Reading Time: 8 minutes
Howdy. I’m quite late again, aren’t I? Sorry. Life is busy but I love doing this!
From now on, I’ll be trying to keep the mixtape to 20 songs dissected, but other stuff I’ve enjoyed this month are at the bottom in the complete playlist.
Short on time? My Essential 5 are featured at the top!
As always, I really appreciate every read, scan or visit and hope you find some new music you love.
The Essential 5
Rita Ora – Ask and You Shall Receive
Glorious, euphoric, and fun dance-pop courtesy of Raye and David Guetta with slick production.
Tendai – Tried To Fly
Chilled, mellow alternative R&B with glitchy production and syrupy smooth vocals.
Zayn – Ignorance Ain’t Bliss Demo
Zayn channels Arctic Monkeys on this raw, organic demo complete with fierce live drums, grungy guitars, and funky bass lines.
The Jammin’ Kid, Majestic & Celine Dion – Set My Heart on Fire (I’m Alive x And The Beat Goes On)
Celine Dion gets a funky makeover on this mashup between ‘I’m Alive’ and The Whispers’ ‘And The Beat Goes On’. Killer!
Brian Kennedy – Hollow
Irish singer-songwriter Brian Kennedy shines on this 2016 remake of his 1990 album track with stunning melodies and lovely guitar chords.
The Long List
Rita Ora – Ask and You Shall Receive
This gets a HELL YEAH from me! Originally a Raye and David Guetta collab which for some reason got shelved, Rita releases her best single in years. I’m livid that this has flopped – it deserves so much more. I know cynics are all ‘It’s just an old Raye reject’ / ‘It’s generic dance-pop’ etc but I think it’s worth more than that. Slick house beats, a guitar sample which is dangerously close to ‘Music Sounds Better With You’, a funky bass line and a great vocal from Rita make this an immaculately produced piece of house-pop. One of my favourite releases of 2024.
Tendai – Tried To Fly
I heard this chilled, dreamy slice of alt-R&B late one night on Radio 1 and was instantly sold. Everything from the glitchy and mellow beats to Tendai’s smooth, layered vocals is perfect. This is just so, so special and I adore it. Definitely worth a listen!
Zayn – Ignorance Ain’t Bliss – Demo
Zayn’s latest album is a little beige for me but had one or two standouts. This album outtake, labeled as a demo was released a few days later on a special edition of the album. It’s criminal that this wasn’t developed further and released properly because it is KILLER. Channeling his inner Alex Turner, giving Arctic Monkeys vibes, Zayn’s syrupy smooth vocals run and glide over a funky bassline, insane live drums and muffled guitars. I really, really hope that this is worked on and released in the future because it truly is Zayn at his best!
The Jammin’ Kid, Majestic & Celine Dion – Set My Heart on Fire (I’m Alive x And The Beat Goes On)
I heard this on a premade playlist and kept meaning to add it straight to my playlist on Spotify but forgot. Still, it’s there now and has been a staple for the last couple of months. Merging dreamy, pop-y early ’00s Celine Dion track ‘I’m Alive’ with the killer 70’s ‘And The Beat Goes On’ by The Whispers (you might also remember it as a sample in Will Smith’s ‘Miami’) over a funky house beat is just genius and it works perfectly.
Brian Kennedy – Hollow
I am well and truly in Brian Kennedy mode again. For those who aren’t aware of him, he’s an Irish singer who grew popular in the 1990’s. He still makes beautiful music, albeit with less commercial success. His music draws inspiration from Joni Mitchell and other folk influences. This song was on his debut album but this version comes from an album 26 years later on which Brian re-recorded some of his favorite songs. I love the original version but have chosen this one because I love the song in this lower key better. It’s amazing what a key change can do! Gorgeous melodies, lovely chord progression, and clever lyrics. Just adore this.
Lemonade Baby – Don’t Stop (Keep on Movin On)
I’ve been enjoying this slick house track for a while now with its repeated vibey chords and psychedelic falsetto vocals. Really underrated song which needs sharing more!
Bebe Rexha – Chase It (Mmm Da Da Da)
Another dance-pop track which deserves better. Chilled, low-key vibes in the verses give way to a moody, repeated ‘da da da’ refrain over house beats. Good fun!
Tracy Chapman – Short Supply
I discussed Tracy Chapman with a colleague of mine and naturally checked out her entire discography. She’s a legend, responsible for some incredible music and with a distinctive and powerful voice. This song really stood out with its sunny guitar chords and uplifting nature with lyrics about needing more good things in our lives. Gorgeous!
Leigh-Anne – I’ll Still Be Here
I love this penultimate track on Leigh-Anne’s debut EP. Featuring 90’s vibes in a similar vibe to TLC and with a slick beat and a frolicking bassline heavily inspired by J Dilla’s production, it’s a mellow and chilled listen with gorgeous melodies and lovely unexpected brass samples. Really lovely.
Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica – The Boy Is Mine
A standout from Ari’s album, if it wasn’t already a genius move to get Brandy & Monica (whose classic 90’s track with the same title heavily inspired this track) in the music video, the pair have now jumped on the track, adding syrupy smooth vocals and luscious harmonies.
Charli XCX – 360
I’m in a Charli XCX phase. It’s taken me a while but I’ve now found lots of music by her which I enjoy. Really like this brash and catchy piece of hyper-pop with its pulsating bass lines and 80’s inspired synths. Fierce!
Take That – Serenity
Whilst I loved Take That’s 2023 album ‘This Life’, I wasn’t blown away by any of the bonus tracks on the deluxe version released earlier this year. This song however is simply lovely with breezy vibes, sunny acoustic guitars and uplifting lyrics.
Bleachers – Me Before You
This has been in my playlist for a while. Bleachers are a great band headed by in-demand producer Jack Antonoff (Taylor Swift, Carly Rae Jepsen, The 1975 amongst many, many others). This is a gorgeous, mellow and dreamy song with gentle guitar strums, soft murmured vocals and hazy saxophone elements. Lovely.
Finn Askew – Aftertaste
I really, really like Finn Askew. He has a husky tone not too dissimilar to Post Malone and makes laidback indie-pop. His last few singles have been a little hit and miss for me but this is my favourite release of his in a couple of years with its jazzy pianos with a hint of ‘Easy’ by The Commodores and its chilled beats.
Murphy’s Law & Guy Mac – Passion
Another song which has been buried in my playlist for a while. This is an irresistible, groovy house track with thumping beats, siren-like synths and high-pitched vocal samples lifted from Sharada House Gang’s 1991 club track of the same name. Good fun!
Dylan Chambers – Loving You Is Easy
I love this breezy and soulful song with irresistibly smooth guitar riffs, classic production and stunning falsetto vocals. Really, really great!
Tyde and Victory – What More
This is a gorgeous piece of chill-pop with chilled beats, delicate piano elements and rich, soulful vocals. Really lovely.
Jennifer Lopez – Hummingbird
Whilst I really enjoy a lot of JLo’s work, her new album was not for me. This song was an exception, however. With its retro vibes, R&B beats and glitchy samples, it feels like classic JLo in the best way, up there with her best work from the early 00’s. Really love this.
Charli XCX – Twice
Whilst she’s been critical of it, I think Crash is my favourite Charli album, which makes sense because it’s more conventional pop than the rest of her work. I love this bouncy, slick avant-pop track with its hooky melodies and twinkly synths and gorgeous key change at the end. It’s the perfect closer to the album.
Young Gun Silver Fox – Who Needs Words
I’m still in love with Yacht Rock duo Young Gun Silver Fox. This is a lovely, breezy pop track with mellow vibes and glorious harmonies. Gorgeous.
Extra keen and want to listen to these all back to back? Unlikely but in case you do, here’s the playlist, along with some extra tracks I haven’t discussed here:
the-music-box.co.uk 