You’re on your long haul to move into your dorm at college. You turn on the radio.

“I got this feeling inside my bones

It goes electric, wavey when I turn it on”

Hmm. Not in the mood for Justin? You turn the dial.

“Come on, come on, turn the radio on

It's Friday night and I won't be long”

It’s that catchy Sia song. Again. One word comes to your head: "UGH!"

And no, I don’t mean that song by The 1975. You plug in your phone, but you don’t know what you want to play. You don’t want Spotify to just randomly take you places, but you want something different. You won’t ever get this fresh moment again. This is your very first college experience.

If you relate to everything I just told you, then I have news for you. You’re in what is known as The Music Hole. This is not to get confused with Amazon’s diagnosis of The Show Hole. Most college students know that this is their chance to try new things, to be different than they were in high school. Yet, the question is, how?

Well, my musically confused friend, I am here with some helpful solutions. Everyone has their different preferences, but I’m sure that no matter what genre is your thing, you’re going to love these songs. This is like a baby step in that “finding yourself” direction. Well, let’s get started, shall we? Here are the top 10 musicians that you should definitely give a try.

1. The 2006 Holy Emo Trinity

Now, when I say this, all of my emo friends should perk up with joy. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, this trio of bands would be more commonly known by their names: Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, and Fall Out Boy. Ah, see, now you know what I’m talking about. These three bands were – and still are – the best punk/alternative bands of the mid-2000’s. Most of us freshmen were around the wee ages of seven through ten. Most of us might remember when I Write Sins, Not Tragedies came on the radio or on the MTV Music Video program (none of us can deny that we get a little excited when we hear that first part of the song). Some might remember the beat to Dance, Dance, watching Pete Wentz jam on his guitar with his eyeliner running down his face. Lastly, let us not forget the emo anthem of the millennia, Welcome to The Black Parade. There is no way you don’t recognize that piano beginning, and if you don’t, that’s okay! You should definitely give it a listen. These bands are good to listen to when you’re in that angst-y mood, or if you just want that wave of nostalgia from your childhood.

2. The 2016 Holy Emo Trinity

This is a bit new to us college freshmen, but it’s the label for these artists and bands. Halsey, Melanie Martinez, and Twenty One Pilots have all just started to surface out of the shadows of big name artists. They’re the new wave of alternative music, with Halsey and her Badlands album combining a sound of a haunting but soulful noise, Melanie and her album, Cry Baby, making a twist on nursery rhymes and baby’s lullabies, and Twenty One Pilots, with albums like No Phun Intended and Blurryface, meshing together sounds into a power ballad filled with emotions. Both Melanie and Halsey tell a tale in their new albums, with Halsey’s being more scattered, and Melanie having a small booklet to go along with her songs. Twenty One Pilots is more known for Tyler’s deep words, Josh’s epic drumming, and mixture of woeful singing and angry fast-paced rapping. No matter what, however, these artists know how to wrap up every single issue that our generation deals with today. Whether you’re looking for a fun, upbeat ballad, haunting melody, or an angst-y angry twisted tune, these three WILL deliver.

3. Deap Vally

Deap Vally is a new rock duo consisted of Lindsey Troy and Julie Edwards that hail from sunny Los Angeles, California. They debuted their first, and amazing, single called Gonna Make My Own Money. Taking over small parts of the world with their raw music and 80’s style vocals, they’ve come out with an album called Sistrionix that has songs such as Bad For My Body, Baby I Call Hell, and Creeplife. This dynamic duo will rock your playlist for sure.

4. Papa Roach

Yes, I am back in the 2000’s. Papa Roach has a lot of hit albums, such as Infest, The Paramour Sessions, and Time for Annihilation. Most of their more well-known singles are scattered across these albums, such as Last Resort, Scars, …To Be Loved, and Kick In The Teeth, and are multi-award-winning tracks. If you want a wave of nostalgia and punk rock feels, then I would recommend that you fill your music library with Jacoby’s rockin’ vocals.

5. Wolf Alice

If you’re anything like me, you want a taste of foreign vocals. Wolf Alice is that perfect undiscovered gem that you need to look into. Hits like Moaning Lisa Smile, You’re A Germ, and Fluffy have a modern punk feel, but with a taste of 90’s grunge. The lyrics are simply sublime and the perfect blend of punk and angry angst. If this band isn’t in your playlist, then you’re missing out!

6.The Strumbellas

A new wave of alternative country and indie rock, The Strumbellas are slowly becoming a hit band to listen to. Right now, they have one single called Spirits that’s worth listening to. As I don’t know much about this band, I can’t tell you anything more than that, but I would definitely jump on this train before they start to move too fast!

7.The 1975

I bet some fans were wondering if they were going to make the list, and they did! I can’t tell you how much I love this band and their music. Matthew Healy’s vocals blend perfectly with their alternative sound, and songs like Sex, Chocolate, and Love Me are a perfect way to get into a different groove. Their lyrics send out a message of teenage angst and musings. If you want a good band to listen to, this is one that you will not regret.

8. 5 Seconds of Summer

This is a personal favorite that I wanted to add. These four Aussie men hail from Sydney, Australia, and definitely bring in a mesh of their old punk influences such as Green Day, Blink-182, and Sum 41. Their debut self-titled album skyrocketed to number one on the Billboard chart, with singles like She Looks So Perfect (yes, that underwear song that surfaced early 2014) and Amnesia. Recently, the boys released an album called Sounds Good Feels Good, with hits like She’s Kinda Hot, Hey Everybody, and Jet Black Heart (which recently won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Rock Song). If you want some summer tunes that hasn’t been ruined by the radio, this is up that alley.

9. Hey Violet/Cherri Bomb

This band is in ties with 5SOS, being signed under the boys’ label, Hi Or Hey Records, but before that era, they were a four piece girl band called Cherri Bomb. They had some good songs, such as Take This Now and Shake The Ground. Now known as Hey Violet, they released songs such as This Is Why and I’m There, hits that attracted the attention of 5 Seconds of Summer. Now on their way to the top, with their own headlining show later this year with a new EP out for sale (Brand New Moves, get it, worth the money), there isn’t anything stopping this band from taking on the musical scene. First stop, L.A., next, the world.

10. W. Darling

And last, but certainly not least in any way, we have the beautiful melodies of W. Darling. Her soothing vocals mixed with the indie rock sound makes her songs a subliminal experience. Skeletons, Learn To Love, and Nights Like This are the exact kind of singles that will make her name known, radio worthy and beautiful in the way they are.

There you have it, 10 musicians that are sure to fill your car with good songs on your ride to your destiny! Sorry, enough with the dramatics, type these artists into your search bar, and get to rockin’! If you have any suggestions for me, or for any other freshmen, leave some for me in comments below! This is Justine, signing off. Bye-bye!