Local Natives' Top Five empowering tunes

Local Natives have once again returned with an absolute pearler of an album with their third LP, Sunlit Youth. A true triumph for the band, they've come full circle and landed with a refined, honest and powerful sound that the world can't get enough of.

Dealing with growing up and learning as they go, Local Natives have injected these new findings and discoveries into Sunlit Youth, finding empowerment in their abilities. The band said of their latest album, "That is what optimism and changing the world into what you want is. It’s a metaphor. We could connect each of these songs to that feeling of empowerment. Sunlit Youth evokes that feeling. It feels like a nice wrapping-up of this trilogy of who we are: these Southern California kids who grew up feeling like the world was this endless possibility. We make music for a living. It’s the most insane thing that any of us would have imagined.”

Considering we get empowerment from this record, we asked the band what songs they feel empowered by. Take a look below, and get your own copy of Sunlit Youth here.

Fleetwood Mac - Gypsy

To me, there's Fleetwood Mac, and then there's STEVIE NICKS IS FEEDING MY SOUL-Fleetwood Mac, make sense?  So many of her songs floor me, but as far as empowering songs go, I chose Gypsy because it sounds like the end credits are rolling and everything turned out great.  It's kind of like when you look in the mirror and call yourself a winner and shit like that.  Alluding to future success.  This song does that for me.

Daft Punk - One More Time

There is nothing more pure and fun than listening to this song and just losing it.  It's like an instant drug that makes you feel like you don't care what anybody thinks of you, you have to dance, and you have to do it now.  I realize those drugs actually exist, but this is way cheaper and faster.

Portishead - We Carry On

I love dark songs.  Something about them seems to balance my positive bubbly attitude with my inner darkness that keeps me on an even keel.  It's unfortunately not as communal though as say, party music.  But that's why this song is so great, with it's hypnotic groove, it kind of feels like dark party music to me.  I can be dark but still really pumped up, a pretty great hybrid when you need it.

Jose Gonzales - Cycling Trivialities

This is off his album In Our Nature, which may be one of my top 20 albums ever.  I believe introspective music at it's best can lead to change, and this is one of those songs that makes me feel like I can get up and do something different.  Like I can improve things.  Positive-leaning melancholy is the sweet spot for me.

LCD Soundsystem - All My Friends

I cry every time I see this song live. I named a drink after it at my wedding. I believe this song has affected me, there is no doubt.  To me, it's an example of greatness. Every band or artist that is worth listening to has that one song that proves their singular and unique vision to perfection.  Talking Heads have "This Must Be The Place", Paul Simon has "Graceland", they have this. I suppose when I listen to it I remember the drive that I have of wanting to write that one perfect song.  It's a tall order, but this song makes me feel like I can do it.  Or just that it's possible.

Sunlit Youth is out now.

Words by Emma Jones.

SEE MORE TOP FIVES HERE