The time has come to go back to campus, which also means it is time to revamp your playlists with fun new music so that your friends will think you made all these trendy artistic and musical discoveries over the summer. Start off this school year with some of these songs to mix up your pregame jams and study session background music.
Here are 5 songs, some new and some old, to bring out with you this school year.
Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis
Swedish EDM duo Galantis is out with a new hit that will surely have you off your feet and dancing in no time. This playful follow up to their hit song Runaway (U &I) was just released in April as the fourth single to their debut studio album "Pharmacy".
Emergency - Icona Pop
Continuing with the electronic Swede theme, make sure to add Emergency by Icona Pop onto your party mix for this semester. The song has the same bad-girl-anthem vocals that remind listeners of their earlier hits like I Love It, but with a new trumpet/jazz twist on the instrumentals.
Shadow of the Sun (Mako Remix) - Max Elto
This song went viral at my university when it was used in a Notre Dame "Year of Firsts" YouTube video. So when you add the unreal vocals, fast pace and bass drops of the song with a strong collegiate spirit, it's bound to be good. Great for any party or just feeling like you are on top of the world.
Never Gonna Wake Up (Mashup) - Avicii and Rick Astley
I heard this song at a friend's house the other week and went nuts. That's basically all I have to say about why it made the list. It's a very trendy and amped up mix of an 80s classic with a pop dance hit. Basically a match made in playlist heaven.
Hurricane (Arty Remix) - Halsey
Here are 5 more songs, slower and much more chill, to stay in with for some lazy evenings, date nights or study sessions.
Hero - Family of the Year
Popularized by the amazing Oscar-nominated film "Boyhood" and hit HBO series "Girls", Hero by indie rock group Family of the Year is the most played song on my study playlist. It came out in 2012, so it is nothing new, but certainly a good one to keep around.
Ribs - Lorde
I saw a lyrical dance to this song one time and almost cried. And not that the dancing wasn't amazing bust mostly it was because I fell in love with the song. I love to study to Lorde. She has a great soft but sturdy sound and image reminiscent of icons like Lana del Rey and Florence & the Machine. Or at least the three women dominate my "Strong Indie-pendant Women" playlist. Definitely a good listen for lazy nights in the dorm room or background noise for deep talks about life.
Ocean - John Butler
John Butler Trio is incredible and incredible acoustic guitar group. Ocean is 12 blissful minutes of acoustic guitar jam by John Butler that is a great addition to any study playlist. Or make it the whole playlist and put it on repeat for three hours; the amount of relaxation and focus it will give you will help you really get shit done.
Nothing Left - Kygo ft. Will Heard
For those who enjoy the fun, dance beats of Kygo but want to dial it down a little for studying, check out this new song released July 31, 2015, featuring the amazing vocals of British singer Will Heard.
Style (Taylor Swift Cover) - Thirdstory
Saving the best for last in my personal opinion. For those who like acoustic sounds and pop covers, Thirdstory is the on-the-rise group for you. The three man group has been featured on "Ellen". All three have incredible vocal skills and bring a smooth, bluesy sound to favorite pop hits. This cover of Style is my personal favorite, but check out their YouTube channel for some of their other hits.