Simple Creatures Cite Phantogram as a Major Inspiration in ‘Feel Good’ Takeover Tuesday Playlist
Welcome back to Takeover Tuesday, where each week, Billboard taps chart-topping artists and tastemakers to compile their very own playlist exclusive to Billboard's Spotify account. We give the artists free rein to base the list on whatever subject they choose. The only rule? Make it as creative and unique to them as possible.
Simple Creatures — the brainchild and side project of Blink-182's Mark Hoppus and All TIme Low's Alex Gaskarth — just delivered their second EP of 2019, with Everything Opposite arriving on Oct. 11. The six-song project kicks off with the dynamically cathartic "Special," which partially inspired Simple Creatures' Takeover Tuesday playlist.
"The theme is ‘Feel Good’ to tie into the lyrics of 'Special,'" the guys tell Billboard in a joint statement of their 10-song playlist. But while "Special" has the phrase "I just want to feel good" in the lyrics, Gaskarth and Hoppus insist that the theme resonates throughout the EP as a whole, which is "looking for ways to shake off bad energy and do things that you love."
Included on Simple Creatures' "Feel Good" playlist are tracks from The Cure, Lana Del Rey and Jimmy Eat World, the latter of whom the guys say are "forever making our favorite music." There's also a few rising stars in the alt-rock world, including The Band Camino, Winnetka Bowling League and Teenage Priest.
Though the Simple Creatures guys attribute their playlist to the lyrics of "Special" and the songs on Everything Opposite, it seems none of this would be possible without Phantogram. "They helped inspire Simple Creatures," Hoppus and Gaskarth insist of the electro-rock duo, whose "In A Spiral" is one of the "Feel Good" tunes.
Simple Creatures will be playing "Special" along with tracks from their two EPs at Los Angeles' Fonda Theatre on Nov. 12 and The Observatory in Santa Ana, Calif., on Nov. 14. Get your tickets here.
Turn up the good vibes with Simple Creatures' Takeover Tuesday playlist, and check out what they had to say about each song below.
The Cure, “Friday I’m in Love”: Without fail, this song makes us feel like the next three and a half minutes are going to be great.
Brockhampton, “Bleach”: A VIBE. The amount of times we’ve listened to this song driving to the beach with the windows down would put most to shame. The song has some heavy lyrics, but feels light and airy the whole way through.
Kitten, “Memphis”: Who doesn’t want a sample of a dial up modem in their ‘feel good’ playlist? This band does so many different things so well, and this song’s the perfect introduction.
Gorillaz,“5/4”: This whole record holds a special place in our hearts, but something about the opening riff of this song just always gets us fired up.
Winnetka Bowling League, “Kombucha”: An old friend started a new band and we really like their music. This song’s all about getting over and moving on, so we think it belongs on this playlist. Good feels only.
The Band Camino, “Daphne Blue”: One of our favorite new bands coming up FAST. Love these guys.
Phantogram, “In A Spiral”: We always pay attention when these guys put out new music. They helped inspire Simple Creatures.
Jimmy Eat World, “All The Way (Stay)”: Forever making our favorite music…and now with more horn solos.
Lana Del Rey, “Fuck It I Love You”: Not exactly your typical “feel good” song, but this entire album is like a warm fire, even at its darkest.
Teenage Priest, “Cool To You”: We got a soft spot for synth chops. Listen to this song while the sky’s pink and the sun goes down.
