Summaaaaaaaatime, time, time…
I mean, I didn’t want to have to quote Queen Janis here but, I kinda had to because child, the livin’s eaaaasy….
The days are long, the nights are endless, the windows are down and your momma is so good-lookin’ babe, she’s a-looking good now…
Okay, okay, but for real. Summertime is the best time and these days, the music is as abundant as the scorching rays of sun and summer blockbuster movies. Not to mention, my favorite jams are the ones you bump when you’re cruising with the top down right at sunset, so, that’s basically what this playlist is: music for summer livin’.
But before we get to the real goods, can we talk about how Christmas came early again in the music industry since my last post? Where do I even begin!
Just about every single one of my favorite artists has dropped new music since my last update. Let’s take a look.
- To start with, Drake dropped Views about a month ago now and that alone was enough to make this year a memorable one music-wise for me. This album is the version of Drake I love; a perfect combination of those intimate, bedroom ballads that are compassionate in the way that only Drake can be, mixed in with bumpin’ tracks that never get old. The Latin and dancehall undertones also suite the album so well, and for that, I give this one a 10.
- Then we had Flume who finally dropped Skin and if you’ve ever even glanced at this blog before you already know how I feel about that. I was a little disappointed to find that most of the good songs had already been released as singles, but the remaining experimental tracks do not disappoint. Notable favorites include: “Numb & Getting Colder,” “When Everything Was New,” and “Helix.”
- Then just when I was starting to catch my breath, Chance the Rapper dropped Coloring Book and I almost passed out from jamming to “No Problem” so hard. Then I had a spiritual experience after listening to “Blessings” and now, I’m just a new person.
- Next up, I almost had a heart attack when I found out that I might actually live to see the day The Avalanches release a second album. A mere 16 years after their debut album, they finally announced Wildflower would drop July 8th, and so now I’m holding my breath listening to the first single, “Frankie Sinatra,” until then.
- I had literally NO expectations for the world to bring anything more into my life, and yet, it knocked my flat off my feet once again when I found out the Strokes dropped an EP?! It’s only an EP, but it’s also the Strokes, which makes me eternally grateful. What a time to be alive.
When you find yourself at a plateau with my playlist (which I hope you never do!), please take the time to listen to all the above because it represents a huge surge of growth and prosper in the music industry. Now, check this!
As I’ve mentioned one too many times before, my most savored state of existence takes place in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. Be it in the car, on the beach, on a walk, on a rooftop, wherever, this is where the maximum feels happen. So, this playlist is pretty much a compilation of songs for that 2-hour period where the sky transitions through every color in the spectrum and day turns to night. A mix of new and old, and upbeat and mellow, I hope y’all will find at least one song that plays to your heartstrings.
1. RÜFÜS – You Were Right (Nora En Pure Remix)
I truthfully cannot get enough of Australian producer RÜFÜS or South African diva DJ Nora En Pure, so when I found this remix, it was love at first listen and every listen after that. I’ve already played it enough, in fact, for me to declare this will probably be the song of my summer, so, sorry to those who hang out with me but I just can’t get enough.
2. Dan Solo – Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll
Because summertime means Daisy Dukes and crop tops, and with all the 70’s inspired fashion out there, this jam is especially relevant. Ladies, put on those high-waisted Levi shorts and camp-style ringer tees and boys… well if we’re sticking to authenticity you could probably put on the same… Regardless, bounce, rock, skate, and roll to this awesome rework by Dan Solo.
3. DJ Shadow – Nobody Speak feat. Run The Jewels
Did I forget to mention that ALSO! DJ Shadow is dropping a new album soon too?! Seriously I think this year might go down in music history. This jam from the forthcoming album “The Mountain Will Fall” featuring the uncanny Run The Jewels is perfect for modern electronic fans who want to channel a funkadelic nature.
4. Sofi Tukker – Drinkee
In case you don’t already know, Sofi Tukker is the dance pop duo to watch right now. They broke onto the scene with a while back with this modern disco track and are on the cusp of releasing a ton more jams so keep your eyes, and your ears, out for these jams coming to soon to a sound system near you.
5. GoldLink – Dance On Me (PYRMDPLAZA Remix)
I think you’ll find it pretty impossible to not dance when this comes on. Big ups to the Soulection fam for always providing the dopest tunes.
6. Topaz Jones – Tropicana
Let’s switch it up a notch as we transition from dance into this G-funk groove meets dirty south style track from New Jersey’s Topaz Jones. Not that I don’t want to dance to this, because truthfully it will make you “go bananas” (Ayyyyyye!). But in all honesty, I dig this track and am anxious to see where Topaz Jones ends up on the charts after this one.
7. Chance the Rapper - No Problem (feat. Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
Read about my passion for this and the rest of Chance's album back up there, foo!
8. Magic City Hippies – Corazón
If you regularly follow my playlists, you’ll recognize Magic City Hippies, and if not, then get to know them. I absolutely love their electric, surf rock, sunny-day-at-the-beach-with-babes kinda vibes, which makes them absolutely perfect for this playlist. “Fanfare” has been one of my favorite songs for the past year, but this older track is more fitting for the summer as it makes me want to get down and boogie on repeat. As do all of their songs ^_^
9. Sister Nancy – Bam Bam
What even is a summer day if part of it is not spent driving around with that Jamaican 808 bumping on your way to the beach or a house party? No summer day I’ve ever known, I’ll assure you that much. Due to licensing restrictions, it was tough to find some of my top reggae tracks on Soundcloud but this is an undeniable classic that strongly represents the genre and the vibes to a T. Put your hands up for Sister Nancy.
10. PINES – Fate
This track from the Australian producing duo, PINES, will immediately sing to fans of ODESZA and Big Wild for reasons I need not explain (see: angelic vocals, shimmering beats and uplifting drops). But upon further investigation, it turns out that these PINES folks are making a lot of really good music and are definitely on the come up, so add them to your radar!
11. Flume – Lose It feat. Vic Mensa
Because at this point I shouldn’t even have to write a description for a Flume song, I’m going to copy and paste something below and you have to figure out if it’s a lyric from this song or a quote over a grainy Tumblr photo of a hot chick not showing her face at a party that you reblogged last week:
Put away your inhibitions, let the beast in you just get loose. We all young, wild and different, we could all get lit from a lil goose.
Wishing I could just "Lose It" here at one of my favorite places to spend the summer... Stockholm's epic outdoor club, Trädgården. The best.
12. Claptone – No Eyes feat. Jaw (GAMPER & DADONI Remix)
Soooo this is not by any means a new song, but is one of my most trusted go to jams when you want to turn up a late night dance party to the utmost level. I’m telling you, people will get dancing on the tables wild when this drops. Or maybe that’s just me. But at least I encourage others so hey, I’ll get it started for you. Turn up.
13. Chassol – Oddisi (YUKSEK Remix)
In this fascinating 5-minute musical voyage, we take an original song by pianist, composer, and musical director Chassol (who has worked with artists among the likes of Phoenix and Sebastien Tellier) that was originally composed for the movie “Indiamore” and we give it a complete rework by French electronic pioneer, YUKSEK. The result is pretty exquisite. Get lost in this one.
14. Aaron Smith – Dancin’ (Linier Remix)
Another classic here but hey, this playlist is about good vibes and getting your blood flowing and that’s exactly what this track sets out to do. Linier’s remix adds a little bit more intensity to the original that takes the beat deep down low, just how y’all like it.
15. The LTG Exchange – Corazón (via Dimitri From Paris)
I recently stumbled upon my beloved long lost copy of Dimitri From Paris’s album, Disco Forever: Sounds of Underground Disco, and just from the name, can you already imagine the forgotten gems I found on there? A solid several hours of disco heaven, to put it simply. Just look at this album artwork! Anyways, it was pretty challenging to pick just one track from it but I chose this one bc of the awesome selection of breakdowns throughout. Boogie down!
16. Alex Newell, Jess Glynne, DJ Cassidy – Kill the Lights (Audien Remix)
My favorite show Vinyl may be off the air until next season, but it still finds a way to creep into my life on a regular basis. The original version of “Kill The Lights” was a major record in the show and I was so excited to hear this remix while I was out the other day as I just love anything from the show, and plus, this song is a jam. For this one, I’d recommend finding a killer dance partner and getting down to this song at a party under the stars. Annnnnd dip!
17. Candidat – Partir Tres Loin
After getting hot and sweaty to that last one, take a break with your dance partner to get a drink and enjoy the tropical beats and intimate French rhymes in this track from Candidat. Also recommended for poolside chilling, yacht cruising, or hang gliding. You know, however you spend your summer.
18. NVOY – All Night
I’ve been loyal to the UK-based producing duo NVOY pretty much since they started gaining traction on Soundcloud, which is why I’m concluding my upbeat section of this playlist with this deep track. From the title alone, you already know this is the perfect motivator to keep your spirits up all night until the morning sun.
19. Bob Moses – Tearing Me Up
I discovered Bob Moses just about the same way I discovered Nicolas Jaar, that being somehow 4 years too late, followed by obsessive indulgence. Considering that, I’ve rocked out to this track on so many instances I can promise from experience that it’s appropriate for just about any time of day or night, from dancing yourself out of bed in the morning, going on a run, spinning around and crashing in the grass under the trees, setting the mood or floating off into space. Do yourself a favor and don’t overlook Mr. Moses the way I did.
20. Jim James – State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U)
And now, I will leave you as I lower the lights, raise the volume, and slowly disappear into the smoke as Jim James comes over the airways. With sweet, sensual vibes that can almost only be categorized as the genre of music used in HBO trailers, this song will you have you feeling some type of way. Whatever that feeling is, run with it and let it carry you off into the sunset, sunrise, or dark of the night until we meet again.
Happy listening, folks <3