Artists to Dance to at Home

| Musings of a Space Cowboy |

As the weather gets colder and the urge to stay in gets stronger, we could all use an intimate at-home dance party. Alone, with your roommates, or with your besties, this fall and winter can still be full of dancing all night long!! But what music do you put on? Here are some of my friends and I's favorite artists to dance to at home.

Snow Strippers

This singer-producer duo follows the path paved by electronic-pop artists like Crystal Castles, YOU LOVE HER, Sidewalks and Skeletons, and Grimes, all of whom you can dance to as well. As soon as you play Snow Strippers' music, it takes hold of u - suddenly, you're in a Skins episode, and there are strobe lights and you can't stop moving your body to the beat.

Their synth-heavy leads, metallic bass lines, fat kicks, laid-back vocals, and pop-ish lyrics/SFX are perfect for when you want a club experience but in a more intimate atmosphere. Some of my favorite house party memories are dancing with my friends to this music. I'd recommend listening to Under Your Spell, Anthems, So What If I'm A Freak, and Know My Name.

New Order

You can't make a list like this without mentioning any 80's New Wave bands. New Order is the one I have to recommend the most due to personal preference, but some honorable mentions are The Cure, Duran Duran, DEVO, and Depeche Mode. If you want to dance like nobody's looking and sing like no one is listening, this music is for you. I suggest listening to Bizzare Love Triangle, Age of Consent, or Blue Monday. You could also just put on their 1982 album Substance, full of hits you're guaranteed to dance to.

David Bowie

Mick (DJ/Host of Car Radio on UIC Radio) says she recommends David Bowie, to which I IMMEDIATELY agreed. Bowie always reminds me of late nights at my childhood home with family during Thanksgiving or Christmas, mostly dancing with my mom and aunts to Rebel Rebel.

His music is timeless and has this habit of always putting me in the most blissful state. My recommendations include Space Oddity and Heros. Mick suggests Sweet Thing, Fashion, and Watch That Man.

Minor Threat

Minor Threat is a great choice for a louder, faster sound to dance to. I felt it was important to include some punk representation here, so I also want to mention The Clash. Punk music has been the host of iconic underground dance scenes for decades, but that doesn't mean you can't listen to it at home. Just don't break anything too expensive when you succumb to the urge to two-step around your living room. If that doesn't sound like too bad of a time, here are my favorite Minor Threat songs: I Don't Wanna Hear It, Filler, and Betray. Just listen to First Two Seven Inches the whole way through and thank me later.

This list should be more expansive, but this blog accomplishes its job as long as you decide to dance more - whether at the club or not. It's a shame there's no Latin music on this list, but I couldn't decide on just one artist. Then I realized any Latin music would get someone dancing, so I can't recommend anything with a Latin rhythm more than enough. As a stressed-out, constantly busy architecture student, dance is my escape from worldly problems and helps me relax when I need it most. I find it easiest to distract myself when I dance to a song I love. There is nothing like living in the present through dance. Make sure to be safe and cheers to dancing this Halloweekend!!

| Musings of a Space Cowboy # 1 |

Image Credits:

Snow Strippers - Passionate Highs (Official Video), Youtube.com

The David Bowie Concert Experience, lesherartscenter.showare.com

Punk Two-Step blowthescene.com