or contest!

Thanks for tuning in to Switching Styles today!! Let’s dive deeper into Notedead’s Music. Edmonton is a source for fantastic local metal bands, from Wthcnvctn , Misplaced Intentions , and so many more . There’s a lengthy list of amazing music from the capital of Alberta. Notedead is one more amazing band adding to Edmonton’s music scene. Notedead is aiming to be one of the greats coming from right here in Edmonton, Alberta. Max Preuss (drums) and Trymer Martin (guitars/vocals) combine to form the band, Notedead to connect with people through music. The goal was never to impress people and never had been. It’s always about the music. Find their music online on Apple Music , Spotify , YouTube , and Bandcamp . Notedead’s Music Playlist! Notedead is aiming to be one of the greats coming from right here in Edmonton, Alberta. The goal was never to impress people. It never has been. It’s been about the music. The real goal is to write great music that speaks to the human heart. Find their music online on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, and Bandcamp. This post-hardcore Canadian band is bringing out all the stops in their music. All their music has such a profound level of depth to it. Each note, each strum, each word has a meaning and a purpose. That purpose is to connect with the listener within that moment. We’ve also compiled some of our favourite songs below for your listening pleasure. Withered Days/Captivate (Live in Studio) What I Want (Official Music Video) Regrets (Official Lyric Video) What are your thoughts on their music? Let us know in the comments below!!

There’s no shame in being a new player or an anxious player. Sometimes LARP and social anxiety overlap. Read more about combatting social anxiety and enjoying your LARP game. Introduction to LARP Let’s start with the obvious question. What exactly is LARP? LARP stands for a live-action roleplaying game. These immersive games are based on traditional roleplaying games such as D&D, Pathfinder, Gamma World, etc. Like these traditional roleplaying games where one creates, you create a character based on the game rules. Then it’s time to roleplay as your character. The difference between TTRPG and LARP is that you play out that character’s thoughts, actions, and progression in live action. You act out the motivations and activities, roleplaying what your character would do in any situation. For example, instead of telling your Dungeon master what your 5th-level elf rogue does to sneak past the guards, you do just that. It’s a fantastic way to bring the game to life. You can roleplay as Darcassan Joric, a fifth-level roque with a history of drunken disorder likes and a love for the kazoo. From combat to diplomacy to adventure to friendship, there are all kinds of situations to advance the characters’ storyline. Joining LARP with social anxiety The Mental Health Foundation defines social anxiety as a “Beyond the typical sensation one might expect when speaking in public, meeting people for the first time, starting at a new job or school, or giving a performance, when the discomfort or feelings of shyness result in anxiety, fear, or avoidance and have an ongoing impact a person’s daily at work, in school then it could be social anxiety disorder (SAD).” As it’s different from general nervousness in social settings, ‘jump right in’ isn’t the best solution. Baby steps and social awareness are often the most helpful for most socially anxious folks. The Mental Health Foundation explains that “How we feel, think, and behave in social situations varies from person to person depending on our personality traits, upbringing, and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved and shy, whereas others might be more outgoing and extroverted, but anyone can have a SAD.” This can make games that highly focus on socializing and person-to-person engagement, like RPGS, difficult. LARPS takes it a step further by being longer and more involved as you’re physically acting as the character. Refuge LARP, a game based out of Calgary, adores giving folks a chance to learn and to be comfortable. Their website reads, “Glad you made it! Learn about LARP, and take a break from the real world. Everyone is welcome to seek Refuge in our fantasy world. Whether you are new to roleplaying, LARP, or looking for a new LARP to play, we look forward to meeting you and answering your questions!” Photo by Alexandre Silva on Tips for joining a LARP with social anxiety Social anxiety can be debilitating for inexperienced players as well as experienced ones. However, fear shouldn’t stop players from enjoying a weekend LARP game. Getting out there is rough, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Here are a few tips for getting ready for a LARP game with social anxiety. Join social media groups and forums. Even as a lurker, you can get more comfortable with how the players interact with one another. Try asking a question to some of the players either in a DM or a beginners’ forum. Most people will be very open to your curiosity or, at the very least, know someone who can help. You can take this further once you’ve figured out your character. Joining Organizations that your surface may join provides another way to engage with the material and observe the subtleties of the game in the game. Take these examples from the Refuge LARP. Depending on who or what your character is, these groups can include  The Home Guard 2.0: The Standing Army of Calanda, The Arcane Sanctum 2.0: The Mage Guild of Caledonia, or  The Earth Weavers 2.0:  The Order of Earth Casters, or The Silken Refuge:  A Hobling run merchant house specializing in the trade of rare Silks from the island of Auric. You’ve got options! Play as a monster. Cory Fliegel, the head organizer of the Calgary game Refuge, says it’s easier to get started with non-player characters or NPCs. His Advice for newcomers is to start with the monster camp, as it’s easy to create and simple to play. Monster camp is a nickname for the portion of the organizations that play non-player characters (NPCs) or monsters. “Others jump right into being a PC, and again, that is the choice everyone makes. Your level of comfort should be your main guide,” Explains the user guide for Refuge LARP,” You get to learn the game while gaining Experience Points (XP) for a future PC you may play. Playing as a goblin, orc, troll, bugbear, hobgoblin, kobold, mimic, beholder, or even an evil NPC allows new players to get a taste of the game and the rules without the stress of an entire character. It will enable the fun to come first. Get inspired Do your research. Most LARPs have lore, myths, history, and characters on their website. Take a look at the various options before you. [Tip for those that don’t want to read the entire website or folks with ADHD – try a browser extension that reads out the page’s text to you. It’s a game-changer for reading any block of text. Here’s what I use . And it’s free!!] Attend with someone Going with someone that’s been there before is a huge help. They’re able to show you the ropes and guide you through. Make sure you discuss this with them beforehand. They will surely be an immense help, but they must know how to help first. As a bonus to this, many games have incentivized introducing new players. Refuge LARP organizer Cory F. provides an incentive for bringing new players in with you and explains, “While only one member may benefit for each new player that purchases a membership, there’s no limit to the number of new players you can bring and receive rewards for! Plus, as a thank-you to both, players may pick from a list of specific magic items!” Bring a friend What’s better than one new player? Two new players!! It’s much easier to fumble through the first day when you know you aren’t alone. Chatting with friends or folks on social media is a terrific way to meet people that are also LARP newbies. Ask about Out of game (OOG) options. Many games will have options for folks that want to take a break. Whether that’s a separate area where you can check your phone, have a snack, or return to being you for a bit. Some games have a visual aspect, such as a white headband or a hand on your head, to tell other players, “Don’t interact with me.” It’s essentially the LARP’s version of AFK. Each game with have a slightly different approach, so it’s always best to ask. If you are worried about potential panic or anxiety attacks, ask about the first aid options. LARP games are meant to be fun, not a health hazard. Give yourself some slack. The first game can be overwhelming. There are a lot of new things to learn and stories to hear. Every new player goes through this, I promise you. Nothing you ask is going to be a surprise to the current players. They’ll either know the answer or send you to someone that does. Consider it your first quest!! Remember that these are games that are meant to be fun. Take It seriously, but not so seriously that it stops being fun. Here are some relaxing songs to help you focus and calm throughout the process. Lost Tales: Our Secret Place By Dreamhop Music Celestial Choirs By The Guild Of Ambience Mysterious Music By Arondight Studios Magic Library By Blue Turtle Northwind By Brunuhville Traditional Irish Folk Music By Lantern Seeking Solitude By Daydreaming Of Persephone Haunted Cemetery By Michael Ghelfi Studios Coronation By CIRI Got more tips to add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!! Want some more fantastic LARP-themed music ? We’ve got a lot of unique genre soundscapes like high fantasy , science fiction, cyberpunk , horror , space western , supernatural , steampunk , haunting , and so much more!

Immersion is the act of immersing yourself in something or having deep mental involvement. It’s what most LARP games strive to achieve for their players. Photo by JJ Jordan on Why Is Immersion Important? During a research project, study authors, Associate Professor Tom Van Laer from the University of Sydney and Dr. Davide Orazi from Monash University followed three different LARP groups. This ethnographic study  collected 52 pages of field notes, 2,496 photographs, four hours of GoPro videos, 29 interviews, seven diaries and 2,936 screen captures from four LARPs. They said their research demonstrated three main reasons LARPing leaves a stronger impact than traditional media or tabletop roleplaying gaming. Associate professor Van Laer explains the impact that LARPing has on its players. “When you watch tv, vision and sound are basically the only two senses that play a role. In a LARP there’s touch, smell, and taste, so all your senses are there. It’s not just in your head, it’s everywhere, there’s no border from reality. “LARPs also allow more freedom and agency than is possible with traditional media and tabletop games. Rather than the showrunner, game designer or dungeon master ‘writing the book,’ LARPs give consumers a lot of involvement in creating the story. “And finally, you know you can stop a movie. If people get too scared, you stop it. You cannot stop the LARP because the social pressure to be there is the same as the  social pressure  of a meeting at work—you can’t just stop if you’re not liking it.” LARPing immersion statistics Associate Professor Van Laer isn’t the only person looking into the immersion of LARPing. This is a topic that’s been highly studied throughout the world. Switching styles has found some immersion statistics for you and your local LARPing community. Check them out! It’s not just about the game and being immersed in the fantasy. It’s about being a part of the world. Immersion into a game involves solving problems through cognition, strategic thinking, abstract reasoning, and tactics ( First Person Scholar ). During the Covid-19 pandemic, the LARPing craze has blown up throughout the world, including in China. The number of LARP studios across China is also rising, with nearly 12,000 shopfronts as of 2019 ( CGTN ). Data shows LARP game’s market value in 2019 has doubled in only a year. The market value exceeded 10 billion yuan in 2019 ( Meituan Research Institute ). A survey shows that nearly all of the LARPing respondents felt that background music and sound effects increased their overall sense of immersion ( The Computer Games Journal ). Background Music to Help the Immersion One aspect that adds to the overall immersion is music or sound effects to improve the ambience. Here are examples of several types of music immersion background music to use in your LARP game. Darkest Dungeon Composed By Stuart Chatwood For Red Hook Studios The Hellion Tavern By ASKII Finding Pandora By The Vault of Ambience Tranquil Atmospheric Ambience Enchanted Lands By The Guild of Ambience The Yōkai Compendium By Realm of Dementia H.P. Lovecraft Music By Cthulhu Mythos Music Deep Within the Forest By Dreamhop Music Dungeon Ambience By Arondight Studios A King’s Remorse By Arondight Studios Sunset In the Mountains By Blue Turtle Let me know in the comments below which one is your favourite!

Fans are ecstatic about the new anthem song for the National Football league (NFL). This article “NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak” is guest written by  Jason Greiner . Introducing Pinar Toprak Some musicians are household names. Even if they haven’t been performing for decades and are relatively new to the industry, there are people out there that you’ve probably heard of regardless of your age or musical interests. Unless you are especially versed in the music scene, Pinar Toprak is probably not one of them. Despite that fact, I can assure you that she is extremely talented and well-respected as a professional and ground-breaking artist.  Toprak is a Turkish-American composer. Only in her early 40s, she has written scores for some of the biggest video game franchises and blockbuster movies including those in the superhero genre. A quick sample includes the game “Fortnite” and the movie “Captain Marvel.” Her impressive resume began in 2004 with the short films “Hold The Rice” and “Headbreaker” both directed by Alfonso Pineda Ulloa.  But recently, this woman took on new ground and became the first female ever to compose a score to go along with one of the biggest sports on the planet. Amazon commissioned her to write the new theme for their broadcasts of the NFL’s Thursday Night Football!  Photo by Dhia Eddine on You can see her in action conducting the music for this theme on YouTube ! This newest piece features a full orchestra and a sound that combines the qualities of both power and grace.  Final Thoughts If you take a listen, you may recognize some sounds that seem to have a feel very similar to what you might expect to hear at a college football stadium during the height of the season. There is an energy about it that makes the listener want to join in as if they were there in the stands while their college team was driving down the field.  There is a driving, forceful and uplifting sensation that seems fitting for a stadium anthem. After all, that is the purpose of this piece. And the energy does not waiver from the very first notes to the finale of this work. What are your thoughts on the newest NFL Anthem from Pinar Toprak? Let u! Jason Greiner  is the author of several books and eBooks and has worked as a professional in the field of journalism and blogging. He also provides  photography  and graphic design services on a freelance basis. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Jason now lives in the city of Mebane, a small but fast-growing community in central North Carolina. As a lifelong music enthusiast, he enjoys discovering new artists and reviewing their work.

Even the most basic of dungeon crawl campaigns are brought to life with a lively and immersive background music playlist. Read below for more information and inspiration and a list of Dungeon Crawl Music. Introduction To Dungeon Crawl Games Dungeon crawls are one of the most traditional forms of RPG games. Background music has an impact on in-game immersion even in an RPG as classic as Dungeon crawls. Immersion is vital whenever you have an otherworldly setting whether it’s futuristic or in the past or anachronistic, or even on a whole other plane of existence. Tiamat, we’re looking at you. Photo by Dagmara Dombrovska on “Video games consist of three components. The first two, visuals and interactivity, form the essential core of games, but the third component, sound, and specifically music transform a game into something beyond an activity. Music can turn games into unforgettable experiences,” Writes Kellen Beck , a writer from Mashable . Regardless of whether you’re playing The One Ring Roleplaying Game, Pendragon, D&D, Pathfinder, Warhammer, GURPS, or Zweihander, there’s still an element of audio or music to it. Follow the nerd Dom topic on Switching styles, by signing up for our newsletter! Dungeon Crawl Music How can audio help RPG immersion? We’re glad that you asked! Music can be used as a tool to control emotion, establish tone, and further the plot. “Music is a tool that can control emotion and can establish the tone of the story being told. Within the film, many fans look at the soundtrack as a foundation to set the scene. This is no different in the video game industry,” Explains the writers at Anara Publishing ( https://www.anarapublishing.com/the-importance-of-music-in-video-games/ ) Cinematic Trailer Background Music By Elysium Audio Labs Into The Depths Of Dungeon By Naegi Ki RPG Dungeon Ambience By ASKII D&D Ambience – Catacombs By Sword Coast Soundscapes LOTR The Shire By The Vault Of Ambience Castle Raven Loft By Cthulhu Mythos Music Dark Forest By Martia’s Muses Crystal Dungeon By Michael Ghelfi Studios Epic Instrumental Music – Powerful And Dramatic By Fred Bouchal Forsaken Temple By Ambience Lab Let me know what your favourite Dungeon Crawl Music was in the comments below! Thanks for reading Switching Styles this spooky season. Follow our Blog on WordPress, social media or throughout our email newsletter. Don’t miss an article and stay updated on events, contests, and interviews. We’ve got many more fantastic articles to keep you on the edge of your seat. Check out articles like Refuge LARP Calgary , Hug your Hound Day Playlist, The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Hellfire Cover Songs , and so much more!!

“Rotterdam Nightlife” is a guest article written by Valeria Doornkamp Photo by Max Andrey on No matter where you are, there is always a sense of music and creativity. Music is everywhere. To show that, switching styles has reached out to Valeria Doornkamp to give us a look into the nightlife of Rotterdam. Here are some of the best spots to experience Rotterdam’s nightlife. Valeria is bringing us her local expertise on the nightlife in Rotterdam. Over the decades, she’s explored her whole life finding the best spots. Valeria was born, raised, and has been living in Rotterdam for 40 years now. If you want more information about her or want more advice on a trip to Rotterdam, check her out here. Rotterdam Nightlife; Underground or Rooftop? The flavour of the city’s nightlife is largely defined by the mindset of the Rotterdam locals, who are reluctant to compromise on anything. Whatever they do, they do it right. So a Biergarten in Rotterdam is exactly what you need it to be: a garden with solid wooden benches, large mugs of beer and sizzling sausages fresh from the grill. Looking for the underground scene? Here in Rotterdam, it’s literally underground: Toffler is a house and techno club situated in a former metro tunnel. Toffler Toffler is situated in an old underpass below Weena; for those 21 and older who enjoy progressive electronic music. Led lights and good sound make the long tunnel cozy and intimate. Biergarten Biergarten is a tiny piece of paradise in the big city, where the best things in life are simple: beer, BBQ, music, sunshine and good people. The food is fresh off the grill, and the beer is served ice-cold. Most nights, the music is DJs and live; on Friday evenings it’s homegrown music from Biergarten all-Rotterdam sound system.  Witte De Withstraat One of Rotterdam’s most popular nightlife areas is Witte De Withstraat. Besides the streets many restaurants, its pubs, cozy cafes and stylish wine and cocktail bars attract a varied crowd. Tourists, locals, students, intellectuals, creative professionals, colleagues enjoying drinks after work: they all rub shoulders on a good Friday or Saturday night, in an exuberant and cheerful atmosphere. Duck into the side streets to discover the city’s most enjoyable nightlife hotspots. The tropical charm of the tiki bar, for instance. If you like experimental music, the line-up at worm always offers intriguing surprises, while wunderbar serves tasty beers and fritz-kolas. Tiki Bar Tikis is a Hawaiian surf bar and grill restaurant in the heart of Rotterdam. The exotic food and delicious cocktails make you believe you are on a tropical island. The tropical ambiance is reflected in the music as well as the styling with bamboo and Polynesian gadgets. It is Hawaii on the Maas. Worm Worm organizes concerts, movies, workshops, masterclasses, festivals and different events. Next to that, they have a movie studio, a sound studio, a shop and a very fast digital platform (worm. Station). They stimulate and help different productions like Dutch programs about national and international festivals and media publications. Nieuwe Binnenweg A similar vibe can be discovered at the head of Nieuwe Binnenweg, where several of the city’s most popular cafes and clubs are located: Rotown, Stalles, Bar3 and Club Vibes. Rotown Rotown is a cafe and restaurant during the day, but the chairs and tables are cleared away in the evening to make room for concerts and parties. An interesting concentration of nightlife is also emerging in the area around Rotterdam central. Stroll from (jazz) club bird straight to the pop stage at Annabel, which organizes popular party nights in the weekend. Cafe Stalles Cafe Stalles is a relaxed meeting place in the center of Rotterdam. The cafe is known for its simple but good cuisine and serves homemade pizzas on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays from 5.50 euros. Stalles is a typical Dutch brown cafe and is characterized by the fact that it attracts a diverse audience. The alternative music, extensive beer and whiskey list and affordable menu ensure that Stalles is always lively. In the summer, Stalles has a large terrace and you can sit outside until the late hours. Bird Stage, club and restaurant BIRD is located under the Hofbogen in Rotterdam and offers a program full of jazz, soul, hip-hop, funk and new electronics. In the last century, the area around the Hofbogen was already dominated by a rich musical tradition. The first generation of Surinamese and sailors introduced soul, funk and Rand B here from America. Bird doesn’t just want to breathe new life into this jazz past, but update it to the 21st century. Jazz, but also related music movements such as soul, Latin and funk, hip-hop, afrobeat, and electronics are therefore the starting point of the music programming, supplemented by other art disciplines related to jazz, such as performance poetry, film and visual arts. Bird’s jazz kitchen is a reflection of the city of Rotterdam: unpolished, honest and a crossroads of styles and cultures. Authentic pizzas are prepared in the wood oven, as well as various specials. A nice option is the Chefs Table surprise menu: a selection of different small dishes to share. In addition, Bird also has an outdoor terrace, called Garden of Bird. This is an urban garden and cocktail bar. Here you can expect many musical surprises. Garden of Bird is open until October 15 this year. Annabel Annabel is Rotterdam’s largest music venue, very close to Rotterdam Central Station. You can see and hear leading international acts, from hip hop to pop to electronic. Or enjoy dancing during one of the many parties or festivals. Together with Biergarten and PERRON, Annabel forms the golden triangle of the Schiestraat, a popular nightlife destination among young people. Thanks to our guest writer Valeria Doornkamp. As a lover of music herself, and a Rotterdam resident, these are certainly locations you don’t want to miss. Photo by Martin Lopez on