Playlist | MTV FORA

May 22, 2013

MIXTAPE: Everything xx

You’d assume the guys and gals down at iTunes must be a pretty cheerful bunch. Every day, they get to make thousands of people extremely happy by giving away free, awesome, free, free (did I say FREE?) tunes for everyone to d-load and enjoy! When iTunes first started the incentive, most of the complimentary songs were by lesser-known acts; however, as of late, the generous music aficionados started offering FREE tracks from major artists like Jamie xx (of The xx)! It seemed all was well and good in the world until a ~unique~ customer commented this on the iTunes site:

“It’s free, but I really have no idea who the artist is. Apple, you should concentrate on stuff people really want for free. Not a randomly chosen album!”

What the!? WHO IS THE XX?! Dude, this one’s for you, and anyone else who is concerningly unaware of The xx’s existence. (Almost as questionable as the 2012 Grammy’s incident concerning an indie folk singer and a large woodland animal that shall not be named for it is too shameful a moment to speak of). Following is a collection of all things xx, from Jamie to Gil Scott. To unfiltered naivety – sorry, not sorry. read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged jamie xx, mixtape, Playlist, The XX

May 15, 2013

MIXTAPE: ‘Round The Campfire

Retreat into the wilderness for some quality one-on-one with Mother Nature. Let our mixtape filled with tambourine rhythms, twangy guitar and frequent handclaps be the soundtrack to your long nights under the stars. Indie folk masters Fleet Foxes, Edward Sharpe, et al are here to help you enjoy every bonfire, bike ride, and even bug bite. Which, according to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, deserves it’s own song too. read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged camping, Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear, mixtape, mumford and songs, Neon Indian, of monsters and men, Playlist, Vampire Weekend, von iver, yeah yeah yeahs

May 8, 2013

MIXTAPE: Summer Bike Riding Tunes

Four wheels, three wheels, two wheels, one – no matter you’re speed, it’s time to get cycling! Is there anything better than feeling the wind whipping through your hair as you peddle down the winding trails, sun shining, and puppies barking? Though the feeling you get when you find a twenty-dollar bill on the ground may come close, there’s no denying the awesome allure of a summer bike ride. Consider this your ultimate cycling mix for an afternoon of spinning in the great outdoors! Includes the best and brightest of sunshine indie pop! And coooast… read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged bike, mixtape, Playlist, summer

May 1, 2013

MIXTAPE: Unexpected Collaborations

Mixing and matching is always encouraged in the fashion world, but how well does the tick play out in music? Can the brash lyrics of a garage band play nice with Afro-pop-laced rhymes of a reggae band? 2013’s edition of The Coach taught us that two heads (or sounds) are certainly better than one. First The XX blew our minds when they invited Solange on stage to collaborate on a cover of Aaliyah’s “Hot Like Fire”. The rhythmic indulgence ensued when French indie rockers Phoenix invited R&B heavyweight R. Kelly to join them onstage for a duet on Kelly’s longtime classic “Ignition”. In honor of these unpredictable duets we’ve rallied up 17 collabs from our wildest dreams. Embrace the unexpected with our soundtrack to your Humpday shenanigans. read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged adele, asap rocky, Bon Iver, childish gambino, collaborations, Feist, florence welch, Grizzly Bear, kanye west, mixtape, Phoenix, Playlist, rihanna, stevie nicks, the black keys, the flaming lips, Vampire Weekend

April 24, 2013

MIXTAPE: Sibling Soundclash

I’m sure Wren Stevens and Lizzie McGuire can both attest to the fact that kid brothers are a *special breed*. True, Shia LaBoeuf and his “Beard of the Week”-worthy scruff are hot topic du jour, but back in the day, there’s no doubt the baby-faced star made his on-screen big sis wanna get ~Even Steven~. The simple solution to their sibling rivalries (and clearly the best solution to any problem, ever): start a band! Today’s mixtape is lyrical testament to the wonders of brother-sister/sister-sister/brother-brother duos + a set of twins for bonus points! read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged duos, mixtape, Playlist

April 17, 2013

MIXTAPE: Ballads From Our Favourite All Girl Bands

Source: The Runaways

Not since the days of Ginger Spice’s PVC boots has there been such a resurgence in kick a$$ girl bands. Tune into full-fledged ~girl power~ with our mixtape of ballads from the best girl groups of yesterday and today. We can’t stop listening to LA trio HAIM and their 90s-esque rhythms, undeniably the unofficial soundtrack of summer 2013. Then there’s the equally as dance-inflicting sounds of surf rock queens the Vivian Girls. Finally wind it down to the sounds of sister duo First Aid Kit as they tackle a Fleet Foxes favourite.

A message to girl bands everywhere: we salute you!
read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged all girl bands, all girl summer fun band, au revoir simone, Destiny’s Child, dum dum girls, first aid kit, girl bands, haim, mixtape, Playlist, tegan & sara, vivian girls

April 10, 2013

MIXTAPE: The (Best) Sounds from Coachella

Less than a week until The Coach: also (unofficially) known as Indio Fashion Week. Grab your sunnies, throw on your floral kimonos, and get ready to mingle amongst the music crowd in true festival style. Not lucky enough to snag a pass? Vicariously enjoy the festival vibes through our ~Coachella Dreaming~ mood board whilst listing to our top picks from this year’s line-up. (For the full experience perform these tasks while wearing a crochet dress or flower headband). Happy Coach!
read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged Beach House, coachella, Foals, Grimes, Grizzly Bear, metric, mixtape, music, Playlist, Tame Impala, two door cinema club, yeah yeah yeahs

April 3, 2013

MIXTAPE: Our Favourite Street Stylers’ Favourite Songs

FACT: Humans with good style like good music. Need proof? Today’s playlist is coming to you from the streets as curated by the effortlessly cool trendsetters we’ve snapped in the past few months. A collection of the beats they’ve got on heavy rotation, this is what street style sounds like.
read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged Destiny’s Child, Ellie Goulding, Frank Ocean, kanye west, M.I.A., marina and the diamonds, mixtape, Playlist, Purity Ring, street style

March 27, 2013

MIXTAPE: March In Review

Spring is on the horizon, and the notion of new beginnings and a fresh start are all around us. March’s musical madness is no exception to the trend as long-time legends presented new, upgraded, and refined versions of themselves. The man of a thousand faces himself, David Bowie, released his first major masterpiece since his 1980s album Scary Monsters. The Postal Service joined in on the craze by leaking a single from their highly anticipated deluxe reissue of Give Up, and even Wavves frontman Nathan Williams shows a softer more mature side with anthems of reckless abandon – a far cry from his carefree King of the Beach days. Fresh vibes front and center, these brand new musical acts teach us that change can be a wonderful thing. read more…

Posted by Dani Reynolds | Tagged Azealia Banks, David Bowie, Justin Timberlake, mixtape, music, Playlist, Sigur Ros, the postal service, Vampire Weekend

March 19, 2013

MIXTAPE: The Sounds of Laguna Beach & The Hills

Even though perusing the closets of Teen Vogue is still a lingering dream, Justin Bobby is still kind of relevant, and Speidi is Speidi-er than ever, being deprived of watching it all unfold on time-sensitive television programs makes us V V V sad, and we hope you feel the same way/can sympathize with us. How can we embrace these feelings together? By listening to the soundtrack of our early 2000s TV love. Join us! read more…

Posted by Lauren Quinn | Tagged justin bobby, Laguna Beach, lauren conrad, mixtape, music, Playlist, speidi, the hills

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