Wild Party

If the effervescent modern pop band Wild Party has a defining characteristic, it's passion. On their debut album, Phantom Pop, sugary synths buzz around kicky rock guitars and upbeat rhythms, taking the form of summery power-pop ("Take My Advice," the keyboard-sprinkled “Out Right”), breezy soul-rock ("Chasin' Honey," “When I Get Older”) and high-stepping indie-pop ("Violet").

Bands such as the Killers, the Strokes, Rooney, and Two Door Cinema Club are certainly touchstones—as are Phoenix and the Format, two favorites of frontman Lincoln Kreifels—although Wild Party isn't beholden to any one influence or genre. "We want to write fun, happy songs that people can dance to, with lyrics that people can relate to," Kreifels says. "We really appreciate all types of music—we just want to make uplifting music, whether it’s pop-rock, power-pop or indie or folk. We just want people to smile while they’re listening to our music. That’s the main thing."