These days we find ourselves listening to those freewheeling “perfect for a road trip” tunes, with more soulful songs making appearances as the day winds down. Here are some we have on repeat to energize mornings and afternoons, and bring even happier hours come evening.
Holden’sLa saison des touristesfrom their 2002 album “Pedrolira” plays well with a first cup of tea, gently easing you into the rest of the day. We also like to think the title is a tongue-in-cheek way to welcome summer.
Surfer Blood’s new release “Python” sees the band build on their 2010 debut “Astro Coast,” adding depth without losing a sound that makes for great steering-wheel drum sessions, like in the first single “Demon Dance.”
From her recently released album “Sing to the Moon,” Laura Mvula’s Green Garden has a fresh feel as upbeat as her story—she overcame terrifying stage fright to share her talent with the world. We’re so glad she did. Catch her when she tours North America this September.
The UK’s Jacob Banks‘ new track Worthy is nothing short of amazing. Fresh off a tour with Alicia Keys, we bet we’ll be seeing more of his nouveau R&B.
Channeling equal parts Nina Simone and Joan Armatrading, Jim James‘ State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.) has a beautifully haunting sound that would be a good sunset viewing soundtrack, or work as a lullaby to remind you of a “life worth living,” as the lyrics suggest.
Dubbed “boudoir’n'b,” Los Angeles–based Inc. join the ranks of Frank Ocean, the Weeknd, and other young troubadors currently reinventing soulful jams with contemporary electronic sounds and styling. References informing the two brothers’ particular take on the trend (while predominantly hailing from the ’90s) are as diverse as the sources are varied, made up of a mix of listening to, opening for and playing in bands such as Beck, D’Angelo, Marilyn Manson, Lauryn Hill, Dave Navarro and Nirvana. With a new album “new world” out earlier this year, catch them on their tour this summer, listen on Spotify, or download from iTunes.
It was only a year ago that the band members of Imagine Dragons were couch surfing and surviving off of Del Taco before exploding onto the music scene. The indie-rock band was first recognized nationally in November of 2012 when their single “It’s Time” was certified platinum by the RIAA. “It’s Time” gained the attention of Hip-Hop producer Alex Da Kid, who then got the band their first deal with Interscope Records.
So what kind of sound results from an indie-rock band mentored by a hip-hop producer? You get an album meshed with various genres where every song is interwoven with different beats, percussion and guitar melodies. Their album “Night Visions” can be described as a cross between Lil’ Wayne’s lyrics and Coldplay’s electro beats!
The bands’ unique sound can be credited to the city of Las Vegas, where it was formed and developed its musical style. Frontman Dan Reynolds explains he and his three band mates had to compete for attention against show girls and slot machines -forcing them to get creative.
Even the band’s name, Imagine Dragons, is creative. It is actually an anagram in which every letter stands for a phrase that only the band members know!
It’s been a pretty big year for British music in America (that statement would be true even if we were only talking about Adele), and this week we’ve been jamming to Brit indie pop band Veronica Falls. The band formed in London just three short years ago, but already has a respectable and growing fan base in the US and across the pond. Their sound combines the best of 80’s British pop with a bit of a darker feel that is surprising but fun. Scout Magazine praised their mastery of “the perfect 2 minute morbid love song.” Our favorite from the album, Found Love in a Graveyard, is from their self-titled debut Veronica Falls. Trust us, this British foursome is here to stay.
For design minded individuals, it can be difficult to find a quality stereo system that doesn’t look like a prop from a sci-fi movie.
We recently met the folks behind Q Speakers Ltd, which offers a sound system made from 100% real hardwoods, with clean lines and a contemporary design appropriate for anything from a dorm room to a mid century mansion. The unit offers 360 degree sound coverage from a 90 watt amplifier, built in bass woofer and stereo speakers, all mounted on an aluminum frame. Plug in any iPod or smartphone and the sound will easily fill a room up to 800 square feet. We can’t help but agree with their tagline, “Music looks better in Wood.”
The idea for Q came from New Zealand audio engineer and designer Grier Govorko and his sister Thea, a film industry vet, who wanted to put their experience in design, production and music to good use. The speakers may not be made in USA, but that doesn’t mean the company doesn’t have the same dedication to craftmanship and quality. Every speaker is made from a unique piece of oak, maple or walnut, “thinned, planed, cut, mitered, glued, sanded and finished” over a 12 hour process. In their own words, it’s “like slow food – takes longer but tastes better.” We think one would fit perfectly in the design office.
If you are more of an on-the-go person, but like the idea of mixing of music and wood, thinksound makes a line of wooden earbuds that mix portability with a similar attention to design.
These days we find ourselves listening to those freewheeling “perfect for a road trip” tunes, with more soulful songs making appearances as the day winds down. Here are some we have on repeat to energize mornings and afternoons, and bring even happier hours come evening.
