Courtesy of Spotify
Album cover for the single “Walking on a Dream,” an electropop song released in August 2008.If there’s one artist that encompasses my entire summer, it is Empire of the Sun, an electronic pop duo from Australia who began playing together in 2007. I still remember sitting by the edge of my pool with headphones on, dipping my feet into the crisp water while listening to their energetic music.
Empire of the Sun’s music can never be background music. The band’s music emits a mesmerizing feeling and never fails to capture their vibrant energy. If you are into the artists MGMT or Foster the People, who also create electronic pop songs, you will probably like Empire of the Sun as well.
My favorite songs are “We are the People,” “Alive” and “Walking on a Dream.” These songs have a very energetic and free vibe which perfectly matched my summer mood — they’re a perfect listen during days at the beach and while swimming with friends.
The line “Followed the sun ‘till night” from “We are the People” resonates with me because it relates to my long afternoons chasing the sunset and not wanting to go home. I would go on many late-night adventures exploring the town and watching the sunset.
Then there’s “Alive,” which I play every time my friends and I go to the mall. We listened to this bright and energetic song with our windows rolled down and the wind blowing in our faces — it always made me feel “alive.” This song was essential to keeping good vibes and the energy high, making even uneventful tasks like grabbing food exciting.
The last song, “Walking on a Dream,” a song about chasing dreams and living freely, helped tie my whole summer together. The song has a beat that almost hypnotizes you and captures a feeling I did not want to let go of. This song was always played on late night drives and sunsets, making summer feel like it was slowing down. On long night drives, I am able to decompress in silence, letting the beat consume me.
All in all, these essential songs kept the energy high and made my summer truly unforgettable — I’d recommend you to listen as well.