Category: Playlists

Great tunes to add to your own playlists

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Friday Favorites 8/14/20

Happy Friday Everyone! As many of us are adjusting to a new schedule, whether it be classes, work or both, I hope you all are finding time to do things you enjoy. For me, that means music! This is a playlist  of songs I’ve had in heavy rotation recently that I think others will enjoy too. What follows is a short rundown of the tracks in the playlist:

  1. “PB Jam” by Tkay Maidza: one of my favorites off of her new release, Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2. I love the mood the funk bass and g-funk whistle create on this track. If you like this song, check out my review of the album!

  2. “Agüita” by Gabriel Garzón Montano: GGM is a man who wears many hats. However, “Agüita” is his first time wearing the hat known as hip-hop. With a relentless flow, this one is catchy even if you don’t speak Spanish. Check out my review of his 2014 release, Bishouné: Alma del Huila!

  3. “The City” by Jockstrap: This is one that you really have to experience for yourself. It begins as a heartfelt ballad backed by only a piano. Halfway into the song, however, things get… should I say… chaotic. Stuart Holmes on Youtube aptly describes it as “Regina Spektor meets Aphex Twin.”

  4. “Rollin’ (feat. Society of Soul)” by Dungeon Family: I would be hard pressed to recall the last time I heard a funk/hip hop song in 6/8 time. If one of the vocalists on this track sounds familiar, it’s because of Dungeon’s Family’s ties to Outkast.

  5. “Oh Shit!” by Black Haus: Greensboro’s Black Haus describe themselves as “Four unapologetic black men making music together in a time when bands are dead.” This attitude is on full display on “Oh Shit!”, which is a two-minute flash of blistering punk fury.

  6. “Green and Gold” by Takuya Kuroda: Ya like jazz? On this track, Japanese trumpeter Takuya Kuroda builds a solid foundation on a simple motif. From there, he lets his instrument do the talking.

  7. “Mirage” by Chris Keys, Quelle Chris, Earl Sweatshirt, Denmark Vessey, Merrill Garbus and Big Sen: This one is a posse cut for the abstract hip hop fan, complete with a lofi piano loop and emotional group vocals. If bittersweet is your thing, you’ll love this one.

  8. “Really Love – Live from Spotify NYC” by D’Angelo and the Vanguard: This is a live extended version of one of my favorite songs on Black Messiah. It features extra soloing on the Spanish guitar, check it out!

  9. “walking in the snow” by Run the Jewels: Killer Mike and El-P team up for some scathing commentary on the state of America in 2020, touching on topics of police brutality and the school to prison pipeline.

– DJ Mango

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Playlists

Friday Favorites (8/7)

Quarantining away from my friends and family has been difficult, but I’ve found some bright new releases that keep me uplifted. They also relate to my experience, likely a widely shared one, for my Friday Favorites this week, check it out and enjoy.

Cabin Fever – Jaden 

This new single from the talented Jaden Smith perfectly reflects the “Groundhog Day” experience of being away from your partner during quarantine. With a bouncy melody and layered vocals, the song will become anyone’s new favorite.  

astrid – glaive 

This short track is a new release that I quite enjoy; it’s a brave mix of pop, electric and rap that actually sounds good. Something new that you should definitely check out. 

Verbs (ft. Steve Lacy) – Peyton

A cute little love song with delicate, otherworldly vocals, simple beat and background vocals by my favorite, Steve Lacy. A simple song perfect for long summer days (and the inevitable multiple walks you’re taking to fight boredom). 

Please Don’t Make Me Cry – Lianne La Havas

Lianne La Havas’ new self-titled album is a beautifully crafted artistic work. It combines elements of indie folk, soul and alternative genres into something beautiful. This song in particular has a complex melody that keeps the listener intrigued throughout. 

Darcy – Wabie 

This single from Wabie is very groovy. It reminds me of the West Coast surf-pop I listened to during my high school years, but I also find that his songs have really strong lyricism and depth. 

You can listen to all of these songs and any from past weeks on WKNC’s Spotify, linked here. 

– Miranda

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Playlists

Road Trip Playlist

One of the best part about a road trip is that you can listen to excellent music while traveling. I recently got home from a 7000 mile road trip from North Carolina to Washington and back*, and suffice to say the 80 hours in the car required a lot of good music to keep me entertained. I decided to compile my best road trip tracks to share with all of my friends and blog readers, I hope you enjoy! 

America – Simon & Garfunkel 

I love Simon & Garfunkel, this song and also many in Paul Simon’s wheelhouse are perfect for a long road trip. Think old subaru outback, stale cigarette smells, and cinnamon coffee.

Coming Home – Leon Bridges 

A really pretty track which I especially appreciate after an incredible journey. Nothing like coming home. 

Nara – alt-J 

This song and the “This Is All Yours” album are all really relaxed, pretty songs with appealing electronic tones to add a perfect depth. 

Santa Fe – Beirut 

I love hearing songs about the places I’m visiting, which is why many of the songs in the playlist reflect state or city names. Beirut’s “The Rip Tide” is really appealing to me for this reason. 

This Must Be The Place – Iron & Wine

Iron & Wine makes some great road trip songs. I love their covers which bring a new, usually acoustic and gentle, sound into the nostalgic tracks we all grew up loving. 

Check out my full road trip playlist here. 

*To preemptively address concerns about my trip – I am relocating to Washington after graduation and went up to begin the moving process, as well as get engaged to my now-fiancé. We took social distancing precautions and wore PPE in public, and I quarantined for two weeks before and after my travels. I recommend anyone planning a road trip to consider postponing until U.S. COVID-19 cases are significantly reduced, especially because many of the cities I visited still do not have mandates about masks or social distancing. If you must travel, please pack plenty of masks, sanitizer, and gloves, and use common sense. Be safe. 

– Miranda 

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Playlists

Let’s Talk Music: Summer Jams

 

I honestly don’t know how the seasons work outside of the context of school, but given the second summer session at NC State is about to come to an end I thought I’d share some of my favorite tunes from this summer. Thanks to WKNC, and my Daytime Music Director position, my listening has diversified a lot lately, so here are some songs I found very enjoyable over the last two months. I hope you enjoy the variety of this playlist:

Zeros by Declan McKenna – Declan has been releasing tracks over the last few months for the record ‘Zeros’ that will be released August 21st. The original release had to be pushed back, given current events in the world, but I couldn’t be more excited that it’ll be out just next month.’ The Key to Life on Earth’ is my favorite track of the three singles so far, do you have a favorite?

Dance Alone by Blanks – This track feels like summer with it’s up beat rhythm and catchy chorus, it just makes me want to dance alone. Blanks has also had a few releases this summer, but if you need a quick pick-me-up I recommend starting with this track.

I Wish I Missed My Ex by Mahalia – This song is a vibe with it’s R&B and Soul sound, and it’s also incredibly catchy. The lyrics are funny and it’s easy to get into.

Social Drinker by Ballyhoo! – This is an incredibly relatable track I’ve mentioned on the blog before. It’s also really catchy with it’s surfer rock vibes and the hook is hard not to sing along to.

Eat Your Heart by Steam Powered Giraffe – I have not heard from this group in years and I was extremely excited when I heard this one, it’s an extremely catchy and beautifully dark track. It’s a love song for people who don’t like typical love songs. This band always stands out for their steam punk influence and it makes this song perfect for anyone who likes the style.

Easy by Justin Starling – This track is lyrically empowering and the beat paired with Justin’s raping is easy to get into. The chorus is also nearly impossible not to sing along to, a characteristic of any good summer tune.

Sick of Feeling Useless by Neon Dreams – I’ve talked about this track a lot on the blog but that’s just because I love it a lot. It also happens to have the perfect summer vibe, so it fits this list perfectly.

Was It Something I Said MyKey ft. Cavetown – This song is a bit less like the rest on the list. It has an interesting ‘old school’ sound, but it’s still extremely catchy. The lyrics are a bit ‘darker’ then the music lets on. It’s a really easy track to sing along to without realizing what you’re saying, and McKey and Cavetown vocals sound amazing together. 

House by Baba Ali – This is another one I’ve mentioned on the blog before, so all I’ll say this time is it hasn’t gotten old and the genre bending sound makes it a stand out on any playlist.

If you are looking for some softer sounding tracks this summer I recommend Nothing by Bruno Major and Black Dog by Alo Parks.

What were your favorite jams of the summer?

Until next time

Let’s Stay Psyched About Music

DJ Psyched

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Playlists

Friday Favorites (7/24)

This week, my Friday Favorites are made up of some of the best new releases I’ve recently found within a variety of genres. 

SUNRISE – MICHELLE 

This single was just released by MICHELLE: a band composed of six 21-year-olds from New York. The track is catchy, bouncy and has the perfect vibe for a summer afternoon. The vocals remind me of UMI or another great indie artist, and I definitely recommend giving it a listen. 

Don’t Be Mad At Me (ft. Freddie Gibbs, Snoop Dogg) – Problem

This song is definitely a summer hit to me – I love seeing artists I’ve known for a while start collaborating with bigger artists and getting more recognition. I recommend this song if you like rap, especially artists like Tyga or DaBaby. It’s super catchy and the verses are well done. 

Cookie Chips (ft. MF DOOM, Cam O’bi) – Rejjie Snow 

This song perfectly mixes rap and R&B verses with a dreamy, complex melody and a hook that doesn’t leave your mind. It’s a really beautiful song and features some artists I really love. I highly recommend this song in particular. 

Spit You Out – Cults 

The music Cults produce has undergone significant changes since their breakout album, Cults. Many of the new songs, including this new single, reflect deeper instrumentation and richer lyricism. This is a great song, listen if you enjoy artists like Sleigh Bells or Tennis. 

Radio Shack – Vulfpeck

Adding into Vulfpeck’s groovy discography comes their new EP, featuring Radio Shack, a funky instrumental track that will have you bobbing your head and putting it on repeat. This band is really cool because they actually sold out Madison Square Garden without a top record label or manager. 

You can check out this week’s Favorites as well as all songs from previous weeks on Spotify. Enjoy!

– Miranda

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Playlists

Songs of Summer

Summer: it’s the time for hot weather and vacation. Unless of course, you’re living in a rainy town during a global pandemic, and have been under quarantine for months. But summer music is one of my favorite genres. These are the best summer songs and albums that take me right back to sitting on the beach and enjoying being under the sun. Hope you enjoy and have a fun, safe summer! 

channel ORANGE – Frank Ocean

This album is a really great one. It contains lots of upbeat songs that are great for a summer day, like Lost and Super Rich Kids. A summer playlist isn’t complete without Frank Ocean. 

PCH – Jaden 

Willow and Jaden’s vocals on this song make it so unique. The cool melody paired with their simple lyricism makes it a relaxing summer song that I can’t get enough of. 

Empty – Kevin Abstract
Listen to this song to get taken right back to your teenage summers. This song always gets me reminiscing about summers past. I absolutely recommend the song, once you hear it you’ll never forget it.  

STN MTN/Kauai – Childish Gambino 

This EP is extremely summer-y. It follows a narrative showcasing the “island life” of a vacation in Hawaii along with a narrative of Glover’s experiences in Stone Mountain, GA. I really recommend this whole EP, perfect for a summer on the beach. 

In The Flowers – Animal Collective 

This song borders more on the electronic, ethereal side but is beautiful. A great song for your visit to a field of flowers in the summer heat. 

King of the Beach – Wavves 

As the title suggests… this song will make you feel like the king of any beach you go to. I love any California pop-punk and this song is no exception. 

Birds Dont Sing – TV Girl 

This song and the album it appears on showcase the best of indie pop, and are perfectly upbeat but with contrastingly sorrowful lyrics. I love the samples used on the album and in this song particularly. 

You can find these songs and more at the playlist linked here. 

– Miranda

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Playlists

Friday Favorites (7/10)

This week’s Friday Favorites include some of my favorite recent tracks by Black female musicians. Malcolm X said that “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman. The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” Modern discrimination against Black women is rampant, and so I want to highlight some powerful artists filled with talent despite the societal obstacles they’ve faced. 

Build (ft. Arin Ray) – Justine Skye

This song by Justine Skye reflects a tumultuous relationship. The disappointment and push and pull of an unhealthy couple. The music video for this song is very powerful as well; it helps raise awareness of domestic violence and encourages victims to seek help. 

Another Lifetime – Nao 

This alternative-R&B track by Nao reflects the emotions following the end of a relationship. The melody is pop-based but her lyrics and harmony used give the  track endless depth. 

Hello – Erykah Badu

Badu constantly pushes the envelope with her experimental tracks, veering in between R&B, pop, and rap. This lesser-known track has always been a favorite of mine. It has a beautiful melody and meaning. Give it a listen for sure. 

Sober – Mahalia 

Mahalia is an influential British R&B singer who has recently gained recognition in the modern R&B scene. This track is a love song with smooth vocals and a bit of jazz influence within it. It is a really pretty track. 

Black Truck – Mereba

This song is ethereal and light. Mereba is a multi-talented musician: she produces, writes, sings, raps, and plays guitar. This song portrays the story of her pursuit toward success in the music industry despite the barriers she faced.

As a reminder, you can find all of my Friday Favorites from this week and past weeks on WKNC’s Spotify page, found at this link. 

– Miranda

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Playlists

New Music of June

 

Another month of good music releases is over, so it’s time to go back and reflect on some of my favorite tunes from June 2020. There will be a playlist with more songs linked below, but for now I’m going to highlight a few…

  • House by Baba Ali – I’ve talked about this track on the blog before, but given that it’s one of my favorites i’m going to talk about it again. This song highlights the feeling this singer has about how economic struggles can get in the way of a smooth and easy life, making a house not feel like the home it should. The message sticks by me every listen and it’s one I frequently come back to for its funky and unique sound. The track is genre-bending and blends elements of Pop, Funk, Dance and alternative/ indie. It’s one I came to for the sound and stuck by for its lasting impact.

  • Easy by Justin Starling – This song drew me in in the first few seconds and kept me hooked with its ear catching and confidence building chorus. The song is a hip-hop and rap mix that the artist uses to tell their story. The story starts with what it was like growing up for the artist and how they worked their way up to where they are now. The track is inspiring and so is the video that comes with it. The video was shot in Puerto Rico, and the artist got the opportunity after writing, recording and producing the track on his own. That’s definitely not an easy task, but just like he says ‘I know (he) make(s) it look easy’.

  • Sick of Feeling Useless by Neon Dreams – Need another track to boost your confidence and relate to? That’s what I love so much about this song. I’ve talked about it briefly in a post I made about the artist a little while ago, but the track definitely deserves some more recognition. The anthem-like chorus makes the song one that repeats in my mind long after a listen, and knowing just how much it took for the artist to get to this point makes it all the more powerful. ‘Scream out but nobody listens, try hard but it don’t make a difference’, but it makes all the difference to the listeners.

There are more at the link, including ‘Black Dog’ by Arlo Parks that I also recently made a post about. So if you’re looking for more new tunes, check it out here.

Until Next Time,

Let’s Stay Psyched about Music,

DJ Psyched

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Playlists

Love and Breakups

There is so much musical content relating to emotion, specifically on the topics of falling in love and breaking up. Some of the best music is tied to emotions of love and heartbreak, and I created a playlist found at this link on Spotify with songs that cover these themes, to show the contrasting nature within the wide range of romantic feelings. I’m showcasing some of my favorites below with an explanation and a little more about the songs and artists. 

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 

This album holds some seriously powerful love and breakup songs. Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You is a beautiful cover of the classic song, which Hill gives an upbeat, hip-hop style spin to. This entire album really reflects the emotions of love. 

Burst Apart 

This album has two great tracks included on the playlist, but all perfectly balance the melancholic with the lyrically deep. Its songs are a little haunting but perfectly encompass the feeling of emptiness and loneliness after a breakup. 

Darwin Deez

I absolutely love the simplistic indie melodies of these songs and they definitely reflect the anger and sadness one can feel against a former partner or love interest. I really recommend Deep Sea Divers in particular. It paints a beautiful, somber picture in your head as you listen. 

We Are Born 

Sia’s greatest masterpieces come from this 2010 album. It drives through every emotion thinkable, applicable to breakups but also for releasing past trauma and pain. It is also my favorite pop album of all time, great for easy listening but also something more reflective. 

Devotion

Beach House created something beautiful with this album, combining a multitude of emotions. The two tracks I selected, Turtle Island and Some Things Last a Long Time are perfect for a breakup or getting over a loss in general. 

Be sure to check out the playlist, and let me know what you think! 

– Miranda

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Playlists

Friday Favorites (6/26)

This week’s Friday Favorites segment will highlight some of my favorite songs by talented Black artists from the mid-1900s. Often these artists had to fight to break into mainstream music and were working against discrimination and racism. Despite their struggle, these artists all created amazing music. 

Grandma’s Hands – Bill Withers

Most of us know of the talent and impact of Bill Withers as a musician. He is an incredible songwriter, and this song in particular echoes familial love and gratitude. Its emotional lyrics pair with a cool R&B beat to create a memorable track. 

Mama Said – The Shirelles 

This is a really excellent song by this successful group which defined female vocal groups and helped influence the popular blend of pop and rock with R&B. This song is fun and upbeat with beautiful vocals and harmonies. 

You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me – Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 

One of my favorite Black musicians is Smokey Robinson. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles created some of the most gorgeous music of the era, ranging from love songs to Christmas albums. The group is incredibly influential to R&B and this song is so beautiful. 

Ain’t Too Proud To Beg – The Temptations 

The Temptations were one of the most influential Motown acts of all time. Their vocals are extremely memorable and influential still today, and this song is a perfect example of why the group is remembered as one of the best of the 1960s. 

Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes 

This song is one of the best from The Marvelettes, a pop-influenced Motown girl group with gorgeous lead vocals and upbeat lyrics and song themes. This one is one of the most well-known by the group and has been covered by many artists since. 

As always, you can check out this week’s Favorites and all the songs from the past weeks on this playlist on WKNC’s Spotify. Hope you enjoyed! 

– Miranda