For this month’s Listening Party, we leaned into something simple but so easy to forget. Joy.
Not the big, dramatic kind. Just the everyday kind. The kind that shows up in small wins, familiar sounds, late night drives, quiet breakthroughs, and songs that make you smile without even realizing it.
Every track in this set was sent by artists from all over the world, and when we listened to them together, the room just felt lighter. People were sharing stories, laughing, reflecting, and connecting in ways that only music seems to unlock. It was one of those nights that reminds you why music feels like home.
Every song felt inspiring, not just because of what the artists were saying, but because of how it felt to listen.
The first song, Breaking Out of the Script, reminded me of artists like Daughtry and Foo Fighters. It’s all about breaking free from the unjoyful demands of life, and knowing this is from their first EP makes it even more exciting.
Hope slowed things down. It’s more in my usual lane, holding onto hope even when it hurts and feels hard to find. The emotion in this one really stayed with me.
Then came Burning Heart, which was the total opposite in energy. It’s bright, positive, and reminds you that everything is going to be okay.
Colors of You kept that same upbeat feeling. It was warm, hopeful, and impossible not to enjoy.
We ended on a calm note with a lo fi track. No words were really needed, you just feel it.
What made this playlist special is how many different shapes joy can take. Some of these songs feel like breaking free and choosing your own path. Some feel like holding onto hope through storms and heavy seasons. Others sit quietly with sadness, grief, or uncertainty, and still manage to let light in. There is joy in resilience. Joy in clarity. Joy in trusting yourself when things feel unsure. Joy in movement, in rest, in color, and in connection.
That is what we heard in this set. Not one version of happiness, but many. Honest, human, and deeply felt.
Here are the songs that brought us joy this month. 🎧
If you liked what you heard, go check out these artists on their socials and show them some love. 🎶
And we are not stopping here. The next Listening Party is already cooking, with a brand new emotion to explore and more music to discover together.
See you at the next one. 💛
Check out the Joy Listening Party and the Fear Listening Party here!
See you again in February for the next one!
Track Listing
- Breaking Out Of The Script – The Heavy Stone
- Hope – Renly
- Burning Heart – Blackbird
- Colors of You – D-Mwangi
- Hope – Parchord
Playlist image by Marc Oliver-Jodoin on Unsplash
This playlist is part of The Human Collective. Every month, we pick an emotion, hold a listening party that revolves around that theme, and create a playlist about it with songs that were submitted to the musicto community. Learn more about The Human Collective here.
