Summertime jams: A playlist for the sunshine

ALEX SIDDONS | Evergreen columnist
June 4, 2014

With the sun coming out and warming up Pullman, outdoor activities are on the rise. A nice soundtrack can make all the difference in your summer fun, whether you are grilling at the barbeque or lounging in the sun.

This playlist begins fittingly with “Intro” by M83, as the prolonged buildup of the song is the perfect way to enter into this mix. It then continues with some electronic and synth-pop tunes with steady beats. After the groovy funk track “Slyd” by !!! (pronounced “chk-chk-chk”), the mix slows down with the psychedelic styling of Animal Collective.

Picking the tempo back up with some indie rock is the summer-ready song “Up Up Up” by Givers. The Seattle indie pop band Seapony brings its signature sweetness to the summer before the band Smith Westerns brings the pace down with an excellent cut from its 2011 album “Dye It Blonde.”

With a switch to hip hop, the legendary Los Angeles outfit Jurassic 5 brings along Big Daddy Kane and Percee P with the blazing fast “A Day At The Races.” Chali 2na’s verse is quite amazing, and the quickness of his raps sounds great with his trademark deep voice.

Coming up next is some hip hop inspired electronic music from S-Type and a bit of down-tempo beauty from Gold Panda, but the real winner in this group is Ryan Hemsworth’s immaculate remix of Lorde’s “Ribs.”

Emily Reo ushers in the last few songs with her vision of a fluorescent world becoming visible through her music. The playlist ends with a pseudo-chillwave track from Torn Hawk, whose signature experimental edge comes through to the listener.

Here I offer you a mix that will be a great way to end a summer day, but will also leave you wanting to repeat it all over again the next day.

“Intro” by M83

“Julius” by STRFKR

“All These Things” by MMOTHS feat. Holly Miranda

“Jozi’s Fire” by Classixx

“Blizzard” by Kavinsky

“Feel Like Movin’” by The Juan MacLean

“Slyd” by !!!

“Bluish” by Animal Collective

“Up Up Up” by Givers

“Kelly” by The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

“Where We Go” by Seapony