SAN CISCO

San Cisco made its way into my happening as their cover of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" popped up on my YouTube feed. The original song featuring Pharrell and Nile had me hooked, and I was game for another artist's rendition of the hit. San Cisco creates a new perspective on the song, weaving in another of Pharrell's songs, which makes their cover all that much more interesting. It's brilliant, watch it and repeat.

The Australian quartet led by Jordi on vocals and guitar has a quirky feel for the indie pop genre and their album out titled Awkward intrigues and satisfies that yearning for a new and strange sound. Watching their live performances seems like a cosy and intimate experience and each of the members, Jordi, Josh, Nick and Scarlett, seem relatable and comforted with the sound they provide for their audience. 

One of their first hits, "Awkward," also the title to their album, creates a strange but lovely interpretation of an experience that happens to many and the lyrics and overall sound create a fun and eccentric vibe. It seems that through each performance, Jordi and Scarlett tweak or slightly alter their performance with this tune, keeping their listeners refreshed and falling deeper for the band. 

My favorite of their songs is "Rocket Ship" and I can't help but feel good and well when this upbeat tune hits me. Probably one of the strangest music videos, but you can fully see San Cisco at their most alive, but finest as well as they show how to have a good time with friends. This might also inspire you to do something bold and slightly mad like San Cisco seems to do through each of their videos. 

If you have some time, watch this video of Scarlett, Jordi, and Josh at a sit down in the Big Room; these fifteen minutes made me love this small band much more and their presence seems so relatable and holistic. 

With their recent fame of the Daft Punk cover, there are high hopes for the small town kids from "down under." 

(i do not own this photo)

PAPER ROUTE

When I was fourteen I went to my first concert. I had the idea in my head that opening bands were composed of a prerecorded tape of classical music, welcoming in locals before the real show started. Thankfully I was proven my wrongful misconception. We were first greeted by a petite woman in her twenties, sporting a deep parted, jet black main and the tattoos that suited her powerful and independent demeanor, known as lights. lights shared with the audience her twist on electro-pop, and even won me over with her fun and quirky sound. 

The band that followed her became the go-to band for my anytime-playlists, the songs that kept me interested and confused, and the lyrics made me rethink my disposition: Paper Route. I swooned at their ease on stage and the slow but oddly, relatable lyrics that JT preached to his crowd. Paper Route continues to connect and challenge me as they release various EPs and full length albums, their most recent being "The Peace of Wild Things," which is rad. This band was formed in Nashville, Tennessee and were previously referred to as For All the Drifters (check out the song "Perfect Machine"), but upon changing their name for themselves and the band, they were launched into what is now known as Paper Route.

This band weaves in so many powerful instruments that create a quirky and cool vibe that makes you want to tap your foot along to their wicked tunes.  Though their band has changed its grouping, now lacking one of its wingmen, Andy Smith, Paper Route remains steady and original in their sound and continues to wow their listeners. Here is a really cool acoustic version of their song "Are We All Forgotten" on the Absence album. If you really take a look deep into the lyrics, I hope this bands and their songs bring you a new perspective like it did for me.

(i do not own this photo)

BARCELONA

I found this band a few years back on a friend's Facebook page. 
Since then they have kept me amused and wanting more. 

Barcelona is a group of four guys with a calming perspective on music and the indie rock genre. Brian's leading vocals creates a new and unique sound for the indie genre of music and he soothes each of his listeners with each hit. With their recent release of their sophomore album, the guys have been touring and spreading their holistic voice. 

Not only is their music beautiful listening to a prerecorded track, seeing them live is an even dreamier experience. They have such a great stage presence, making their audience feel part of their inner circle, and their vocals reach everyone in the audience, it feels very personal in the crowd. Each of their tracks has a story behind it as do all, and they make for a great playlist fitting any situation. It seems that the lyrics that accompany the melody finds its way fitting to their listeners lives and situations. 

If in need for a calming sit-down, settle in with the acoustic session of "Less Than Two" which comes with a meaningful background and passion in the lyrics, making me want to cry along with the words that he sings, I even feel sympathetic to situation being explained. Check out the other Jet City Stream Sessions as well, they are wicked. Barcelona is so low key, but they completely wow me when I am least expecting it. 

Here is a video showcasing their incredible talent through the looking glass of an aquarium. Take a look at their album "Not Quite Yours" on Spotify, iTunes, or their Facebook page  

(i do not own this photo)

BEN HOWARD

Again, I was wandering through the feed of WatchListenTell's YouTube page, and I came across this guy, Ben Howard. [Here is the link  to the WLT version of his song, "Old Pine," so rad, take a listen and share.] His voice is so holistic and immediately finds his way relating to his audience, young and old. I was mesmerized in other videos how we would play his guitar, by both strumming it and beating on it like a drum, creating such a cool sound. It was something I hadn't seen before. 

I also was listening to his song "Keep Your Head Up" and listening to the lyrics made me love this artist even more. When he says "I searched for between the sheets,/Feeling blind, to realise/ All I was searching for was me" i found myself clicking from song to song and listening to nearly all of his work. Sometimes featuring fellow voices, Ben Howard also manages to win over his audience with the steady and soothing sound of the guitar segments and the continuous beat of his calming voice. 

Consider checking his music out, Spotify, iTunes or where ever!

(i do not own this photo)

BASTILLE

They appeared on Watch Listen Tell's feed months ago on my YouTube page, and this small transition from the odd beat of The Drums to Dan Smith's fresh and compelling voice had me mesmerized. These Brits bring out a new sense of connection as their lyrics pull the emotions of their listeners and each word either whispered or shouted comes with the intense twist of words that are original and introspective.

BBC Radio//i do not own this photo

This newly formed British band is Bastille. Dan Smith, the power behind the vocals, leads the four Bastille boys through each of their hits and powerful and twisted cover songs. Either an acappella rendition of their hit "Overjoyed" or the beat of "Laura Palmer", the band can provide for any listener. 

They sure are wacky, but have a wholesome respect for music and bring honest and strong tunes from across the world; a refreshing wave from some of the music that lingers on the radio. Dan Smith started as a solo act before forming a band with band mates, Kyle, Will, and "Woody." Dan leads the four by writing the tracks and his inspiration of horror films and fictional stories lead each of Bastille's videos into a new and creepy twist on their tunes. Their videos sometimes impress me just as much as the music that accompanies it. 
A particularly odd and "horror" themed video is "Bad Blood" featuring some gnarly food encounters, but the song that accompanies the story is worth the oddly fascinating short film. 

Sometimes I overlook the power and beauty that Bastille possesses, but I am reminded again as one of their tunes finds its way through the small earbuds connected to my dying, and cracked iPod. The band, though they haven't gone completely viral, gives their everything to Bastille and has created an album of solely covered songs with their own twist and perspective. Check out Other People's Heartaches and their newest album Bad Blood (you can now pre-order their US version of the album on iTunes) which alludes to biblical encounters along with Greek mythology; Dan Smith is such a power house and his accompanying band mates bring Bastille to an all time high.

Still unsure of how I have just now discovered them, but they are so new and powerful (it's the word of the night); consider checking them out. Such a great discovery. You can also hear them on Watch Listen Tell on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and through their Facebook for more updates and releases. 

(i do not own this photo)