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Great tunes to add to your own playlists

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Final Exam Hype Songs

Happy finals season everyone! I totally believe in you all, but, as I suspect most people feel, I just can’t wait for this time to be over. I’ve tried countless methods in an attempt to make this time better: study breaks at the bistro, going to those end of year events, and procrastinating with people who are also procrastinating so I feel less bad about it… Anyhow, I know finals are a bit different this year, but there is one tradition I have that I’ve been able to continue. I’s pretty reliable and always makes me feel good so I figured I’d share: hype music.

We all have those songs that make us feel like total hype beasts, so I made a short, but sweet, playlist of my favorite hype songs. I always listen to at least two or three of them before I go into an exam. I believe we’re self-fulfilling prophecies, so I think if we go into an exam feeling confident and strong we’re setting ourselves up for success. 

I’m going to share my hype tracks with you, but I’m curious, what are your hype songs? What would you listen to to get yourself in the ‘I’m totally going to pass this thing’ mood?

  • Freaking Out by The Wrecks – Don’t let the title fool you, this track is definitely more uplifting to me then nerve wrecking. It makes me feel way better when I am freaking out, like the chorus says ‘I’m freaking out, but I feel fineeeee’.

  • What You’re Made Of by Arrested Youth – ‘Show me what you’re made of’ being shouted at me before an exam always makes me feel oddly empowered, makes me want to point out that mama ain’t raise no… coward. If you think that would work for you too, I highly recommend this track.

  • Ballin by Logic – This song is where this tradition came from. One year during finals the track came on and I just felt my mood go up about 100% and well after that, for like two weeks straight, it was all I listened too. Favorite line ‘I made a promise to my mama Ima turn these zeros into tens and commas’. If you can’t tell I’m very motivated to make my mother proud.

  • Baby You Got This  by Cecil Frena – My absolute favorite hype song right now. The title says it all really, it’s a big part of the chorus, and hearing Cecil yell it at me, sounding like my hype man in the corner, really lifts my mood up every time.

  • Nothing Personal by Night Riots – This one’s kind of aggressive, but sometimes I find getting a little angry and arrogant before an exam is nice, it really forces all the nervous energy away. How can someone be nervous while also claiming their the best thing? It’s not energy I carry all the time, but we must do what we need to get through these exams.

  • You’re The Best by Joe ‘Bean’ Espositio – This track doesn’t need an introduction, if you’ve ever seen a Rocky movie you know that this is like the most hype song of all time, and a total must for any hype playlist (in my opinion of course).

I call this playlist ‘Exam time bb (Let’s get this A). Do you have a hype song playlist? If so, what’s it called and what’s on it? If not you should definitely give it a try and let me know!

– DJ Psyched

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Friday Favorites (5/1)

Hi everyone, hope you’re all doing well despite everything going on these days! Here are some of the songs that have been inspiring for me 

Nightrider (ft. Yussef Dayes & Freddie Gibbs) – Tom Misch 

I love the jazziness of this song paired with verses of two artists I really like. Both Yussef Dayes and Freddie Gibbs have some of the most unique voices in hip-hop right now. I love this track and find it such a good one to drive around to. 

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – (I Love You Baby) – Ms. Lauryn Hill 

This is one of my favorite songs of all time and also one of the best versions of this song there is. It’s a sweet, mushy love song but Lauryn brings a cool beat and gorgeous vocals to really set it over the top. 

Hngover – AG Club 

This new album from AG Club is really interesting, but this song in particular stood out to me. This song reminds me of a Chance song, but has a little more of an indie influence. I really liked it and recommend the album if you haven’t heard it yet. 

Poison (ft. Take A Daytrip, Obongjayar, Santi) – Octavian 

I’ve previously reviewed an Obongjayar for the blog, and I think was one of the best up-and-coming British rappers. This song reminds me of an EDM track and easily got stuck in my head. I really like it and think it’s a unique mix of British rap, electronic, and pop music. 

Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games – of Montreal 

This was the song that first introduced me to of Montreal and I’ve gotten back into listening to their older music lately. I highly recommend it. This song and album really reminds me of something by Talking Heads and I just love the chill vibe it gives off. 

Hope you guys are having another great week while social distancing, and I’m wishing everyone good luck on their finals! Check out these songs and more on my Friday Favorites playlist on the WKNC Spotify account! 

– Miranda 

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Heavy Metal Holiblaze

^^ I just think this meme is funny so I wanted to share it.

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! It’s ya girl, your Master Butcher, The Saw and I am back with another fun playlist for you to jam out to this month! Two important holidays have passed and we should keep the celebration alive by jamming a holiday themed playlist! This playlist will have some Christian metal bands to contribute to the Easter portion (e.g. For Today). The other set of bands will contribute to the other holiday this month that most of you have already guessed. If you need a hint, one of the bands in this playlist is called Cannabis Corpse. So, sit back, relax and enjoy these fresh tunes!

Here are some of my favorite songs in this playlist:

·      Lamb of God – Redneck

·      Demon Hunter – On My Side

·      Becoming the Archetype – How Great Thou Art

·      Living Sacrifice – Flatline

·      August Burns Red – White Washed

·      As I Lay Dying – Nothing Left

·      Impending Doom – Murderer

·      For Today – Break The Cycle

·      Bong Rips For Jesus – Jesus Has Resin

·      Cannabis Corpse – The 420th Crusade

·      Cypress Hill – Hits From the Bong

·      Black Sabbath – Sweet Leaf

·      Weedeater – Wizard Fight

·      Bongzilla – Weedthumb

·      Six Feet Under – 4:20

·      Bongripper – Reefer Sutherland

Link to Spotify playlist

Stay Metal,

THE SAW

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Playlists

30-Song Challenge

Almost all of my friends have been bombarding their Instagram stories with daily updates to their 30-Day Song Challenge. I love this challenge and thought it would be cool to try to list them out myself for you guys to check out. Let’s get into it! 

1 – A song you like with a color in the title 

Off White by Global Dan 

2 – A song you like with a number in the title 

9 (ft. SZA) by WILLOW

3 – A song that reminds you of summertime 

Marathon by Tennis

4 – A song that reminds you of someone you’d rather forget 

Without U by corbin  

5 – A song that needs to be played loud 

All Day by Kanye West 

6 – A song that makes you want to dance 

BOOGIE by BROCKHAMPTON

7 – A song to drive to 

Rapp Snitch Knishes by MF DOOM

8 – A song about drugs or alcohol 

High (ft. Danny Brown) by Freddie Gibbs 

9 – A song that makes you happy 

Wavey (ft. Spooky Black) by Allan Kingdom 

10 – A song that makes you sad 

Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens 

11 – A song you never get tired of 

Sleepyhead by Passion Pit 

12 – A song from your preteen years 

19-2000 by Gorillaz

13 – A song you like from the 70’s 

Cecilia by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles  

14 – A song you’d love to be played at your wedding 

lovers’ carvings by Bibio

15 – A song you like that’s a cover by another artist 

Cut Your Bangs by Girlpool 

16 – A song that’s a classic favorite 

You and Me by Penny & the Quarters

17 – A song you’d sing a duet with someone on karaoke 

Time After Time by Iron & Wine 

18 – A song from the year you were born 

Orange Moon by Erykah Badu 

19 – A song that makes you think about life 

Liability by Lorde 

20 – A song that has many meanings to you 

This Is Home by Cavetown 

21 – A song you like with a person’s name in the title 

Bobby by (Sandy) Alex G 

22 – A song that moves you forward 

Sad Machine by Porter Robinson 

23 – A song you think everybody should listen to 

Mama by Annette Pointdexter & Pieces of Peace

24 – A song by a band you wish were still together 

Cemetery Drive by My Chemical Romance 

25 – A song you like by an artist no longer living 

Stay by Mac Miller

26 – A song that makes you want to fall in love 

Real Thing ft. SZA by A$AP Ferg 

27 – A song that breaks your heart 

You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are by Keaton Henson 

28 – A song written by an artist whose voice you love 

Tell Him by Lauryn Hill

29 – A song you remember from your childhood 

And She Was by Talking Heads

30 – A song that reminds you of yourself 

My Girls by Animal Collective 

I had a great time putting this list together and tried to include multiple genres and a variety of different artists. Hope you enjoyed, and would love to hear your 30 songs! 

– Miranda

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Spotify’s Listening Together Playlists

One thing that I’ve struggled with during quarantine is how to stay connected to the world around me even though I’m stuck in my apartment. It’s hard to stay inside all the time, wondering about the outside world with almost all news and media being focused solely on the pandemic. 

That’s why I’ve been loving Spotify’s new “Listening Together” playlists. Musicians across different genres have curated playlists for staying at home. Each playlist has a theme and includes a short video by the musician who created it. I think Spotify took initiative to create something that can nudge individuals to stay at home and healthy while connecting all music listeners together. 

My favorite playlists right now are Normani’s Working Out Together playlist and Lil Yachty’s Gaming Together playlist. Working out at home is such a challenge for me especially because I am used to being able to put in headphones and have a jam session while at the gym. It’s much harder to get motivated when my bed is right next to my workout space, because it reminds me I’d much rather be sleeping. That’s why I think this playlist is awesome, it’s filled with upbeat pop and EDM that gives me the drive to complete a good workout. Plus, there’s something so cool about a playlist curated by a musician I love and am inspired by. Like, if Normani loves working out to these songs, I can too. I am also a really big fan of Lil Yachty’s gaming playlist. In his video he says his playlist is “kind of different, but trust the process.” I totally agree with that. I was surprised to see that he included a wide breadth of different genres and musicians. I adore the inclusion of so many Solange songs because (I have likely mentioned prior) she is one of my favorite artists in the world. There are also some surprises on the tracklist, like Ariel Pink and The Art Of Noise, which I never would’ve expected to be on a playlist made by Lil Yachty. I have been listening to this whole playlist nonstop while playing Minecraft and Sims, and I have to say that I now trust the process. 

“Listening Together” has helped me feel less alone while social distancing by reminding me that the artists I love are also going through the same thing. I’ve also been able to find some great new music through this already. I can’t wait for what comes next to this segment and I hope I’ve inspired you to give it a try! 

Looking for something else new? Check out WKNC’s Spotify account, and see if you can spot my Friday Favorites playlist! 

– Miranda

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Music For Focusing

While most of us are working or studying for home, it’s important that we can all have good background music that allows us to focus in on what we’re doing while contributing to a pleasant atmosphere. I have compiled a list of all the best albums that help me focus. Most of them are instrumental or lofi-indie albums, which I think are the perfect mix between songs that aren’t distracting but are still entertaining. 

Ecstasy – Disclosure 

This EP came out fairly recently, and is one of the easiest for me to vibe out to while doing homework or blogging. A lot of the EP includes samples from old songs compiled into an overall great instrumental compilation. I really recommend the whole EP for studying. 

April In Paris – Grove Street Quartet 

This jazz EP by Grove Street Quartet is short but sweet, and though I normally don’t absolutely love jazz music, this project is both energetic and listenable while completing any difficult tasks. I like the romantic tones the quartet uses and think it’s a great addition to any study playlist. 

Ambivalence Avenue – Bibio

I absolutely adore this album, and it is one of my all-time favorites even outside of instrumental music. Bibio is an artist who has masterfully created the perfect atmospheric tracks, especially on Ambivalence Avenue. My favorite from the album is lovers’ carvings, and I definitely would recommend that song specifically. 

How Are You – Mounika. 

This album and artist are exactly what I love to listen to while working. This type of electronic mix always helps keep me upbeat. I love the simplicity of the vocals, especially on Cut My Hair which samples a song I really like by Cavetown. 

This is all I have for now, but hopefully I’ll be able to post a part two eventually. Hope you all enjoyed this list, and it helps you finish everything you need to do. 

– Miranda 

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Friday Favorites (4/17)

Hope you guys are all staying well! Here are some of my recent favorite new(ish) releases with a bit of description. 

Intro (i m sorry) – Mounika. 

This new single is such a pretty instrumental, lofi-chill beat. I love the sampling and how it comes together for such a simple and relaxing melody. Just give it a listen, and you’ll know exactly what I mean.  

Black Qualls (ft. Steve Lacy, Steve Arrington, Childish Gambino) – Thundercat 

I reviewed the Thundercat album in depth, and if you haven’t read the blog yet I totally recommend checking it out. This album is a really amazing continuation of Thundercat’s discography and especially like this song for all the musicians featured on it and how soulful and deep it is; it makes me just want to dance. 

12.38 – Childish Gambino 

Overall, I  was not super impressed by the new album this track derives from. Unlike a lot of Glover’s previous albums, this one felt rushed and had less depth and emotion than I prefer. However, I do really enjoy this track and have been playing it all week. I like how Childish Gambino plays around with different styles all within the same song and how it is so experimental and out there compared with some of his past music. 

Tokyo Drift Freestyle – Rich Brian 

I wanted to include this one because I think Rich Brian has one of the best voices in rap right now. I have really liked his 88rising projects as well as this song and its music video, which he made while quarantined in his house. I really like the creativity paired with such a popular beat. 

Snoopy – zack villere

This song is super out-there and weird, which is a definite plus in my eyes. I love zack villere’s vocals and especially enjoyed this recent album, this song it ends on in particular. 

As always, you can check out all of my Friday Favorites from this week and past weeks on my Spotify playlist. 

– Miranda 

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Playlists

Viral Infection: Infected Grooves

What’s going on Butcher Crew?! We have been cooped up in the Butcher Shop for one whole month! Can you believe it? I know that I said that there aren’t any exits in the Butcher Shop, but I’m kinda getting some cabin fever. Apparently, The Saw’s Butcher Shop is not essential. But that is okay! We can still stretch, hang, grind, and chop up some tracks from home!

This playlist is a part of the Viral Infection series, but it has been infected with some grooves! All these songs have the theme of rotting, viruses, infections, plagues, pandemics, death, the apocalypse,  and zombies, etc. These songs are also very, very groovy. So get prepared to jam out to these tunes in your house. Blast these tunes all the time to spread the love of the Butcher Shop!

Some of my favorite songs in this playlist are

·      Rotton Bodies – Jungle Rot

·      Rotting Ways – Obituary

·      Rabid – Cannibal Corpse

·      Bring Back the Plague – Cattle Decapitation

·      Evisceration Plague – Cannibal Corpse

·      My Apocalypse – Arch Enemy

Here is the full playlist on Spotify

What are some songs I should add to this playlist?

Stay Metal,

THE SAW  

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Playlists

Best Songs of April (so far)

 

April has already been a fantastic month for releases, and it’s only been a week. I’m excited for this month of music, especially since a lot of artists are releasing content right now. Considering everything happening in the world it’s really nice to have comforting new music from people who are acknowledging the changes while focusing on trying to embrace the brighter sides of life. Whether the music directly relates to the state of things right now or not, I strongly appreciate all the artists who are continuing to put out their work and giving us all something that we can enjoy and let inspire us.

  1. ‘Level of Concern’ by Twenty One Pilots – Tyler chooses to acknowledge the struggles and heaviness of the world right now from the very first line of this track, and I have to say it’s an amazing comfort to hear from the band right now. Just this week, on the Get Psyched Podcast, my friend Darius and I talked about the history of the band and predicted that the band would be releasing something new soon. We even mentioned that we hoped they would come out with something that related to the current state of things, so I have to say the timing of this release is perfect (The link to that episode will be at the bottom of this article). The rest of the song definitely lives up to Twenty One Pilots reputation, but it has a very new and different sound, and it’s nothing short of amazing. It’s catchy, comforting, and has a very developed sound. I get strong ‘Indie Pop’ vibes from this song, it feels less ‘electronic’ in a certain sense of the word, and it definitely stands out from other works from the band. If a new record is coming with this new sound I’m here for it.

  2. ‘Chosen Family’ by Rina Sawayama – I’ve talked about this artist on the blog before, and her highly anticipated album that’s being released April 17th, and this latest single has me even more excited for the debut record. It’s a much softer song then the last track released, but the music still holds up to her style. Its harmonics, synths and even a moment with electric guitar blasting in at the end really make the track stand out and feel uniquely hers. The lyrics also tell a beautiful story spreading the message of what it’s like to be so close to someone that they become your family, regardless of blood. How powerful and important our ‘chosen families’ are. The message and her soothing vocals make this track a perfect one for feeling appreciation for those you love most.

  3. ‘My Friend’ by Hayley Williams – Hayley is another artist I’ve talked about recently on the podcast, who keeps blowing me away with her new releases, and just dropped a new track and video that warmed my heart. This track reminds me of Rina’s in the sense that the music is enticing, the vocals are smooth and beautiful, and the message is that of appreciation and love for someone close to you. The lyrics talk about being seen in every state by someone and staying close regardless, it’s heartwarming and engulfes the themes of true friendship. These new themes and sounds from petals to armor really show some growth, change and talent from the artist: it continues to excite me for what’s to come.

Now’s a great time to enjoy some new tunes and also take a moment to think of all of the people we love and appreciate most, and these songs are a great way to do both. There are definitely way more I haven’t mentioned, but you can find some more tracks in the playlist below. What are your favorite tracks that have been released this month?

Link to Twenty One Pilots Podcast Episode: https://getpsyched.transistor.fm/episodes/lets-talk-music-the-history-of-twenty-one-pilots-ft-darius-payne

Link to Full Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6CHgt25jDtqy9eyIHKKP3n?si=fJ_jKrGQRW20cS-RZ2i7ng

– DJ Psyched

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Friday Favorites (4/3)

This week I’ve been listening to almost only electronic music, including some of my favorite alt-electronica tracks from the past few years. Hopefully you all enjoy this, and as a reminder you can listen every one of my Friday Favorites here. 

What We Drew – Yaeji

I try to listen to a variety of music, and that extends to songs sung in a variety of languages, like this one in Korean. I adore the simplistic drum beats paired with electro tones, and Yaeji’s voice is super pitchy and high, reminding me of one of my favorite artists, Grimes. Definitely listen to this if you want to hear something out of the box. 

let’s relate – of Montreal 

One of my favorite tracks of all time, hands down. This song has nostalgic value to me, but more than that, it’s just a well-produced song that has an amazing vibe. The tones just coalesce into a gorgeous melody that I never get tired of hearing. If you are a fan of electronic or alternative music at all, I highly recommend this track. 

Orange Shirt – Discovery 

The entire album LP by Discovery is a good one. I chose Orange Shirt particularly because it’s lesser known than some of Discovery’s other tracks, but I think it deserves a little attention. It’s such a catchy song with the best mixture of synth pop elements. It’s definitely been an earworm for me in the past, hope I can put someone else on to it! 

Are You Feeling Sad? (ft. Kali Uchis) – Little Dragon

Little Dragon has had a great impact on my life as a music lover, and she helped me really dig into the electronic scene. I also happen to be a big fan of Kali Uchis’s vocals, so I really appreciate the vocals in this song. Its melody is a bit chaotic and leans more toward the genre of pop than I usually like, but overall I think it’s such a cool song. 

As always, I’m so thankful to everyone who takes time to read my posts and listen to my recommendations. Wishing that everyone is keeping safe and healthy!

– Miranda