The Governors Ball Music Festival has just droped their 2016 lineup, and it’s pretty amazing to say the least. Among the 65 artists on the bill, highlights include Kanye West, The Strokes, Beck, The Killers, Robyn, Death Cab For Cutie, M83, and HAIM. Here’s an in-depth look at the entire lineup.
The festival is scheduled to return to NYC’s Randall’s Island from June 3-5, 2016.
Governors Ball 2016 Lineup
Kanye West
Love him or hate him, Kanye West is without a doubt one of the biggest figures in the entire music industry, and he’s firmly cemented his place as one of the best-selling artists of all time. He’s sold millions of records and won an astounding 21 Grammy Awards over the years, and is currently listed as one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world. With an ego as big as his net worth, he’s been known to run his mouth on some pretty controversial issues, but despite his often abrasive nature, you can’t deny that the guy makes good music (or G.O.O.D. Music, as his label is called). Yeezus himself will be headlining Governors Ball 2016, and it’s bound to be an interesting night.
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Black Skinhead
by Kanye West
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Gold Digger
by Kanye West
The Strokes
The biggest export from the burgeoning NYC indie rock scene of the early 2000s was without a doubt The Strokes. Initially, the band built up a following around New York’s Lower East Side, but once they released their debut album Is This It in 2001, The Strokes were quickly surrounded by endless media hype, leaving most of their contemporaries to trail in their wake. Fans and critics just couldn’t get enough of their effortlessly cool style and post-punk revival/garage rock sound, and their newfound fame reached as far as the U.K., where they were quickly championed by NME. Suddenly, the guys were international rock stars, and their fame hasn’t died down ever since. In recent years, the band members have turned their attention to individual projects, and despite having put out a new record in 2013, The Strokes have only played a handful of shows since then. At the moment, Governors Ball is their sole confirmed performance for 2016, so this is a rare opportunity to see them live.
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Last Nite
by The Strokes
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Reptilia
by The Strokes
The Killers
Few bands achieved such immediate success as The Killers did back in the mid-2000s. Their 2004 debut Hot Fuss was an immediate hit, mixing the influence of ’80s synthpop with the showy glamor of the band’s home city of Las Vegas. The record sold millions of copies and earned the band five Grammy Awards, launching vocalist Brandon Flowers, guitarist Dave Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer, and drummer Ronnie Vannucci into the international spotlight. The Killers’ three subsequent albums were just as successful, and they remain one of the biggest rock acts out there today with one of the most passionate fan bases of any band. Their latest studio album, Battle Born, saw release in 2012, and the band followed up the next year with a greatest hits album.
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When You Were Young
by The Killers
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Mr. Brightside
by The Killers
Beck
Since his 1994 breakthrough hit, the alternative-rock-turned-mainstream anthem “Loser,” Beck has established himself as one of the most prominent musicians and producers of the last 20 years. He has released an impressive 12 studio albums with songs that encompass multiple genres, and has produced music for artists like The White Stripes, Thurston Moore, and Stephen Malkmus. In 2014, Beck released his most recent album, Morning Phase, which was met with high praise from critics and fans alike, as well as a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. Despite whatever Kanye may think, the Grammy was deserved, and Beck is certainly no “Loser.”
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Loser
by Beck
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Blue Moon
by Beck
Robyn
Swedish popstar and five-time Grammy nominee Robyn debuted in 1995 with her first album titled Robyn Is Here, which was written and recorded when she was just 16 years old. Since then, she has made herself known around the world with her catchy brand of dance pop, exemplified by international hit singles like “Do You Know (What It Takes)” and “Dancing On My Own.” Over the years, Robyn has released a number of impressive albums that have charted in several countries. Her latest project, an EP titled Love Is Free, which is credited to Robyn & La Bagatelle Magique, came out in the summer of 2015.
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Dancing On My Own
by Robyn
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Call Your Girlfriend
by Robyn
Death Cab For Cutie
Last year, Grammy-nominated alternative rock band Death Cab For Cutie came back with their first album in four years, Kintsugi. Despite the recent amicable departure of lead guitarist and founding band member Chris Walla, the band remains intact with frontman Ben Gibbard still at the helm after all these years. Known for earnest lyrics across several stunning and emotional albums, highlights of which include 2003’s Transatlanticism and its 2005 follow-up Plans, Death Cab For Cutie has made an indelible mark on indie rock history.
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I Will Follow You Into the Dark
by Death Cab For Cutie
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Crooked Teeth
by Death Cab For Cutie
M83
French electronic music outfit M83 has become one of the leading bands in synthpop right now, thanks to their explosively popular single “Midnight City,” which has been used in everything from commercials to sports broadcasts to movies and television shows. The now platinum-certified single launched the band toward international fame, and helped earn their 2011 album Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming a nomination for a Grammy Award.
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Midnight City
by M83
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Wait
by M83
HAIM
If any band has proven the power of families making music together in the last few years, it’s without a doubt HAIM, made up of sisters Este, Danielle, and Alana Haim. The Haim sisters released their acclaimed debut album Days Are Gone in 2013, quickly earning a nomination for Best New Artist at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. They are currently at work on a sophomore album, which we all know is bound to be just as excellent as their first.
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Forever
by HAIM
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The Wire
by HAIM
Of Monsters and Men
The indie folk five-piece Of Monsters and Men hails all the way from Iceland. Formed in 2010, the band centers around the talents of vocalists/guitarists Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdottir and Ragnar Thorhallsson, guitarist Brynjar Leifsson, bassist Kristjan Pall Kristjansson, and drummer Arnar Rosenkranz Hilmarsson. Of Monsters and Men first came into the spotlight in 2011 with their hit single “Little Talks,” which was getting airplay on radio stations all over the world and quickly propelled them to international fame. The next year, they released their debut album, My Head Is An Animal, which rapidly climbed the charts and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The band came back this past summer with their sophomore record, Beneath the Skin, which they released on June 9.
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Little Talks
by Of Monsters and Men
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Mountain Sound
by Of Monsters and Men
Chet Faker
Australian electronic artist Nick Murphy opted to take on an alias in order to avoid confusion between himself and another Australian artist of the same name. He decided to make music under the name Chet Faker, an obvious homage to the late Chet Baker, whose music he listened to growing up. He launched his career with a downtempo cover of the ’90s hit “No Diggity,” which was used in a 2013 Super Bowl commercial for Beck’s Sapphire. In 2014 he released his debut album, Built on Glass, which debuted at #1 on Australia’s ARIA charts.
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Talk Is Cheap
by Chet Faker
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No Diggity
by Chet Faker
CHVRCHES
Glasgow-based synthpop trio CHVRCHES mercifully stylizes their name with a V in order to make it easier to search for them on the internet (thanks, guys). The group formed in 2011 and is comprised of vocalist Lauren Mayberry along with keyboardists Iain Cook and Martin Doherty. In 2012, the band’s songs “The Mother We Share” and “Lies” earned them some buzz around the internet, leading to the chance to open shows for Passion Pit on their U.K. tour. Chvrches later finished fifth in BBC’s prestigious Sound of 2013 poll, and that same year released their acclaimed debut album, The Bones of What You Believe. In 2015, the band released their sophomore album, titled Every Open Eye.
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The Mother We Share
by CHVRCHES
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Leave a Trace
by CHVRCHES
Two Door Cinema Club
Northern Ireland’s Two Door Cinema Club features vocalist Alex Trimble, guitarist Sam Halliday, and bassist Kevin Baird. Making music in that style of synth-drenched rock that’s so popular nowadays, Two Door Cinema Club has released two successful albums thus far full of catchy, danceable tunes. Though they haven’t released an album since 2012’s Beacon, frontman Trimble has stated that the band is in fact at work on a third.
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What You Know
by Two Door Cinema Club
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Next Year
by Two Door Cinema Club
Miike Snow
Swedish indie pop group Miike Snow is the combined force of famed production team Bloodshy & Avant (a.k.a. Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg) and Andrew Wyatt. It’s no wonder their songs are so catchy, as Karlsson and Winnberg have written and produced for pop stars like Britney Spears, Madonna, and Kylie Minogue among others. They’ve released two albums since their formation in 2007, the highlight across which is their catchy hit single “Animal,” and they’re set to release a new record titled iii in March.
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Animal
by Miike Snow
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Genghis Khan
by Miike Snow
Father John Misty
Singer/songwriter Joshua Tillman, also known as J. Tillman, currently performs under the name Father John Misty. Formerly a member of indie band Fleet Foxes, he left the group in 2011 but continues to make soft, folk-inspired music in the same vein. In 2012 he released his debut album Fear Fun on Sub Pop Records. His sophomore effort, titled I Love You, Honeybear, came out last February to much critical acclaim.
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Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings
by Father John Misty
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Nancy From Now On
by Father John Misty
Jamie XX
Jamie xx is the stage name of Jamie Smith, English solo musician, producer, remix artist, and member of the London-based group The xx. His work with his band The xx is what initially brought him into the spotlight, but he eventually became a much sought-after remix artist, remixing tracks by artists like Adele, Florence + The Machine, and Radiohead. After releasing an album and touring with The xx, Jamie is back to focusing on his solo career at the moment, and dropped his album In Colour last spring. The album was recently nominated for the Mercury Prize as well as Best Dance/Electronic Album at the upcoming Grammy Awards.
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All Under One Roof Raving
by Jamie XX
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Girl
by Jamie XX
Bloc Party
British indie rock outfit Bloc Party skyrocketed to fame in 2005 with the release of their debut album Silent Alarm. The album went on to achieve platinum certification in the U.K. and be named as NME’s album of the year, propelling the band toward indie rock stardom. The group, led by vocalist Kele Okereke and guitarist Russell Lissack, has released three more successful albums since then. Their latest, simply titled Four, dropped in 2012 and will soon be followed by a fifth record called Hymns, which is due out on January 29.
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Banquet
by Bloc Party
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Helicopter
by Bloc Party
Gary Clark Jr.
Austin-based musician Gary Clark, Jr. has been compared to guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix. His sound is an innovative mix of blues, soul, and hip hop, incorporating both modern and classic elements of blues style, accompanied by smooth vocals. The Texas native recently collaborated with the Foo Fighters on the track “What Did I Do? / God As My Witness” from their recent album Sonic Highways, and last September released a new album of his own, called The Story of Sonny Boy Slim.
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Bright Lights
by Gary Clark Jr.
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Don’t Owe You a Thang
by Gary Clark Jr.
Miguel
R&B singer Miguel came to attention in 2010 with his debut single “All I Want Is You,” off his debut album of the same name. Though the album performed relatively poorly upon its release, it became an unexpected sleeper hit that year, eventually spending a total of 45 weeks on the Billboard 200. However, Miguel’s sophomore album, Kaleidoscope Dream, is what really put him on the map. Released in 2012, the album contained his biggest single to date, “Adorn,” for which he was the recipient of the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. This past summer, Miguel put out his third album, titled Wildheart.
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Adorn
by Miguel
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All I Want Is You
by Miguel
Matt and Kim
Matt & Kim is an indie dance duo featuring vocalist/keyboardist Matt Johnson and drummer Kim Schifino, who came together in 2004 while they were both attending the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. They released their eponymous debut album in 2006 and built up their profile through heavy touring. Their following album, Grand, came out in 2009 and featured their hit single “Daylight,” which earned them tremendous commercial success. Matt & Kim have since released three more albums, with their latest, titled New Glow, having just come out in April 2015.
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Daylight
by Matt and Kim
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Let’s Go
by Matt and Kim
Big Grams
What do you get when you cross solo rapper Big Boi (a.k.a. one half of Outkast) with electronic rock duo Phantogram? You get a phenomenal collaboration in the form of hip hop trio Big Grams, who recently dropped a self-titled debut EP on Epic Records. Though it’s an unlikely pairing, the result was pretty fantastic, and we’re excited to see what they’ve got in store for the festival crowds in the next few months.
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Goldmine Junkie
by Big Grams
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Drum Machine
by Big Grams
Lord Huron
LA-based indie band Lord Huron initially came about as the solo effort of Michigan native Ben Schneider, who eventually developed the project into a full-fledged band. The group currently features Schneider on vocals and guitar along with guitarist Tom Renaud, bassist Miguel Briseno, and percussionist Mark Barry. Lord Huron just released their sophomore album, Strange Trails, last April.
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Ends of the Earth
by Lord Huron
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Time to Run
by Lord Huron
Action Bronson
Before pursuing his music career full-time, rapper Action Bronson was a gourmet chef in New York City. He decided to leave the culinary arts behind in 2009 in favor of making music, and released his debut album two years later. Although he never did end up as a chef, Action Bronson still shows his love for food by constantly rapping about it. The guy even has his own food series for VICE. If you like music and you like food, then you’ll love Action Bronson.
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Strictly 4 My Jeeps
by Action Bronson
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Easy Rider
by Action Bronson
Purity Ring
Purity Ring is an electronic music duo formed in Edmonton, Alberta in 2010. The group consists of vocalist Megan James and instrumentalist Corin Roddick. They released their first track, called “Ungirthed,” in 2011, which led to critical acclaim and a record deal with 4AD. Purity Ring’s debut album Shrines came out later that year, followed their sophomore effort, Another Eternity, in early 2015.
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Fineshrine
by Purity Ring
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Obedear
by Purity Ring
Mac Miller
Arguably the best rapper to come out of Pittsburgh since Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller rose to attention with his 2011 debut album Blue Slide Park, which topped the Billboard 200 upon its release. At the time, he was only signed to a small, Pittsburgh-based indie label, making him the first artist to debut at #1 on the chart since 1995. That initial success paved the way for his second album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, which came out in 2013. In September, Mac Miller dropped his latest album GO:OD AM, which features appearances from the likes of Miguel, Ab-Soul, Chief Keef, Lil B, and Little Dragon.
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100 Grandkids
by Mac Miller
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Donald Trump
by Mac Miller
Courtney Barnett
Australian singer-songwriter and recent Grammy nominee Courtney Barnett first entered the spotlight with her self-released EP I’ve Got a Friend Called Emily Ferris. With a unique style that’s casual, conversational, and effortlessly cool, she began to catch attention in her home country of Australia, and eventually critics all over the world caught on. She released her second EP later that year and began touring in the U.S. and Europe, after which she signed with Mom + Pop Records and put out a double EP reissue. Barnett’s latest album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, came out in 2015 and just earned the singer a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.
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Avant Gardener
by Courtney Barnett
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Pedestrian At Best
by Courtney Barnett
Joey Bada$$
Last January, rapper Joey Bada$$ released his debut album B4.Da.$$ on what was only his 20th birthday. The record dropped in at number 5 on the US Billboard 200 – not bad for such a young guy. Recently, Joey Bada$$ collaborated with British band Glass Animals for the popular single “Lose Control.”
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Paper Trail$
by Joey Bada$$
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Christ Conscious
by Joey Bada$$
Duke Dumont
Adam Dyment, a.k.a. Duke Dumont, is a Grammy-nominated DJ and producer based in London. He has done plenty of well-known remix work for artists like Lily Allen, Santigold, and AlunaGeorge among others, but recently he has had several big hits of his own. In 2013 his big breakthrough came with his original track “Need U (100%),” which hit #1 in the U.K. and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording.
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I Got U
by Duke Dumont
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Need U (100%)
by Duke Dumont
Eagles of Death Metal
Once just a lesser-known side project of Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, Eagles of Death Metal made headlines last fall under the most unfortunate circumstances. However, they’re a band that won’t be defined by tragedy, bouncing back by organizing a charity in light of the event and soldiering on with their European tour. Despite the attention they’ve received lately for reasons beyond their music, the music is what the band is ultimately all about. Since 2004, they have released four albums, the latest of which, titled Zipper Down, came out last October.
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Wannabe in LA
by Eagles of Death Metal
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Miss Alissa
by Eagles of Death Metal
Galantis
Swedish electronic music duo Galantis features Christian Karlsson and Linus Eklow. Both producers have pretty impressive credits on their own: Karlsson is a member of Miike Snow (who will also be performing at GovBall this year) as well as one half of the Grammy-winning production duo Bloodshy & Avant, while Eklow has made a name for himself as DJ/producer Style of Eye and famously co-wrote and produced Icona Pop’s smash hit “I Love It.” Together, the duo released their debut album Pharmacy last summer.
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Runaway (U & I)
by Galantis
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You
by Galantis
Thomas Jack
Thomas Jack, an Australian DJ and producer, is a young and talented emerging artist and a star quickly on the rise. Recently he’s been making a name for himself as the pioneer of a subgenre he has christened “tropical house,” which has really taken off as a trend in electronic music lately. Though only discovered within the last year or so, Thomas Jack has already established his presence on the internet, landing at the top of the Hype Machine charts an impressive number of times with both remixes and original productions.
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The Final Speech
by Thomas Jack
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Rivers
by Thomas Jack
De La Soul
American hip-hop trio De La Soul formed in the late ’80s in Long Island, New York. They first came to attention with their hit debut album, 3 Feet High and Rising, which hit shelves in 1989. The album promoted the ideas of peace and love, which led many to label the group as hippies. This stereotyping frustrated the group’s members, who made a conscious decision to change their style later on because of it. They have recorded several successful albums since then, and are currently at work on a kickstarter-funded new record. The album is said to feature appearances from the likes of Damon Albarn, David Byrne, and 2 Chainz.
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Me, Myself & I
by De La Soul
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Eye Know
by De La Soul
Cold War Kids
Alternative rock band Cold War Kids formed in 2004 in Southern California. Two years later, they released their major label debut, Robbers & Cowards, which included their bluesy, bass-heavy hit single “Hang Me Up to Dry.” Now almost a decade later, the band is still making great music and selling out tours, and released their fifth and most recent studio album titled Hold My Home in 2014.
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Hang Me Up to Dry
by Cold War Kids
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First
by Cold War Kids
Years & Years
British electronic trio Years & Years formed in London in 2010. The group consists of frontman Olly Alexander, bassist Mikey Goldsworthy, and keyboardist Emre Turkman. As Years & Years, they have released a number of successful singles so far, and just dropped their debut album, titled Communion, in June.
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King
by Years & Years
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Desire
by Years & Years
Vince Staples
Rapper Vince Staples surfaced in 2010 with appearances on albums from members of the renowned hip hop collective Odd Future. In October 2014, he released his debut EP, tiled Hell Can Wait, via Def Jam Recordings. Back in June, Staples dropped his debut album, Summertime ’06.
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Hands Up
by Vince Staples
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Blue Suede
by Vince Staples
Catfish and the Bottlemen
British four piece band Catfish and the Bottlemen formed in Llandudno, Wales, and consists of singer/guitarist Van McCann, guitarist Johnny Bond, bassist Benji Blakeway, and drummer Bob Hall. They started off playing Beatles covers to small local audiences, but soon tired of playing songs that were not their own and set out to produce original music in a D.I.Y. studio. Their hard work eventually paid off, as they later signed to Mumford and Sons’ Ben Lovett’s Communion Records before moving to Universal in 2014.
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Kathleen
by Catfish and the Bottlemen
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Cocoon
by Catfish and the Bottlemen
MisterWives
MisterWives is an indie pop band based in New York City. They have garnered a lot of buzz over the last year, and have opened for acts like Twenty One Pilots, Bleachers, and American Authors. They released their debut EP, Reflections, in 2014 on the New York indie label Photo Finish Records, followed by their first full-length record, Our Own House, in early 2015.
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Reflections
by MisterWives
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Vagabond
by MisterWives
Against Me!
Against Me! is a punk rock band formed in Gainesville, Florida in 1997 by singer and guitarist Laura Jane Grace. After releasing three studio albums on independent record labels, the band signed a major label deal in 2007 and from there on began to see more mainstream success. They launched their own label in 2011 and have since released their music through that. Since the band’s lead singer Grace came out as a transgender woman, they have released a powerful new album titled Transgender Dysphoria Blues, which deals with gender dysphoria and Grace’s personal experience.
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Thrash Unreal
by Against Me!
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