(MINI) LOCKDOWN PLAYLIST-POST - SONGS I’M LOVING AT THE MOMENT.
- Sabrina Hines
- May 20, 2020
- 7 min read
Updated: May 28, 2020
According to Music Business Worldwide there are nearly 40,000 songs being submitted to Spotify each day. Every. Single Day. With this vast amount of new music being made available to stream each and every day, on top of all the brilliant songs that are already on Spotify (and other major streaming platforms), it can be hard to know what’s being posted, and what to listen to each day. That’s why I thought I’d make a hand-picked (mini) Playlist-Post on the songs to give you some songs to listen to right now - both new and old, from big name artists to smaller artists, sit back and enjoy.
1. SG Lewis - Chemicals
First on this list is the brilliant SG Lewis. If you’ve seen some of my articles before you’ll know that I am a big fan of SG Lewis, but that’s not the only reason ‘Chemicals’ is on this (play)list. Chemicals is the most recent song that SG Lewis has released. It was released on 24th April and was just the uplifting song that was needed to motivate us and keep us entertained during quarantine. It’s got his classic synth-funk-and-layered-vocals style that SG Lewis does so well. You will definitely have your foot tapping or head bopping to this song, and the catchy melody will be stuck in your head for the next few days, guaranteed.
Chemicals has an intricate production aesthetic as well as a unique lyrical perspective - telling someone that you can blame the “chemicals” as a way to convince someone who also fancies you to stay, (maybe not something we’re completely able to right now, but we’ve all been there and it’s nice to reminisce to those times).
2. Disclosure - Know Your Worth
Disclosure are the masters of creating songs that soundtrack many different parts of our lives and encapsulating all the right elements in order to put your mind right where they want it to be. ‘Know Your Worth’ is no different. There are two different versions of ‘Know Your Worth’, one which features only Khalid, and one which features Khalid, Davido and Tems, with both just as good as the other. The song’s production gives the a summer-y feel, it talks about a sad topic of someone not treating you right in a very empowering way. It’s a very encouraging song for this time that we’re in, especially when many of you might be doing some life-reflection, that you’re so worthy and you only deserve people who know your worth.
3. Moonchild - The List
From their album 'Voyager', this song was also introduced to me by a friend, so I thought I’d share it with you. This song is an R’n’B/Dance and Electronic track, and does remind me of a mix of walking around the supermarket and elevator music (by the way the music video does feature someone walking around a supermarket). It’s quite a chilled track, but it’s something a little different and is quite nice if you want some easy listening, or it’s a Sunday afternoon and you’re chilling, reading a book with a cup of tea, I can picture it right now.
4. Oscar Scheller & Lily Allen - 1%
1% by Oscar Scheller and Lily Allen has been in the world for almost a year now, but it’s one that I really want to share with you all. In this song Oscar Scheller and Lily Allen play the roles of two people in a relationship that isn’t 100% working, where the other party won’t answer, and their phone battery is only on 1%. The songwriting in this was very intriguing to me. It’s very relatable, when you’re in an awkward conversation with someone and they won’t reply, and to top it all off your phone is only on 1%. This topic is quite relevant in today’s world too where most of the conversations that you’ll be having with loved ones who aren’t in your household is going to be through your phone. The overall song is so catchy that you’ll easily find yourself singing along or bopping your head to it without realising.
5. Dua Lipa - Break My Heart
Dua Lipa recently released her phenomenal second album ‘Future Nostalgia’. There have been 3 singles released from this album which have done very well both commercially and in people’s opinions, and each song on the album is a joy to listen to. ‘Break My Heart’ captured everyone’s attention when the single was released particularly due to it’s lyrics “I should have stayed at home, cus I doing better alone” which spookily matched the current circumstances. The thumping bass line, familiar melodies and catchy, relatable lyrics makes this song an easy listen, and definitely gets your mood (and probably heart rate from all that dancing) up.
6. Fickle Friends - Eats Me Up
Fickle Friends are so good at supplying us with indie-pop/electro-pop vibes, and this song is no different. The lyrics to ‘Eat Me Up’ depict someone who can’t sleep at night, they’re overthinking and just need some peace of mind. It’s a story that most of us can relate to, for many different reasons. The melodies are very catchy and the production has an anthemic atmosphere to it, you can really imagine people shouting along to it (in fact that’s what you might be doing now?), even though it’s a bit of a sad topic, it’s not a slow ballad at all. This is a great offering from Fickle Friends, be sure to check it out.
7. Raleigh Ritchie - Stronger Than Ever / I Can Change / Time in a Tree / The Greatest
Let’s be honest, you’ve probably heard of Game of Thrones. Well, Raleigh Ritchie, whose actual name is Jacob Anderson, starred in Game of Thrones as ‘Grey Worm’, and even if you don’t know much about this series, you’d probably recognise his face, most likely from this series. What I personally didn’t know was that he is a fantastic singer-songwriter. His outstanding debut album ‘You’re a Man Now, Boy’ was released in 2016 and features three of the four songs I’ve listed above (I know it’s cheating a bit to put four songs but I just couldn’t choose one okay), with ‘Time in a Tree’ coming out as a stand alone single in 2018.
The video to ‘Time in a Tree’ is very clever, it features a current Raleigh Ritchie in a lift that reaches different levels or ‘ages’ where a Raleigh Ritchie at that age enters, it feels very intimate, like you’re seeing right into him as a person. ‘Stronger Than Ever’ and ‘The Greatest’ also have really cool music videos which are very different. The former features Ritchie sitting on a bench fighting against a strong wind that seems to only affect him and the latter centres around a house party.
8. Twenty One Pilots - Level of Concern
Twenty One Pilots released this song in April of this year, quite near the start of the Lockdown in the UK. A friend of mine brought this song to my attention when it first came out. The minute I heard the lyrics “would you be my little quarantine” and saw the video (which I’m going to ruin but what I will say is that it depicts today’s world extremely well) I was so impressed, I honestly thought it was great. This is a fantastic offering from Twenty One Pilots, even if you don’t have an interest in Twenty One Pilots, you’d be wise to give this song (and video) a go, particularly due to how relevant it is. The production is quite ‘bright’, particularly for the fact that the song is called ‘Level of Concern’, Twenty One Pilots do maintain a rock/guitar style for this offering, however it starts with a largely electropop vibe. You’ll be singing along to this by the end of your first listen.
9. Paramore - Hard Times
Hard Times is a perfect turn of phrase to describe the current COVID-19 circumstance, and I’m sure that there are a lot of people going through hard times right now, or have felt the same way that Hayley Williams does in this song. The production has a tropical feeling, it’s something different than what I associate with Paramore, but it feels very fresh. Hayley’s vocals are so good, and sound quite raw at points, you can hear the natural talent she says. You’ll be singing and dancing along to this song in no time, whilst simultaneously thinking about your hard times, but ironically being put in a good mood through this songs’ aesthetic. (P.S. Fake Happy is a good pop-y song from this album if you're left wanting more).
10. Doja Cat - Say So
This is a cheeky one for all the Tik-Tok fanatics out there. This is honestly just a feel-good, fun song that became viral after a Tik-Tok dance was created to go along with the song. You will easily get this song stuck in your head, or will end up bouncing your leg or head along to it, or even trying out the full Tik-Tok dance to it. [Warning: Explicit song].
Please share some of your favourite songs to listen to right now, or some songs that you think people should listen to.
Thanks for reading.
Comments