Boar Jukebox: Moving On

Another year’s coming to an end, and whilst it may be tempting to get swept up by nostalgia, have a listen to these forward-looking tunes instead…

Heather Small: ‘Proud‘

Joe Baker

It’s rare for a 20 year old male to admit he likes M People but come on; we’ve all heard those CDs your mum listened to on repeat in the car, and the music of our school run just happened to include questionable 90s pop, okay? Even if I was brainwashed into liking Heather Small’s incredibly motivating lyric “what have you done to today to make you feel proud”, it’s still one of the best things to hear if you want to knock tomorrow out of the park (even if Small should probably have heeded her own message given her career’s future).

Klaxons: ‘Golden Skans‘

Stephen Paul

For songs that have a view beyond the present, look no further than Klaxons’ debut Myths of the Near Future. Any of these J.G. Ballard-inspired tracks could offer a perspective on things to come, but the third single from Myths…, ‘Golden Skans’, offers the most golden outlook: “From the night to the light, all plans are golden in your hands”, Righton kindly enlightens us. So get the glow sticks and fluorescent paint out because this indie-pop, art-rave floor-filler will have you jumping and gyrating into the near future.

LCD Soundsystem: ‘All My Friends‘

Michael Perry

Given that it’s my favourite song of all time, it’s a struggle to do justice to the indelible power of ‘All My Friends’, but for what it’s worth, there’s one particular lyric which encapsulates how I feel in the face of leaving university: “I wouldn’t trade one stupid decision for another five years of life.” I could’ve done things differently, taken more initiative, and accomplished more with my time. But ultimately, I wouldn’t change a thing about the friendships I’ve made here, because those are what I’ll remember in 50 years’ time, rather than whatever the hell Jameson was trying to articulate.

Foxes: ‘Youth‘

Christine Wong

This song resonates with me as a young adult on the cusp of a new phase of my life. The song is neither particularly optimistic nor pessimistic, as lyrics like “Now I’m just chasing time with a thousand dreams I’m holding heavy” show. It really reflects how I feel about the future and its yet untapped potential: like Foxes I have a bit of a Peter Pan complex, and I’m convinced that my youth has only just begun.

The Black Keys: ‘Gotta Get Away‘

James Haworth

Travel songs often look to the future, but ‘Gotta Get Away’ races full pelt towards it. It really feels like the start of a long-anticipated road trip, and captures the dreamy gazes of a group of friends looking out down the open road. Tinged with resignation, Dan Auerbach’s gravelly guitar riffs ride the blacktop from San Berdoo to Kalamazoo, away from heartbreak and towards an illusive new start.