As the temperature and leaves continue to fall, the blaring summer vibes of energetic music and beach blast fun have simmered into cool, indulging beats that diffuse into our new fall music. This season it’s all about the relaxed, mellow flavors that create the perfect ambience for chilling inside or out. Whether it be in your bedroom scrolling through Tumblr with some over-the-knee socks on (and a Pumpkin Spice Latte, of course), or going for an independent Sunday morning walk amidst the falling leaves, the following artists are definitely something that you will relish as the chilly autumn days ‘fall’ upon us.
BANKS: Ever since her 2013 debut EP, London, Banks has steadily gained popularity and interest among a diverse range of audiences. On September 20st, she began promoting her album Goddess, a 14-song, full length album released on September 9th, 2014. A few of her notable songs in the album include “Begging for Thread,” “Warm Water,” “Waiting Game,” and “Drowning,” all of which feature lush, mellow vocals mixed with pop beats comparable to those of teenage sensation and singer-songwriter Lorde. Not only is Goddess an album that exudes the laid-back tones perfect for these cozy fall days indoors, or outdoors, but Banks is also surely a rising artist for all to keep an eye…or ear…out for!
Alt-J: Flavorwire.com columnist Jillian Mapes is accurate in describing them as “a funky folk-pop band, other times sampling Miley Cyrus amidst cryptic electronics and trumpets, elsewhere writing art-rock anthems,”as they released their second album, This Is All Yours, on September 22, 2014. This album contains a variety of tastes, among them the most popular songs, “Every Other Freckle,” “Hunger of the Pine,” and “Left Hand Free.”“Every Other Freckle” has folk and airy vibes completely intertwined with dark, deluxe instrumentals, complementing the husky vocals. This fall, be sure to take a listen to Alt-J and their latest album, This Is All Yours, to experience your own share of blissful “deep bass and cosmic sounds!”
Broods: Originating from New Zealand, Broods is a sister-brother duo that “made international waves” according to Idolator.com writer Bradley Stern. Launching their debut with “Bridges” earlier this year, they’ve climbed up to their full album, Evergreen, which was just released October 7, 2014. Evergreen was produced and co-written with the same producer as Lorde’s hit, “Royals.” Recently, the band has garnered quite a number of fans in a short time, as “Bridges” has been played over 8 million times on Spotify. A great amount of songs on the Evergreen album contains both bright vocals as well as electronic, “contrast[ing] heavy synths and a very danceable drum beat,” says Stern. Nonetheless, their song, “Four Walls,” is an airy, delicate piece that is soothing and a relaxing mixture of positive vibes and peaceful tranquility for the ear. Another popular song in the album, “Mother and Father”, contains more heavyweight instrumentals with a distinct beat, but is equally balanced by Georgia Nott’s (the sister) airy, ethereal vocals.
In regards to the current music scene at Ridge, Sunny Chae ‘15 says that she’s currently loving New York City rock band “The Pretty Reckless,” while sophomore Ben Levy ‘17 currently listens to mainstream artist “Maroon 5,” Belgian singer-songwriter “Stromae,” rapper “Childish Gambino,” and “Tyler, the Creator.”
Joyce Lee ‘16 loves the song “Days With You” by Snakehips, the same production duo that remixed BANKS’ “Warm Water.”.Kunal Patnaik ‘15 recommends “This is Forever” by Swedish producer Hellberg. Peter Fenton ‘16 is currently listening to The Backstreet Boys, while Kevin Yan ‘16 loves rap artists Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kanye West.
While some have been riding the waves of mainstream American music – like Maroon 5 – and others have been tuning into hard rock and 90s music, others have shifted to indie-rock and more subdued music for a more “chill” experience. This season, take the initiative and experience something totally new!