I'm absolutely not sorry to say that I've caught the Heated Rivalry bug this month. I've read the book now, and probably watched the series about 5 times and I'm planning to watch it way more than that. 

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​I think the music here in this series is actually really clever. You hear subtle hints of this, essentially, love theme for Illya and Shane in poignant parts throughout the series, but you have to listen carefully at the outset to hear it properly, which just proves how well put together this series really is.

 

You hear this theme very briefly and sped up when Ilya and Shane are first starting out in their relationship. Both unsure how they each feel, the theme is there but a little disjointed, and maybe a bit more playful. That track is called 'Two Souls'. However later on in the series, as you see that there is more depth to what they're both feeling, it becomes slower, more full of emotion and feeling. As Ilya confesses, in Russian, how he feels, that theme pulls through again, slower still, marking that first moment of honest feeling between them, even though Shane has no idea what Ilya is saying. Then this track, 'One Soul' is finally featured in full when they're sat together at the cottage, watching the sun rise, having expressed how they both feel. The music is soft, beautiful and full of romantic intimacy as Ilya and Shane are finally on the same page. 

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I could go on and on about this show, and this song, but maybe I'll save it for my Musical Brain series... 

When this song starts, you feel like it could be Chasing Cars. It's the start that gets me, where you think the lyrics are going to come in, but it just continues with soft piano chords all the way through. 

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I had a bit of trouble sleeping near the end of February. I had a really bad cold (well, I still do actually) and would just lie awake for no apparent reason, even though I was beyond exhausted. I think I found this song on my third late night, and I just closed my eyes and let the music help drift me upwards. 

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So now, when I can't sleep, I turn the music low but close my eyes, take deep breaths and let myself drift. Honestly, it's worked every time! 

"We're going with Plan C. Plan C is for Combat." Ugh, Hans again! 

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The Apex GP car gets its combat upgrade, and the music starts it's Kate designing it. You see the way the car would pick up speed in the corners, using 'dirty' air to channel into a faster corner exit, before it cuts to the team confab before the race. Brad Pitt makes his speech, 'plan C is for combat' and they all start chanting 'combat' around the room, because they know they finally have a chance. 

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I was pleasantly surprised by F1 as a film. I wasn't an F1 fan before this really, but now I am. I'd watched a few races, and I know the main drivers, but getting the see the ins and outs of the teams, how much work is put in by the drivers and what's at stake, it's awesome. It was also produced by Lewis Hamilton, and stars the real F1 drivers on the track, with the action all real - no CGI - and that really elevates it. 

There isn't a particular reason why this track is in here, other than the fact I just really like it. 

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Although Picture This has been around for a while, I've only really just come across them. I think I first heard them while I was on a work trip in Scotland, in the bar - I think the track was 'Oslo'- and I just really liked the sound of the singer's voice. 

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I don't listen to as much 'artists' tracks as I should, but it means when tracks like this come along, they have more of an impact.

Another 'artists' track. I found this via my instagram algorithm, and I have been love with this album ever since. I do love a bit of country music, and for some reason, end of last year, quite a lot of really good country bands randomly made it into my algorithm... and I was absolutely here for it! 

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I almost saw them in concert at the end of the year, but for some reason it just didn't work out. I was gutted, because they haven't got another concert in the UK for a while, but I know I won't pass up the opportunity a second time. 

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I love the part where the guitar accompaniment essentially stops and the main singer, Zach, sings it in a low octave... goosebumps every time.