Guys! Guys, guys, guys. Please forgive me for how late this is but you know, your girl’s been cooking up some things and it threw my timing off for a little but, it won’t happen again. This blog and site are the most important thing to me as this is where the magic started, so no matter where I am, I want this spot to exist always (although it may not always be in blog form) so I can chat away and really connect with you in a way that socials don’t allow me to.
As you all know, we have just wrapped up the month of May(!), and somehow, I’m still not vaccinated, how tragic. However, this definitely did not ruin the vibes and once again, I’ve got them all here on a pretentious playlist :)
Enter stage right, May 2021. *whoosh*
This playlist encompasses a lot: genres, languages, full length projects (read: Olivia Rodrigo), EPs, etc etc etc. You know the drill. Let’s kick it off!
The first track is the amazing Without You remix where my The Kid Laroi and Miley Cyrus worlds combine. If you’ve been following these, my love for Laroi won’t be news to you at all. Miley I’ve loved for 15 years, so to see these team up for me, is a reflection of my impeccable taste for long lasting quality. *chef’s kiss*
Naturally, as remixes do, they’re meant to bring you back to the original project, and that’s exactly what it did, hence Wrong.
Sunshine, first released in 1999, is featured in my video “A Child’s Love for the C1”. Zion, my adorable little cousin, is enamoured with buses. One Sunday he asked to take the C1 from Shepherd’s Bush all the way to Victoria, so that’s exactly what his mother and I did. Soraya (Zion’s mum and a brilliant D&I professional), then posted a picture from the day with this song on her Insta story and without realising, had saved me the hours of looking for the perfect track– this was it. It also brings me back to my childhood tapes of listening to Gabrielle on cassette in the car with my own mum. Boy, I’m ancient.
Tresor’s Dancing With the Moon just has fantastic production for me. It’s one of those chill vibes, not too loud, not heavy, just calm. I work in acquisition at a music marketing agency, so part of my job is scouting new business– basically I spend mornings looking for cool songs haha. This was one of them, as are some others on this playlist too.
999! Ah what a bop. See what I mean there is something about female groups that just hits. I was looking at some rosters, namely Island Records, and for some reason found myself thinking why did this never take off? Island sign quality and I love them for that– but goddamn this song needed to have banged. I’ve just checked and it’s not even at 5k views on YouTube. Sigh. It’s hard when quality is lost amongst the noise.
Next up is one of, if not my favourite, UK export. Mahalia does not miss ever. Jealous, penned by Miraa May too I believe, is a banger. Spanish guitars in the background, production is A1, delivery is 10/10.
Lil Nas X. For the record, I hated Old Town Roads. Hated it. But everything since? My guy is a superstar. “I wanna feel on your ass in Hawaii” has to be top 10 lyrics of the decade. I mean who is topping that?! Have you been to Hawaii? If you have, then you’ll understand why this is the ultimate relationship goals. Magical. Pure magic. MONTERO gives me life.
Remember I said I spend my mornings looking for good songs? Disrespekt was one of those. Kali Clairemight be one of the few (rare) good things to come from East London. Keep an eye out for her, she’s got a stunning vocal.
Gabzy gets a pass because he’s from South East London. As Friends is a tune. / Girl I wanna, banter, spa trips as friends. / Gabzy is just good vibes. I love his output. He’s also consistent with it which is honestly rare. I’d love to see Gabzy front the UK scene alongside people like Mahalia, S.A.M, Miraa, Yas VW… I think it’s time we have a new wave of genuinely special UK stars.
Speaking of Yas VW, Be The One is beautiful. Smooth R&B, the kind I like with a slight old school retro-ness to it. I love when artists incorporate traditionally beautiful sounds– and that’s exactly what Yas does. I say vibes a lot because it’s overkill to say anything else. What’s understood never needs to be explained.
The next track comes from my exploration of Portugal’s music scene (again). I love it there, I really do. I think Portugal has a very unique placement as it’s got so many influences: Afrobeats and Kizombas from Angola, Cape Verde etc, it’s proximity to Spain and Iberian roots give it reggaeton, flamenco and generally latin vibes. It borrows heavily from the melodic rap that Brazil is so good at. I feel like Portugal is a melting pot of all the best the world has to offer, and that’s not even me being biased– just real. And then I think our own traditional fado just makes us genetically predisposed to be good at heartfelt sad songs, which is what Ok is.
I’m not too sure who Blaya is, or where she first popped up, but I love the track. It’s simple yet stunning. The melodies are striking. So effective.
Ah, Fiji Blue. My sad boy chill house boys. I love them. I reviewed their EP on my YouTube channel so check that out for further insight. One of my favourite lines is: like Winter waiting for June. I love them and Outside is one of my favourite records. They give me Drax Project vibes too (the guys who opened for Camila Cabello in Europe for her 2018 Never Be The Same tour). I’d love to see Fiji Blue grow into a big name– they deserve it.
Keep It Real. Need I say more? The whole track does what it says. Life isn’t always a party or melancholy lows. Half the time it’s just regular chill, and we need more songs for those moments.
stfu (i got u) is Alaina Castillo’s baby. Her entire EP is phenomenal and I definitely recommend it. She’s got bad bish vibes– think Fletcher but slightly less pop and a bit more alternative. I love it. I always love a good songstress.
Thinking back to the NBTS tour had me thinking about Fifth Harmony and when Aleem opened for them in 2016 on the 7/27 tour. I usually skip openers, but in Lisbon I ended up watching them and instantly fell in love with Inside Out. The crowd were loving it too and the energy for this one track in specific was incredible. It was a moment. I wonder what happened to him. Either way, I’ve got this track and I’m glad for it. It’s all about hearing those pesky voices in your head trying to sabotage you but you fight against them, and it’s all against a super uplifting, inspiring power chord sequence.
We’re back to Gabzy. I think my favourite line in Must Be Sprung is / and when I shop in Gucci, I buy for two / all because I definitely know that’s how I identify when I’m sprung: when I’m buying for other people. Mad.
Brazil has funk sounds incorporated into the production and it is stunning. Gabzy is a genius when it comes to introducing culture and being hella smooth with it. Also, this track is just the lifestyle I want. / I’m in Brazil, she’s in LA, I book her a plane /
Sun Goes Down is another perfect offering from Lil Nas X. I won’t bore you with my love for him again, but I adore him. The lyrical content really makes you happy he’s winning, he deserves it. / Imma make my fans so proud of me /
King Promise’s Slow Down is yet another one of those tracks I found while doing my job. I love spacious and airy beats. This is the conclusion I’m drawing as my library grows. I love space, especially in music. Give things space to exist, breathe, think, grow, live, laugh, love. This is one of my favourite songs of the year.
Ayra Starr’s EP just oozes culture and I’m living for it. If you liked Beyonce’s Black is King, you’ll love this body of work. Sun kissed beats, flowy melodies, it’s island vibes and I live for it. Sare is probably my favourite at the minute. I just feel it in my soul.
The Red Room Intro by Alicai Harley makes me miss my after parties haha, especially the outdoor ones. Damn. Lifestyle come back!!!
KDDO is a continuation of this vibe. I’m actually such a simple human. I just want vibes, love and laughter.
Right. We’ve reached the full length project. Olivia Rodrigo, my oh fucking my. I can’t even go into Sour or we’ll be here for hours and I’ll produce a 10 page review. There is so much about this girl but to sum it up– she’s IT. Every track? Stunning. Beautiful. Exquisite. / God, it’s brutal out here! / Top tracks: brutal, traitor, favourite crime, enough for you. She’s God’s gift to music. The craft lives in her.
Can’t Miss You Anymore, Soul Ties and Always were also gems I discovered while working. I love all three for different reasons but ultimately, they’re all quality. One is a big pop track with the emotionally loaded chorus, one is a pensive soul/R&B record, and the other is a spacey electronic production layered with American rap. Americans are really good at this kind of record.
The last two tracks to close out these EP, were shared with me by my author friend and life buddy, Pendeauthor. Karma and Friends soothed my soul whereas Free Mind frees up my headspace. / I really need, I really need time now / I really need, I need a free mind now /
It took me a minute to clock this was the same Tems on Wizkid’s Essence. Anyways, she’s the perfect person to close out May and prep me for June, the best month of the year and my birthday month :)
So, that’s a summary of everything I’ve been listening and vibing to this month. The June 2021 playlist is already live, I’m excited for fresh discoveries and new perspectives. Do feel free to recommend me songs or albums, I’m always up for listening.
I hope everyone is doing well and taking care of themselves, mentally physically and emotionally. As always, feel free to connect with me on socials whether that’s IG or Twitter. I’m not on them too much but I do still browse and share stuff every now and again.
All the love and light,
S.
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