Hello friends!!
Please ignore the fact that I just completely decided not to do December Tunes and finished the blogging year on a terrible note – we don’t speak of it.
Today’s post is the first monthly tunes post for the year!! As I’ve mentioned in some of my previous posts, I really want to up my Spotify game this year, get some people following the playlists, regularly updating it and generally treating it as a secondary way for you guys to get some new music without having to jump on the blog!! Plus it’s also a great way for you to find out what I’m listening to before I muster up the energy to write out a blog post on it!
January has been a month of discovery for me, when it comes to music. New artists, old artists with new songs, old songs that deserve some lovin’, it’s been a ride. There have been many nights in January spent narcissistically jamming along to my own playlists in my room, and obviously I’d love to share some of the tunes with you!
Here’s what I was listening during the month of January.
2 STEPPIN’ – John Givez: First song for the year. Not gonna lie, it was a random choice, I hadn’t listened to any John Givez beforehand, but I’m happy I picked it, because it’s such a chiller.
Come Over – Social Street: This song comes to your courtesy of some of my close friends, Social Street, who are an RnB, soul/funk duo from Melbourne. They’re so lovely and I’ve been lucky to play a handful of shows with them, including the single launch party for this sultry tunes. It’s so jazzy and smooth, and touches on those lockdown, isolation vibes perfectly. Give it a listen.
Feel – Ocean Alley: It’s not a monthly tune without some Ocean Alley. I was actually meant to see the boys live this month, however because of some restrictions it’s been moved to March, so stay tuned for that write-up eventually. In the anticipated lead up to what was meant to be a warm January night concert, I dived into a bunch of Ocean Alley records, the Lost Tropics album being my favourite, and I came up with this track as a new favourite. So energetic and smooth at the same time. I love the guitar in this song as well as the melody. So perfect to sing along to. Here’s to March!!
Heaven of My Own – Dallas Woods, Miiesha: I’ve been making a conscious effort to listen to a bunch more Australian artists (don’t come for me after you read the rest of this round-up) but more-so, more POC and Indigenous artists from our country. Dallas Woods, so far, is really closing in on becoming one of my favourites. This song with Miiesha is so good, the tune, the rapping, the instrumentation and Miiesha’s feature chorus all work so perfectly together, I can’t get enough. highly recommend you give it a listen.
Watch Your Step – Disclosure, Kelis: Every time I listen to this track I think about a particularly great day my cousin and I spent beach hopping at the start of 2021. Disclosure and Kelis were the soundtrack for four different beaches and honestly, could not have picked a better song. So much energy and sometimes you just need a really good dance track to get you through the day.
drivers license – Olivia Rodrigo: I’m not gonna talk about it.
Girl Like Me – Jazmine Sullivan, H.E.R: Jazmine and H.E.R?? Come on now. Too much. Both of these women are goddesses and I fell in love with this song as soon as I heard it.
Essence – WizKid, Tems: This has probably been one of my most played songs this month. It’s in far too many of my Spotify playlists, which you can find HERE, and I have no regrets. It’s such a vibe.
Vibrate – Jerome Farah: Another Australian artist, this time Jerome Farah who I’ve been a fan of for a few years now. He used to be in a band that I loved, Jakubi, but his solo stuff kills it just as much. He’s insanely talented and this is such a cheeky, tongue in cheek tune.
Already Best Friends – Jack Harlow, Chris Brown: Jack Harlow’s album was one of the last albums on my radar to be released in 2020, and this is probably my favourite. It’s super low-key, however it still has a super energetic flow to it. Takes me back to turning freshly 18 and going to clubs legally for the first time with my friends.
Your Teeth In My Neck – Kali Uchis: I chose this song because it reminds me of one of my cousins who turned 18 in January and we happened to be singing along to it in the car a few days before her birthday. You can’t go wrong with Kali Uchis can you? The Isolation album was released back in 2018 and it still delivers banger after banger.
Dreams, Fairytales, Fantasies – A$AP Ferg, Brent Faiyaz, Salaam Remi: Such a chill song. Obviously with Brent Faiyaz throwing down vocals on it, you know it’s gonna be good. I don’t listen to a heap fo A$AP Ferg, but this song would convince me to. It’s got a great blend of old school rap and modern RnB and hiphop. I love it.
1997 DIANA – BROCKHAMPTON: Another older track, but still a tune. So wild and energetic in the best way possible. I don’t listen to much BROCKHAMPTON anymore, but this has proven to be a great addition to the 365 playlist for 2021.
All Worn Out – Ocean Alley: Another Ocean Alley song. Are we surprised? My favourite version of this song is the Live In Studio version just because of how ambient and atmospheric it is, especially the vocals. Such a beautiful track. If you haven’t listened to much Ocean Alley, this is a great first listen to show off how amazing they are in my opinion.
Dance Wiv Me – Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris, Chrome: I had a boogie to this while getting ready to go out for the first time in months since COVID hit and it immediately lifted the energy of everyone who was there. Dizzee Rascal doesn’t miss. Add Calvin Harris and Chrome into the mix and it’s a recipe for perfection really.
Rapp Snitch Knishes – MF DOOM, Mr Fantastik: I was pretty shocked when I found out MF DOOM passed away at the end of 2020 and I spent quite a few days just listening to his records on repeat. This track’s probably one of his most popular, and even if you’ve never heard it, you’d probably be familiar with some of the samples within it. It’s such a mellow song, one of my favourite DOOM tracks.
Can’t Afford It All – Jakubi: Earlier in the post I mentioned Jerome Farah’s band Jakubi, made up of him, his brother, a cousin and close friend. I discovered them sometime in 2015 when my family and I went to a local community festival and they were playing. My cousin and I have been obsessed with them since then, until they dropped off a little while ago. This track was always my favourite and we rediscovered them a few days ago while driving back from the gym and it was an instant throwback. Such a good song, still. Check them out.
Booster Seat – Spacey Jane: If you’re from Australia you may have tuned in to the Triple J Hottest 100. This song was picked to win by a lot of people (me included), so was very disappointing to hear them come second, losing out to English group, Glass Animals. This is such a beautiful song and I’ve yet to meet someone who dislikes it. Give it a listen, I’d love to know what you think!
What were you listening to during January? How has you 2021 kicked off? Let me know in the comments, I’d be keen to hear! As always, you can find the 365//2021 playlist HERE. Make sure you follow my Spotify and give the playlist a like to keep in the loop!
YOU SHOULD HEAR 