Springtime Playlist: Top 9 Songs

It's time to update your playlist for spring. I selected 10 artists and my favorite songs from them. This playlist mix includes upcoming artists, familiar artists with a new album and headliners. These songs are a great kickoff to spring and festival season.
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It's time to update your playlist for spring. I selected nine artists and my favorite songs from them. This playlist mix includes upcoming artists, familiar artists with a new album and headliners. These songs are a great kickoff to spring and festival season.

1. Arthur Beatrice -- "Midland"
Arthur Beatrice is a true indie rock band. The band consists of Orland Leopard, Ella Girardot, Elliot Girardot and Hamish Barnes. Until recently, the band has been a closely guarded secret. The launch of their first single was shared through word of mouth and social media rather than through a PR team. If you are a fan of The xx, Arthur Beatrice is the band for you.

2. The Kooks -- "Down"
Luke Pritchard, the main vocalist of the Kooks, Hugh Harris, Max Rafferty, Alexis Nunez and Paul Garred make up the Kooks, an indie/garage rock band. The band met while attending Brighton Music College. Their hit song, "Naïve," peaked at No. 22 on Billboard Modern Rock Tracks Chart. This spring, the Kooks are back with a new R&B inspired single, "Down."

3. Dan Croll -- "Compliment Your Soul"
Dan Croll could have been a rugby player, but after an injury that dream faded away. Dan was chosen as one of the eight students picked from Paul McCartney to attend Liverpool Institute of Performing Art. Winner of the national Songwriter of the Year, he toured with Imagine Dragons as their opening act. Dan Croll's album Sweet Disarray is out now. Plus, you can learn how to play his songs on the piano and guitar with the tutorials he's posted on YouTube.

4. Banks -- "Waiting Game"
Banks a.k.a. Jillian Banks, is an American singer-songwriter. This year is her personal breakthrough in the music business. Banks has been artist of the week for Vogue, and a recipient of awards from both the BBC and MTV. Her sound can be described as a dark R&B gaining its influences from Lauryn Hill and Fiona Apple.

5. Sky Ferreira -- "Everything is Embarrassing"
Sky Ferreira is more than a triple threat. She is a singer, songwriter, model and actress whose built her vast following online. Her success started on MySpace where she uploaded some of her demos of self-written tracks catching the attention of Swedish production duo Bloodshy & Avant. She is now supporting Miley Cyrus on her Bangerz tour as an opening act.

6. Haim -- "Running If You Call My Name"
Haim is an American rock band of three sisters: Este, Alana and Danielle. Haim's musical sound can be best described as "nu-folk-meets-nineties-R&B." Awarded the coveted NME "Best International Band" award, Haim is the band to be on the lookout out for.

7. Phantogram -- "Fall in Love"
Junior high school friends, Josh Carter and Sarah Barthel, started Phantogram. Phantogram is an American electronic rock duo from Greenwich, New York. The duo started off as Charlie Everywhere but changed their name to Phantogram. The name is inspired by an optical illusion.

8. Arcade Fire -- "Reflektor"
The Coachella 2014 headliner is Arcade Fire. Arcade Fire is an indie art rock band based in Montreal, Quebec Canada. The band consists of husband and wife, Win Butler and Regine Chassagne, along with Will Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. Being highly talented, the band has won a Grammy for album of the year. Following that 48 hours later, they took two Brit awards home.

9. Muse -- "Madness"
Muse is an English rock band that has been around since 1994. Matthew Bellamy leads the vocal and plays the guitar, Chris Wolstenhome plays the bass and Dominic Howard plays the drum. Ironically, Bellamy never imagined himself being a part of a rock band, stating to The Sun, "I wanted to be in a classical band or a jazz band." Muse will headline Coachella 2014 for the second time.

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