Another Sky – The Music Box.

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Time for another rundown of what I’ve been listening to over the past month.

Yep, I’m a little late but had a really busy weekend last week.

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

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
Pop perfection abundant with jangling guitars, breathy vocals and a reggae-tinged rhythm.

Muni Long – Made For Me
Stunning mid-noughties-inspired R&B with a sublime piano arrangement and raw vocals.

Mk.Gee – Are You Looking Up
A Prince and Lenny Kravitz hybrid with skelatal production and raw vocals.

Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus – II Most Wanted
Country pop done right with the perfect juxtaposition of Miley and Beyoncé’s iconic voices.

Taylor Swift and Post Malone – Fortnight
Moody, pining late-night vibes on this 80’s inspired eerie electropop track.

The Long List

Sabrina Carpenter – Espresso
The only song that needs to be here to be honest!. An instant pop smash with jangling guitars, breathy vocals and a perfect almost reggae-like rhythm (surely influenced by Carly Simon’s 1980’s hit ‘Why’) with a tight bass line and slick production. The song of the summer and my song of 2024 so far without a doubt! ‘I’m working late, ‘cos I’m a singggeeerrr’.

Muni Long – Made For Me
A STUNNING R&B ballad which throws it back to the mid noughties. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a song with such solid R&B foundations and it’s long overdue. I wasn’t surprised that R&B king Jermaine Dupri played a part in this and it turns out Muni Long is a songwriter who I followed a long time ago, working now under a new name. A gorgeous song with a stunning piano arrangement.

Mk.gee – Are You Looking Up
I came across the moody, elusive Mk.gee through John Mayer who kept sharing his music on his Instagram. I fell in love with this raw, slightly off-kilter track instantly with it’s almost Prince/Lenny Kravitz vibe. Mk.gee is a really special artist – his new album is brilliant and I’m looking forward to following his future work.

Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus – II Most Wanted
The biggest surprise this year is that I really rate Beyoncé’s new album! I don’t mind Beyoncé at all but find that she can be a little over-hyped. Her new offering ‘Cowboy Carter’ is a great country album – not perfect and a little bloated but still great. This is my favourite from it – lovely chill vibes, the juxtaposition of Beyoncé’s powerful soulful voice and Miley’s raspy vocals, gorgeous harmonies and lovely soft acoustic guitars. Really lovely.

Taylor Swift and Post Malone – Fortnight
I really, really love this. Similar to Beyoncé, I enjoy a lot of Taylor’s work but find she’s put on a pedastal. This moody, minimalistic track with it’s stabbing bass line, eerie synths and whispery, echoed vocals feels in a similar vein to one of my favourite bands – The Blue Nile (who, coincidentally, Taylor refers to on another track on The Tortured Poets Department). I love Post Malone too and he’s the perfect fit for this tortured, brooding track.

Stevan – California
It’s practically impossible to listen to this fun, breezy track without feeling like you are in the Californian sun. Chilled, uplifting and all round great vibes!

Lemonade Baby – Don’t Stop (Keep on Keepin’ on)
I really, really love this groovy nudisco blend with heavily autotuned vocals gliding effortlessly over a pulsating bass line and funky guitars. Just really great!

SOFY – socks
SOFY’s carefree vocals sore over indie guitars and fun guitar riffs on this piece of pure indiepop perfection. An irresistably catchy chorus too.

morgen and merci, mercy – Second
Pure pop fun with funky guitar riffs which feel very Luther (‘Never Too Much) over a psychedelic backing track which at times enters Tame Impala territory. Lots of soul in this.

Michael Carreon – Gem Mint
This alt-R&B track with it’s crashing beats, wailing guitars and soft murmered vocals is simply beautiful.

lau.ra – The Danger
This house/garage blend is an absolute banger and throws it back to the 90’s with it’s tinny house piano riffs and strange, heavily manipulated vocal samples. Groovy.

Marshmello, P!nk and Sting – Dreaming
I’ve meant to include this for a while but it kept being relegated to next month. Well, it’s now time! This clever, tasteful rework of Sting’s iconic ‘Fields of Gold’, produced by Marshmello and Digital Farm Animals is a huge club smash. I’m surprised that this hasn’t gone further in the charts to be honest.

Palm City – Good Vibe
A low-key tropical-house-inspired track with soft falsetto vocals and warm synths.

Justin Timberlake – F**kin Up The Disco
Justin Timerblake is at his best and utilises both of his signature sounds on this moody R&B nudisco blend which was co-written and co-produced by Calvin Harris. Really love the rich harmonies, the filthy, stabbing bass line and beat on this.

Tyla – Truth or Dare
I really love Tyla and how she has brought afrobeats music back into the mainstream. This dreamy, soft and sultry track is a highlight on her new album with it’s gentle verses and almost chant-like chorus.

Tash – I Know
I love this chill R&B track with it’s murmured vocals, gorgeously layered harmonies and funky bass line. Really lovely!

Moody Joody – Velvet Connection
I love songs with a shuffle-percussion (think Tears for Fears – ‘Everybody Wants to Rule The World’ and Michael Jackson – ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’) so it was practically impossible for me to hate this 80’s inspired alt-pop smash. Feeling like a blend of HAIM, The 1975 and Chvrches but still feeling fresh, this track is mega and deserves to blow up!

The Catalina – La Vie en Rose
Keeping it on the 80’s inspired electropop vibes, this track feels like what it would sound like if The 1975 (circa 2012) and LANY had a baby with it’s reverb-drowned percussion, warm synths and electric guitars. Really great!

Lauren Mayberry – Shame
Lauren Mayberry is better known as the lead vocalist of Chvrches and has an extremely distinctive soprano voice. This song feels very familiar but I’m unsure as to why. It’s a pop track underpinned by mechanical production and instrumentation and Lauren Mayberry’s vocals piercing through. The breakdown in the chorus with its layered harmonies is great in juxtaposition with the harsh verses.

Another Sky – Swirling Smoke
This swirling, meandering, slow-building track is eerie and almost Radiohead-esque in nature with it’s weird electronic elements and explosive climax. Really, really love this song and Another Sky are rapidly becoming a band I love!

Christian Kura – Ride
Stunning falsetto vocals flutter over dreamy, psychedlic instrumentation on this chill R&B track. Nostalgic, warm and simply lovely.

Pixey and Tayo Sound – Daisy Chain
This quirky, nostalgic ‘Steal my Sunshine’-sampling track feels very 90’s in nature in the best possible way. It’s windows-down, sunny weather indie with good vibes all round.

Jamiroquai – Little L (Dave Lee Reblend)
Jamiroquai was always insanely cool and I love Jay Kay for his perfect blend of funk and pop. ‘Little L’ remains my favourite song by them and this subtle reblend adds a little extra fizz on a classic early-noughties bop.

Kendall Robbins – pass time
A chilled, soulful slice of easy-listening pop with gorgeous chords and lovely vocals.

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:

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Another month, another mixtape! It feels like a second ago since I posted the last one, but I was late with January’s.

I really, really love this collection of songs and am excited to share them. My hope is always that you will find something new, whether you read the whole blog, scan read or just listen to previews.

I know we are all short on time, therefore I’m going to star including my Essential 3 picks at the top for those wanting to read a bitesize edition.

So with no further ado, let’s dive in!

The Essential 3

Bullion and Carly Rae Jepsen – Rare
Dreamy night-time synthpop with a hint of Annie Lennox and The Blue Nile.

Another Sky – The Pain
Electrifying indie with stunning falsetto vocals and a kick-ass climax.

She Says She – C’est Si Bon
Vibey, funky disco which emulates the 70’s sound perfectly.

The Long List

Bullion and Carly Rae Jepsen – Rare
This is quite possibly my favourite song at present. Dreamy, eerie and mellow with whispered, echoing vocals, Bullion and Carly Rae Jepsen’s vocals compliment each other perfectly. There’s no over-singing or vocal tricks here, just lovely vocals drenched in echo effects, gliding effortlessly over a synthpop backing track which doesn’t feel too dissimilar from the work of Scottish band The Blue Nile. It’s a little The Blue Nile, a little Annie Lennox and a little The Cocteau twins in the best way. Sublime.

Another Sky – The Pain
God, I LOVE this! Heard it on BBC Radio 1 the other day in the car and fell instantly in love, immediately turning it up full blast. Lyrics drenched in insecurity and naivety, with a humorous edge are sang with the rich-toned, captivating vocals from lead singer Katrin Vincent and build progressively before the song culminates in a heavy Foo Fighters-like climax. It’s memorable, majestic and bloody brilliant.

She Says She – C’est Ci Bon
Vibey. Funky. Psycadelic. Disco. Simply perfect from start to finish. Close your eyes and be transported to the classic sound of 70’s disco with a contemporary touch.

Cleo Soul – Airplane
This is simply beautiful. Over minimalist instrumentation comprised of little more than acoustic guitars, a bass guitar and drums, Cleo Soul sings of overcoming adversity using the metaphor of a little bird with a wounded wing who will learn to fly again. Gorgeous.

JUNG and Dagny – Something Beautiful
This is POP PERFECTION! A wonderful collaboaration between Norweigan pop queen Dagny and Swedish duo JUNG, it’s an uplifting, carefree 80’s-inspired Pop Bop with irresistable melodies and jangling guitars. Dagny and lead singer Jonas Jung Larsen’s vocals compliment each other perfectly, particularly on the huge chorus with it’s buyoyant synth riffs and punchy bass line. It’s a little Huey Lewis and The News, a little The 1975 and a little indie-rock too. An absolute smash of a song!

Man Alive – What Are The Chances
Mark Prendergast is better known as Kodaline’s co-founder, co-writer and guitarist and is now embarking on side project: Man Alive. Co-written by James Vincent McMorrow, this stunning song utilises organic instrumentation and is comprised of acoustic guitars, lovely piano riffs and a lovely chord progression, with limited-fuss-production. It’s a snapshot of a tormented man, alone with his thoughts late at night, wondering if a relationship is worth salvaging. Stunning.

George Clanton – I Been Young
I was utterly convinced from listening to this song, then checking out the music video that this must have been a huge 90’s electronica track that I somehow missed. But no, it turns out this is new and just captures the sound and imagery of that time perfectly. A brilliant, punchy drum track serves as the heartbeat to this, with many hazy electronic elements and vocals scattered throughout, punctuated by a huge anthemic chorus.

The Lighthouse Family – Super 8
I’ve fallen deeply in love with The Lighthouse Family recently. Their mellow, uplifting easy-listening discography is a perect antidote to the stresses of life. I keep returning to this wonderfully uplifting album track from 2019’s ‘Blue Sky in Your Head’ with Tunde Baiyewu’s distinct, rich vocals accompanied by a slickly-produced backing track comprised of rich string arrangements, smooth guitars and a driving drum beat. Brilliant chorus on this and this track should have absolutely been a single. Sublime.

Sidibe – Nothing At All
I have fallen head over heels in love with the majestic Sidibe since this song was suggested to me on Spotify a couple of months back. In many ways, her music feels like a cross between Janet Jackson and Sade, utilising a soft, sultry R&B sound with hints of Soul. I love this mellow slice of R&B with it’s funk guitars and gentle melodies. Beautiful.

Sidibe – Go On Ahead
Sidibe again. This dreamy, brooding R&B track soaked in longing and nostalgia is desperately crying out to be part of the soundtrack of people’s summer. A relaxing, mellow track, it feels like Janet Jackson at her sexiest in the best way. Gorgeous.

Himika Akaneya – Stereo Sunset
Despite not having a clue in regards to the lyrical content on this due to the language barrier, I love this dreamy and blissfully melodic electro-pop track by Himika Akaneya. Apparently it’s the end theme for the anime adaptation of MF Ghost. Really love the huge production on this and the warmth in the layered synthesisers and chord progression.

Olivia Dean – Ladies Room (Live from Somerset House)
Spotify suggested this live version to me and boy I’m glad it did! I subsequently checked out Olivia Dean’s debut album and loved it. This laidback, neo-soul sprinkled pop track documents the comararderie often encountered by women in public bathrooms. The studio version is great too, but there’s a power and an extra glimmer on this live version with it’s live instrumentation, particularly the brass section and punchy bass line.

James Arthur – Bittersweet Love
This is a brilliant sound for James. Utilising a funky groove evidently inspired by The 1975 but keeping the listener on their toes with a heavy Kings of Leon styled bridge, it’s big, it’s loud and it’s effortlessly catchy.

TOLEDO – Soda Can
I love this hazy indie track with a late-summer vibe from American indie-rock duo Toledo. It feels very mid-noughties indie, like it belonged in an offbeat comedy or teen movie, but in all the right ways.

Kenny Thomas – Got It On Time
Soul legend Kenny Thomas, who was at the peak of his fame in the early nineties dropped this back in 2022. Feeling fresh and funky, yet remaining loyal to his trademark sound, this song is expertly produced and slick.

B00TY and Loose Ends – Matter of Time
Another Spotify-suggested track which got it SO right! This chilled-out, infectiously catchy Soul track is by LA electro-soul duo B00TY and Carl McIntosh from British R&B group Loose Ends. It’s a winning collaboration with memorable melodies over easy-going instrumentation including brass instruments, warm keyboard chords and a funky bass line.

Once again, if you wanted to listen to all of these back to back (and yes, I realise that this is unlikely but still!), you can find the playlist (along with a couple of other songs I haven’t featured here) below: