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Hey Hey!
I’m back with my final Mixtape of the year. Sorry I’m late (as always!) – life’s been busy.
A short but sweet one from me for November, therefore there’s no ‘Essential 5’ in this post. Lots of songs on repeat but these were my standouts.
I’ll be posting music still but have something different planned for December… (watch this space!)
As always, I really appreciate every visit and read so thanks for being here, and let’s dive in!
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Excitingly, I turn 30 in a couple of days’ time!
So, naturally, I put my nerdy music hat on and decided to (foolishly) collate a list of thirty songs that I love dearly and/or hold a special significance.
This was no easy feat and took me quite a while… There are many favourite bands, artists and songs missing from here. But it’s proved 30 isn’t that big a number (not that I particularly feel old!) I also think I’ve settled on 30 songs that perfectly capture my music tastes and key moments in my life so far.
Read More »Here’s the mixtape for June! 20 songs old and new that we’re loving at The Music Box.
Gorgeous, gentle and soulful ballad which uses little more than warm acoustic guitar strums, gentle percussion and subtle bass lines. Jessie’s voice is exquisite as always.
Shura returns with this brilliant and breezy pop track which practically screams summer. Utilising various detuned synthesisers, gated percussion and Shura’s sugary sweet vocals, it’s a perfect throwback to the ’80’s. One of the best tracks of 2016 so far.
Uplifting alternative rock track from Chicago band ‘Whitney’. Definitely has a ’70’s vibe.
Precarious hip hop beats and shimmering synthesisers with glitchy vocal samples result in a moody downtempo alternative-R&B track with elements of neo-soul and electronica.
Without a doubt, one of Bieber’s best on his incredible ‘Purpose’ album and a fine choice as a single. It’s a brooding, sultry electropop track with tight production and fierce percussion.
Euphoric pop-rock anthem with glitchy electro samples. A quick listen and this could easily be mistaken for a One Direction track, the vocals at times being uncannily similar, but this is no bad thing.
Another euphoric stadium-pop track from the band’s ‘All The Lights’ EP with brilliant production.
Sunny tropical house track which does not particularly break the mould but is an enjoyable listen all the same.
Joe Jonas’ band follow up huge smash ‘Cake by the Ocean’ with this brilliantly funky pop track. Much in the same vein as ‘Cake by the Ocean’, ‘Toothbrush’ uses slick production, Chic-esque guitar riffs and a gorgeous falsetto chorus. Catchy as hell.
Moody neo-soul influenced electro track from Haitian-Canadian musician Kaytranada with a little help from Craig David on vocals.
Gorgeous, eerie electro-ballad from All Saints’ comeback album. Distant twinkling pianos, tribal percussion and infinitely reverberating vocals all result in a very special, substantial ballad.
Another gorgeous ballad from the band’s comeback album, although this time it is a pure and raw piano ballad.
R&B/Hip Hop elements all evolve into a quirky alt-R&B track with a brilliant chorus where giggling synthesisers and thunderous percussion soar.
Utterly brilliant comeback single from JT. Piano chords and finger clicks evolve into a fantastically catchy disco-pop Summer smash. One of the best songs of 2016 so far.
Moody and brooding with stuttering percussion, pitch-moderated glitchy vocal samples and crashing synths, resulting in an utterly brilliant Pop track.
Gentle 808 percussion, jittery synthesisers and monotone vocals result in this brilliantly frank yet emotional 80’s-influenced pop track. Clearly influenced by the likes of The Blue Nile and Madonna’s ‘Crazy For You’, it’s just brilliant, particularly during the breakdown on which Matt Healy sings She said “I’ve been so worried ’bout you lately, you look s**t and you smell a bit”. The intertextuality/references to the band’s previous works ‘Robbers’ and ‘The City’ are also incredibly clever.
Danish teenage band Liss are quickly taking the world by storm, largely propelled in the UK by being championed by Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac. Their music straddles various genres such as synthpop, alt-R&B and neo-soul, often with a very care-free tone. This track is no exception.
Catchy Pop-Rock track with energising guitar riffs and a brilliant chorus.
Great track with a very retro-vibe.
Smooth and soulful acoustic track by UK vocal group Mic Lowry. Perfect breezy harmonies carry this lovely track.
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