As humans living under the sun, we tend to get influenced by everything it touches, and this is especially the case when it comes to music and cultures that are created in these places where the sand contacts the ocean. From these beach towns and sleepy-surf villages, we have seen music arise that mimics the surroundings and channels it into the respective sound. And although you would assume one would require a lifetime of living in these conditions to justifiably create these kind of vibes, musicians have found a way to channel the influences no matter their geographical location. Serving as an exception to the aforementioned assumption is the UK-based trio, Tropic of Youth, who find themselves in the middle of England in a town called Sheffield that is hours away from any water, and a country or two away from tropical weather. If you were to listen to their debut EP, Sun City, you would assume these guys grew up on the sandy beaches of California, though, rather than the middle of cold and rainy England. And with rustic, reverb-soaked vocals and the nostalgic, surf-rock guitar chords, it's no wonder we envision these guys being from a surf town. So, if you happen to find yourself stuck in one of these towns with no beaches in sight, you can either create your own music like Tropic of Youth did, or you can simply play this EP and let it evoke thoughts of the beach for you. (We suggest the latter.) You can catch our highlights from Sun City below, and you're free to either stream the entire EP on SoundCloud, or purchase on iTunes (UK only).
Tropic of Youth