Jerry's Pick: "South"

"South"-Hippo Campus

A couple of things I learned this week...

1. The hippocampus is the name of a small region of the brain that controls memory.

2. Hippo Campus is a Twin Cities-based indy-alternative band made up of four 20-year olds who just released their second collection of songs.

Guitarist Nathan Stocker explained to WRGW, “I was in psychology class one day and I was reading about the brain and was like 'Yo, that’s a cool word,' and split it up into two words and that’s a band name!"

And what-do-ya-know... after just a couple of listens to the new Hippo Campus track "South," my hippocampus had me humming the catchy tune during the days that followed.

A simple, easy-going, infectious opening guitar riff leads into a 30-word stanza that ends with, "Chest hum, a black gun and forty dollars." Huh?! Now, I haven't the slightest idea what they're singing about there, but I do kinda like how that curious line rolls off the tongue.  "Chest hum, a black gun and forty dollars." Righteous.

By the second verse, Jake Luppen's vocals turn raspy taking on an edgier feel while the lyrics become a little bit clearer, apparently coming-of-age lines from a bunch of coming-of-age guys.

'“South' is about growing up, and recognizing where you come from, and the environment that you’ve grown up in, and accepting that that was then... and this, now,” Stocker told The Current's Andrea Swensson.  “It’s about personal growth.”

The band's jangly-guitars may sound more West Coast than Upper Midwest but I also found some similarities to Two Door Cinema Club, Shout Out Louds, Vampire Weekend and maybe the Shins.

For a bunch of nerdy-guys just out of high school I must say they sure do sound like polished recording studio vets. But see what you think. Their music video clip is "South."

Jerry's Pick: "Conqueror"

"CONQUEROR"-AURORA

For us, the Aurora Borealis is a beautiful yet fascinating display of light in the Northern Latitudes.  On the other hand, Aurora Aksnes, who grew up in the Northern Latitudes, is a beautiful yet fascinating display of talent.  But this 19-year old Norwegian chanteuse (who professionally goes by just her first name) will soon shine worldwide.

I first discovered this unique talent late last year through the tracks "Running With the Wolves" and "Half the World Away" which were released shortly after signing her first recording contract in October of 2014.  To me, she seemed to be this anomalous mix of Lorde, Tori Amos and Björk.

This young blond, blue-eyed(?) singer/songwriter -- whose second language is English -- conveyed to Francine Gorman of JaJaJaOnline two-years ago, "I started when I was nine, when my life started to need it. -- Creating music is satisfying in another way, I can’t describe it. Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen are both heroes of mine, and they inspired me to use music to help myself and others, and that is still my intention."

Her latest creation is called "The Conqueror" which is bright and poppy, a deep contrast to her earlier recordings which I felt were a bit dark and ethereal, even mystical (and, to me, more interesting).  Aurora's new, more mainstream sounding single is an obvious attempt to make a mark on the music charts outside her native Norway.  "This is one of the only happy songs that I have."  She added, "It's a special child."

She told iHeartRadio, "'Conqueror' is about a world is kind of falling apart around you, and you're looking for a conqueror to save you. But you're looking for the conqueror in someone else, which I think is you should not do. You should find the conqueror in yourself first, and be your own hero. If you stand strong, then you will stand for a bit longer."

Aurora possesses a beautiful voice, but I also discovered she is extremely expressive, often utilizing her arms, hands, fingers, eyes while performing her songs.  She explained, "But it is good to have my hands free and be able to move them around in my storytelling."

"The Conqueror" is the lead single from the album All My Demons Greeting Me As a Friend, due out March 11.  Aurora will also be performing a handful of dates in the States beginning with a show in Los Angeles on April 5.

You can view both "The Conqueror" and "Running With the Wolves" music videos below.