Music Monday: Artists You Need to Know About

Here at MUSE, we are always on the lookout for musicians on the rise. Over the upcoming months, we plan to introduce the Queen’s community to some underrated artists and groups that we think you need to listen to. So without further ado…meet Hippo Campus.Hippo Campus is an indie rock band that hails from St. Paul, Minnesota. They broke onto the music scene in the fall of 2014 with their debut EP Bashful Creatures, where they became most predominantly known for their hit “Suicide Saturday.”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6utlWyGP2s“Suicide Saturday” was my first introduction to Hippo Campus. I was hooked immediately to the vibes and sounds of the band after hearing them non-stop this summer on Sirius XM’s Alt Nation. The clear guitar tones and soaring melodies are what attracted me to this pop track. The band even played this hit track live on Conan earlier this year.Hippo Campus’ success continued after the release of their 2014 EP and the band was named the 2015 “Best Newcomers” by Rolling Stone. With this, the band gained more airplay and received a greater amount of exposure. In October of 2015, the band then released their 5 song EP, South.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfFjEkSs8PsThe band’s music has progressed rapidly in the short-lived period between the releases of their 2 EPs. “Violet” is personally my favourite track off their latest album. This catchy track touches on subjects that youth of today can easily relate to and proves that the band is wise beyond their years.Hippo Campus has had a year that most bands their age could only dream of. After their 7 set long appearance at South by Southwest, they were able to continue their success by opening for the likes of Modest Mouse, Walk the Moon, and My Morning Jacket. In 2016, they’re heading out with Little Comets for a month long tour in the UK. For more of their music, you must check out their full performance on KEXP live:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E-O8RuqKckThese 19 and 20-year-old high school friends are truly making a name for themselves and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for them.Yours Creatively,Matt Newediuk, Music Editor