221 Search Results for Tag: TOTM

September – Ayoni

On “September,” Barbadian pop singer Ayoni must atone for September, thanks to heartbreak courtesy of her ex.

Long Nights – Aby Coulibaly

It is great to hear raw talent come from your home country, it makes liking the artist all that more sweet.

Nothing Else Matters – Miley Cyrus Feat. Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Chad Smith, Robert Trujillo, WATT

Miley Cyrus, Yo-Yo Ma, Elton John, Metallica, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers all walk into a bar…

Lost You – Snoh Aalegra

Throughout “Lost You,” R&B artist Snoh Aalegra atones for loss, reminiscing about the best moments within a relationship.

Nostalgia – Tae

This track really gives that floaty dazed sound that perfectly matches that feeling of nostalgia, leaving you in a pleasant dream-like state.

MASSA – Tyler, The Creator

Hop on the freedom train with one of the standout tracks from the mid-year candidate for Album of the Year.

Yarden – MADLISK

This track must be what it feels like to float within the clouds

Day 7 – Tabitha Westley

“Day 7, Day 7 got me thinking about our relations / Day 7, Day 7 it’s down to miscommunication.” So, what’s the significance of this ‘seventh day’ in context of “Day 7”? Basically, for R&B singer Tabitha Westley, she’s going through the effects of lockdown

Wolves – Kota the Friend & Statik Selektah

Separate from the pack with the leadoff track from Kota and Friend and Statik Selektah’s outstanding album

Triflin’ Kids – Johnny Dynamite and the Bloodsuckers

The layers in the production that are packed with amazing synths creates a world around the listener, filled with bright lights that shine to the fullest.

Fight Song – Rachel Platten

We have all hit some lows, some valleys. But valleys are surrounded by mountains. Climbing back up may be challenging, but the top of the mountain has the best view.

Let Me Fly – DMX

One degree of separation between me, my grandmother, and DMX

Like I Want You – GIVĒON

On “Like I Want You,” GIVĒON experiences a classic case of heartbreak. On this silky smooth, soulful slow jam, he seeks to atone for broken love, desiring to reconcile with his ex.

Drive Alone – Rose Hotel

Released in 2020, mid-pandemic and quite frankly, mid-pandemonium – Drive Alone, through its bluesy’ nostalgia and low-tempo chilled out vibe, proves a stark and refreshing contrast to the chaotic context in which it was written. The track itself is a flighting yet restorative moment to breath, amidst what has felt like for many, a suffocating past year.

Track of the Month – March. Ms.Lauryn Hill.

Music I can dance to seems to be the theme, even my poor housemate who has been working crazy hours in hospital can’t help a little dance when I whack Lauryn on! For that reason, ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ has to be my track of the month.

Essence – Wizkid ft Tems

This track titled Essence features Tems, They both connected perfectly and created a magical tune, The vibe, rhythm and sound is amazing, it puts you in a lovely mood. Enjoy!

Staring At The Sun (Nolan van Lith Remix) – Vanic

A one of a kind gem, you don’t come across once in a couple hundred tracks according to me!

“American Pie” by Don McLean

A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music Used to make me smile And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they’d be happy for a while But February made me shiver With every paper I’d deliver Bad news on the doorstep… View Article

Infiltrate – Cappadonna

Step back in time to the Boom Bap era, where lyricism was the foundation or rap. Throw up your W’s!

Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby – Cigarettes After Sex

Written by a band which is known for their dream-like musical style, this song captures the midnight melancholy of love, attraction, limerence – and everything in between.

Appletree – Erykah Badu

It teaches important messages such as to count your blessings. I certainly counted mine when I stumbled across it in my uncle’s vinyl collection a few years ago.

Lose Yourself – Roho

Ephemeral is an ode to a transformative period in my life-about a summer that changed everything. The water-themed record fully allows Roho to explore his signature brand of cool, sexual and spiritual whilst revealing more layers of his vulnerability. Ephemeral works as significant introduction to those unknowing of this alt-R&B act’s work and this episode finds Roho telling us all about the inspiration behind it.

Unlabeled – Isabelle

If you are someone who feels like they will never be acceptable according to society. If you think you are imperfect and will never achieve “perfection” this song is for you.

Say It. – ((( O ))) & FKJ

An artist formerly known as June Marieezy, their music is absolute sweetness.

Beam Me Up – Gloria

While the band is on the verge of releasing a new LP, Sabbat Matters on March 5, 2021, this track is off of In Excelsis Stereo (2016). And if their new album is as great as this one, then we all have some fantastic tunes to look forward to in our near future.

FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT – Bea Miller feat. Aminé

Whether stuck at home in a dead end job, or just stuck at home, “FEEL SOMETHING DIFFERENT “ is the stimulation you need to get up, get out and get something.

Noir ou Blanc – Ichon ft. Loveni

Based in Montreuil, France, Ichon is a dynamic rapper and singer. In this track he partnered with fellow artist Loveni, they are both part of the Bon Gamin crew/label alongside producer Myth Syzer. This crew has been present in the Parisian Music scene for the past few years, creating a devoted community around them.

Mercy – Anthony Hamilton

R&B singer/songwriter Anthony Hamilton, assisted by activist Tamika D. Mallory, seeks to empower and atone for the adversity, hardships, injustices, and many wrongs suffered by black men on “Mercy”.

Métamorphoses – June Cocó

This song has a special magic to it, it’s not just about the soothing voice or the comforting piano, it’s not just about the beautiful melodies or the precious harmony, not just about a mood or just a sound, it tends to get you somewhere you need to be.

Travellin’ Man – DJ Honda feat. Mos Def

Get me outta here! Deuces for the last time to 2020 and get your 2021 travellin’ plans in order with this 1998 classic dj honda/Mos Def track.

Woman – Down Dirty Shake

If 2020 were a woman, this blues-rock track — also called “Woman,” from San Francisco-based band Down Dirty Shake — would undoubtedly make for a more than appropriate theme song.

달팽이 (Snail) – Panic

Sometimes the way home takes so long
Sometimes I get so tired and exhausted
As soon as I open the door,
I fall asleep
And when I wake up, No one is there

Dissociation – Ajuni

“Dissociation,” the second career single by Indian singer/songwriter/pianist, Ajuni (Anupreet Kaur), is truly moving and thought-provoking. The artist characterizes the record as “a dark, stormy, dramatic ballad, and a melodic fusion of east and west.”

Nantes – Beirut

It’s been a long time since I’ve done a lot of things. It’s interesting to see life as a series of past events and then finally accepting it as the here and now.

Pirate Karate – Wooden Drone

One of the things I’m always looking out for on the essay writing list is repeatability – for tracks that you can put on a loop and then lose yourself for an hour – or longer. It’s why the tracks on this list skew much longer in length than your average 3 minute song…

Girl (feat. KAYTRANADA) – The Internet

No matter how many times I listen to this track, it never ceases to amaze me. Not only is “Girl” incredibly smooth, but it’s meaningful, uncomplicated, and hard hitting. Off of The Internet’s album Ego Death, “Girl” is a sultry, trippy love song that works out of a carefully crafted outer-space soundscape.

Unemployed – Tierra Whack

A women who’s rising up in hip hop and you can see why when she dropped this track last year. Tierra Whack makes the top of the list for me with “Unemployed”

Break the Bottle – Jess Silk

God I love the story tellers.

The lyricists who construct a reality you can step into, to experience it as if you were there – as if you knew the characters – who do it so seamlessly that – even if it is by proxy – you get to feel the emotions for real.

That’s the point of this list – it’s designed to make you feel – to connect with the emotions that we’re oh so good at keeping hidden, buried under guilt and social conditioning. Because when we don’t deal with those emotions – well – that’s when the bad shit happens…

Remember Me – UMI

Neo-soul singer songwriter UMI is by far, one of my favorite rising artists right now. Only 21 years old, Tierra Umi Wilson, who releases music under her stage name UMI, is slowly gaining more popularity with her addictive vocals and lyricism. Her biggest hit thus far is “Remember Me”, a song that effectively encapsulates both the nostalgia and heartbreak that comes with a breakup.

Blessed – Daniel Caesar

Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar released his debut studio album Freudian in 2017 as an exploration of the importance of sexuality in human behavior, as it relates to Freud. The term ‘Freudian’ itself refers to a follower of neurologist Sigmund Freud and his methods. The album contains several hits like “Get You” and “Best Part” as well as eight other stunning tracks, including the ballad “Blessed.”

Gold – Dash Berlin, DBSTF

I don’t know how this track went unnoticed by the masses… But I am glad you are here to experience this piece of musical luxury.

Bloodflow – Grandbrothers

Whilst combining acoustic elements like pianos and vocals is far from a new thing in electronic music, Grandbrothers do it with such finesse and balance that it feels like an entirely new breed.

Raingurl – Yaeji

Raingurl is part of EP2 released in 2017 and it’s an energetic track with very distinct house elements and beats, right from the start this song is very powerful and will make you want to turn the volume all the way up.

Electric (with Khalid) – Alina Baraz

R&B singer-songwriter Alina Baraz and R&B pop icon Khalid teamed up in 2017 to make “Electric”, one of the most blissful songs I’ve ever heard. In the track, both artists speak of a rare, new love that’s “deeper than the sea” and as far-reaching as “outer space”. What’s most impressive, though, is the intimacy the two artists are able to create within a mere 3 minutes. Not only does the lyricism frame this love story of dreams in a beautifully detailed way but their voices fall and soar with the track to make it practically love-inducing.

talk is overrated (with blackbear) – Jeremy Zucker

New Jersey native singer-songwriter and producer Jeremy Zucker wowed listeners with the release of his hit track “talk is overrated” featuring blackbear in the summer of 2017. Mostly making music in the indie/alternative genre, Zucker ventured a little out of his box in his collaboration with blackbear. Now verging more on the side of indie electro-pop, this track draws out a situation where two people, both unsure of what they want out of a relationship, overcomplicate it with feelings and decide to go for a no-strings attached, no feelings relationship instead.

Eruption – Van Halen

There is much written about this track as we all know and in view of Eddie Van Halen’s untimely death recently I had to pick this as another track from my teenage days of the 70’s. I had a band at the time in the NY Catskill mountains where my parents had a weekend farmhouse.

Freeway Jam – Jeff Beck

When the song really got cookin’ I was completely blown away, thinking man I didn’t know you could do that on guitar and even more amazing was it is all instrumental.

But, Are You? – Heize

The music patterns of R&B, neo-soul, and jazz hip-hop combine into the song to full in calm and melancholic tunes. The voice of the singer-songwriter Heize is gentle, relaxing, but powerful.

Remembering – Avishai Cohen

Avishai Cohen is one of my favourite composers due to his artistic sensibility and versatility. Jazz, Classical, Pop… who cares…? I believe his music transcends genres and hits directly where it should.

A Thousand Roads

When I think about what I want in life, it all points toward quite a simple vision really. I think getting this pinned down has been one of the main reasons why I felt so lost throughout my late teens and early twenties.

Urban Jazz – IAMDDB

IAMDDB, 24 years old (like me), born in Portugal and raised in Manchester, England, she is probably one the most interesting artists I’ve heard of in the last two years

1901 – Birdy

Birdy’s track “1901” is a lovelorn ballad that features dream-like instrumentation and Birdy’s soft but amazing vocals.

Cumbia de la Amistad – Meridian Brothers

This unlikely marriage of concepts results in a weird but charming experiment that features ear grabbing melodies and danceable rhythmic sections performed by an array of originally designed synths and drums.

Cool Side of the Pillow – Kyle Dion

Indie r&b artist Kyle Dion stunned listeners when he dropped “Cool Side of the Pillow” with producers Th3ory, Bizness Boi, and LosHendrix. The track starts out with a dreamy guitar with a spotlight on Dion’s smooth vocals and follows him as he retells the story of him and a lover.

Perfect Day – Mao Buyi

The first track of the playlist is a song from a Chinese artist called Mao Buyi. It perfectly describes the trivia of an ordinary day. The artists’ voice is warm and peaceful, just like telling a story to sum up the day…

Opening – Essie Jain

Sense the stresses and strains of your day fall away as Essie’s ethereal voice works its soothing honeyed tones into you.

Goodie Bag – Still Woozy

Goodie Bag is a perfect track to groove around city streets with your friends. Still Woozy is a name you will definitely be hearing more of for many years to come!

Karma – Mahalia

This song tells us about burning feelings. Mahalia sings about the power of karma and above all how the person always comes back to her.

Fucked My Way Up To The Top – Lana Del Rey // Seven Devils – Florence + The Machine

This week, two songs that I wanted to present is Lana Del Rey’s Fucked My Way Up To The Top and Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine.

Get Lost (ford. Remix) – Bearson, Ashe, Ford.

This trio is the definition of head turning, melodic music that you can not help but to move to. A perfect track to play for almost every scenario, the rhythmic beat and delayed vocal entrance has the mind thinking of good times to come.

Like the Sunshine – Ours Samplus

This first track is from Ours Samplus, a duo of french beatmakers. Founded by Lille-based artists GuiB and Yousla, Ours Samplus is one of the most prolific duos of its kind.

Topdown – Channel Tres

Topdown by Channel Tres perfectly exemplifies his style and origins in music production. Blending Detroit techno with West coast rap, the Compton native created something unique that has no parallel and can’t really be classified into a specific genre.

Insecure- Max Million (Feat. Maria B)

Insecure is a thought provoking and self empowering anthem, created on the soul purpose to inspire and uplift.

Featuring Mariea B adding a Rythmic Blues

Deep Inside – Marc Cotterell, Dominic Balchin

Take a listen to this track of the week and turn the volume up! Also make sure you have a bass heavy speaker or headphones to listen to this masterpiece.

Present Tense – Pearl Jam

Whenever I put this song on it is a reminder to forgive myself.

CUT EM IN – Anderson .Paak

CUT EM IN is just another hit off the assembly line. Throw in a tight Ricky Rozay verse and you have a track that can’t be played enough.

I Loves You Porgy – Nina Simone

I’ve loved this song for as long as I can remember – certainly long before I understood what it was about.

There’s so many ways to appreciate it – from the gorgeous melody to Nina Simone’s stunning delivery, to the whiteness of its writers and how Porgy and Bess continues to force us to look at systemic inequities in American life: race, gender, disability and poverty…

No Other Thing to Do for Be Famous – Lesbian Speed Dating

I can still hear the crunch as my teeth cut through a tart garlic kosher pickle before buying a half litre of them, and as I do, the tease of smoked kielbasa turns me around and carries me to the deli counter like a Loony Toons character floating on air. I meant to buy 250 grams. I get 500…

Do What You Like – Phenomenal Handclap Band

While the country seems stuck in the 70’s with our backwards race relations and anti-fascist power struggles, might as well jam to some Space Disco…

Another Like You – EAUXMAR & OddKidOut

One of the freshest tracks I’ve heard in a while. Fantastic, uplifting vocals by Moli…

BOSS – The Carters

In these uncertain, unprecedented, and unfathomable times, it’s always good to be surrounded by the familiar…

For Those About To Rock (We Salute You) – AC/DC

To kick off this playlist I couldn’t think of a better way to do it. AC/DC may be my all time favorite rock band, I have their iconic lightning bolt symbol tattooed on my finger. Their music hanged my life forever…

California Daze – Peace

The band sound as if they pay tribute to the opening of Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles with delicate guitar riffs throughout this song…

Blood of the Fang – clipping.

This track makes me feel fear. It doesn’t tell me what fear feels like. It makes my heart beat fast as it unfolds a story of death and destruction. Clipping. is founded on the use of noise that makes the listener uncomfortable, sometimes to the point where it’s unbearable…

Spiegel im spiegel – Arvo Pärt

Close your eyes for a second and breathe, just breathe. Remind yourself that this is the present moment, that you’re currently safe, not anywhere else but here. Remind yourself of the beauty of the present, let go of the troubles of non-existent possibilities, so many of them, so troubling…

Pink Lemonade – DADDY LONG LEGS

As companies and businesses shut down, streets empty, borders close, and wine storages deplete (yes, at least the Portuguese have their priorities straight; plus, you know, bidets) the last couple of weeks has been weird to say the least…

René – Residente

Residente released this song last week, confessing he started writing it after one night he felt so bad he just wanted to throw himself out of a balcony and didn’t know why, he just called his mother and had a friend stay over at his hotel and the next morning started writing it…

Anyone – Demi Lovato

“I tried to talk to my piano / I tried to talk to my guitar / Talked to my imagination / Confided into alcohol.” For Grammy-nominated pop star Demi Lovato, she was literally looking for anyone to talk to and ultimately, save her…

Islands – Young The Giant

One of the best and worst things about curating this playlist is confronting all of the memories that these songs bring me. I must confess I have been feeling like I’m going to run out of favorite songs to add to the playlist a few months ago…

Sudden Death – Quelle Chris & Chris Keys

“It cant all be all sudden death / We’re so much different than the rest / Just clear that desktop start fresh / Just let your seat back take a breath / You’ll find it’s worth it cause life ain’t perfect.” That’s it. That’s the song…

Mr Blue – Catherine Feeny

So I finished Bojack Horseman this weekend and this beautiful song popped up right at the end (No spoilers), so I decided it was a perfect night tune and a perfect fit for this playlist…

Let Go – JClay

The first time I heard “Let Go” I was confused. The big, cinematic sample leads into a clear, spoken word-styled flow…

Runaway – Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Karen O’s haunting voice is a wonderful companion for a night like this, cold and silent. “Runaway” is a song that pierces time like a bullet, allows a poignant feeling to go right through your chest and attach to your mind like one of its most important memories…

Blue World – Mac Miller

You know who can make some depressing music? ‘50’s crooners. Maybe it was all those wars, maybe it was the fact no one was allowed to dress casual…

Who Am I – Genra (Produced by Smartface)

In honor of the 49ers unexpected Super Bowl season, it’s time we gave some love to underdogs from the Bay. Born and raised in the Bay Area, California, I was exposed to almost every genre of music at a young age…

Ordinary Man – Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzy Osbourne is the furthest thing from being ordinary – understatement.  The heavy metal icon is both famous and infamous simultaneously, exemplifying the rock star life…

The Widow – The Mars Volta

I still remember the time I discovered The Mars Volta, I was watching an MTV Latin American awards show and they were introduced by Zack de la Rocha, I remember his words were profound and exciting…

What’s Up? – 4 Non Blondes

As we enter a new decade, waiting to hear what 2020 brings us musically, we are given an opportunity to reminisce on some of the great songs that served as our life’s soundtrack to this point…

Bury Me – Easy Comes Home

In September 1979, I arrived for my first day of middle school, which was a big deal—a big transition from primary school at the time. I arrived and all I heard around the halls from the older kids was that disco was dead….

Posthumous Forgiveness – Tame Impala

“Did you think I’d never know? / Never wise up as I grow?” Those are the questions that Australian musician Kevin Parker, the brainchild of psych-rock, alternative pop /roc collective Tame Impala, directs towards his late father, Jerry…

Stay High – Brittany Howard

You don’t have to love Brittany Howard, but you HAVE to respect her. Her voice. Her lyrics. Her passionate stage performances….

Moon – Morosity

Sometimes, as you power along in your pony with only the open road ahead, you start to pay attention to certain elements of whatever songs are keeping you company…

Canada – Desmond Cheese

A song best explained in sounds. Sounds that feel almost familiar – but not quite – like a foggy memory…

Walking in the Air – Fiona Joy (Hawkins)

While stores and restaurants have been busy hanging decorations the moment the Halloween costumes were stashed away, there’s always been a certain restraint when it comes to radio and how they handle Christmas.  Well – I say restraint in that they generally don’t start “Christmas Music” until December 1st – thank God – but after that, restraint goes right out the window as it’s a constant onslaught of Bieber to Band Aid, Bing to Bublé – and that’s just one letter of the alphabet!..

Midnight – Motel Radio

Tangled in otherworldly harmonies – “Midnight” is delicately strung into an emotional encapsulation of the complexity that grows within our deepest infatuations…

Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda – India Arie

How can you face the day? You’re stuck in the daily motions. The world around you is chaotic. It’s easy to lose yourself in the hustle and bustle of it all, forgetting who you are, who you want to be, and absent of any feeling but regret…

Might Never Get Better – Marian Carmel

I finally found an Indie Jazz track that has a similar musical style with the Deftones, yes the metal band Deftones. Spare 2 minutes of your precious time to read this article to find out why…

Right Turn – Link Wray

“Right Turn” isn’t exactly a vintage Mustang-era-defining song. It’s not even rock ‘n’ roller Link Wray’s most defining piece from his band’s 1960 self-titled debut album, Link Wray & The Wraymen. In fact, similar to his rebel-rousing “Rumble,” which earned the Shawnee guitarist the title Father of the Power Chord, and the distinction of being the first-ever instrumental song censored off U.S. radio, this single is from 1958 — four years before Mustang was a sperm (or egg) of a thought…

Liquid Deep – Dreamcast

Hot track alert. This song will pick you up and simultaneously relate to how you’re feeling. A tricky balance to achieve I know, but Dreamcast does it for you here. It’s like being able to dance but you don’t have to attend the party. Nonchalant, deep, groovy goodness. Smile and let it rain down upon you…

Paa Tuhod Balikat Ulo – Rinz Ruiz

Have you ever had a bad day, and then all of a sudden all the bad vibes just went away after listening to a song? Well I found that song, and you’ll have to tune in to find out why…