Tunes to Get Grooving To (Part 3)

On to week three of TTGGT and it’s safe to say I am back with some bangers. The last two installments have been filled with new, up-and-coming tunes, but this week I’m focusing on throwbacks! Today I bring you five songs you may have never heard of before but have been around for a little while. Tunes to Get Grooving To is all about discovering new music and finding songs that you can jam to, so why not give some oldies a try?

1. “Bonfire” – Slow Kids At Play

Slow Kids At Play formed in 2009 when six friends got together to play music. They released an album in 2011 and then released an EP in 2014, and sadly, the band no longer produces music. From a quick glance at their small list of singles, you’d never believe this band managed to reach mainstream fame back in the day, however this band had a very powerful secret! During 2009 to 2011, and during the song “Bonfire,” the band’s drummer was none other than the The Maze Runner star Dylan O’Brien! Due to his fanbase, the band, and their hits, became hugely popular.

“Bonfire” is a fun and catchy tune that is assured to make you dance! It has a funny music video and it’s a song you can easily vibe to. The lyrics tell a story of being young and making memories that you “never will forget” and when you’re older your younger days will be the “days [you] won’t regret.”

If you’re interested in the vocals and need to get more of that voice, Maxwell Hamilton is now in a band called DRFTRS (pronounced: drifters), and I will be linking their Instagram below as Slow Kids At Play no longer exist.

Listen to “Bonfire” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_DswKvGdVU

2. “Show Me What I’m Looking For” – Carolina Liar

Carolina Liar are a post-punk/pop group featuring Chad Wolf as the vocalist and songwriter. The band released their first album, Coming To Terms, in 2008, and they’ve been creating music ever since. Their song “Show Me What I’m Looking For” featured on this 2008 album. This song is emotional and motivation, and quite frankly it’s a banger that I’ll listen to over and over.

The song has recently gained more popularity, despite the fame coming ten years after its release, due to YouTube vlogger David Dobrik. Dobrik features Carolina Liar’s song during emotional scenes. Recently, Dobrik got chatting with a homeless man and ended up giving him a car. Click here to watch. This song can certainly play with your heartstrings, and therefore it is definitely one to remember.

If you’re interested in the vocals and want to listen to new music, Chad Wolf has also been in the band The Federal Empire since 2016.

Listen to “Show Me What I’m Looking For” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IqCfxgKZd8

3. “Open Season” – High Highs

High Highs are an Australian dream-pop duo; Oli Chang and Jack Milas created beautiful vocals that create chilled out vibes with their delicate tunes. The band formed in 2010 and by 2011 they had created an EP via Rocket Records. High Highs continued to make music up until 2017, with their latest album releasing in 2016. In 2017, the duo decided to continue making music separately, and in 2018 the band’s website was taking down, giving fans no hope for a reunion in the future.

If you listen to “Open Season” and you’re a fan of the movie Pitch Perfect, then this tune may sound familiar to you as it featured the song. If you haven’t heard the song before then you’re in for a treat; “Open Season” was featured on the band’s first album with the same name. It holds an angelic quality that relaxes you, but also makes you want to sway. If you have a “chill” playlist, then this is the song for you!

Listen to “Open Season” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCySSeANvIc

4. “Free The Beautiful” – Harletson

This trio band delivers pop in the most rock/punk form possible. It’s pop, with acoustic guitar galore and amazing three-part harmonies. They’re raw and unlike anything I’ve heard before, and I fell in love. The band released their first single in 2016 and continued to make music, including covers of songs from the likes of The Weeknd and The Eagles.

Harletson has yet to release any new music since the release of “Free The Beautiful,” however the song is one that creates a perfect ending for the band as it sums up everything they are as a band; the website states that “if we can use our songs to bring some kind of positive change, then that’s a really amazing thing.” It’s incredible how music can make you feel, and this song does not disappoint when making a connection.

Listen to “Free The Beautiful” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f0tHqcm4TU

5. “Miss You” – James Hersey

James Hersey is a singer/songwriter from Austria who holds an indie-pop vibe to his songs. Hersey is inspired by the likes of Coldplay and John Mayer, so it’s no surprise that when he released two EPs in 2010 and 2012, he was quickly snapped up by Glassnote Records. In 2014, his fame reached mainstream motion when a tropical-house remix of his song “Coming Over” went viral around the world. Since then he has been continuing to make music, and in 2019 he dropped his first album Innerverse.

Despite new music appearing from the singer, “Miss You” is one of his most popular songs. It was released in 2016 and even three years later it is still a banger. Although self-explanatory in its storytelling lyrics, this song is a romantic song about being loved, and how you’ll miss someone when they’re gone. Although the lyrics may sound sad, this song will bring you nothing but happiness. Bonus points for this song: the music video is creative, and super fun!

Listen to “Miss You” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfPfGknEjXE

So that's it for this week! Here's a recap, with the band's Instagram handles, if you want to check them out!

1. “Bonfire” - @d_r_f_t_r_s
2. “Show Me What I’m Looking For” - @thecarolinaliar
3. “Open Season” - @jacksonmilas and @animal_feelings
4. “Free The Beautiful” - @harletson
5. “Miss You” - @jameshersey

Want to find all these tunes to get grooving? Find them in one easy click here to find them on my Spotify playlist!

Have a recommendation? Email me at: [email protected]

Tune in next week for another five songs to get you grooving. But for now, enjoy!