August Soundtrack

It's the August Soundtrack, with songs from Empara Mi, The Killers and Gabrielle Aplin.

July Soundtrack

Particular favourites from Jessie Ware, Everything Everything and Amber Mark.

May '17 Soundtrack

The monthly soundtrack is back with 10 tracks to get you through the day, including Lorde, HAUS, and Ravyn Lenae. 

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: November

Taking a break from drowning in uni deadlines to put up a quick November soundtrack, full of some indie gems from Laurel, Empara Mi, The XX and The Crookes.

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: October

Ah, October, what a month. Halloween, a clown invasion and we learnt about the Nintendo Switch, which looks amazing, by the way. A decent month for music, I discovered some new favourites and rediscovered some older tracks. Particular favourites from Bear's Den, Declan McKenna, Dodie and Everything Everything. Let's get going, here are 10 songs I listened to in October.

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: September

Oh, September. What a month. I left home for university, Donald Trump continued to be an idiot and BASTILLE RELEASED THEIR ALBUM! Particular favourites this month from Sia (an amazing video), Broods, Bastille and Tom Chaplin. 

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: August

Time for my monthly soundtrack, here's 10 songs I listened to in August. Particular favourites by Amber Mark, Bastille, Glass Animals and the late Viola Beach.

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: July

Time for July's soundtrack, with highlights from lostboycrow, Shura and The Wild Wild.

My Monthly Soundtrack 2.0: May

Time for my May soundtrack!

Alternate Christmas Songs You Need To Hear

I have a confession. I don't feel festive at all this year, perhaps from a lack of sixth form where I'd be excited to break up for Christmas. For over ten years I've been listening to the same Christmas music every December, I felt I needed some new Christmas music instead of the usual Mariah Carey or Slade. I went on a search for some different Christmas songs, and here they are.

My October Soundtrack

Welcome to my monthly soundtrack, featuring 10 songs I've been listening to during those 30/31 days. Dare I say it's been a slightly slow-paced month for music, although it would be fair to say it's been a rather slow year for the music industry (how much Justin Bieber can we take, seriously? Pls Justin just stop). However, mid-October to late October had some really good music. You might have heard of this person called Adele? Yeah, she came back, with a fantastic song. Let's get started. 

1. Hello - Adele (of course)

This is truly a masterpiece, I first came across that snippet of the single on Twitter and instantly fell in love. As Adele has stated, her upcoming album is a 'make-up' album, and we truly get a sense of that in this song. It reflects on the idea of what happens after the breakup, how they're mending and reflecting on what could've been. Simply wanting to say 'hello', simply wanting to say 'sorry'. The sombre tone and real lyrics are what makes this track one of the best of, not only October, but the year. 

2. Alive - Sia

Funnily enough, this song was meant for Adele's upcoming album 25, but it didn't make the cut. You can definitely hear Adele's impact on the song, with her being a co-writer on the track. This is a nice departure from Sia's 1000 Forms of Fear, yet still manages to stay very Sia. Those high notes though, unachievable for any ordinary human being. Sia proves yet again that you don't have to twerk and sing about drugs to make a killer song.

3. Love Me - The 1975

Can I make you all hate me by saying that I didn't really 'get' The 1975 the first time round, but their first single from their second album suddenly appealed to me. Love Me of course sounds like it was created to bring back the attention of the fans, but it also got my attention (not being a fan of the first album bar one of two select songs) because it's slightly different, it's fun and it's quirky, it has a really infectious 'youthful' feel to it. I think it's safe to say I'm now a fan. 

4. Rollercoaster - Bleachers (and Charli XCX)

This song makes me feel nostalgic for the 80s, despite me being born in 1997. I'm not entirely sure how that even works, but it's a thing apparently. This is simply a really, really nice song to listen to. Yet, it makes me want to run around an American high school in a montage set in the 80s. 

5. Wings - Hurts

This is possibly one of my favourite songs from 2015, already, and with Hurts' newly released album Surrender I found myself having the majority of this list being songs from that album, I refrained and decided to have my absolute favourite from the album on here. For reference; two others that I really like are 'Rolling Stone' and 'Nothing Will Be Bigger Than Us'. Wings is a truly beautiful song, the chorus itself is a 'raise your hands dramatically in the air and sing your heart out' moment. It's just a very much cooler and better version of a Westlife song and I definitely appreciate that. The story of the song is another thing, it's moving yet so very touching, reflective yet makes you want to go outside and hug everyone you see. 

6. Shine A Light - BANNERS

BANNERS' Shine A Light is a feel-good, starting off slowly and quietly, quickly becoming a lively yet tender song. First hearing the song, I admired the blend of tender lyrics with the feel-good, anthem-like sound. You could definitely imagine this being sung at Glastonbury on the main stage at night, everybody singing along to the chorus. It's simply a really great song. 

7. Fashion - The Royal Concept

I'm only now realising the potential context of this song, I should really listen properly sometimes. But, heck, it's a good upbeat song. Take this scenario, you're walking down the street in the early 90's with your group of friends and you're being all cool and 'hip' (perhaps use My Mad Fat Diary as a reference for this) and this song plays. It's the ultimate 'cool kids' music, right?

8. Murder Song (5,4,3,2,1) - Aurora

This is a really, really dark song with a flowy, nice and airy sound to it. I first heard it played by Clara Amfo on BBC Radio 1 and loved it, I looked into the song and read the lyrics and found it to be the perfect contradiction. It's a beautiful sounding song, but the lyrics are so haunting and, perhaps even scary, that it combines to make a surprising song that's both tender and heavy. Ever since hearing Aurora, I've become slightly obsessed with her work. I'd definitely recommend checking her out. 

9. Seventeen - Sjowgren

This is a really cool song, it makes me feel nostalgic and chilled. You know, like, driving down the coast in a super cool convertible with your friends (not like that Friday video by Rebecca Black, imagine it a bit more cooler), hands up in the air, so much excitement and fun. This song makes me feel good about life. 

10. Beat of My Drum - Powers

This is simply just a feel-good song. I want to shimmy and do all the cool dance stuff when I listen to it. It's fun, it's energetic, it's about doing your own thing (hence the title, beat of my drum). This is truly just a fantastic song that I've really enjoyed listening to, heck it was the first of these songs to make it onto my iTunes, usually I listen to music on Spotify unless I really want to commit to a song. Thus, this is a fab song.

 

P.s. there's a really good remix of this song (The White Panda Remix), which makes me want to dance and shimmy even more than the original (which I thought wasn't even possible). Check it out below:

That's all for now. 

See you soon!

Byeeeee

Totally Culture

Curtis

My September Soundtrack

I swear, this is a solid choice of songs. Mostly alternative, it's been a 'I swear I'm indie and cool' month. Most of these songs actually remind me of a simpler time, they're quite fun and not too heavy, just easy to listen to and really deserving of some appreciation. Obviously, there are one or two songs on this playlist that are intense compared to the rest (for instance, number 8's chorus makes me want to march around for some reason). These songs are truly brilliant, and I came to listen to some quite late into September but they really dominated my Spotify account since I discovered them.

1. Hurt Me - Låpsley

2. All Clear - Aidan Knight

3. Arcadia - Tiny Folds

4. Better Love - Foxes

with a bit of Dan Smith from Bastille

5. Brazil - Declan McKenna

6. Dream Lover - Destroyer

7. Letter To the Team (After Another Imperfect Season) - Tellison

8. Lights On - XY&O

9. Oh No - Bring Me The Horizon

10. Spring/Sun/Winter/Dread - Everything Everything

Honorary Mentions

All My Love feat. Becky Hill - Watermat

Here For You - Kygo

Bloodsport - Raleigh Ritchie

Sun Is Shining - Axwell^Ingrosso

That's all for now, be sure to check TotallyCulture in the next few days for the start of Halloween month!

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Totally Culture

My July Soundtrack

Hello! Happy August! This post is a monthly feature on this blog, where I list 10 songs (and a few honorary ones) that I've been obsessed with the past month. Now that it's August, and the summer is here, I feel like this month is going to be good, I'm seeing a bunch of my friends this month for the last time before they all head off to University and I start my gap year (which so far has consisted of binge watching Arrow, Shrek, Harry Potter and Modern Family). Anyway, let's get started, July was a fairly 'chill' month, with a few parties in between including MY 18TH which was a tonne of fun. The music for July is fairly similar, with a relative 'summer' feel, but a bit more subdued, especially towards the end of July where it's just been raining non-stop.

1.Weathered - Jack Garratt

2. Gold Dust - Galantis

3. Glitterball - Sigma feat. Ella Henderson

4. Delilah - Florence + The Machine

5. Gold - Years & Years

6. Body Talk - Foxes

7. Revolution - Catey Shaw

8. Papercut - Zedd feat. Troye Sivan

9. Hideaway - KYKO

10. Tonight - Chasing Grace

Honorary Mentions

Running Wild - Prides

I Want To Love - Years & Years

Wings (Acoustic) - Birdy

The Hills - The Weeknd

These songs are great, they're either feel good or thought provoking, yet they're both fulfilling at the same time.

See you next time for a Doctor Who post!

BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

TotallyCulture

My June Soundtrack

Hello! I haven't written a soundtrack blog post since 'My March Soundtrack' as I've been a bit too busy with exams. Now that I've finished my exams, I'm back blogging again. June was a fairly hectic month for me, my exams began and ended within 2 weeks, and I had to prepare for Going Down Ball, which was my Year 13 leavers ball, where a tonne of year 12's, year 13's and teachers danced through the night in stupidly warm weather in a fancy posh hotel, which was indeed fun. Prior to June, May was also hectic with exam prep and leaving sixth form. However, it's time to return to my monthly soundtrack posts, in which I list a few of my favourite songs I've been listening to that month, either newly released or something I've just 'got back into'. 

Here are some June highlights:

 Florence headlining at Glastonbury

Rigsy's back in Doctor Who!

Humans on Channel 4, a creepy show about Synths, with the fourth episode airing 5th July.

The Syndicate on BBC One, WHERE IS AMY?!? Final episode airing 7th July.

So, let's get started:

1. Peanut Butter Jelly - Galantis

2. Laura Palmer (RAC Mix) - Bastille

3. HAPPY WITH ME - HolyChild

4. Famous - Charli XCX

5. Headlights - KYKO

6. West Coast (The GRADES Icon Mix) - Lana Del Rey

7. I Want You Back - Jackson 5

8. Heroes (1999 Remastered Version) - David Bowie

9. Digging Holes - Raglans

10. Future Stars - Cheerleader

 Honourable Mentions

Delilah - Florence + the Machine

Lean On (feat. MØ & DJ Snake) - Major Lazer

Cruel City - Augustines

All Those Friendly People - Funeral Suits

Moaning Lisa Smile - Wolf Alice

That's all! See you soon!

TotallyCulture

LEAD UP TO SUMMER PLAYLIST

It's that time of year, April, when everybody starts to prepare for summer. It's getting warmer outside, and everybody's making the awkward transition from jeans and jumpers to shorts and t-shirts. The lead up to summer is great, and summer itself is even better. One thing I love about the lead up to summer is the transition from relatively mellow (yet still brilliant) music to upbeat and lively music. Here are 10 songs to get you in the mood for summer, which are also great songs to listen to in summer. If you liked this blog post feel free to follow me on Twitter, like my Facebook page, follow me on Google+, or follow me on bloglovin', it'd be really helpful. 

 I'll post a Summer Playlist after I finish my exams and leave sixth form in June, be sure to come back and check it out!

1. Radioactive - Marina and the Diamonds

2. Not Alone - Kid Arkade feat. Josh Franceschi

3. We Got The World - Icona Pop

4. The Days - Avicii

5. Hold My Hand - Jess Glynne

6. The Best Of Us - Kid Astray

7. I'm Alive (Life Sounds Like) - Michael Franti & Spearhead

8. Desire - Years & Years

9. Runaway - Galantis

10. Lifted Up (1985) - Passion Pit

(Warning: This video may cause viewers with photo sensitive epilepsy to potentially experience seizures)

That's all

Bye for now

Geek Culture and Me

Curtis

"but we're just living life and we never stop, we got the world"