It has been too long since I've thrown together a summer mix, let alone one with all the latest and greatest releases. So here it is! The Late Summer Sampler. Remember - if you get in touch, I'll send you one for free! Although I highly recommend owning each of these albums in full. 

This mix features some of my good friends (Bora York, The River Monks), bands I met in person (Hollow & Akimbo, Geographer), great recommendations (Glass Animals, Trails and Ways, Waterstrider), written and upcoming reviews (Emma Ruth Rundle, Paul Cook), those who have responded to my love on Twitter (Hannah Georgas, Speak), bigger name indie bands (Arctic Monkeys, First Aid Kit, Wye Oak), as well as bands I secretly admire from afar (Khushi, Douglas Dare, Low Roar, Sylvan Esso, Kiev). 

Pools, Glass Animals
Falling Bough, Kiev
Peaks, Speak
Swim, Douglas Dare
Sick Talk, Wye Oak
Nunca, Trails and Ways
Redwood, Waterstrider
Fantasize, Hannah Georgas
I'm Leaving, Low Roar
Let Loose, Bora York
I Am A Lake, The River Monks
Radar, Paul Cook & The Chronicles
Still Life, Hollow & Akimbo
Uncatena, Sylvan Esso
Arms I Know So Well, Emma Ruth Rundle
My Silver Lining, First Aid Kit
In the Sun, Khushi
Night Winds, Geographer

19 songs, 79 minutes
all rights retained by respective artists

On the heels of SXSW and many recent releases, here is my latest mixtape: Something Called Spring. It's poppy and happy and should help get you through this last bit of cold weather. Again, an email gets you a free copy directly from me, or buy the music yourself (some assembly required). 

The River Monks - "Mouth"
Waterstrider - "Redwood"
Jagwar Ma - "Uncertainty"
Royal Teeth - "Wild"
Fanfarlo - "Landlocked"
Quiet Kids - "The War"
Bear Hands - "Bone Digger"
Sisyphus - "Rhythm of Devotion"
Thumpers - "Unkinder (A Tougher Love)"
Temples - "Shelter Song"
Saintseneca - "Uppercutter"
Snowmine - "Columbus"
Foster the People - "Best Friend"
311 - "Simple True"
Pharrell - "Happy" 
15 tracks, 62 minutes

We're finally in the middle of February, and I am tired. Late winter is that time when I've gotten used to the below zero temps but long for something warmer. Here is The Late Winter Mix, featuring (almost) all recent releases from local and worldwide indie bands, to put a pep in your step while you're still stuck inside for at least a month longer. Email me for a copy or purchase the music yourself!  

Track List:
Royal Canoe - Show Me Your Eyes
The Zolas - Ancient Mars
Los Campesinos! - As Lucerne/The Low
Young Galaxy - Out of the Gate Backwards
Ancient Mariner - Child of Wrath
Sea Oleena - And
Valley Maker - Another Way Home
Painted Palms - Soft Hammer
Snowmine - Rome
St Lucia - All Eyes On You
Broken Bells - No Matter What You're Told
Bombay Bicycle Club - Feel
Jeremy Messersmith - Heidi
Caroline Smith - Buy Me Something
Big Deal - In Your Car
Cruiser - Kidnap Me
(16 tracks, 60 minutes)

Hey friends! 
Below are the 13 lists through which I have tried my best to encapsulate my love of all things music in 2013. It was a year like no other for indie music, and my first full year managing The Aural Premonition as its own entity in Minneapolis. More than ever I love discovering new bands because one, they make my day, and two, they have the ability to make someone else's when I share them. It's an addiction - although still an unpaid one - but I'm not looking to quit any time soon. Here's to the world of music in 2013 and all the possibilities of 2014! 
Cheers,
Kelsey.

1 - Songs On Repeat
These songs are my best friends; got me through the highs and lows of 2013, each played somewhere in the range of 15 to 50+ times. I am in the debt of the musicians who made them. 

Pinegrove, &
Sleigh Bells, Bitter Rivals
The Dig, I Already Forgot Everything You Said 
Andrew Belle, Dark Matter
Hannah Georgas, Somebody
De La Warr, We Can See
The Zolas, Ancient Mars
Khushi, Magpie
Goldroom, Fifteen
Polica, Warrior Lord
Secret Someones, I Won't Follow 
MMOTHS, Heart
Birds & Batteries, Love is Coming Back

2 - Best Beats 
When I needed something to dance to, to get myself pepped up, to relish in this thing called life, I called on these fine tunes to help me out and they never failed me. 

Body Language, Well Absolutely
Robert DeLong, Global Concepts
Macklemore, Thrift Shop
Tove Lo, Habits
The Parlour Suite, Pressure
Kate Boy, Northern Lights
Tourist, Never Stop
anything by French Horn Rebellion 
Magic Man, Nova Scotia
Strange Names, Potential Wife
anything by Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
Stromae, Papaoutai
Sun Airway, Black Noise 

3 - Best Bands You've Probably Still Never Heard Of
It kills me that loving these bands makes me appear like a hipster because whenever I get asked, "what's your favorite band lately?" I get tired of them replying to my answer of someone like "Nerves Junior," with "oh I haven't heard of it," and so I just end up saying "you haven't have heard of them." But no, really, you probably have never heard of them. But they are the best things that happened to me this year. 

Nerves Junior 
Pinegrove
Khushi
KIEV
Secret Someones
Ladyfrnd
Wildcat Wildcat
Fyfe
Absofacto
Lost Lander
Milagres
De La Warr
Square Peg Round Hole
Valley Maker
Wolf Collage

4 - Best New Releases
True allstars of 2013, enough said. 

Metric
Typhoon
Chvrches
Local Natives
The Franklin Electric
Son Lux
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Washed Out
Night Beds
Half Moon Run
Royal Canoe
Young Galaxy
Chelsea Wolfe
Laura Mvula
Lorde

5 - Best Local Bands (Minneapolis) 
Drop all other commitments and responsibilities to get to a show by one of these artists asap. If they aren't hitting the national scene and selling out shows already, they will be very soon. These guys make me damn proud to call Minneapolis home. 

Bomba de Luz
Caroline Smith
Haley Bonar
Polica
Bad Bad Hats
On an On
Solid Gold
The Parlour Suite
Now, Now
Dessa
The Ericksons
Greycoats
The Farewell Circuit
Sombear
Chris Koza (+ Rogue Valley) 
Jeremy Messersmith
Strange Names

6 - Midwesterners with Momentum
If you've got the night free, get yourself to one of these guys' shows. They've got quite a bit of talent but the secret's not out quite yet somehow. 

Taj Raj
Gloss
Demographics
Stacy K
Spirits of the Red City
Bora York
General B & the Wiz
The Person and the People
The Olympics
Strange Relations 
Dear Data
Onward Etc.
Lynn O'Brien
The River Monks

7 - Upcoming Releases in 2014
You should be VERY VERY EXCITED.

Jeremy Messersmith (February 22)
Snowmine (February)
Painted Palms (when?? someone tell me when!!) 
Bombay Bicycle Club (January 7) 
Haley Bonar (spring)
Gem Club (January 28)

8 - Best Cover: Typhoon, Thinking About You (Frank Ocean) 

9 - The Band I Kept Returning to: Absofacto 

10 - Best Music Video: Bombay Bicycle Club, Carry Me 
(second place: Electric Guest, The Bait AND This Head I Hold)
(third place: Stromae, Papaoutai)

11 - Performance of the Year: Half Moon Run, 7th St Entry, Minneapolis (absolutely no comparison) 
(second place: Typhoon, The Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis) 

12 - Best Moment of the Year: meeting Snowmine at The MShop in my hometown last January! 

13 - Thank Yous! This year would not have been the same without: 
Bearded Gentleman Music
Sofar Sounds Minneapolis
Snowmine
De La Warr
The Franklin Electric
The Parlour Suite
Coast Jumper 
all my close friends and supporters, a seriously heartfelt thank you to you all! :) 

P.S. For the latest and greatest in 2014, make sure to like the Facebook and follow on SoundCloud. 

The Indie Holiday Mix

It's finally that season during the year, and after hearing how much everyone loved the fall mix, I thought I'd put together this Christmas/winter/holiday CD. It's great for sitting inside and sipping your favorite beverage while your clothes dry and you try to feel your face again. Mornings, evenings, any time of day. Again, let me know if you want one! Limited mailings available with themed packaging. 

Listen to the full stream here!

1. Paul Cook & The Chronicles, "Wood on the Fire"
2. Wire Method, "This Time of Year"
3. The Feeling, "Kettle's On"
4. Said the Whale, "Joy and Love"
5. Plume Giant, "November"
6. Jeremy Messersmith, "Beautiful Children"
7. Caroline Smith, "All I Know (Is That I'm Your Baby)"
8. Jessie Baylin, "I Feel That Too"
9. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's "On a Freezing Chicago Street"
10. Photocomfort, "Night Sewing"
11. Rogue Valley, "False Floors"
12. Hey Marseilles, "Madrona"
13. Deep Sea Diver, "It's Christmas Time (and I'm Still Alive)"
14. Big Tree, "This New Year"
15. Sea Wolf, "Winter's Heir"
16. Lenka, "After the Winter"
17. Wire Method, "Golden Sneakers"