As your summer kicks off, festival season starts to really pick up, and school is finally finished, your need for new music will continue to be as important as ever. Our June Staff Playlist is here to help with new music suggestions that keep your library updated, whether you love pop punk, indie rock or just a plain old good song.
Follow the playlist on Spotify here.
Loveless – Lo Moon
I’m absolutely proud to admit that I have a playlist called “Songs I Listen To On Repeat.” Loveless by Lo Moon is absolutely on that playlist. The track almost creates a movie in my head, with really insane drum fills and this chord progression that sort of leaves you hopeful but also leaves you wondering. – Addie Whelan, Editor In Chief
Valentine – 5 Seconds of Summer
5 Seconds of Summer just released their album Youngblood and this is one of the songs I’ve had on repeat. It’s catchy, fun and has great vocals. – Alicia Rangel, Art Director
End – Jeremy Zucker
Jeremy Zucker is just starting out and there are already very apparent signs of progression and growth in his music. “End” is a perfect example of that. It’s a great, really mellow song with an emo message that’s great for when you’re looking for music to fit a more low-key vibe. – Gina Scarpino, Photo Editor
3AM – You Me At Six
You Me At Six is one of my favorite bands and I am just SO HAPPY they are back making music. I really dig the new direction they are going in and I think it’s really going to help them expand their fanbase. After they went on their hiatus a while ago, I feel like they kind of lost their popularity in the U.S., and I think the way their new music is going, this will really help them gain momentum again. – Delaney DeAngelis, Deputy Editor
On & On – PLTS
This song is your classic, summer rock jam. It’s been on my playlist for a couple years and it reminds me of a summer where I felt my most free. It’s one that you can roll the windows down and sing at the top of your lungs and feel as though you’ll be 20 forever. This song holds a lot of my favorite memories—falling in love, staying out late, going to shows every weekend. Though it’s attached to a certain time period of my life, I want to share this gem of a song with everyone else. – Kristen Humphries, Content Assistant
Wonderland – CHVRCHES
A couple years ago I luckily/randomly found myself in a CHVRCHES meet and greet, then front row at the Portland show for their Every Open Eye Tour. There were two photographers in the pit at that show, and it was the first show I really witnessed and watched concert photographers working. This is the band that convinced me all this was something I wanted to pursue. Since Love Is Dead was released it’s basically the only thing I’ve been listening to. Wonderland is the last song on the album, and it’s a perfect album closer to a great album. It was instantly one of my favorites when I first heard it, and as a last song it leaves you with a lot of lasting emotions reflecting on the album and closing song you just heard. – Joe Hernandez, Contributing Photographer and Writer
Give Yourself A Try – The 1975
As anyone who follows the 1975 knows, June is quite possibly the most important month of the year, and after weeks of teasing new music, the band finally released this single! This song is perfect for driving around with the windows down as the weather gets warmer, and the swirling guitar riffs take us right back to the band’s original sound. With an album to be released later this year, October really could not come any sooner. – Abby Fox, Contributing Writer
Kids – OneRepublic
This song has that freeing feeling of summer. I love that it’s a track you can scream at the top of your lungs in the car with your friends and that the whole song talks about old adventures with great people. – Lauren Klonowski, Contributing Writer
Fast Forward – You Me At Six
I have been a huge You Me At Six fan for years and their little break completely shattered my heart. I was so stoked when they came back with Night People but was devastated when they only came back to the states for a few shows. I was kind of nervous about the new music they had been talking up so highly the past few week but once I heard “Fast Forward”, I knew that this band is ready to take on the world with their new music. I cannot wait to hear what else they’ve done. VI is about to be a BANGER of an album. – Chelsea Gresh, Contributing Photographer
Mambo No. 5 – Lou Bega
The classic hit that is Lou Bega’s Mambo No.5 is an obvious choice for a Summer time classic. Not only does the song promote sobriety within the first verse, saying the boys want to go to the liquor store but he “really don’t wanna”, but Mr. Bega also teaches us a hip dance during the second verse. The song is a no-fail good time. – Stone Fenk, Contributing Photographer
Slow It Down – Charlie Puth
I’m not going to sit here and pretend the new Charlie Puth album isn’t full of banger after banger – it totally is. But one of the songs I keep finding myself reaching towards is Slow It Down. With its dreamy synth-pop undertones carrying the whole vibe, there’s no way to NOT want to be in some 35mm film fantasy (that’s slightly underexposed, of course). Any hazy day roadtrip playlist isn’t complete until this song finds its way in. – Madeline Paige, Contributing Writer
New Attitude – Patti LaBelle
Every so often, a lip sync on RuPaul’s Drag Race will be so entertaining, iconic, and dare I say fierce, that it becomes nearly impossible not to become obsessed with both the lip sync itself, and the song that the queens lip sync to. Throughout the show’s history, I have become obsessed with countless songs that have legendary lip syncs attached to them, the most recent of which is “New Attitude” by Patti LaBelle. First of all, how have I survived for as long as I have without hearing this song? Calling it pure 80s perfection is an understatement. Bouncy, fun, and infectious, it’s everything and more you could ever want a pop song to be. Thanks Kameron Michaels and Eureka O’Hara! (Seriously though, look up the lip sync if you haven’t already. They’re both dressed as old ladies, it’s life changing). – Blake Charles, Contributing Writer and Photographer
Where You Are – Mayday Parade
I’m never going to be sick of Mayday Parade’s music. It’s the perfect throwback to middle school for me and I love that they consistently keep releasing awesome music. – Marissa Sandoval, Contributing Photographer
When We Ride – Møme
I discovered this song last week and can’t stop playing it. The beat is so uplifting and makes me want to dance! Music that inspires me to move is my favorite. This will definitely be one of my summer songs this year. – Nicolita Bradley, Contributing Photographer
Hell- Chelsea Cutler
This song is a full banger. I just recently discovered Chelsea via a friend and to say he got me hooked to her is an understatement. This song is so intense, it’s like a wild ride from start to finish. The lyrics are so relatable, not only in this song but her entire project. The most notable lyric for me is “I can’t be my hero every single time, you’re the one that f*cked up but I’m the one that’s missing you.” It stands out most to me because I relate to it so much. She pours her emotions into her songs especially this one and it’s mastered so beautifully. Chelsea is definitely an artist to watch because she is going to blow up. – Samantha Aneed, Contributing Writer
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