Sometimes it feels like you waste an entire year and once
New Years Eve comes around, you start to question what it is that you actually
accomplished that year. I can proudly say that 2015 was not one of those years
for me. After a difficult 2014, I spent these past twelve months working on my
own happiness and doing what I love without thinking twice about it. 2015 was
the year I graduated college, built up an incredible team for Lucy Out Loud, and
redeemed myself on more than one occasion by overcoming internal fears.
My 2015 playlist is filled with songs of love, loss,
adventure, empowerment and new beginnings. Some songs are just fun-dance tunes
while others tug on my heartstrings and bring back memories, both good and bad.
Ultimately, 2015 was the year that some of my favorite artists made their
redemptions (JoJo, Good Charlotte, Hilary Duff, Busted) just like I made some
of my own.
Here’s to a new year filled with new opportunities and overcoming any/all of the obstacles that may be in your way.
Thank you for supporting us ♥ You can find my playlist below!
1. “Sledgehammer” – Fifth Harmony 2. “English Girls” – The Maine 3. “Tear In My Heart” – twenty one pilots 4. “Run” – COIN 5. “Say Love” – JoJo 6. “What Happened To Your Band” – McBusted 7. “Adventurer” – Redlands 8. “Uma Thurman” – Fall Out Boy 9. “Let’s Not Be Alone Tonight” – R5 10. “Makeshift Love” – Good Charlotte 11. “Sparks” – Hilary Duff 12. “Bitter” – Emily West 13. “I Dare You” – Bea Miller 14. “Stone Cold” – Demi Lovato 15. “Same Air” – The Rocket
Summer 16. “Wildest Dreams” – Ryan Adams 17. “I’m Good” – The Mowgli’s 18. “Take My Love” – The Lone Bellow 19. “Fucked Up” – Young Rising Sons 20. “Meet You There” – Busted
I tried to keep songs from my AOTY list to a minimum, but
that was tricky because A. I don’t listen to a lot of radio and B. these albums
were the Top 20 for a reason! Anyway, not totally sure if “Uptown Funk” was
this year or last year, but who cares, that song will be on my yearly
soundtrack every year until I die. “Downtown” is about buying a Moped and
cruising for girls and is perfectly ridiculous. “Same Old Love” is so catchy
that it hurts, and “Can’t Feel My Face” makes me realize how much I can’t dance
and how much I also don’t care. Basically, this list is just me saying that
life is too short to pretend to not love pop music. Check it out below!
1. “Uptown Funk” – Mark Ronson / Bruno Mars 2. “Downtown” – Macklemore 3. “Not Today” – twenty one pilots 4. “Same Old Love” – Selena Gomez 5. “Black Magic” – Little Mix 6. “America’s Sweetheart” – Elle King 7. “Here” – Alessia Cara 8. “Cool for the Summer” – Demi Lovato 9. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth 10. “Clearest Blue” – CHVRCHES 11. “Mad Hatter” – Melanie Martinez 12. “Gasoline” – HALSEY 13. “Wait for It” – Hamilton OBC 14. “Hello” – Adele 15. “Can’t Feel My Face” – The Weeknd 16. “Ship to Wreck” – Florence + the Machine 17. “Unsteady” – X Ambassadors – “Unsteady” 18. “Chateau Lobby #4″ – Father John Misty 19. “Savages” – Marina and the Diamonds 20. “Hell and Back” – The Airborne Toxic Event
2015 went by so quickly for me that I genuinely forgot what releases came out this year. Looking back, 2015 wasn’t my favorite year in music, but it was a year full of solid releases from Big Sean’s heartfelt memorial to his grandmother in “One Man Can Change the World” to Carly Rae Jepsen’s spotless pop jams. While nearly every best of list has Kendrick Lamar on it, it’s hard to ignore the impact of To Pimp a Butterfly, the juggernaut of the year. While Butterfly certainly packed a punch, artists like Adia Victoria and Angel Haze charmed listeners with honest lyricism in what may be some of the most underrated releases of the year.
Indie pop artists Halsey, Melanie Martinez, and Troye Sivan covered the latter months of the year with concept albums that weren’t necessarily game changers, but ones that told stories of love and loss one wouldn’t expect from someone so young. Though I’m more likely to remember this year for the memes than Hilary Duff’s comeback moment, these are the artists I’m hoping to see more from in the new year. Check out my playlist below!
1. “Alright” – Kendrick Lamar
2. “Losing Myself” – State Champs
3. “Palm Reader” – The Wonder Years
4. “Moonrise Kingdom” – Angel Haze
5. “Gasoline” – Halsey
6. “Fools” – Troye Sivan
7. “Soap” – Melanie Martinez 8. “One Man Can Change the World” – Big Sean
9. “Michael” – theSAGAS
10. “Howling Shame” – Adia Victoria
11. “Fourth of July” – Fall Out Boy
12. “Bella Disorder” – Better Off
13. “24 Floors” – The Maine 14. “Crowns and Castles” – ASPIRE
My top 20 consists of songs with more of an optimistic note
with a dash of Halsey. Indie pop and a bit of pop punk was my choice of music
this year, so I’ve listened to artists like Fall Out Boy and Twenty One Pilots
heavily over the past 12 months. However,
The Colourist has blown me away with their indie pop style and light-hearted
vibes. 2015 was a mixture of new things
and nostalgia for me, but a little more hope for 2016. Check out my playlist below!
1. The Kids Aren’t Alright – Fall Out Boy 2. Stressed Out – Twenty One Pilots 3. Shut Up and Dance – Walk the Moon 4. Hold Me Down – Halsey 5. I’m Good – The Mowglis 6. T-Shirt Weather – Circa Waves 7. All Over – Cruisr 8. LA Devotee – Panic! At the Disco 9. Cecelia and the Satellite – Andrew McMahon in
the Wilderness 10. R.I.P.
2 My Youth – The Neighbourhood 11. It’s
Alright – Kid Astray 12. Until
You’re Big Enough – Mayday Parade 13. Sound
of a Broken Heart – Jukebox the Ghost 14. Smile
– The Royal Concept 15. When
I’m Away – The Colourist 16. Frail
Love – Cloves 17. Monogamy
– Self 18. Diet
Soda Society – The Maine 19. Ride
– Twenty One Pilots 20. Reflections
– MisterWives
For
the past twelve months, I have been on the craziest ride of my life. All the
way, music has been my friend, in the passenger seat. In the midst of the
chaos, certain bands and artists have provided me with comfort, sadness,
happiness, and heavy love. My 2015 playlist is a discombobulated bunch of
songs, all from different genres. Jumping from up-beat songs to slower songs,
my heart has been bursting with love. Particular tracks in this 2015 playlist
remind me of new adventures, new friendships, first loves, and first
heartbreaks. These songs are a part of me; they are wrapped around my veins and
in every corner of my heart. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels
too much. It’s nice to know that in 2015, I found a friend in music.
Check out my playlist below!
1. “Can’t
Kick Up The Roots” – Neck Deep 2. “Overtime”
– Reckless Serenade 3. “Something’s
Gotta Give” – All Time Low 4. “Poison
Pen Letter” – Knuckle Puck 5. “All
You Are Is History” – State Champs 6. “The
Note” – Man Overboard 7. “Loaded
Conversation” – Take a Breath 8. “Love
Me Like You Do” – Ellie Goulding 9. “Stressed
Out” – Twenty One Pilots 10. “Love Me” – The 1975 11. “December” – Neck Deep 12. “Love Will Set You Free” – Kodaline 13. “Amazing Day” – Coldplay 14. “Coming Down” – Halsey 15. “English Girls” – The Maine 16. “Dominance” – Hope Vista 17. “Music To Watch Boys To” – Lana Del Rey 18. “Just A Fool” – Look out Love 19. “Letting Go” – Mayday Parade 20. “You In January” – The Wonder Years
It’s that time of year again and South By Southwest (SXSW) is just around the corner! We’ve decided to bring back our “50 Acts You Won’t Want To Miss” feature, which will run from today until March 16th, the day before the Music section of SXSW begins! Check out our first installment (acts 1-10, in no particular order) of artists we think you need to check out below!
*Note: some acts we’ve included are performing at South By So What?! and not South By South West. However, since the festival takes place during the week of South By Southwest, we’ve decided to still include them in our list!
Royal Teeth
After being a standout at the second Boston Calling festival, Royal Teeth have found continued commercial success over the last eighteen months or so. While they’ve been heard in a handful of ads or trailers, don’t mistake them for sellouts – it’s not their fault that their dual-vocalled brand of high-energy pop is unignorably catchy. Or, well, I suppose it is. Where to catch Royal Teeth: 3.20 – 5pm – NoiseTrade Day Party @ Swan Dive; 3.21 – 5pm – BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll Vol 2 @ Peckerheads; 3.21 – 10PM – Official SXSW Showcase @ Buffalo Billiards; 3.22 – 4pm – South By Sendoff @ Stubb’s.
Lydia
Following the success of their revival, coupled with a 5-year anniversary Illuminate tour, Lydia have been keeping busy. With performances booked at SXSW, Bled Fest, and a nationwide tour in support of The Early November, there are plenty of chances to catch these guys play. But why would you want to wait any longer than you have to? Where to catch Lydia: 3.20 – South By So What?! @ QuikTrip Park.
COIN
While their first full-length is still eagerly awaited, what we’ve gotten thus far from COIN (a three-track EP that will dance you out of your shoes) leaves me very optimistic for its June release. I’m sure their set will be more than three songs, so I’m jealous of anyone who will get to hear what else this band has to offer. Where to catch COIN: 3.18 – 8pm – Hype Machine @ Hype Hotel; 3.18 – 1am – Paradigm @ Maggie Mae’s Rooftop; 3.19 – 3:45pm – Most Definitely @ La Barbecue; 3.19 – 11pm – SONY @ Tap Room At The Market; 3.21 – 4:30pm – IFC @ Palm Park.
Night Riots
In support of their latest EP, Howl, a half-dozen songs packed with bright, moody electronic pop, this LA five-piece are preceding their summer on Warped Tour with a run at SXSW. If you miss your chance to catch them now, you’ll have another shot when Warped stops in your city, though their crowd is bound to be much bigger by the time that rolls through. Where to catch Night Riots: 3.19 – 4:20pm – Big Picture Media Showcase @ The Bling Pig; 3.19 – 10pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Buffalo Billiards; 3.20 – South By So What?! @ QuikTrip Park.
Dylan Gardner
This time last year, Dylan Gardner’s record landed in my inbox. And it didn’t take long for me to hear that there was something special about this 17-year-old kid’s self-written, self-recorded, self-produced debut album. And after jumping at the chance to sign such a great young talent, it seems it didn’t take Warner Bros. Records very long to realize it, either. Where to catch Dylan Gardner: 3.20 – 8pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Victorian Room at The Driskill; 3.22 – 7pm – House of Blues Cambridge Room.
Redlands
One of the newer bands we’ve been introduced to, Denver’s Redlands blend together elements of country, pop, and old-fashioned rock & roll into a tightly-structured sound that could appeal to most music fans. Before their newest album hits shelves early this summer, this is a band you’ll want to get acquainted with. Where to catch Redlands: 3.18 – 7pm – The Prophet Bar; 3.20 – South By So What?! @ QuikTrip Park.
The Maine
Since the announcement of American Candy (expected March 31st), The Maine have had their fanbase in a stir since word of their fifth album hit the internet. As a band that has progressed and matured with each album or tour, I’m always interested in whatever The Maine have lined up next. Where to catch The Maine: 3.18 – 9:30pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Emo’s; 3.20 – South By So What?! @ QuikTrip Park.
MisterWives
Whether it’s lead vocalist Mandy Lee’s soaring voice, the band’s catchy dance-pop sound, or any combination of these along with countless other factors, there’s a lot to be said for MisterWives. But whatever I could say about them wouldn’t do justice to what they’ll show you themselves. Where to catch MisterWives: 3.19 – 6pm – The Spotify House; 3.21 – 7pm – House of Blues Dallas; 3.22 – 7pm – Fitzgerald’s.
Cartel
To help celebrate 10 years of Chroma, one of the most solid pop/punk records of the era, Cartel are embarking on an anniversary tour later this Spring. But before they hit the road, they have their sights set on Austin, ready to make all of those high school emotions flood back. Where to catch Cartel: 3.20 – South By So What?! @ QuikTrip Park.
MC Lars
The self-proclaimed master of lit-hop puts on a show that few can rival. Energetic, entertaining, and potentially educational, Lars shouldn’t be missed (if you’re hyphy enough to handle it). Where to catch MC Lars: 3.17 – 10:25pm – Official SXSW Showcase @ Flamingo Cantina; 3.19 – The Bedlands.
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