I'm constantly on the lookout for amazing music, new and old. Here is a short list of ten songs that I've recently discovered that are hella rad and you should all add to your Spotify playlists immediately:
1. "America" by First Aid Kit
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These two awesome ladies are Swedish sisters Klara and Johanna Soderberg. They've been around for several years now, releasing dozens of original songs, but also doing remakes of old songs such as this classic by Simon and Garfunkel. The original is not only one of my all time favorite songs, but the remake has become one that I play on repeat more often than I'd like to admit.
2. "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots
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I don't think this awesome duo really needs an introduction anymore seeing as they've recently become one of the top bands in the U.S. However, if, for some weird reason, you aren't very familiar with them yet, just know that they're crazy talented and you should listen to all of their music immediately. This song is a prime feature on the new "Suicide Squad" soundtrack and is really going to set the tone for the movie, I think. It has a really dark sound about it, but still manages to be really catchy and easy to listen to.
3. "I Wish I Was" by The Avett Brothers
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Although I could go on for days about how great the Avetts are, this new song of theirs, in particular, has become one of my top ten favorite songs ever. If you've listened to them before, you know that they have a very folksy, somewhat bluegrass sound about them that's generally so calming, yet energetic. This one, along with "Souls Like the Wheels" (which you should 100% check out as well), is very emotional and heartfelt, which most of their music is, but these songs in particular. It makes you feel tingly inside, honestly. Or maybe that's just me... Regardless, listen to it!
4. "Daffodils" by Mark Ronson
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Although this isn't a super new song, it's still a good one. As per his usual style, Ronson includes a heavy funk element throughout the song. However, it's also really modern and, honestly, will get you super hype. I recommend listening to this before going out on a Friday or Saturday, fo sho.
5. "Crucify Your Mind" by Rodriguez
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Before saying anything else, if you haven't seen "Searching for Sugarman" yet, DO IT NOW. Sixto Rodriguez is one of the most under-appreciated musicians and not nearly as well known as he should be, even still after the major success of the documentary about him I just mentioned. He was an aspiring musician in the late 1960's and 1970's living in Detroit. His career seemed to be short lived, so he went back to living a normal life for the most part to support his family, meanwhile, unbeknownst to him, his music was selling more than Elvis in South Africa. He never even knew until about his fame until the late 1990's. This is just a short summary of his story, which is so insanely fascinating, but the song I've listed here is AMAZING. It's so artistic and beautiful. Check it out.
6. "Everybody Does" by Julien Baker
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Last but not least, you gotta check out Julien Baker. She actually attended MTSU in Murfreesboro, a city pretty close to my hometown of Hendersonville, TN (woo!), and is an extremely talented musician. Her voice has such a raw, untouched sound and makes you feel so full of warmth. She's a fantastic songwriter and musician in general, you'll regret it if you never listen to her at least once.