Listen Up: 10 Music Fest Albums For Summer
Festival season is here! For the music industry, this is the time for music’s big hitters to emerge, bearing new albums for our entertainment. The speed of which an album can be released has completely changed how artists promote their projects. Artists are now free to announce release dates with little to no warning, or drop albums overnight (we’re looking at you Beyoncé ), injecting a much-needed sense of urgency and surprise to the summer festival season. The album list we’ve put together consists of both artists who have albums set to release this spring/summer, and artists who’ve already shaken things up early in 2016. So plug in, catch up on what you’ve missed, and get prepared for what’s to come.
The London-based, multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter is a raging one-man band when performing live. He’s already made a run at SXSW and will continue his tour to the Parklife festival in Manchester. Jack Garratt combines electric guitar, drum machines and keyboards, and brings a R&B friendly falsetto to club-ready electro-pop.
Favorite Track: Worry
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Jean-Philip Grobler has been writing 80’s influenced pop under St. Lucia since relocating to New York. The now Brooklyn-based band was a summer festival favorite in 2013 after releasing their debut album featuring their single “elevate.” Following their original formula, St. Lucia has returned just in time this year with their sophomore album, Matter. It’s filled to the brim with festival ready hits.
Favorite Track: Elevate
Anchored by two alluring front women singers who often perform in matching outfits, Jesse Wolfe and Holly Laessig, the Brooklyn-based indie pop quintet Lucius also consists of drummer Dan Molad and guitarists Peter Lalish and Andrew Burri. Striking gold with their first album Wildewoman, they’re back this spring with a much edgier sound on Good Grief that’s sure to excite during their time at Bonnaroo.
Favorite Track: Born Again Teen
The West Coast-based rapper and singer/songwriter broke through the industry appearing on six songs on Dr. Dre’s 2015 album Compton. Quickly following up Anderson Paak released his 3rd album earlier this year, Malibu. It breezes through funk, soul and hip-hop sounds making it a well-rounded expansive opus perfect for the summer. Never satisfied with just an album, Paak is gearing up for Coachella, releasing catchy collaborations and remixes left and right.
Favorite Track: Room in Here
Christopher Gallants debut album Ology was not a rushed project. The 24-year-old allows his soulful voice to shine front and center, which places him in a unique niche within contemporary R&B. He has a live version of his single, “Weight in Gold,” swapping verses with R&B cred-enhancing Seal. He’s set to bring a chill vibe to the Coachella audience later this month.
Favorite Track: Miyazaki
Flume is the alias of electronic musician and producer, Harley Streten. His sound is inspired by house and U.K. garage, which translates into atmospheric dance music. Following up from his self-titled debut album, Flume is set to release Skin in May. His single, “Never Be Like You” already has a whopping 37 million streams on Spotify, and it’s sure to set fire during his Coachella appearance.
Favorite Track: Never Be Like You
The bluesy punk duo The Kills are set to return this summer with their 6th studio album, Ash & Ice, the follow-up to 2011’s Blood Pressures. The band just recently expanded a previously announced tour to include two dates at Coachella and the Isle of Wight Festival in England.
Favorite Track: Doing It To Death
“I’m out here looking for revenge. All summer 16.” We think that line from his recent single “Summer Sixteen” pretty much sums up how Drake feels. With a whirlwind of collaboration rumors, and Drake’s track record of dominating radio waves, we’re not exactly sure what to expect. But it’s sure to be huge.
Favorite Track: One Dance
The Londoner’s last album, Overgrown, won the Mercury Prize and placed him in a headline spot at the Latitude Festival. His second album Radio Silence, was set to be released in January 2016, but was delayed with no explanation. Blake did however release a brand new song via BBC Radio 1 called “Modern Soul,” so we can only hope for an album to follow up.
Favorite Track: Modern Soul
One of Rolling Stone’s “New Immortals,” James Murphy fronts LCD Soundsystem. The band released three albums between 2005 and 2010, all to critical acclaim– then in 2011, they called it quits after their final, sold-out Madison Square Garden show. Now in 2016, they’re 100% back together. At the top of the year, Murphy announced that they’re not only headlining Coachella, but also playing a series of live dates, and releasing a new album in 2016. This is music you don’t want to miss.
Favorite Track: Someone Great
