Wednesday, April 22, 2015

A Soundtrack Fit For A King

I've always dreaded Sunday evenings. Feeling guilty over how little I've slept that weekend; how much I've eaten; how few hours I've allocated to my studies. Then came "The Royals," and with it, a familiar fondness of English men and a newfound excitement for Sunday nights. 

As is now customary, networks showcase new music through both scripted and reality programming, a la the second MTV revolution. And "The Royals" -- E!'s first scripted series -- is hitting the mark. If you're a fan of the show, you'll appreciate the darts reference. 

Only 6 episodes in, the show has already featured some of my favorites, including Panama, Susie Suh, Augustines, Kodaline and Nick Mulvey, and introduced me to who will surely be some of my new obsessions. 

For a complete soundtrack, follow the show's Spotify playlist "The Royals - Season 1 Music" here. It was difficult, but I managed to extract my TOP 10 tracks from the series thus far.  

1. Nick Mulvey - "Fever To The Form"
If you're not yet obsessed with Nick Mulvey, you clearly haven't listened to his 2014 studio album First Mind. If that's the case, then in the now infamous words of Jennifer Love Hewitt, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 


Insider tip: If you like what you're hearing, check out his cover of Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home," below.  




2. Seafret - "Overtime"
They may be young (19 and 22, to be exact), but they sure are talented. This English (shocker) duo hails from the North East of England. The band's name is a nod to the North Sea, as "seafret" is a local term defining the rolling mists that come in off the Sea during summer. That might seem like useless information, but you never know when it'll come up on Trivia Crack.

Anyway, this song is by no means their most popular. In fact, it's not even a single yet. My sources tell me it will be on Seafret's upcoming album. For now, watch this less-than-stellar video and trust me. 


3. Natalia Kills - "Problem"
Another Brit, but with gumption. She dropped out of prestigious LAMDA (the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art) and signed with will.i.am Music Group. Perhaps this song is autobiographical, as her sharp tongue has proved problematic in her professional life. She was fired from her post as "New Zealand X Factor" judge and mentor after the first live show for verbally abusing contestants. Doesn't Kills' back story make this song even cooler? I thought so too. 


4. Owl John - "Songs About Roses"
Owl John might be new to the charts, but the man behind the moniker certainly isn't. Owl John, a.k.a. Scott Hutchison, founded the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit over a decade ago and has since recorded four albums with the group. The Scottish singer/songwriter/guitarist released his first solo project this past August and debuted within the top 100 on the UK Albums Chart and within the top 20 on the Scottish Albums Chart. You go, Owl John! 


5. Mickey Avalon - "Rock Bottom"
This song won't be new to most of you (it was released about 4 years ago), so let this serve as a reminder that songs about drug abuse and prostitution are timeless. 




OTHERS YOU NEED TO KNOW:

6. Elle King - "Ex's & Oh's"

7. Little May - "Boardwalks"

8. The Pow Pow - "Fill Me Up"

9.  Laleh - "Speaking of Truth"

10. Furs - "An Eye On The Vicious"