Laneway 2015 Playlist: Get to know the acts

Paul John Caña

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Laneway 2015 Playlist: Get to know the acts
Listen to a few tracks from the featured acts at this year's Laneway Music Festival in Singapore

MANILA. Philippines – Some pretty exciting acts are confirmed to play in the Singapore leg of the region’s biggest indie music festival, which happens January 24.

We’ve put together this playlist from just some of the acts to help familiarize you with the lineup, as we approach the big day. Share your favorites with us below. 

Angus & Julia Stone 

The brother-sister duo plays a sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes joyous, always entertaining mix of folksy blues that makes one think of languid Sunday afternoons.

Check out “Grizzly Bear,” from their new eponymous album, produced by Rick Rubin. 

 

 

Banks

Put on the music of Banks if you’re feeling, well, in the mood. Listen to “Beggin’ For Thread” from her new album Goddess

 

 

Chet Faker

First gaining notice for his unforgettable cover of the Blackstreet song “No Diggity,” the bearded 26-year-old Aussie marries electronica with good old-fashioned jazz to create hip, head-bobbing make-out music. Check out “Talk Is Cheap”: 

 

 

Courtney Barnett

We don’t know that much yet about Courtney Barnett, whose star is very much on the rise, but what we do know, we like.

The Aussie singer says she writes “startlingly honest slacker garage pop songs,” which is a nice way of saying it’s music you can put on for any occasion, whether you’re scrubbing the floors of your house, uncorking a bottle of wine outside on the veranda, or getting ready to go out for a night of partying. Here’s Courtney channeling Sheryl Crow in “Avant Gardener” 

 

 

Eagulls

Punk’s definitely not dead, especially not with Eagulls around. The British indie rockers add attitude and swagger to Laneway with their post-punk stylings that update the sound of their forebears like The Clash and The Cure. Perfect example: “Possessed”

 

 

FKA Twigs

Her romantic dalliances aside, Tahliah Debrett Barnett (aka FKA Twigs) is known for ethereal, dreamy R&B that tips a hat off to her idols Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald and cloaked in her hypnotic, meandering murmurs. Here’s “Two Weeks,” one of the singles from her Mercury Music Prize-nominated debut LP1

 

 

Future Islands 

Future Islands has been around since 2006, but this past year was one for the books, thanks in no small part to their astonishingly inescapable single “Seasons (Waiting On You).”

The song is so darn precious and catchy it’s one of my most played tracks ever on my playlist on Spotify. If their Laneway appearance is anything like the now classic and much-talked about performance on David Letterman, then festival goers are in for a treat. Here’s the official video for “Seasons”: 

 

 

 

 

Jungle

Get together a large group of fun, mile-a-minute noisemakers, led by two lifelong friends, add a bunch of instruments, some sick dance beats and you’ve got Jungle.

The British band plays music that wouldn’t be out of place in a 70s blaxpolitation film or the mirroball-ed dance floors of the disco era. Good stuff. Groove to “Busy Earnin’” here: 

 

 

Little Dragon

Listen to Little Dragon when you feel like you’re about to get hit by an attack of the blues. The Swedish electronic music band plays a snappy, infectious mix of trip hop and neo-soul that instantly lifts the feet as well as the spirits, although like the Nordic weather, there’s just the barest hint of chill and melancholy.

Plus it’s hard not to get caught up when vocalist Yukimi Nagano, who has worked with Damon Albarn and Jose Gonzalez, starts singing. Our pick: this song called “Paris”: 

  

Mac DeMarco

There’s more to Mac DeMarco than his adorable gap-toothed smile. The Canadian singer-songwriter’s music runs the gamut from indie pop-rock in the vein of Real Estate or King Krule with flashes of tongue-in-cheek humor, to melodic rock that is a sound all his own.

His latest album Salad Days has been nominated for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize. Here’s “Treat Her Better”: 

 

 

Pond

Members of Pond are no stranger to the Laneway stage, as Tame Impala, Kevin Parker and Jay Watson were part of the 2013 lineup. This time, Watson is joined by a new crew of musicians as Pond, playing a similar blend of rock perfect for the next 70s-themed hang-out session.

Don’t forget the bell bottoms and platform shoes. Even the video for this single, “Elvis’ Flaming Star” has a vintage look to it:

 

 

Royal Blood

The big news in rock this year has to be the British twosome who call themselves Royal Blood. Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher, who play bass and drums and nothing else, create ear-busting rock like there were four or more members.

You can’t help but be reminded of other dynamic rock duos like The White Stripes, the Black Keys and Japandroids. I’ll definitely be front and center during these guys’ set. Sample their awesomeness in this track, “Figure It Out.”

 

 

Rustie

To say that Rustie plays electronic dance music would be like saying Jay-Z plays rap and hip-hop, or that the Rolling Stones play rock. There’s just too many layers and facets of Rustie’s material to adequately describe.

For sure when he takes the stage, more people will probably be dancing than with any other act in Laneway this year. Here’s “After Light” from his critically acclaimed debut album Glass Swords:  

 

 

St Vincent

A whole slew of quirky, in-your-face pop-rock female acts have risen to prominence in recent years, but St Vincent (aka Annie Clark) has been around since 2007. Marrying strong songwriting with unique pop hooks, St. Vincent is a multi-instrumentalist whose addition to the Laneway lineup should make almost every audience member there happy.

This song, “Digital Witness” has been played on Philippine airwaves and is from her latest self-titled album.

 

 

Jon Hopkins

Jon Hopkins is better known as a producer and composer, but the 35-year-old Brit has 4 studio albums to his name dating back to 2001. The latest is called Immunity, released in 2013 and nominated for a Mercury Music Prize.

While he has worked with the likes of Coldplay, David Holmes and Brian Eno, and was nominated for the prestigious Ivor Novello award for film composition, he has made a name for himself as an electronic artst, crafting inventive beats and fresh rhythms. His set is widely expected to turn the Laneway crowd into one big dance party. Listen to the first track from Immunity, called “We Disappear:”    

 

The Laneway Music Festival happens at The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay, Singapore on January 24, 2015. For tickets and more information, visit ticketworld.com or singapore.lanewayfestival.com – Rappler.com

 

 

 

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