Songs To Keep You Company

Check out this reliable playlist when you’re searching for new finds

Good Morning Riff Community! I hope everyone had a great week!

When I was in 10th grade my parents purchased my very first smartphone. It was a Motorola Droid X (remember those dystopic “droid” commercials??). Soon after my parents handed it to me in the car, I ripped it out of its packaging and went immediately to YouTube. The first song I played was Lil Wayne’s “Let The Beat Build”. That song still channels that moment for me.

At the time, I was the happiest teenager in the world. The phone could do an unbelievable amount! In addition to web-surfacing and movie-watching, I could engage in its video game playing, and calling capabilities. This little device filled 16-year-old me with a strong sense of endless possibility and discovery.

Today, I get the same feeling when I think about The Riff.

Not only is the podcast series exciting and rich in content but the new highlight pieces fantastically consolidate some of the week’s best pieces. Cheers for the forward-thinking idea! I also can’t wait to listen to and chat about Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars album for next month’s album club meeting. If you’ve missed the first two I highly recommend joining!

Alright, now for the piece at hand. Since my last Songs playlist article I’ve shared three unique pieces. The first was about Morton Feldman’s atmospheric tribute album, Rothko’s Chapel.

Afterward, I wrote an engaging history piece about tango music. Just a couple of days ago I went down memory lane and discussed my relationship with the song “Lunch” by the brilliant and lively singer-songwriter Stella Donnelly.

Work-wise, everything is easy sailing for the next couple of weeks. Most of my coworkers are going on vacation. I’m staying local, but there are some shows and events I’m going to hit up in the city. There’s also some exciting writing news that’s in the works. In short, my music writing has received attention from some newspapers and magazines so stay tuned for that update! It's all quite exciting.

Back to the music! I hope you enjoy this playlist half as much I did making it. These songs stuck with me through a long work week. A lot of the songs are in the pop realm and are beginning to reflect the sunny everlasting days of the summer.

Feel free to comment and discuss the songs in the comment section! Enjoy!

Burning Incense — Skott

“Burning Incense” is an album highlight from Skott’s long-awaited debut album Always Live For Always. The Swedish singer-songwriter usually takes over the production with her impressive vocal howling and long-range.

With “Burning Incense” she shares some of the shine with the intricate synth-based beat and whimsical vocal harmonies. The song unpacks unkind truths about the fickle nature of love.

Central Booking — Common Holly

Common Holly is great at using her whispery vocals to attract the listener in close to her song’s magic. Once the listener is in the right position, she serenades them further with intricate acoustics and meditative melodies. On the airy tune “Central Booking” Holly sings about their incompatibility with New York and their aimlessness in Canada.

You’ll Be Singing My Name — Georgia Maq

In the early moments of her pop-shift, old fans were confused and frustrated. Georgia Maq made a name for herself making quirky and personable indie-punk music with the group Camp Cope. Nevertheless, her synth-pop grew on old and new listeners alike.

With songs like “You’ll Be Singing My Name” off her album Pleaser she successfully translated her honest lyricism into the pop space. “You’ll Be Singing” features gorgeous keys and a wide soundscape. The hope felt in her voice is at its most emotional on the tear-jerking and climatic bridge. Pop fits Georgia Maq quite well.

I’ll Be Fine — Sierra Hull

The Alison Krauss protégé has made a name for herself since her 2002 debut. The Bluegrass singer-songwriter has studied at Berkeley’s College of Music and has received multiple Grammy nominations. By the time her album Weighted Mind arrived in 2016, she had an experienced presence in the bluegrass scene. “I’ll Be Fine” is a wonderfully vulnerable heartbreak tune. The contrast between the pleasant violin and low guitar is incredibly satisfying. Despite the hard situation she sings about, the chorus reaffirms her commitment to happily moving on.

Addicted — Joyce Wrice

On “Addicted” the up-and-coming R&B singer sings with phenomenal emotional clarity. As she croons about being addicted to “that good feeling” and not responding to temptation we completely understand her love-soaked anguish. Between her vocal presence and the song’s endless replay value, Joyce Wrice sounds like an important artist in the genre for years to come.

Headlines (Spotify Studios) — Jessie Reyez

A really good cover does a great job at balancing the original’s essence whilst demonstrating the cover artist’s new style. Jessie captures Drake’s introspective headspace with her signature breathy singing delivery and theatrical runs. The mellow piano may even be a better background for the song’s deep and thought-provoking content. As Jessie continues to rise in the mainstream R&B ranks these lyrics take on a new life.

Here’s To Another — Anna of the North

With “Here’s To Another” Anna creates a wonderful synth-based banger. The Norwegian singer-songwriter is fantastic at wrapping her festival-ready pop tunes with sorrowful and saddening tales. The self-destructive nature of the song feels good during those long party nights and endless summer evenings.

Ordinaryish People — AJR ft. Blue Man Group

In this album highlight, AJR calls out the duality of social circles. Every decision you make can be interpreted differently. The song’s witty wordplay is complemented by a catchy melody and massive chorus.

Trigger — Hayley Williams

The song’s galloping chords are met by Williams’s deep vocal delivery. Throughout the track, we are immersed in her post-breakup sadness. Both her voice and the instrumentation rose from the fog and enter a new haze with the dramatic hook. This is a great track to think through some unaddressed feelings after a rough breakup.

Pequenos Detalhes — Ao Vivo — Dilsinho

On this wonderful song from the Brazilian singer’s latest live album, Dilsinho is full of regret. The track is all about missing the pequenos detalhes or “small details” in a relationship. While Dilsinho sings with impactful passion the instrumentation rings with sultry vibrancy. The background singers, both on stage and in the crowd, are a welcoming sound after 2020.