This week, we asked the Jammie Award winner and Local Spins’ Emerging Artist of the Year for his top songs to get through COVID-19. An intriguing roster of tunes to be sure, from hip hop to jazz and more.
Consistently Sitting With These Songs: Jordan Hamilton, top left, gives us a quarantine playlist.
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Jordan Hamilton is all about delving into captivating musical territory.
Local Spins’ most recent winner of its Emerging Artist of the Year award and a multiple Jammie Award winner, Hamilton’s own music is rife with influences from a rich, diverse and resplendent canvas — soul, classical music, rock, hip hop and much more.
So, we asked the classically trained hip hop cellist to give us his current playlist of faves, inspired by the stay-at-home pandemic that we’re all experiencing.
Jordan Hamilton (Photo/Kendra Petersen-Kamp)
In his words: “Here’s a quarantine playlist for you all: These are songs that have been in and out of my head and ears throughout quarantine.
Some are my favorite current songs, some are my all-time favorite songs. Some songs remind me of friends, some remind me of moments and some remind me of dreams. Some I listen to process sorrow, some I listen to dance (internally or externally, lol).
I compiled these because they are songs I have been consistently sitting with so I wanted to share them with you so that they may keep you company.
The tracks are in no particular order and I have left so many artists and songs out. But I guess these are the messages and songs that I wanted to share during your time in quarantine.”
Enjoy. And check out last week’s “Songs to Save the Planet” playlist by Patty PerShayla.
SONGS DURING QUARANTINE: The Playlist by Jordan Hamilton
1. “Diamond in the Ruff,” J.Rob (2019) – I first heard this song at the tail end of 2019. It’s been stuck in my head ever since. The beat. The lyrics. The cadences. Love it! When quarantine is over, no doubt this song by Grand Rapids hip hop artist J.Rob will DEF be in rotation to get back in the swing of things.
2. “Compare,” Jess (2020) – A few months removed from working on this project with Last Gasp Collective, I went back and and listened to this album by Kalamazoo’s Jessica Ivey (Jess) top to bottom and was blown away. I’ve often been revisiting this song when I’m in my feelings, lol.
3. “Bossa,” Siri Imani 2020 – This song makes me feel thankful for touring and Instagram. Without those two things, who knows when I would’ve found it. Cincinnati-based Artist Siri Imani and her group TRIIBE is dope and this is one of her newly released songs. I’ve been listening to it a lot in the morning. Calming spring/summer vibe.
4. “Life of the Party,” Just a Band (2015) – My girlfriend has GREAT taste in music and art — so much that I often pick up favorite songs and musical inspirations from her playlist. (Thank you Fari!) This is one of those songs that will probably make it to my all-time playlist. I really can’t say enough about this record; it’s perfect. Humorous, mad, soulful, creative mix, simple, complex, swag, what more could one want in a song.
5. “Don’t Let No One Get You Down,” War (1975) – This song from the “Why Can’t We Be Friends” album definitely goes on my all-time playlist! When listening, i often daydream of performing this song in an all-white suite with tassels, big shades, room full of 4/20 and fog and everyone having a GREAT time. Can’t let nobody “get you down” even when ‘rona is around.
6. “Dumebi,” Rema (2019) – Whenever I hear this song, I think of my friends in Toronto: the John Orpheus Crew, 3.0 Collective, and all the people that make up the dope Afrobeat scene. Nothin’ but a good vibe and feeling of connection! I’ve been listening to it consistently in 2020.
7. “It’s a World Before You,” Kaidi Tatham (2018) – My Spotify ‘weekly suggestions’ knows me well. I had this song on repeat for a whole day after discovering it. I love instrumental music. This arrangement blows my mind. I just had to share it.
8. “A.P.I.D.T.A.,” Jay Electronica (2020) – The Legend: Jay Electronica has spoken in 2020. There is so much loss going on right now. I’ve been waiting on this album for years. And it came at the perfect time. I listen to this when thinking about loss. Fortunately, I have not lost any immediate friends or family but I can’t help but think about the possibility and the people that have.
9. “There is No Greater Love,” Gene Ammons (1961) – This song was introduced to me when I was jamming with the amazing guitarist Andrew Saliba before quarantine. I love the chord progression and the tenor solo goes so hard. So I have been listening to it consistently to soak it in and play it.
SONGS DURING QUARANTINE: Jordan Hamilton’s Local Spins Playlist on Spotify
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