April Tunes // Apparently I Do This Quarterly Now

Hello friends. It’s been a minute. Nearly four months to be exact.

Wasn’t intentional, I most certainly didn’t mean to skip out on three months worth of Monthly Tunes posts, let alone any posts at all to say the least, but alas, it happened and here we are. So what have I been up to since then?

Quite genuinely, not a hint of a lie, literally everything but rest. I’ve been working full time at my retail job which I currently love, I’ve given up my one day off every week to work a second job within my passion industry, barely making it to the gym though somehow still trying and I’m currently trying to fit in a social life and attempting to make some music on the two days I have off every fortnight. I’ve contemplated scheduling in my burn out so that I can get it out of the way and get on with it.

Oh, and my band released an album, for which I had to organise an album launch. Very successful but very stressful as you can imagine.

But, since we’re back, who knows how long for, I’m just trying to make the most of it, let me share what I was listening to in April. Because it was a lot. And don’t even think I’ll skip a shameless plug for the album my boys and I spent a year and a half waiting to release.

We spent all the free time we had out of lockdown working on this album and it’s finally out. We had an amazing album launch at The Leadbeater Hotel in Melbourne, sold out all our merch and celebrated the album being out the next day! So many new people got down and the place was packed. 10/10. Please have a listen!!

Use This Gospel – Kanye West, Clipse, Kenny G: Bumped this track with the boys in the band in the van on the way to our album launch. I’m still staunchly anti-Kanye but this track hit the spot, and really got us pumped. The Kenny G sax solo was especially tasteful and appreciated.

SPF – Felix Ames: I discovered Felix Ames on TikTok, (shocker), and instantly fell in love with this song. Checked back in religiously to see if he’d released it yet, and when he did I added it to my playlists straight away. Given, winter is steadily approaching us here in Melbourne, however this song makes my drive by the beach early in the morning on the way to work a bit less dreary.

Way Out – Jack Harlow, Big Sean: Jack Harlow has me in a choke-hold this year. Every song on this album is incredible and gets me going immediately. I’m seeing him live in July and cannot wait, holy moly.

Starlight – Dave: Ever since my cousin introduced me to Dave, I’ve been finding more and more songs of his to love. This is the most recent obsession. It doesn’t help that it popped up in a TikTok trend almost instantly after it came out but it is what it is.

Over – Lucky Daye: Lucky Daye has been picking up speed this year and this song really shone a spotlight on him especially on the internet. Again, TikTok really picked up this song and gave it some speed but no-one can deny Lucky Daye has the voice of a god. I’ve been in love with his songs and his music for a while now, but this song is definitely one of my favourites. So intricate and detailed.

Oxygen – Beach Bunny: This song is so therapeutic to listen to and the energy it gives me cannot be put into words. It’s another track that’s been added to the work playlist so it’s lovely to hear it come across the speakers every now and then.

Pasadena – Tinashe: I rediscovered Tinashe earlier this year so I’ve been making my way through her 333 album. This song is hands down my favourite. Sounds exactly like summer. Like, imagine you ran outside on a super sunny day with a huge mason jar and just trapped some of the sun and the summer air and the sound of birds singing and kept it forever. That’s this song.

Nail Tech – Jack Harlow: No need to explain.

Whatever Simon Says – Mahalia: Mahalia returned with an absolute track. I love the lyrics in this song and how it builds so perfectly over the chorus and second verse. I listened to it for the first time in the car with a friend on the way home from work and when that bass line came in we both lost it. Immediate stank face.

Alone – Doja Cat: This track just gets me. April was a rollercoaster for me personally, and this song just has a way of chilling me the heck out. It’s a combination of the guitar, how in-the-pocket the drum beat is and how beautifully Doja singing the chorus contrasts with her rapped verses.

Bed I Made – Allen Stone, Alessia Cara: I could never have predicted this collaboration if these two were in the same room, right in front of me, but hearing it, it makes so much sense. This song hit me when I most needed it, and I’m convinced I didn’t listen to anything other than this song for a whole two weeks straight. So beautiful and simple, Allen and Alessia’s voices blend together sublimely and it’s been a long time since I’ve heard a song that made me feel the way this song did.

up at night – Kehlani, Justin Bieber: Another song that had me in a chokehold. These two together make so much sense, but if I’m being honest, I’d be just as about this song without the JB feature. Kehlani completely outshines him in my opinion and brings all the emotion and intention to this song.

As It Was – Harry Styles: What a re-entry. Smashing through the atmosphere if you ask me. This was so unexpected, and I think no-one saw the direction coming, but Harry Styles, like always, pulls it off effortlessly. The synths, the lyrics, that dang bridge. Everything about this track makes sense.

Saturday Night – Summer Thieves: I recently caught Summer Thieves live earlier in April when I went and saw L.A.B in concert (also what a ‘yay’ moment that live music is truly back and I’ve gone for four live music gigs in the last two months) and I immediately fell in love with them. Their blend of rock and reggae was the perfect opening act for the main band, and they had the audience in the palm of their hand. This song has become one of my most listened to tracks over the last month, and my obsession with it has yet to wane.

Everlong – Foo Fighters: Foo Fighters. Before this year, I probably wouldn’t have mentioned Foo Fighters before, the last time I recall properly listening to them was back in the early 2000’s when I was a kid. However, they came down to Australia in March and played an incredible gig out in regional Victoria that was a real standout for the country, and since then I’ve been rinsing their music. I didn’t attend but I heard so much about it that I had to start listening to more, and thus, this song began it’s steady rise to the top of my most listened tracks.

Same Same – WAAX: I super last minute got to see these guys live thanks to a friend who had two free tickets for their gig and it was genuinely so much fun. I listened to some of their music a few years ago so it was a bit of throwback, and such an energetic gig. The crowd was super lively, there was a lot of crowd-surfing and scaffold-climbing, and the band’s energy was just as intense. Fell in love with this song all over again after seeing it live.

White Lines – SIX60: I finally got to see these guys live again in April and it was one of my highlights for the month. It was super easy to get to the front so we were right by the stage and literally every song I listed on my dream set, they played, including this one which is an older track of their. It lifted the energy immediately and set such a vibe for the crowd who were getting right into it.

wish i never – Kehlani: We were finally gifted a new album from Miss Kehlani and they totally delivered. This song is probably my favourite, super punchy and gritty but somehow the vocals are still super sweet and smooth. It’s just Kehlani’s voice man, couple with a super thick bass line, this song was instantly at the top for me.

x

Priya

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December Tunes

Hello and welcome to the last Monthly Tunes wrap up for 2021. I know, I know, bit rich of me to say that considering I was absent for majority of 2021 but here we are. Are we two weeks into 2022 already? Yes. Am I still gonna share this post? Also yes.

I’m gonna preface this by saying you’re gonna hear me repeat myself a hell of a lot on this post. A lot of these tracks are pulled from a) TikTok, b) my cousins, who I was seeing a lot of last month or c) the work playlist that I listened to for over 30 hours a week. Make of that what you will but I still reckon they’re all bops.

I Hate U – SZA: I’ll be brutally honest. The rest of this song does not live up to the hype it built on TikTok when Miss SZA shared a snippet. Do I still blast this song for that one specific line? Yes.

Warm December – Sabrina Claudio: This song made me feel so toasty during December. For those of y’all who don’t know, I’m from Australia, and besides the obvious metaphor in this track, the idea of a warm December just sits so comfortably with the reality we have over here of a summer Christmas, that I love this song so much. Plus, I mean, it’s Sabrina Claudio. What else do you need?

Raindrops – GoldLink, Flo Milli: This song was a favourite last month. I played it on repeat, honest to God. There’s just something about Flo Milli’s voice on this track and the overall production. GoldLink snuck is way to the top of my list of favourite artists in 2021.

Flowers (Say My Name) – ArrDee: One of my cousins queued this song when he was shotgun in the car and we all lost it when it really got into it. Such a bop in the car.

The Machine – Oliver Malcom: This track is one of the tunes that feature on the playlist at work, and considering I now work full-time, I was hearing it a lot last month. I wasn’t 100% sure of it when I first heard it, but eventually I just had to Shazaam it and add it to my playlist because at this point I know the words by heart and get a little bit chipper when it comes over the speakers.

Neon Peach – Snoh Aalegra, Tyler, The Creator: I thoroughly enjoyed this entire album from Snoh Aalegra, but this one is hands down my favourite. Tyler’s production on this track is sublime and the bounce just hits you in the chest. Obviously Snoh just swims with this track and the velvety smooth vocals just contrast so well with how snappy and heavy the music is.

Weekend Run – Unknown Mortal Orchestra: Another track that’s brought to you by my work playlist. Another song that just raises my spirits every time it plays. It’s so beautiful and gentle, and the chorus works so perfectly with the rest of the music. It’s super catchy and gets stuck in my head, hours after the playlist has progressed. Most of my coworkers have caught on to the fact that I know the words by heart at this stage.

Party Round My Place – Aitch, Avelino, Toddla T: Again, another track my cousin showed me while he was charge of the AUX and I really had to swallow my ego and ask him to add it to my playlist.

Righteous Minds – Joey Bada$$: This song is so rich and full of character. Every time I listen I find something new to love, especially with how smart and intricate the lyrics are. I don’t listen to much Joey Bada$$ at all, but this track has been enough to get me started.

It’s On Again – Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar: I know this song isn’t from the recent Spider-Man movie that came out, but watching the latest release was enough to remind me of this song. Kendrick and Alicia? Yes please.

Cold Heart – Elton John, Dua Lipa, PNAU: Believe it or not, my uncle showed my cousins and I this song. It was request on Christmas Day and it just raised the spirits all over the house. Got everyone grooving wherever they were and we’re all obsessed with it.

Oh My God – Adele: This is one of my favourite tracks from this entire album. The album itself is insane, like Miss Adele came through with another work of art, but I wasn’t expected bops like this. The beep is so deep and heavy, but the vocals are super shimmery and light. I’m also obsessed with the little flute sound that swims around the track.

Outlandish – dvsn: There was a moment of unity when all of us who previously knew this track awoke from our work-day daze when this track came over the speaker. Never would have guessed I’d be hearing this song over the speakers but it was so cute seeing a bunch of us singing along and vibing as we got on with out work.

Hit This – Ebhoni: Again, a track that really stuck out to me at work during the day. It took me a couple of listens to get around it, but now I’m in love.

SWERVE – KSI, JAY1: More work tracks!!! KSI?? At work?? I had no idea that KSI made music, all I know of him I know from YouTube and my younger cousins, so when the result showed up on Shazaam during my break I was thoroughly shocked. It’s such a bop, I can’t help but boogie a little bit.

Roll Some Mo – Lucky Daye: Ahh, Lucky Daye. I think he was another artist who wormed his way into my heart during 2021 and during December it was this track. I’m in love with Lucky Daye’s voice. He’s got one of the richest voices of this generation in my opinion and he’s criminally underrated.

Real Groove – Kylie Minogue, Dua Lipa: I know. I’m just as surprised. Dua Lipa and Kylie Minogue? You couldn’t predict it. There was a call over the headsets by a friend at work to see if anyone knew the song, and I was the first one to Shazaam it because I was equally as intrigued. I feel like a playlist with this track and that Elton John/Dua collab would be perfect for getting a party started. I told y’all earlier last year, disco-pop was on the rise, and it’s well and truly here by now.

We Made It – H.E.R: There’s a warm spot in my heart for H.E.R. Y’all heard the theories that she’s an industry plant? I mean, I don’t know… all I know is I love her music regardless. This song is so ethereal and it just lifts you so beautifully. It came on shuffle as I was driving down the beach on my way home from work, I’d just finished an evening shift and good old daylight savings came through and delivered a beautiful sunset, and this song just topped it all off.

Love Grows – Edison Lighthouse: Cheers to TikTok for this track. The trend that accompanied this song for a few days was so wholesome and sweet and before long I was finding myself singing along to it every time a video happened upon my FYP.

I hope you all had a beautiful end to 2021, and I hope the start of 2022 has been equally, if not more, than better for you. It was a rough year for us hey? I know it was a rough year for myself, but here’s hoping that 2022 brings us more.

x

Priya

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November Tunes

Hello friends. I hope you’re all being kind to yourselves. November was so kind to us with new music, and I was truly spoilt for choice with tracks to include in this month’s wrap up.

Here’s what I was listening to in November.

COTTON CANDY (Live) – Y$O, Aidan Fine, JARNA, Sam V: My lord, when I say NZ has so much untouched talent, this is precisely what I mean. This track is a combination of everything I love, and I’m so confident that you’ll love it too that I’ve put it right at the top of my November Tunes. I mean, aside from the vocals, that give absolutely everything they need to, let’s talk about the live band. Insane. The dirtiest, grooviest bass line I’ve heard in a long time, a drummer who holds it all down and keys and guitar that just swim beautifully amongst it all. There’s so much in this song to appreciate, you just have to listen to it to understand.

Tongue & Groove – Masaya: Surprise, surprise, another NZ band. This time a bit dirtier and gritty, but just as beautiful and melodic. Such an easy listen, if you enjoy Sticky Fingers or Ocean Alley, these guys are a strong recommendation.

OKWME – Amine: Amine released TWOPOINTFIVE. That’s all you need to know. I played this album through twice in once day during my drive to work and it made it so enjoyable. This is a bit different to what you might expect from him, if you’ve heard Charmander then you understand the vibe Amine’s going for in this new album. Not my favourite album from him, but still a great listen.

Smokin Out The Window – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: Silk Sonic made November theirs. Between this single and the album drop, they completely owned this month in my opinion. Everything about this song is smooth and rich and silky. Everything I love about these two artists is just emboldened and heightened when they come together like they have for this partnership and I love everything about their lil music child.

Ex For A Reason – Summer Walker, JT, City Girls: Another banger of an album to grace our ears this month. Still Over It is probably one of my favourite album drops this year, and this song is one of my favourites. It’s so groovy and something I’m not used to hearing from Summer. Add in City Girls and you have a track sent straight for the baddies.

System – Dave, WizKid: I’ve only recently started listening to Dave. Knew I’d love this song when I saw WizKid on it, but I enjoyed it far more than I anticipated. I have two of my cousins for getting me into Dave, and I’m very thankful but this is still my favourite.

sweet and sour – Amelia Moore: Amelia Moore popped up on my TikTok FYP earlier this year and she’s been teasing this song for what feels like months. It came out early in November and it completely lived up to the hype. So punchy and raw, such an impactful and impressive debut single.

Dat Right There – Summer Walker, Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes: So remember how I said that Summer’s album was one of my favourite releases this year? This song is my favourite. I listen to it at least once a day. My favourite thing is to put it on during my drive to work which has become substantially longer due to my new job and it’s the perfect track to hype me up for the day. I mean, a collab with Pharrell and The Neptunes? Say less.

Lady – D’Angelo: Every new and then I come back to another D’Angelo song that just hits. This month it was this track. Holy moly. Everything the world was treated to when D’Angelo shared himself with the world is packaged perfectly into this song. So smooth. If chocolate had a sound, it would be this song.

So Good – Destiny’s Child: I was really in my RnB pocket this month hey? Nothing like some old Destiny’s Child. Given, this song made it’s way onto my playlist after it popped off on TikTok but thank God it did.

Breaking Free – JANEVA: JANEVA is an Australian artist and in late October she posted a short cover of this HSM banger on her Instagram and we all went wild. I literally went back to her page daily to see if she’d released it on streaming sites and thankfully in November she did. Do yourself a favour and listen. This is one of my favourite flips of a classic childhood throwback that I’ve ever heard. Australian artists stay pushing the game forward.

could’ve been simple – Frank Sativa: I’ll admit, I didn’t listen to this song as much as I could have this month but I love it. It’s such a chiller, such a vibe and Frank’s an artist I think everyone should give a listen and show some respect which is why he’s made the cut.

Fly As Me – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: Possibly one of my favourite tracks on the entire Silk Sonic album but let’s be real…there’s absolutely no skips on that record at all. Because I can’t add in their entire tracklist onto this post, I’m putting in this one because I love it so much. The bass line, the cheeky lyrics, the guitar, the horns, the harmonies, I’m currently obsessed with everything about this song.

Vex Oh – KAYTRANADA – GoldLink, Ari PenSmith, Eight9FLY: Loved me some KAYTRANADA this month. Truly. Especially a GoldLink feature too. That’s all.

Throw It Away – Summer Walker: This was what we wanted when we waited patiently for this new Summer Walker album. No feature on this track could have rounded it out as perfectly as Summer does all on her own in my opinion. Everything blends so seamlessly. Summer’s writing is also A+ on this entire album.

wyd? – Larissa Lambert: Another Australian artist who’s made to take off. Larissa has been on the scene for a minute, but this song is one of the first things from her that has really caught my attention for this long. Everything you love about your favourite RnB songstresses, you’ll find in this track. So smooth, deep bass lines, silky writing and vocals, I love it all.

proof – PANIA: MORE AUSSIE ARTISTS!! Pania is an amazing artist from here in Melbourne and her latest single is possibly my favourite release of hers. Her vocals are really rounded out and full on this track and really give you a sense of how strong her voice is. That said, it’s also stupidly catchy. I find the melody stuck in my head on the daily.

Strangers By Nature – Adele: I can’t not talk about Adele. I’ll be honest, I was late to listen to the album but this was one of the first tracks I did listen to, and it capture my heart immediately. It reminds me of early Disney soundtracks, floating vocal melodies, super atmospheric and classic. Strings, keys, Adele’s rich vocals, it’s like it’s made to nestle within the score of a Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty soundtrack. It simultaneously makes me cry and puts me into a sleepy trance and I’m in love with it. This song is so tragically sad, my hopeless romantic heart is entirely owned by this song.

Please let me know what you were listening to this month. We got a lot of new music gifted to us and I’m always hungry for more!

x

Priya

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October Tunes

October. Goodbye October. What a weird month. As far as 2021 goes, this month just flew past. Melbourne started easing out of lockdown during October. I had dinner and drinks with my best for the first time in over 4 months in October. Got have a dinner with my family, see my cousins all together and catch up with some of the people I missed the most in October, I even got to back to work for the first time since August. There was a lot to do during the last month so please forgive me if this month’s playlist of tracks is a little shorter than we’re used to.

All that said, I have some amazing tracks on this Monthly Tunes, if I do say so myself. Let me know what you think.

Surfin – Muroki: I’ve been loving Muroki so much this year, very pleased I stumbled upon the NZ singer. Not one miss from his as of yet. Just in time for summer too.

Hertz – Amyl and The Sniffers: This song just takes you straight to level 10. Super angsty, super grungy, with plenty of energy. I don’t listen to Amyl and The Sniffers because their music isn’t really my thing but this song alone is all I need.

Maripose – Radiant Children: This song is just so sunny. Groovy and simple but to be honest you don’t need much else.

Altar – Kehlani: I fell in love with this song the second I saw the visuals and the teasers on Ms Kehlani’s Instagram account. When the song and music video were finally released it surpassed all my expectations. I’ve missed music from Kehlani for longer than I assumed I did, so when this song was delivered I was so wholesomely nostalgic.

Seduce – Russ, Capella Grey: TikTok got me with this one. That’s all.

Safety – Becca Hatch: Becca Hatch is phenomenal. She’s a ridiculously underrated Australian singer but I totally reckon she could take off overseas. Specifically the UK. This track in particular really speaks to that, with the fast paced percussion, the beat and the progression of the track. Have a listen.

I must apologise – PinkPanthress: PinkPanthress finally released an album, to hell with it, and this song was teased all over TikTok. I’m very happy she finally has a whole record up for consumption on Spotify.

Love Me – Soli: Another Aussie singer, this time from my city of Melbourne. I feel like anyone who’s clued up on the Melbourne RnB scene would understand me when I say we were all waiting for this. So soulful and artfully delivered, it’s so worth the wait. Soli’s voice is like velvet and the production on this track just pairs so beautifully with her vocals.

Cameras/Good Ones Go Interlude – Drake: A bit of a throwback, but I couldn’t not add it onto this list when I’ve been listening to it as much I have.

Found – Tems, Brent Faiyaz: I’ve really been enjoying Tems during October, and paired with Brent, this may be one of my favourite songs of her. I love the guitar and how beautifully their voices blend together. Duets between a male and female vocalist are always some of my favourite tracks and this one hits the nail on the head.

Right Here – SWV: The MJ sample, the added beat, their beautiful harmonies, I love everything about this track. It’s one of my favourite old school RnB songs and I rediscovered it this month. The intro is enough to completely capture me.

Believe What I Say – Kanye West: I know…a Donda track on my monthly faves?? I’m just as shocked. Trust that it’s the one sampling the queen, Lauryn Hill.

Poppin’ – Chris Brown: The only CB era I accept these days. This entire album is a treasure trove, a masterclass on early 2000s RnB and I love it.

WE GOING CRAZY – DJ Khaled, H.E.R, Migos: We had a great handful of super sunny days during October, easing us into Spring into Melbourne, and I guarantee you, on each of those days, at first sight of the sun, this was one of the first songs I put on. I got my car unit fixed in October too, so after not having a car radio since March, this was the first song I played on the drive home from the mechanics. Hit just right.

Nuthin’ But A “G” Thang – Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg: I watched the Netflix docu-series, ‘The Defiant Ones’ about Interscope Records’ Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre, and there was so much music knowledge and history thrown at me every episode, I was in love. Since watching the series I’ve binged all of Dre’s albums, but I kept coming back to The Chronic, and this song in particular. Probably because I heard it so much as a kid and somehow still know so many of the words.

Money Trees – Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick made a small appearance towards the end of the docu-series and they had this track playing in the background. As soon as the episode finished I went and listened to that entire album as well. I also finished reading his biography this month too, so there’s been a fair bit of Kendrick consumption, which I’m not mad about at all.

Replay – Tems: Another Tems track, but y’all I’m just in love with her voice. Again, the guitar, the beat, her voice trumps it all. Her low register just hits you somewhere you don’t often feel with female vocalists, and I love it so much.

Zulu Screams – GoldLick, Bibi Bourelly, Maleek Berry: The Diaspora album owned my soul for the last half of this year. It still does. This song in particular is hands down my favourite. I love the progression, all the different parts of the song, how it’s so rhythmic and percussive yet super melodic and beautiful at the same time. This song never fails to put me in a good mood and get me moving. Here’s hoping clubs open up in Melbourne soon so I can annoy a DJ with this song request.

Law Of Attraction – Dave, Snoh Aalegra: I never listened to Dave before I heard this song. It was during one of the first dinner’s out of lockdown, hanging out with my cousins, going for a drive all together and two of my cousins demanded this song was played on the AUX. I fell in love with it straight away, partially cos of Snoh, but when I got home I listened to the entire album.

That’s it for October my friends. I hope you liked reading through my rambling. It’s been a tough few months, but hopefully things will start looking up soon. Hope you’re all well, I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

x

Priya

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August Tunes

Yo. So I know I said in my grovel/apology/explanation post that I missed my August Tunes, but I thought, it’s early enough in September for me to just try and sneak them in, right? So here we are.

As I explained, while I have been away for a couple of months, I’ve been up to my neck in new music and I’ve loved it. I’ve been listening to new releases, old throwbacks, songs from my childhood, songs that are completely left of centre for me and I freaking love it.

Let’s get into it.

Skate – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: I mean. What a way to get back in. Given this was released in July, but I really rinsed it in August. Everything I love about these two artists separately and what they create together is defined in this song. Super smooth and classic, it sounds like something straight out of the Get Down soundtrack and that’s an easy win with me.

Concrete Jugle Fever – Jerome Farah: I saw Jerome live earlier this year and he’s been on my radar since I first started listening to his band Jakubi a couple years ago. He’s been chilling behind the scenes for a little while, working with the likes of Kian and Tones and I, but in 2020 and 2021 he’s been a machine, releasing some amazing tracks and visuals along with it. This one is super gritty and energetic, a great introduction for anyone who’s never listened to any of his stuff before.

Need To Know – Doja Cat: I’ve been hyping the Doja Cat album since it was released. Planet Her was so much more than I expected. My favourite is most definitely Woman but thanks to my old friend TikTok, this song was stuck in my head more than I’d like to admit. Doja really came through with this one and this entire album.

not what i’m used to – Bella Taylor Smith: If any of my Australian readers have been keeping up with The Voice, you’d be familiar with Bella and how insane her voice is. It’s incredible. She had me in tears during her first audition and she’s been the favourite ever since the show started, for good reason. I just had to give her a good stalk and I discovered she released her own EP a little while back. After giving it a good listen and having a good cry I settled on this particular track as my absolute favourite. It’s beautiful. I love it so much because it really gives you space to listen to her voice, her tone and the lyrics. It’s really only her and a piano and it’s perfect.

New Apartment – Ari Lennox: An older one, but still a great one.

Made For Silence – Miiesha: I don’t listen to a lot of Miiesha’s music but as I’ve been updating my decolonise yourself playlist she’s popped up time and time again and this song just really got me hooked. She’s got a super crisp and clean voice and this song pairs it with a super catchy groove.

Just for me – PinkPantheress: I have to credit TikTok for helping me discover this chick. If you’ve scrolled for even half an hour on TikTok I can guarantee you would have heard at least one of her songs because she has that app by a choke hold. For good reason. She mixes DnB with a super floaty, angelic vocal performance and really raw and honest lyrics.

Don’t Rush – Young T & Bugsey, Headie One: Just a bit of a groove for you on this one. I’ve been rinsing this one this month.

My Mind – Yebba: I decided to look for this song on Spotify after hearing someone cover it on The Voice and nearly cried tears of joy when I saw that Miss Yebba had finally uploaded it for streaming. This song owns me. Completely. Try not to cry. I dare you.

Diana – Pop Smoke, King Combs: I’ve been listening to this song plenty during this month, especially when working out. It’s not a heavy track but there’s something about it that just flows super easy.

Facade – Nganeko: Nganeko is a New Zealand artist I’ve been following for the last couple of years and she finally released her second single. This song is sick. It’s a got a great beat and Nganeko has such an angelic, wispy voice that just dances all over the track. The chorus is ridiculously catchy and gets stuck in your head by the time the song is halfway finished. Not complaining.

Kiss Me Thru The Phone – Soulja Boy, Sammie: Don’t ask.

Time Moves Slow – BADBADNOTGOOD, Samuel T. Herring: Another TikTok credit here. I didn’t set out to find this song though, it just showed up on my recommended and as soon as I heard it I knew it. To be fair, it really is such a beautiful song. The guitar just captivates you and the bass really swims.

Catcha Grip – CD, PANIA: Two Melbourne gals, who I’ve been waiting to release new music. Both these chicks are super talented and CD has been drip feeding us music. This song is really enchanting and smooth, such an easy listen.

Pepeha – SIX60: Another SIX60 release. Imagine coming back with a Monthly Tunes post that didn’t include these guys. This song made me cry. I don’t speak the Maori language but God I wish I could just so I could really understand this song. A lot of my favourite NZ artists are re-releasing some of their tracks translated into the language it’s so beautiful to listen to, even if I don’t understand a word of it. This song is a really good example of how much NZ artists connect to their language and it never fails to give me shivers.

family ties – Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar: Thank you Keem and thank you Kendrick. This song goes super hard. Like, I had to take a moment. I can just imagine it would be a super hyped song for like…a sports highlight reel edit or something. It’s hype enough when I’m in the gym by myself so I can only imagine how hard it would go with a bunch of people jumping on it.

ZIPS – Church & AP: I’m very excited for new Church & AP. If you aren’t familiar with the NZ duo, you can read up on them HERE, but this is their latest release and it just keeps on trend, following the trajectory of their development and growth as artists. Very excited to continue seeing these guys move up.

Heat Above – Greta Van Fleet: Okay hear me out. So when I first listened to this band it was to get in on a joke. The general discourse around these guys is that they’re just Led Zeppelin wannabes. I mean, I get it, because I hear it. A lot of Axel Rose, some Aerosmith but A LOT of LZ. The purists really went mad with these guys. So when I first listened to them it was to make sense of the joke. But like…I don’t mind it? Like given, there are some songs that I can’t be bothered giving the time of day, but then there are songs like this one that just hit me in the gut. I feel like I’m thrown back to a past life when I listen to this track and I don’t know how to explain it.

Harleys In Hawaii – Katy Perry: So who was gonna tell me that Katy Perry was back with bangers? No-one? I don’t know how I missed it – actually I do, I mean come on – but this song is so good? Like…can summer hurry up please. The chorus, the beat, the bass, everything about this song makes me so excited to see the sun, even if I am currently in lockdown in Melbourne.

PLW – Leon Thomas: Can’t remember how I came across this song or this guy but thank goodness I did. So smooth, a wonderful mix of RnB/rock/soul. Highly recommend. If you like Miguel, especially most recent Miguel, I feel like you’ll love this song and this artist.

Stay Ready (What A Life) – Jhene Aiko, Kendrick Lamar: What a throwback. I just woke up one morning with this song in my head, and had it playing in my room, then I went on TikTok later that day and saw one of my favourite creators doing an ASL cover of it, so took that as sign enough to add it to my 365//2021 playlist which is still going strong, if you wanted to check it out.

Believe What I Say – Kanye West: Bro this entire release annoyed me. So much. I think the hype or ‘over-hype’ really ruined this record for me. I hold Kanye’s earliest releases super close to my chest, and really respect his music from when he first started but aside from a few tracks here and there I’ve struggled to connect with any of his latest releases. Sadly Donda was the same. I’ll give him credit, there are some great tracks on the album, however I think I’m just salty towards the album as a whole and it really distracts me when I listen to it, which is a fault of my own. Form your own opinion. However. This track. I am not immune to a Ms. Lauryn Hill sample, so this song had my from the first second I heard it.

So that’s what I was listening to in August. At least, some of it. I mean it’s September 3rd currently, and I hear ABBA have released some new music so … 👀 There’s also a Drake album on the horizon so…

What have you listened to recently? Let me know. And if you’d like to keep up with the daily playlist, my 365//2021 Spotify playlist where I add a song every single day for the whole year, you can find it below.

x

Priya

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May Tunes & A Quick Catch-Up

How in the world are we half way through the year already. Trust me, I feel like a completely broken record each time I sit down to write one of these posts, (which seem to be the only blog posts I’m sharing recently…my apologies) but time truly is just flying.

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I thought I’d use this post as a mini catch up (watch it turn into a long winded ramble post) because I know I’ve been a bit on and off here. I think everyone had some changes to make after 2020 and I’m definitely no different.

I was blessed in 2020 to not face too many difficulties as a result of COVID. I still live at home so rent and major bills weren’t something I had to stress about, and the Australian government did a decent job of supplementing our lack of pay cheque for anyone who was out of a job like I was. That said, my job was only shut down for a total of three months before we were back on, so I was one of the lucky ones.

That said, I handed in my letter of resignation at the old music store in February. If you’ve been around for a hot minute, you’d know that I’ve worked at a popular music store in my area for the last five years, and having graduated and completed my degree at the end of 2019, my plan was to get into some full time work the following year. Obviously 2020 had other plans, so I decided that in 2021 I’d cut down to just one job and quit my role at the music shop. At the moment I’m only now teaching at a local performing arts school that has the flexibility for me to pursue that full time job goal further.

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Since finishing up there I’ve been working towards locking down a full time position, but I’ve also taken on more responsibility admin/social media wise at the music school, and my band and I (Real Good Company on Spotify if you’d like to check us out) have really put our foot on the pedal in terms of doing gigs, recording music and putting stuff out there.

So that kinda leaves me floating around for a bit, making a little less money but really being able to improve my mental health and personal growth. I’m writing a lot for other artists and singers and I’m doing plenty of work featuring on other musicians tracks which was a huge aspiration of mine. I’ve always loved collaborating, so I’ve finally had the time to put myself out there a lot more and commit to more work with others. I’m singing on other people’s songs, doing feature verses, writing songs for other singers and in general just growing my list of credits which is what I love doing. Fitness has become a bigger focus for me and I’m finally hitting a bunch of performance goals that I’ve been steadily working towards, but that’s for another post – y’all will get another gym playlist eventually don’t you worry.

When I say that the year is moving quickly, I look back at how much has changed, what all has happened and what’s currently happening, and I mean…it checks out. Obviously, that’s not the whole point of this post – you probably came here for a few tunes a least. May was a weird month for me. A whole lot happened but it also felt like not a lot happened at all. That said, it was a great month for music, as every month this year is proving to be. I think a year in lockdown and with the world at a standstill in 2020 really gave all these musicians and artists the perfect conditions to really buckle down and get to work.

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Here’s what I was listening to in May. Mind you – I’ll be using the new Spotify feature that I mentioned in my last post which you can find HERE, to compile this list, so it’s gonna be a list of what I truly, actually was listening to over the last month and not just what I added to the playlist!

Latch – Disclosure: I rediscovered my absolute undying love for this track this month. I don’t think I’ve skipped this track, ever. I could listen to this song on repeat. There’s something laced in this song I tell you, I can never get sick of it.

Antidote – Nao, Adekunle Gold: A banger. It’s one of my favourites for the year if we’re being real. The rhythm, the beat, Nao’s velvety voice, everything about this track is perfection.

Vossi Bop – Stormzy: I couldn’t tell you how or why I started listening to this song again, all I can tell you is that I did and I’m not mad about it. It’s made features on my driving playlist, my lifting playlist, even my Sunday morning playlist because I can really just listen to this song whenever.

Bartender – T-Pain, Akon: This may be the song of the month for me. Oh my goodness. All I need is the first two bars and I am feral. This song really does unlock something in me that can only be described as the energy you felt way back in the 2000’s walking out of the cinema’s having just watched the first Step Up movie. Can’t be compared.

Your Power – Billie Eilish: I was so ready for this. Such a mature, raw, authentic and vulnerable side of Billie that we only get a glimpse of every now and then. I’m still trying to digest the lyrics on this one and every time I listen I feel like I get closer and closer to what she’s really trying to say, but as is evident, we only really get to see what she shows us. Totally fine with that because I could listen to this song all day, every day.

p r i d e . i s . t h e . d e v i l – J.Cole, Lil Baby: I don’t know if it’s the fact that the guitar sample is the exact same as Can’t Decide by bae Amine, or if it’s because I’ve been that bloody deprived of new Cole content, but this song just hits you different. It’s my favourite from his new LP and as much as I try listening to some of the other songs and giving them some love, it never comes close to how much I abuse the play button with this track.

Mystery Lady – Masego, Don Toliver: An older release, but still an absolute track by any standard.

Pray – Jungle: Got a quick Jungle fix as one tends to need every now and then. It was played in the background of a clip from Last Chance U: Basketball which I highly recommend if you’re into sport docuseries’. Obviously hearing the introduction chords had me running to Spotify to listen to the rest of their tracks, which gave me major 2019 nostalgia.

Footsteps In The Dark Pts. 1 & 2 – SiR: I don’t know what it is about this particular cover of this song…actually I do know. It’s SiR. He just knows how to do it and when it comes to being as smooth as this song LEGALLY requires, he just hits the nail on the head. I highly recommend you give this cover a listen.

Heaven – Julia Michaels: Another throwback. I was obsessed with this song for a hot minute. I rarely listen to Julia Michaels, if ever, but this song came up on my TikTok For You Page and I instantly had to listen to it in it’s entirety again. Such beautiful arrangement and I think Julia’s voice just ties it all together.

Undercover – Sam Wills: A TikTok discovery this one. I’ve found myself getting more and more song recommendations popping up on my FYP, which I’m obviously not mad about, but this one has to be one of my favourites. Not only is this particular song beautiful, but Sam Wills is such a gem and undiscovered treasure. His entire discography is hit after hit after hit in my opinion, and each time I clicked on a new song, I fell more in love with his voice. As far as I could tell, he had not one back track at all. Thank you TikTok.

Body (Remix) – Tion Wayne, Russ Williams: Again, I’m hand on heart, blaming TikTok for this one. Mainly for how good ArrDee’s verse is and for how incessantly it’s been imprinted on my brain. Let me know if you agree and we can suffer along together.

So High – SIX60: You really thought we’d get this far without a SIX60 song? Wrong. This song is so beautiful. It very beautifully timed an appearance on my shuffle as I was on a long drive home just as the sun was setting and the moment and the soundtrack has been imprinted in my mind this whole month. I had a little excited scream because of how beautiful it all was. The song, the sky, the moment. So good.

Ye – Burna Boy: Another track that just gets me out of my chair and having a boogie. Slight hazard when it comes on while I’m driving but we make it work. If you’re in the mood to groove, could not recommend a better tune.

favourite crime – Olivia Rodrigo: Holy moly. I’m a bit of a fraud for not dedicating a whole review to Olivia and her album SOUR, but I suspect it will come with time. Just give me a little while to digest this album completely, we all know how slow that can be. I’m really just making my way through this album because first listen just didn’t do it justice for me. That said, favourite crime is very steadily becoming ne of my favourite songs ever. Deja Vu will forever be my favourite song she has released thus far, regardless of how bloody good Good 4 U is, but this track is a close second I tell you that.

That’s a glimpse of what I was listening to during the month of May. I say a glimpse because when I went back to get all the *data*, there was just…a lot of it. A whole lot. So obviously just had to condense it a little bit for y’all, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway! Let me know what you’ve been listening to in the comments!

You can also find the songs listed and a bunch more on the playlist below! Make sure you follow my Spotify account and the 365//2021 playlist so you can see how the rest of the year pans out.

x

Priya

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April Tunes

April. Just try wrapping your head around that. We’re already done with April. I can’t. Here’s this months tunes.

Put It Down – Jazmine Sullivan: Miss Jazmine Sullivan is the gift that keeps on giving. I can’t think of a single JS song that I don’t absolutely love. The flavour of the month for April was this track, which radiates such divine ‘bad bitch’ energy that my jaw dropped when I first heard it. I hadn’t heard a song that hit this hard from Jazmine yet so it was a great discovery to make.

Gimme What I Want – Miley Cyrus: Another bad bitch who’s train I’ve been on this month is Hannah Montana herself, Miley Cyrus. This song. This song deserves all the hype and more because I don’t see it getting enough. So strong and raw, and I think it embodies this era of Miley and her music perfectly. It’s hard not to feel dangerously powerful while listening to this track.

Over It – Drax Project: There’s a soft spot in my heart for Drax Project and their music. They’re such a cute band and all of their music hits just right for me. This song is simple and sweet, while at the same time being a bit of a banger.

Casualty – Lawrence: There’s just something about a full band orchestration that gets me going, friends. Lawrence are so good at doing that and this song of theirs was my go-to banger for when I needed a dose of their energetic feel-good energy. You’ve got these pounding piano keys, a beautiful brass section with horns that punch right through and vocals that break through everything. Don’t mind that the lyrics are so beautiful, everything about this track just makes my heart happy.

Crush – Duckwrth: I always end up loving Duckwrth tracks by the time I’m about halfway through listening to them. This track in particular gives major Pharrell Williams and N.E.R.D vibes, so if you’re into that, you’ll love this track.

U Remind Me – Usher: This song came on shuffle while my cousins and I were hanging out together and it was such a vibe setter, we all ended up belting out the words and being super dramatic with it, which I feel is necessary with a song as iconic as this track. I’ve definitely been on an old RnB kick this month and I obviously love me some Usher. This song is in my top three.

Mrs. Officer – Lil Wayne, Bobby V., Kidd Kidd: I love the new music that I find on TikTok, but I also love rediscovering old favourites as they suddenly start trending – this being a prime example. This song used to bang when I was a lil kiddie, and it still does now. I don’t listen to much Lil Wayne, there’s a select few songs that I give the time of day, but I will give this song all my time, any time of the day.

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You – Lauryn Hill: My band has been singing the original version of this song at a few of our gigs, just making it a bit rockier, so I’ve been loving this song heaps. So obviously, when you put this track together with my absolute queen, Ms Lauryn Hill, you have a very easy addition to this month’s tunes.

The Comedown – Ocean Alley: The boys and I consistently struggle with finding new songs to cover whenever we need to throw a cover into a set, and it just so happened that someone suggested this track. We didn’t end up going with it, much to my dismay, but we ended up playing the song for the next half an hour while we searched for new tracks which definitely made up for it. I love the swelling and the dynamics in this song. Ocean Alley are so good at the slow build, but their switch up’s are just as good in my opinion. This song is a great example of it. That guitar riff in to the chorus is just *chef’s kiss*.

My Boo – Usher, Alicia Keys: Remember how I mentioned that RnB kick I’m on? Yeah. Too easy.

Cool & Easy – Sammy Johnson: This became a family favourite while we were on our trip around Tasmania over the Easter break. My whole family loves a bit of a reggae, and Sammy’s mix of reggae, jazz, pop and soul was the best soundtrack for our long hours spent driving in our rental car around the tiny state.

Breathe – SIX60: Another soundtrack for our trip was my favourites, SIX60, and I definitely made a calculated effort to turn them into fans just like me. We ended up listening to the entire discography that SIX60 has on Spotify, and I mean…no one asked me to change it, so I can only assume they were enjoying it right? This song is one of my favourites. It’s beautiful. I love the layers in this track, all the little sounds that come in and out, but more than that, I can really appreciate the lyrics and Matiu’s vocals. So lovely.

Hypotheticals – Lake Street Drive: I can’t even remember how I found this track, but I found it and it’s made it to the list, which can only mean I’ve been absolutely loving it. It’s that beautiful genre of soul, jazz, RnB, with a little bit of rock in there too, but it definitely leans more towards the soul and jazz side which I love. The chorus kicks the song into gear beautifully and lets you really sink into the intro verse right at the start before the tune starts really moving which I can definitely appreciate. Every time I listen to the song I find new things to listen out for and get excited about.

Lay It Down – Steelix: This track came out of nowhere and ruined my life. If you’re on TikTok you’ll probably find it very familiar because it’s been popping off over there, which is where I also found it. This song is surely laced with something. I don’t know if it’s Lloyd’s beautiful voice or the way this has been remixed and reconstructed but it’s something. I can’t stop listening to it over and over again.

MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name) – Lil Nas X: Don’t mind me just cackling at how Lil Nas X managed to send everyone into an absolute meltdown over a music video. The whole thing really caught my eye when people started complaining about what he was portraying and how he was attacking the Christian religion and I had to laugh, not gonna lie, but then I listened to the song properly and became obsessed. It’s genuinely so well written and produced and the instrumentation fits this new era of hip hop and RnB and rap so perfectly. What can I say, he nailed it.

Headspace – Billy Davis, Jordan Dennis, KYE: Billy Davis released his long awaited album this month and even though he released this track as a single a little while back it’s still my favourite on the album. Both Jordan and KYE nail their parts and everything flows together seamlessly. Billy never misses.

Not My Neighbour – Niko Walters, Kiana Lede: Niko Walters posted about this remix being released on his Instagram and I was a little…shook. Being a fan of Niko and being of Kiana, it was such a clash of two worlds for me, in the best possible way. The song itself is still a banger, and Kiana’s new verse on it just adds that extra layer of goodness for me. So smooth and effortless on both their behalves, it just works perfectly.

Been Away – Brent Faiyaz: Been on a bit of a Brent kick too have to admit. Some days I just put his Spotify artist page on shuffle and that’s the soundtrack for the next few hours. I will easily get through his entire discography without wanting to press shuffle once. I added this track to my monthly tunes because it’s featured on my 365//2021 playlist and I constantly go back to it. It’s such a smooth and sultry track, and Brent’s voice just swims throughout it.

That’s just a taste of what I was listening to during April. It was a busy month but we always make time for tunes. If you want to listen to the tracks I’ve shared in this post and more of what I’ve been listening to during 2021, you can have a suss of my 365//2021 playlist below 🙂

x

Priya

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March Tunes

Hello and goodbye March! That went dramatically quick. To think we’re already 3 months into 2021. To think it’s been a year since we first were affected by COVID19. A lot has happened in such a short time and much like the last few months, March just flew past. Much like the last few months, I also listened to a ridiculous amount of music. So much so that you may have noticed me cutting down the amount of tracks I include in my Monthly Tunes, and that is purely because I don’t have the time to add them all in, as I’m sure you don’t have the time to read them all individually. You can always check out the 365//2021 playlist HERE, or now, at the bottom of this post!

However, with all of that said, here’s just a few of the tracks I was listening to during the month of March.

Moving On – Niko Walters: I love me some NZ musicians and Niko Walters is a perfect example! Brother of Matui Walters, the lead singer of SIX60, I’ve been listening to Niko’s music for about a year now and this is the latest song I’ve been loving. My cousin introduced me to this track while on a weekend drive to have some lunch and I fell in love with it! Niko’s got a beautiful voice and the song is so subtle and strong in it’s own way.

All She Wrote – SIX60: Such a beautiful track to farewell summer with. As I continuously mention, SIX60 can do no wrong in my eyes, but this song is hand-over-heart, a track. I highly recommend you give it a listen, it’s such a gentle banger, building around this super simple guitar riff but the main hook is so catchy and anthem-ic, in an authentically SIX60 way.

So Fresh, So Clean – Outkast: I heard this song again recently while shuffling though a Spotify playlist and was shocked to say the least. It never occurred to me that Kiana Lede’s Mad At Me has a direct homage to this track in it’s chorus. The tune is so succinct and catchy, I’m unsure as to how I missed it. I love Outkast’s subtly on this track

BMO – Ari Lennox, Doja Cat: Yo, when I tell you this one took me for a spin, it took me for a spin. I’m no stranger to Ari Lennox’s track, BMO, I just had zero idea there was a remix that featured Doja Cat. Don’t ask me how I missed it, but when my friend Sarah sent it to me I was shook. That said, the song on it’s own is a banger, and I love a Doja verse on most songs anyway, so the track has only been elevated in my opinion. The original will always be my favourite, but this was a very nice surprise discovery.

Around The World – Daft Punk: This was purely a song to mourn the end of the dynamic duo that is Daft Punk. I spent most of the day playing this song in my room and having my own little boogie. This song is probably, out of all their tracks, the very many tracks they have, my absolute favourite.

Best I Ever Had – Drake: This is one of those ‘moment’ additions to the playlist, where I really only added it to remind me of the day. I was in the van with the boys in my band and we were driving to our first headline gig of the year, nearly a sold-out show in the city with a bunch of people coming and this was one of the song requests for the drive to the venue. It really popped off a lot more than I thought but it made for such a fun drive and was the first of many bangers queued up to get us through the trip.

Twenty20 – Real Good Company: Cheeky little personal plug – my band and I released out third single, Twenty20 at the start of March and obviously I had to add it in to my playlist as the tune of the day when it came out. We also had a super fun single release gig at The Worker’s Club, one of my favourite Melbourne venues ever which was such a great time.

Leave The Door Open – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic: I think most people have heard this song by now. I was super excited when I found out that Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak were joining forces to create Silk Sonic. Honestly, it’s everything you could possibly expected from two of the smoothest artists of the decade and then some. The vibe, the track, the music video; everything about this song is so undeniably smooth and I’ve been rightfully obsessed with it since it was dropped.

Stockholme Syndrome – One Direction: I wouldn’t be surprised if my most listened to artists for March was One Direction. I was really on a 1D bender this month and I have zero regrets. Whether I was hanging out with friends or family, driving to the gym, working out at home, chilling in the car on the way to work or just hanging out in my room, I’m pretty sure there was One Direction playlist nearly every day of the week, and Stockholme Syndrome really made itself known. For some reason it was a bit of a standout for me, just made me that extra bit nostalgic, and I’m not mad about it.

Frontin – Pharrell Williams, JAY-Z: Coming through with the throwback right now. I heard this song during a deep dive of Pharrell Willliams songs and finding all of his songs with The Neptunes. When I say treasure trove, I mean treasure trove. Pharrell Williams, and his pure genius never fail to amaze me, but out of all the digging and throwbacks, this one really got me hooked all over again. Couldn’t tell you why, it just gripped me the way absolute bangers tend to do. Completely out of nowhere. I can’t ever find it in myself to skip this song and I don’t mind, it’s an immediate mood-booster.

SAY SO – PJ Morton, JoJo: I’ve known about this song for a little while, but never took the time to listen to it until this month when I was out on my walk and decided to listen to the Song Exploder podcast, and found it on one of the episodes. I loved watching the Song Exploder Netflix series, and the podcast was just as good. Hearing how this song came to be, the different stages of it’s development, the fact that it was almost shelved and was brought back to life back PJ Morton’s fans, made listening to the track at the end of the episode all the better. It’s such a beautiful track, and JoJo really does a great job reminding everyone why she was one of the best RnB singers in the early 2000s. Plus there’s PJ Morton’s insane instrumentation and writing to go along with it. Match made in heaven. Could not recommend this track enough.

Freckles – Lawrence: I’ve known about brother/sister duo Lawrence for a little while now, and I recently got back into listening to their music. They’re the first artists signed to Beautiful Minds, Jon Bellion’s record label, and rightfully so, their music is offensively good. They have this perfect blend of funk, soul and jazz-nerd cool-ness, mixed with grit, punchy vocals and insane songwriting. Everything I love if we’re being real.

So that’s just a taste of what I was listening to during March! I hope you enjoyed reading through my ramblings – let me know what you were listening to this month, I’d love to know!!

x

Priya

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February Tunes

End of February already. Hello March. It’s insane how fast this year is moving, but as I mentioned to my friends as we were contemplating it, I’m very down with the speed at which we’re moving. Less time lingering means less time for things to go wrong and we’re really not trynna have a 2020 repeat.

All of that aside, I’ve been listening to heaps of music (what’s new?) and I have a bunch to share with you. Here’s what I was listening to in February.

Crazy – Sons of Zion: I love me some tunes straight out of New Zealand, and when it comes to NZ music, Sons of Zion always deliver. They released this single and I immediately fell in love with it. Such a groovy tune, and as per usual you can expect some amazing vocals and a good ole’ sing-a-long.

Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire: This is obviously a classic! I added it to my monthly playlist so I could remember one of the last few days at the end of January, after I’d already posted my January Tunes, when my friends and I went away to Rye for a couple days. If you wanna hear a bit about our last trip to Rye, you can read that HERE, but this one was a lot more chilled out because of the colder weather. We ended up making a bunch of trips into town, cooking up an absolute mess in the kitchen of our AirBnB, getting piercings and having a spontaneous night out, but this song reminds me of the couple of hours we’d spend driving in the car along the coast, and had old classics, this being one of them, absolutely blaring out of the car speaker. Core memory for sure.

Gravity – Brent Faiyaz, DJ Dahi, Tyler, The Creator: What more could you want? I’ll admit, I have never heard of DJ Dahi before, but this track with Brent and Tyler is such a treat, I love it regardless. I really enjoyed this tune during February, and I cannot wait for whatever else Brent Faiyaz is gonna be delivering in 2021. I loved watching him just simmer below the surface during 2019 and 2020 but I can’t wait for him to make a Daniel Caesar style breakthrough, it’s coming soon, mark my words.

What A Feeling – One Direction: This track started making the rounds on TikTok during Febuary, and my little 12 year old heart could not have loved it more. Such a throwback, even though it was one of their later releases, and I can never find it in myself to skip over this whenever it comes on shuffle now. Forever a favourite.

Pick Up Your Feelings – Jazmine Sullivan: Every day I find another reason to be in absolute awe of this woman and her powerhouse voice. If you’ve yet to discover Miss Jazmine Sullivan, here’s your chance. She’s currently one of my favourite female vocalists at the moment, and this song does an amazing job at showcasing that. She’s an RnB queen, but her voice is in insane in it’s own right. As far as I’m concerned, Jazmine Sullivan is her own genre. This song is insane.

Passion – Gretta Ray: I loved Gretta Ray immensely a couple years back when I first started this blog, you’re a real one if you read the Gretta Ray concert review back when it was posted, and I recently rediscovered some of her music, as well as her new releases that I hadn’t yet heard. This, being one of them. I love it. The chorus is so anthem-ic and the way it just churns and chugs along has me hooked. I had this on repeat this month for sure.

Normal Girl – SZA: The lyrics in this song just…hit. Along with some beautiful female voices like Jazmine, Sabrina and UMI who just fit so snugly into that beautiful RnB songstress pocket, SZA just cannot be ignored. Honestly I don’t know that there’s a whole lot I can add to this, the song kinda speaks for itself. I just spent a lot of time marinating in my feels while this song was playing during February and that’s not a complaint.

Orion’s Belt – Sabrina Claudio: I’m back on my Sabrina Claudio bender, and this time it’s this old classic that’s got me hooked. I love this song. I love Sabrina’s voice and everything about this track just feels so sensual and smooth. It’s like listening to the sound of honey while lying under the sun. Or the stars for the context of this song. The song writing on this record is so beautiful and picturesque, Sabrina’s got an immaculate talent for being vivid and descriptive with the images she creates with her lyrics, I’m all for it.

All Night – Beyonce: My cousin and I were driving back from the gym when she asked if she could put a song on. When I tell you I screamed when I heard this track, I screamed. I honestly can’t remember the last time I had listened to this song before then, but the moment it began I knew exactly what it was. Such a beautiful song, so melodic and ethereal yet so powerful and emboldened at the same time. I feel like that’s kinda just expected from Beyonce, but this was one of my favourite songs from her ever when it was first released and I’m glad I’ve been able to listen to it some more this month.

Fade Away – SIX60: It’s not a monthly playlist without some SIX60, and at this point it’s become a bit of a joke. Fade Away is one of their singles that they released in 2020, and it’s so beautiful. I really enjoy this track, purely for how beautiful the production is, how incredible the vocals are (as per usual) and I’ll be honest, just for the fact that it’s SIX60. Let’s be real, this is my blog and if I have any biases, I’ll let them be known. These guys could perform a cover of the alphabet song and I’d share that shit. I still recommend you give this tune a listen, it’s beautiful.

Provide – G-Eazy, Chris Brown, Mack Morrison: I saw Mack Morrison on this and had to do a double take, then I listened to it and heard all the sampling and references and really began to enjoy the track. G Eazy and Chris Brown are obviously two artists who I enjoy and have shared on the blog before, but I’ve also shared Mack Morrison in some of my throwback playlists. So it’s fair to say those aforementioned biases kicked into gear and I was enjoying this song less than 30 seconds into it. It gives me major throwback Chris Brown 2015 vibes and I’m loving it.

So High – Ski Mask the Slump God: I heard the intro of this song on Instagram a little while ago and was so hooked by it, but couldn’t figure out the song. I finally got around to throwing it through Shazaam, and it led me to Ski Mask the Slump God, who I’ll admit, I’ve literally never intentionally listened to in my life. Yet here we are, with a track by Ski Mask on my February Tunes. I think this is just a bit of … ‘in your feels’ kinda track and sometimes you need that right? Have a listen and let me know what you think, I’d love to hear if any of you enjoyed it or are Ski fans already!

Trippin – Kara Marni: When I tell you I have been in love with this song, I have been in love. It’s a super slinky, funky ode to the banger that is 1 Thing by Amerie, and Kara Marni does it so effortlessly. I nearly flipped a table when I heard this song, and if you’re a fan of some old school RnB, you’ll feel the same, I promise. The vibe is completely different, very much 2021 with an incredible bass and synth that sits amongst Kara’s silky vocals. There’s nothing forced about it which is so rare when you come across tracks like this, and I’m obsessed with how effortless it is. In love.

Love Affair – UMI: UMI has one of those effortlessly smooth voices. Nothing sounds contrived or difficult with UMI and I love it, especially in this song. This track came out back in 2019 but I heard it in the back of a TikTok the other day and ended up binging all her music for the rest of the week. So ahead of her time.

Already Best Friends – Jack Harlow, Chris Brown: This gives me major 2016 vibes and I’m all for it. I only really know Jack Harlow from his songs that have blown up on TikTok, but he released an album, That’s What They All Say at the end of 2020 and I can definitely get around it. He’s got some great features on there; Adam Levine, Big Sean, Lil Wayne and Lil Baby to name a few, but I think this track might be my favourite. I definitely listen to is the most.

Down The Line – Remi Wolf: Remi Wolf is moving up my friends, and you wanna make sure you’re all over her music before she does. If you’re after that early BENEE mixed in with a bit of Vulfpeck and Thundercat, Remi’s your girl. You’ve probably heard her song Photo ID, it blew up a few months ago on TikTok and no-one really gave the girl her props for creating an absolute banger of tune, but she released an EP, I’m Allergic To Dogs! in 2020 and it’s got even more amazing tracks, this being one of them.

Plastic Hearts – Miley Cyrus: I aware this song came out a little while ago, but here I am again, sharing my love for this new wave that Miley Cyrus is currently riding. I have all of my fingers crossed, hoping that she really digs into this rock genre pocket that she sits so comfortably in because she nails it every time. Whether it’s a cover of someone else’s song, (Heart of Glass I’m looking at you) or her own track, she owns this entire genre in my opinion.

That’s what I was loving during February! I’ll admit I had to trim this list down a bit. Even though it’s the shortest month of the year, I had a long of tunes on the list and it was becoming a bit of a joke. I’d love to know what you were listening to this month, let me know in the comments!

x

Priya

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January Tunes

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!

x

Priya

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