Your summer soundtrack for 2016

Our Summer Soundtrack series returns with ten new tracks. Usually we do this before going on a summer break, and although this year University Post won’t be back after the summer, we still wanted to share some warmth and sunshine in the form of good music with you!

10. Ra Ra Riot – Water

Although only a couple weeks in, this summer has already been very tough on students. Nobody enjoys being buried in books or writing lengthy projects when it’s +25 degrees outside and the sunshine sneaks into every window as a painful reminder that you’re inside instead of lying on the beach. If you feel like you can’t take it any more, let this song be your inspiration – So I crawled out of the back door / Took off all these tight clothes / Jumped into the water – sings Wes Miles from the American indie rock outfit Ra Ra Riot, and I encourage you to be as naughty as him and give yourself a little break and go for a relaxing swim.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-cxevaA-38 width:432 height:324 align:center]

9. DIIV – Dopamine

If you’re looking for sunny tunes, Brooklyn shoegazers DIIV will never let you down. Filled with woozy guitars and laid-back rhythms, their melodies are perfect for chilling in the sun and enjoying life. If this song tickles your fancy, then you should also check out their new sophomore album Is the Is Are.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_9uS39YHyQ width:432 height:324 align:center]

8. Japanese Breakfast – In Heaven

Even though In Heaven is a song about death, you would never guess it from the upbeat melody and the dreamy chorus with Michelle Zauner’s vocals soaring high. Together it makes for a great life-affirming track that makes you want to throw your hands up high, breathe in the fresh air, and fall in love with the world again. Japanese Breakfast is definitely a band to look out for, as their recently released full-length record is one of the most promising debuts of the year so far.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOsLEKnbl7I width:432 height:324 align:center]

7. Chairlift – Moth to the Flame

Chairlift’s new album Moth sees the Brooklyn duo turn to a more mainstream pop sound, which is not necessarily a bad thing because it lets them attract a wider audience to their intricate and melodic tunes, and Moth to the Flame is a perfect example of that. It has all the necessary ingredients of a slick pop song – a love theme, a beat that will make you dance from the moment you hear it, a cathartic chorus, and most importantly – amazing vocals. I suggest you put this on at your next summer party!

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QfUuVyJlbg width:432 height:324 align:center]

6. Animal Collective – FloriDada

One thing is for sure – you will never get bored with the eccentric Animal Collective. These crazy American lads never stop experimenting with music and visuals, so if pure fun and a quick trip to another dimension is what you’re looking for, then put on FloriDada and just keep on dancing, and dancing, and dancing, and dancing.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuoIvNFUY7I width:432 height:324 align:center]

5. The 1975 – The Sound

Somewhere between genre-bending and guilty pleasure lies the British four-piece The 1975. It’s quite amazing how they manage to mix so many genres in just a single song or throughout an album, and still make the whole thing cohesive, but at the same time they’re also a band that many love to hate. The video for The Sound laughs about this matter in a very self-ironic way, while the song itself is an ultimate dance tune that has festival crowds jumping in unison already. This might easily become one of The 1975’s biggest hits, so enjoy it while it’s on the rise.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSnAllHtG70 width:432 height:324 align:center]

4. Chance the Rapper feat. 2 Chainz & Lil Wayne – No Problem

The freshest tune on this list comes from Chicago’s very own Chance the Rapper, who has delivered his latest bouncy single No Problem just in time for the summer. Although Chance has already built a strong fan base and caught the attention of many music industry professionals, he refuses to sign with a record label and keeps on releasing one great mixtape after another independently. His desire to keep it this way comes through loud and clear on this track, as he threatens record labels with some trouble if they don’t let him be. A commendable message with great beats that will make you bounce on your bike.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVkkYlQNmbc width:432 height:324 align:center]

3. Niki & the Dove – So Much It Hurts

Summer isn’t just about sunshine; it’s also about those warm summer nights when you don’t feel like coming home because the city seems so romantic, and you just can’t get enough of it. That’s when the Swedish duo’s single So Much It Hurts becomes a great companion. It’s unbelievably authentic 80’s sound creates a great soundscape for a walk in the dark, while the chorus is so catchy you’ll still be humming it long after the walk’s over.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abHqD3RRdk8 width:432 height:324 align:center]

2. The Range – Florida

While you’re still on that midnight stroll, don’t forget to play this baby as well. The Range a.k.a. James Hinton is a very talented Brooklyn-based producer, who spends ages on YouTube searching for perfect samples that convey a peculiar feeling. For example, who would have thought that a random a capella cover of Ariana Grande’s You’ll Never Know could turn into this sizzling electronic beauty inspired by dubstep and hip-hop? Makes you appreciate attention to detail even more.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aqb7MFivis width:432 height:324 align:center]

1. Bandmaster – Us

To top it all off, here’s another ‘summer in the city’ type of song that comes all the way from Latvia, and perfectly captures that warm summer feeling. The track also goes hand in hand with the visuals that capture Riga, the capital of Latvia, from a bird’s point of view and feature some bike delivery guys that make the city their own playground. Although Bandmaster is still quite new, they’re getting better with each single, so, who knows, maybe after releasing their debut album, you’ll hear more about these guys beyond their home country?

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2aUJes_i5k width:432 height:324 align:center]

universitypost@adm.ku.dk

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