And just like that, we’ve reached the end of October!
Here’s what I’ve been loving over the past month. These blog posts take me a couple of hours, so I appreciate every click, scan, visit and read.
Hope you might find something new that you love!
Marc
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Music Picks for October
The Essential Five
(Well, actually six, this month as I really couldn’t narrow it down to five!)
Charlie Puth – Changes
An 80s-inspired masterpiece packed with warm synths, rhythmic guitars and a gospel climax, showcasing Charlie at his creative best.
Sam Ryder – Better Man
A retro, yacht-rock and 70s soul-inspired track bursting with powerful vocals, funky pianos and an irresistibly catchy chorus.
Lola Young – why do I feel better when I hurt you
A raw, soulful pop ballad blending understated vocals and harmonies with honest, emotional storytelling.
Dijon – The Dress
A moody, gospel-tinged alt-R&B gem with sleek production and a hauntingly infectious chorus.
Doja Cat – Silly! Fun!
A playful, 80s-flavoured electropop banger that channels Gwen Stefani’s early solo energy with trademark Doja flair.
Nelly Furtado – Honesty
A shimmering, disco-pop collaboration with SG Lewis and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs that’s pure dancefloor perfection.
The Long List
Charlie Puth – Changes
I’d waited for what felt like a lifetime for this release after he kept teasing it on socials, and boy, it did not disappoint! Charlie takes it right back to 1989 on Changes, utilising all the hallmarks of music from that era: 80s synths, warm chords and rhythmic guitars over tight percussion. There’s even a Bruce Hornsby-like piano solo in the middle, followed by a You Can Call Me Al-style bridge before the song’s epic climax complete with a gospel choir. It’s Charlie at his absolute best – a song born out of his love of creating music, rather than creating music for commercial gain. Absolutely adore this.
Filed under: 80s nostalgia, synthpop, soulful pop perfection
Sam Ryder – Better Man
This has been firmly in second place on the repeat list this month. I absolutely LOVE this! Part yacht-rock, part 70s soul, Sam Ryder’s powerhouse vocals are a perfect fit for this retro throwback with funky pianos and organic instrumentation. The chorus is an earworm, his falsetto particularly impressive, and I adore the psychedelic middle eight with those layered harmony “ahh”s too.
Filed under: retro soul, yacht-rock vibes, powerhouse vocals
Lola Young – why do I feel better when I hurt you
Lola Young shows her versatility on this soulful pop ballad about toxic relationships. Reportedly one of her favourite vocals she’s ever recorded, this introspective track – with its gorgeous harmonies and understated vocals over sparse instrumentation – shines with raw honesty and a perfect blend of R&B and pop. Beautiful.
Filed under: soulful pop, emotional honesty, minimalist beauty
Dijon – The Dress
I came across this 2019 alt-R&B track thanks to Olivia Dean’s live Spotify cover and fell immediately in love. This moody alt-R&B sound is a huge trend right now, also echoed on Justin Bieber’s recent albums Swag I and Swag II. With almost gospel-like keyboards, a slick drum machine track, and inspiration drawn in part from Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me, this song is an absolute gem with an infectious chorus. Absolutely stunning.
Filed under: alt-R&B, gospel tones, emotional slow jam
Doja Cat – Silly! Fun!
I love Doja Cat and her playful approach to pop. Her formula of catchy disco-pop hooks and rapped verses is a winning one and works beautifully here. Silly! Fun! feels like a tribute to Gwen Stefani’s early solo career, especially in its 80s-inspired electropop production and melodic choices. Huge fun, this!
Filed under: disco-pop, playful energy, 2000s nostalgia
Nelly Furtado – Honesty
Nelly Furtado shines on this absolutely GLORIOUS dance-pop track — a collaboration with brilliant producer SG Lewis and the superb Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Nelly’s signature mezzo-soprano, slightly nasal tone glides effortlessly over shimmering, disco-like instrumentation. My only gripe is that it isn’t longer. So, so good!
Filed under: disco revival, glossy production, Nelly’s comeback
Miley Cyrus, Lindsey Buckingham & Mick Fleetwood – Secrets
Miley absolutely shines on this Fleetwood Mac-coded pop-rock ballad. Created as a birthday gift for her dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, with whom she has a complicated relationship, Miley collaborated with two of his musical heroes — Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood. The result? A song that wouldn’t feel out of place on the band’s 1987 classic Tango in the Night (you can almost imagine Stevie Nicks singing it!). Absolutely brilliant.
Filed under: pop-rock, Fleetwood Mac energy, heartfelt storytelling
Cleo Sol – Life Will Be
This track keeps following me around everywhere and I can’t even remember where I first heard it — but I’m so glad I did! This gentle pop/soul song is light and airy, with a lovely chorus melody and heavenly backing harmonies.
Filed under: soul-pop, mellow groove, uplifting calm
Cat Burns – There’s Just Something About Her
This feels like something of a departure for Cat. It still has her trademark British pronunciation, reflective lyrics and warm guitar chords, but swaps her usual indie-pop singer-songwriter vibe for disco-pop instrumentation. It works beautifully, and I love it!
Filed under: disco-pop, lyrical warmth, reinvention
Kamal – decline
I love this soft alternative-R&B track with its gentle beats, murmured baritone vocals, warm guitar chords and jazzy licks. Lovely.
Filed under: alt-R&B, chill vibes, late-night listening
Billy Lockett – I Could Use a Friend
Billy Lockett, who’s from my hometown, has made quite a name for himself. One of my mutuals on Instagram shared a video from his gig performing this song, and I instantly fell in love. Comprised of little more than piano, vocals and light tambourine percussion, it’s a song about feeling lost in life — and it captures that beautifully. Lovely.
Filed under: singer-songwriter, emotional ballad, hometown pride
Justin Bieber – Open Up Your Heart
Swag II is still on repeat. The moody tone and sleek, minimal R&B vibes are exactly my thing, and this track is no exception. Open Up Your Heart is Justin’s best Bon Iver impression (not a dig!) — an almost spiritual experience full of rich piano tones, auto-tuned vocals and crashing beats. Gorgeous.
Filed under: moody R&B, Bon Iver influence, atmospheric pop
Listen to/buy ‘Swag II’ here – out now!
Lady A – In Waves
Heard this in a shop and fell instantly in love – thank God for Shazam! This is classic Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum of Need You Now fame) with country-pop vibes, warm guitars, honeyed harmonies and an anthemic singalong chorus. Love this.
Filed under: country-pop, harmony heaven, easy listening
Mahalia – I Wish I Missed My Ex
Came across this in a shop too! Over lo-fi instrumentation built around warm keyboard tones, programmed beats and chilled-out vibes, Mahalia delivers sassy, conversational vocals full of attitude. The chorus has a house-party singalong energy that’s effortlessly cool. So good.
Filed under: R&B, confident breakup anthem, lo-fi groove
Justin Bieber – Lyin’
This funky R&B groove with muted beats and soulful guitar licks feels like Swag II’s answer to Swag I’s First Place. The 80s Michael Jackson influence is strong here, and the stripped-back production lets the song breathe. Groovy.
Filed under: 80s-inspired, funk groove, smooth R&B
Listen to/buy ‘Swag II’ here – out now!
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Stay On Me
Sophie returns to her disco roots on her latest album Perimenopop, and it’s a brilliant, solid disco-pop record from start to finish. Stay On Me is a slinky, flirty track with 70s shimmer and sparkle. The songwriting credits (Sophie alongside Selena Gomez and pop genius Julia Michaels, among others) explain a lot. Dreamy, sparkly and huge fun.
Filed under: disco-pop, retro glamour, pop perfection
Reneé Rapp – At Least I’m Hot
This slick disco-pop track sits perfectly alongside Doja Cat’s Say So and Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. With crisp beats, quirky chords and carefree energy, it’s confident, cheeky and massive fun. Love this.
Filed under: disco-pop, self-assured, cheeky energy
Saint Raymond – Talk
I used to love Saint Raymond back in the day, and this track reminded me why. I definitely need to revisit his discography. He’s still got those feel-good indie-rock vibes with rhythm guitars that bounce off tight, reverberating drums. Huge.
Filed under: indie-rock, upbeat energy, nostalgic return
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Dolce Vita
Another disco-pop gem from Sophie’s Perimenopop. This one feels especially reminiscent of her breakout hit Groovejet, perfectly emulating late 70s/early 80s disco with its funky bassline, underwater-style production and flourishes of strings. Mega.
Filed under: disco revival, glitterball groove, pure nostalgia
Buy ‘Perimenopop’ here – out now.
Ed Sheeran – Symmetry
A definite highlight from his latest album Play. Opening with looped Indian percussion and vocals before drifting into a sultry, hypnotic electro-pop track filled with spectral voices and deep sub-bass. Hypnotic.
Filed under: electro-pop, experimental, hypnotic rhythm
Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Time
Time feels more rooted in 80s electro-pop than most of Perimenopop, but I’m completely here for it. Opening with distant, hazy synths and soft beats, it evolves into a shimmering, pulsating track with an infectious chorus and sleek production.
Filed under: electro-pop, 80s shimmer, synth bliss
You can spin Perimenopop here
Lewis Capaldi – something in the heavens
I think Lewis is hilarious and hugely talented — though I’ve never been a big fan of his music. That said, this song completely changed my mind. I fell instantly in love after hearing it on the radio; the gorgeous melodies and stunning falsetto vocals drew me in. From the harmonies and chord choices, I suspected it might have been written by the McDonagh brothers (who I often mention here), and I was right! Sublime.
Filed under: emotional pop, soaring vocals, heartfelt songwriting
You can find the complete playlist below:
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