The latest in Local Spins’ series of summery soundtracks boasts tracks by Alabama Shakes, Kali Uchis, Blood Orange, Frankie Cosmos and Jonti in a pink furry suit strolling through a dreamy video.
EDITOR’S NOTE: As part of the celebration of Local Spins’ fourth anniversary this year, we’ve asked some of our writers and contributors to create Top 10 playlists of favorite tunes for spring and summer — right as the music festival season starts to really heat up. The only caveat: At least one of the picks must be a local or regional artist.
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For her list, Local Spins writer Deshia Dunn got soulful in an indie-pop and hip hop sort of way. She calls it “a soundtrack for relaxing summer vibes.” Enjoy.
1. “Never Be Yours,” Kali Uchis — I love the pure, sultry sound of Kali Uchis’ voice. She has a way of gapping an older generation of sound to the newer generation of music-lovers. With this tune, she sets the perfect tone for a serene summer day.
2. “You Hid,” Toro Y Moi — This acoustic rendition of Toro Y Moi’s original track pulls me in by means of his hypnotizing voice and gentle accompaniment of instruments. It’s the perfect song for daytime cloud watching or evening stargazing.
3. “Go Away,” TOPS — Although this song isn’t from their most recent album, it’s still one of my favorites. It’s funky and upbeat: something you can either get up and dance to or sit down and vibe to.
4. “Gimme All Your Love,” Alabama Shakes — This band didn’t receive the 2016 Grammy award for best alternative music album for nothing. Lead singer Brittany Howard has the type of powerful voice you absolutely cannot ignore.
5. “You’re Not Good Enough,” Blood Orange — I stumbled upon this track one day while on a deep journey through YouTube. The composition of this song with a retro approach to choice in instruments and vocal tactics, it’s easy to see why this song is such a gem in this day and age.
6. “Doomsday,” MF DOOM — Doom was one of the rappers coming up in the same eras as J Dilla, a hip hop legend. In combination with his flow and the layering of the beat, this song represents to me a musician way ahead of his time.
7. “Tease Me,” Lianne La Havas — If you know what soul is, then you know exactly what this musician is all about. Her voice is just as bone-chilling and organic live as it is in the official audio. The quiet command of her presence is definitely something to talk about.
8. “Missoula,” Obese Ghost Children — The thing I like most about this song by this Grand Rapids duo (MCF & Norty) is the raw sound of the hook in contrast with the delicate instrumentation. It reeks of nostalgia and innocence; something we all can relate back to. The music video does a great job of complementing the beauty of this song as well.
9. “Is It Possible/Sleep Song,” Frankie Cosmos — This singer has such a sweet voice. Somehow, she makes obscenity sound pure.
10. “Nightshift in Blue,” Jonti — This abstract piece of work mirrors a dream-like realm: one that doesn’t make the concept of a man running around in the city with a pink, furry suit on in the music video seem at all far-fetched. Instead, it seems to be the perfect visual accompaniment.
Bonus Track: “Find Your Wings,” Tyler, the Creator — A track derived from his most recent album “Cherry Bomb,” there’s no denying his evolution as a well-rounded musician. Known to many as simply a rapper, this song challenges those views with its intricate construction of jazz and R&B vocation and instrumentation.
DESHIA DUNN: The Local Spins Playlist on Spotify
NOTE: The Kali Uchis and Obese Ghost Children tracks are not available on Spotify.
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