It Feels like Summer

Michael’s Bit:

What do you enjoy about the summer?

Summer is the time of the year when vast distances are travelled all in the name of community. Friends, family members, and local community members will find themselves in close proximity once again sharing a good time. Everyone’s been working, studying or training for their next adventure but now we take a break and regroup. We slowly melt together under the sun and humid rooms, but there’s a cool breeze to console us when we think it’s too much. We’ll get the skates out and head to the nice park; we’re not the only ones. We’ve passed the neighbourhoods that smell fragrant with the spices and herbs that take centre stage during the annual cookouts!
Summer’s here, my skin is out to get serenaded by the amazing heat and once more, we’re all together.

Top 3 Songs From Jenna & Why?

sunburn – almost monday

Although I’ve been fortunate to never have experienced sunburn, I have experienced the very real feelings that stay a little too long during the summer. At some points it felt like the time spent on the picnic blankets opened doors to pathways to an idealised experience with someone. Yet, in honesty, none of the logistics were figured out and the summer would give me a sunburn on my emotions. Still It’s a very real experience that taught me things that I didn’t have to learn the hard way.

Brazil – Declan McKenna

Brazil does a fantastic job of evoking nostalgic feelings of a summer that brings nothing but smiles, adventures and mistakes that made for great stories. On my first few listens, this song strummed away at my heart strings in a way that I was filled with gratitude for the journey I had taken in life. Some of the memories and lessons I made in summer shaped me into who I am; as a young man I was acting on what I knew to be right for me. As someone who likes to reflect, it was a cathartic looking back on the journey so far when playing this song.

I Wanna Get Better – Bleachers

‘I Wanna Get Better’ brings back the memories of an extensive list of activities I did with my friends. Being present in the summers of the summers in the northern and southern hemispheres, I had plenty of experiences to dabble in. Maybe we were in places we weren’t supposed to be, maybe we stayed a little longer than we should’ve in the correct places, the important thing is that we were doing these things together, as the mandem.

Favourite Summer Memory?

When I think of this I find it so easy to think of the longest summer I had during my time in education. Just having finished my GCSEs, my friendship group had so many days together. We felt like pioneers in our own adventures, the foretold exam season had finally come to an end and a massive weight had been relieved off our shoulders. Some might say we spent too much time outside, but it was nice how you could predict that someone would be outside before we all gathered to enact our own version of a Phineas & Ferb episode. On the final day before I left for university, there was an air of a bittersweet energy – we were celebrating and having fun with great music, none of us had the time to think we won’t be seeing each other for months. But we all knew that it wouldn’t be long before we’d regroup. We just needed to enjoy our time together before starting our lifetime adventures.

Jenna’s Bit:

What do you enjoy about the summer & why?

Once I get past the scorching heat, summer is honestly really great. It’s a time where I get to slow down and really unwind. For me it’s often a time for music festivals and countless concerts, something I look forward to all year round. It’s also a time for some of the best music and the best memories with them.

Top 3 Songs From Michael & Why?

Mr. Brightside – The Killers

There’s not a song that Michael shared that I didn’t enjoy on this list! Each addition felt more and more like a never ending summer day. I choose this song in particular because of the memories and nostalgia attached to it. There almost isn’t a time this song is playing at every outing I find myself in and it’s such an amazing feeling of singing the chorus as loud as you can with everyone around you.

Can I Call You Tonight – Dayglow

Dayglow does an amazing job of capturing the sound of summer in every song I hear by them. I’m reminded of good warm weather and soaking up the sun at the beachside. I like to think of other indie artists I listen to all the time like flipturn and almost monday here.

Drifting – Night Tapes

Where has this song been all my life!!! It reminded me of the best times of staying out late with friends and driving on the highway till the early mornings. This song is straight euphoric with peak 2014 music industry vibes.

Favourite Summer Memory?

Live music is always at the forefront of my favorite associations of summer. This past summer was pretty sweet when my hardest decision was deciding whether I had the time to see/ between seeing Gavin Degraw, The Goo Goo Dolls, Mt. Joy or Neon Trees. (I totally did)

Track Listing

• Summertime – Shae Universe
• Slide (feat. Frank Ocean & Migos) – Calvin Harris
• Skate – Bruno Mars
• sunburn – almost monday
• What’s the Use? – Mac Miller
• Back On 74 – Jungle
• YOU’RE THE ONE (feat. Syd) – KAYTRANADA
• Pineapple Sunrise – Beach Weather
• 1901 – Phoenix
• Rollercoaster – Bleachers
• Sunshine (feat. Fousheé) – Steve Lacy
• i like the way you kiss me – Artemas
• Sundress – A$AP Rocky
• Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun
• Can I Call You Tonight? – Dayglow
• Brazil – Declan McKenna
• drifting – Night Tapes
• Doses & Mimosas – Cherub
• Kickstarts – Example
• I Wanna Get Better – Bleachers
• Mr. Brightside – The Killers
• The Spins – Mac Miller

Playlist image by Eddie Blair on Unsplash