Every year we are the people that dream of being a millionaire JUST so we can travel. We don’t care about Chanel wallets or Kate Spade purses—we would spend ALL our money on concerts. Our iTunes faithfully holds our favorite Brazilian acoustic playlists and Euro electro-pop mixes for every change of mood. We drool over the scenes in Pitch Perfect 2 where the girls are at an international acapella festival. I wanted to be an extra in it after watching the movie. And yes, subsequently I checked for any international acapella championships in the world, but no, so far one doesn’t exist.
If only we could all pack a tent and hitchhike our way through some foreign country. We might hate camping, but we would definitely pitch a tent for a music festival. We would brave stinky, smelly, and sweat-soaked mosh pits to listen to Avicii live in Sweden or Corneille in France. Instead, the reality is that we have to stay at home because of work, money or other such nonsense; the only consolation being that we have Bandcamp and Soundcloud. Thank you, Internet.
With Google opening the way for visually stimulated people to travel vicariously through maps, it gave me an idea to extend that experience to other music wanderlusters.
Let’s Travel the World Together
Welcome to Our First Stop: Japan
I will take you across all genres, but in a country that does either bubblegum pop or heavy metal, we have to talk about the great alternative rock scene. There’s not much in between. There’s a band called One Ok Rock, pronounced ‘One O’clock‘ because of the local accent. I describe them as an updated version of the 2000’s alternative bands.
Artist: One Ok Rock
Song: “Mighty Long Fall”
Can’t Talk About the Far East Without South Korea
Thanks to “Gangnam Style” and 20-person K-pop girl bands, South Korea’s been getting a lot of attention. Their hip-hop is garnering a whole lot of Youtube views. And their hottest band at the moment is a four girl group called 2NE1. Many TV shows have jumped in on the hype, including America’s Next Top Model and The Bachelor. They’re a mix of hip-hop, electronic, and dance.
Artist: 2NE1
Song: “Fire”
The Hills Are Alive in Switzerland
There are a good number of official languages in Switzerland, so naturally, many people speak English. I didn’t want to include any English-speaking songs, but this one was a good one. It’s by Kadebostany and they are a five person band. The main singer Amina oddly reminds me of Adele—and not just because of the accent. They have a rather unique sound with random drum statements or the occasional peeking piano. They’re garnering attention around the world and can be predicted to become a staple in American playlists soon.
Artist: Kadebostany
Song: “Castle In the Snow”
Willkommen Germany Into Our Hearts
A fashion designer, a cartoonist, a rapper, and a panda all walk into a German bar, what happens? Cro walks out. This panda mask wearing rapper created a blend of rap and pop that he names ‘raop‘. I suppose if you look good wearing a panda mask you can create your own music genre. He comes off humble in his lyrics which is incredible considering his genre. While others sing of alcohol, money, and vaginas—Cro is very down to earth. Maybe it’s his mask that keeps his face hidden that keeps his ego in check. Either way, he gets a lot ofrespect from men AND women.
Artist: Cro
Song: “Einmal Um Die Welt”
Our Tour de France
Francophone music is one of my favorite genres to music surf. A rather large portion of the world sings French, so naturally, they rival American and British music industries with their popularity. One of their recent innovations is Stromae. Stromae mainly works out of Belgium, but for out-of-towners, he is more closely associated with France. Originally from Rwanda during the genocide, he lost his father there and has written a song about it, which became a mega hit.
Artist: Stromae
Song: “Papaoutai”
Dance Your Way Down to Spain
This next artist is one of my favorites in this list. I chanced upon this song, and to be honest, I have absolutely no information about this artist. He seems only to have one song out but it’s awesome to clap your hands to. The main beat is done not by drums but by the guitar and the marimba. It’s a shame he doesn’t have any other songs out or a Wikipedia profile for that matter. For now, this tall, dark, and handsome Alvaro Soler must remain mysterious.
Artist: Alvaro Soler
Song: “El Mismo Sol”
Chilling in Brazil
Or should I say, “Gooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaal!!!” Samba is a strong genre, but what will surprise you is the great acoustic lovers in the area. One of my favorites is Luisa Maita. I would describe her as being like a Nora Jones that speaks Portuguese. Her songs makes you feel like you’re swinging on a hammock in Rio. She has that soothing, coffee shop quality to her music, and she’s been on the charts in Brazil for some time now. Check her out!
Artist: Luisa Maita
Song: “Lero Lero”
Aaaand We’re Back in the USA! Phew, What a Trip!
After all this heavy traveling you’ll want to wind down. Phosphorescent is a great artist to listen to after a long day. One of their greatest songs is “Song for Zula.” This song reminds me of Band of Horses. It’s raw and emotional without belting. It originally came attached to The Amazing Spiderman 2 soundtrack, but was surprisingly kept on the DL. When you’ve had a crazy day, this song is what you want.
Artist: Phosphorescent
Song: “Song For Zula”Now that we’ve taken a music trip around the world (without scary hostels or smelly festival people), tell me in the comments below which was your favorite location/artist. I’d love to know if you fell in love with any like I did.