Weekly Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7y4sKlp1akAkEYtOJ8aex1?si=dd46e0aaf15e49f2 

Madelaine’s picks

1. No Vacation – “Waltzing Back”
2. Fleet Foxes – “Mykonos”
3. Lord Huron – “Ends of the Earth”

No Vacation is a dream pop band that formed in 2015. The band gives listeners something different than usual on “Waltzing Back” by slowing it down for more of a melancholy sound compared to the band’s more upbeat songs.

Indie folk rock band Fleet Foxes has over 3.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify and “Mykonos” is currently the band’s second most popular on the music streaming platform. The song showcases what Fleet Foxes do best: deliver smooth, seamless harmonies that sound effortless.

Lord Huron is an indie rock band with over 9 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Lord Huron skyrocketed to fame when the band’s heartbreaking song “The Night We Met” caught people’s attention in 2017. Both songs are from the band’s 2015 album “Strange Tails.”

Daija’s picks 

1. SYML – “God I Hope This Year Is Better Than The Last”
2. Jade Bird – “Something American”
3. dodie – “Sick of Losing Soulmates”

SYML uses his usual calm, synth-infused melody to accompany lyrics about wanting things to get better in the new year. This song is fitting as we’re heading into the new year with wishful thinking of what the future holds. 

Jade Bird is an English indie folk artist who shines with her guitar and low husky vocals. “Something American” takes the cliché of the American dream and looks at it through the perspective of a relationship. Bird, being English, uses American stereotypes to understand why someone would pick an American girl over her. 

dodie is a YouTuber-turned-musician who first released “Sick of Losing Soulmates” on her YouTube channel back in 2015. dodie has very soft spoken vocals that give her saddest songs so much more depth. “Sick of Losing Soulmates” is no exception as she describes trying to stay friends with someone because of their strong connection despite having broken up. 

Quade’s picks

1. Glass Animals – ”Heat Waves”
2. Doja Cat – “Woman”
3. Ed Sheeran – “Overpass Graffiti”             

Glass Animals is a band that has flown under the radar until now. “Heat Waves’’ starts off with the soothing low tone the band is known for, before hooking you back in with an addictive chorus. The song doesn’t leave a lot to be desired.

Doja Cat celebrates her femininity in this song, equipped with the impressive vocal range that she effortlessly flaunts. As a pop hit, the song has more going for it than being a catchy tune. The lyrics also give insight into the issues women face in the workforce.

Ed Sheeran has been swimming in hits lately, from his collaboration with Elton John to his latest album topping charts. You’d think he would be bound to run out of steam sometime, but instead he hits it out of the park with songs that harken back to the connections people share.

Kyron’s picks

1. Silk Sonic, Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak – “Smoking Out The Window”
2. Post Malone, The Weeknd – “One Right Now”
3. Lil Nas X – “THATS WHAT I WANT”

“Smoking Out The Window” is reminiscent of older ‘70s era disco, rhythm and blues music. The instrumentals are great and the vocals provided by Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars make the song feel like it’s been around way before the year of its release. The song has a sound that seems familiar to older and younger fans whilst being part of one of the most well-crafted albums of 2021.

The Weekend and Post Malone are arguably two of the most iconic artists of this generation. Both have had similar messages and styles whilst remaining unique and contribute greatly to new sounds in music. They team up on this song about heartbreak and moving on.

“THATS WHAT I WANT” is part of the 2021 album “MONTERO” by Lil Nas X. The artist recently reached new heights in mainstream popularity, and his artistry with vivid, creative music videos makes him stand out. Once considered a rising rap star, he has since shown range and transcended genres, proving to be truly talented with the craft.