April… a time of busy days, worries piling up in the back of my mind and the need for periods of total relaxation. Music helped me unwind a lot this month and kept me calm, centered and grounded; Even through extremely stressful situations.
What made my down time even more enjoyable this month was the fact that so many artists I love had released new music. It made me look forward to my evenings in particular, where I could sit out on my patio with a glass of wine and listen to and enjoy the latest album releases. Sometimes it’s nice to simply… listen and think.
☀︎ What was your April like? What is a song or artist you can’t get enough of at the moment? Let me know! (on the lookout for some new music for my May playlist) ☀︎
APRIL 20 PLAYLIST
Save Your Tears – The Weeknd
Until I Bleed Out – The Weeknd
24.19 – Childish Gambino
53.49 – Childish Gambino
Lauren – Men I Trust
Potions – Day Wave
I’m Glad – Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band
Butterfly – Crazy Town
Starry Eyed Surprise – Paul Oakenfold, Shifty Shellshock, Crazy Town
Shakin’ All Over – Johnny Kidd & The Pirates
FEEL . – Kendrick Lamar
Would You? – Richard Swift
Sparkly Eyes – Quelle Rox
I’m Probably Gonna Rock Your World – Logic
Fade Away Gently – The Buttertones
Bebop – The Buttertones
Dear April (Side A – Acoustic) – Frank Ocean
Gimme Love – Joji
Automatic Driver (Tyler, The Creator Remix) – La Roux
Brooklyn Bridge To Chorus – The Strokes
Eternal Summer – The Strokes
Meaning – Ceramic Animal
53.49 by Childish Gambino
It was hard to choose a favourite from Gambino’s new album but for me, it’s always been between 53.49 and 24.19. The reason why I decided to highlight 53.49 is because of the feelings it evoked when I first listened. I have been listening to Childish Gambino for years now… the first album of his I ever heard was Camp. 53.49 takes the Gambino I got to know in Camp and draws a continuous line up to the Gambino we all know and love today. With 53.49, he brings back the rawness and energy that drew so many of us to him back in the day and combines it with his newly evolved style. It is an homage to his past, present and future.
Lauren by Men I Trust
Ah, how I love and hate the Youtube algorithm (our Facebook status would read it’s complicated). On one hand, I get the most random video suggestions ever, on the other I get gems like this song. Lauren is SUCH a vibe. There’s really no other way to put it. It’s just a vibey ass song and I am all here for it.
FEEL. by Kendrick Lamar
This may be one of the most underrated Kendrick Lamar songs out there. FEEL. is a masterpiece of introspective hip hop, it is a personal reflection on his surroundings, society and the role he plays within it.
I feel like friends been overrated
I feel like the family been fakin’
I feel like the feelings are changin’
Feel like my daughter compromised and jaded
Feel like you wanna scrutinize how I made it
Feel like I ain’t feelin’ you all
Feel like removin’ myself, no feelings involved
I feel for you, I’ve been in the field for you
It’s real for you, right? Shit, I feel like-
Would you? by Richard Swift
My Richard Swift obsession continues. Would You? might just be my favourite song of his. It has such a classic sound to it, very reminiscent of the mid to late 60s, maybe even the early 70s. I certainly wouldn’t have guessed that this was released in 2008 when I first heard it!
Dear April (Side A – Acoustic) by Frank Ocean
If I had to describe my relationship with Frank’s music, I would definitely say “we go through phases”. I will not listen to him for two or three months and then rediscover everything all over again. So when Dear April dropped, I was catapulted into yet another beautiful, nostalgic, hits-me-right-in-the-feels re-discovery period. Dear April was my best friend during slow mornings and late-night thoughts this month.
You can take two strangers
Lead them left and right
At a certain place and time
Like you took these strangers
And our two strange lives
And made us new
Sticky Situation 
I’m so glad you loved Lauren!! Men I Trust has been my favourite band for a couple of years now, and I’m always shoving their songs down other people’s throats, so it’s making me so happy to see it on your playlist!
A friend of mine recently sent me Dear April and now I can’t stop listening to it. Can’t believe I’ve been sleeping on Frank Ocean, dear god.
Love your playlist!!
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ARSHIA, I AM DISAPPOINTED. Why didn’t you shove their songs down MY throat?! Just like you can’t believe you’ve been sleeping on Frank Ocean (which, by the way, HOW???), I can’t believe I have been sleeping on Men I Trust. Dear April truly is a beautiful song, very reminiscent of Frank’s (in my opinion) best album, Blonde.
If you haven’t listened to it yet what are you waiting for??? GO!!!! NOW!!!! (just to clarify, this is me, being a good friend and shoving Frank down your throat in a very aggressive manner).
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Perhaps not your taste in music but I am really loving 5SOS’ new album CALM, Hailee Steinfield’s new EP and Maddie & Tae’s new EP. A real mix of music genres! xx
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Okay, I have been living under a rock. Hailee Steinfield has her own music (except from that song on Pitch Perfect)????? And I am always down for any recommendations, regardless of taste/genre! (Because besides from giving me some inspo, I also get to know the people behind the recommendations better because individual music tastes can say so much about people!) xx
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Yes! She actually has two EPs, HAIZ which came out just after Pitch Perfect 2 is 2016 and her new EP Half Written Story. She has done a few collaborations: Starving with Zedd and Rock Bottom with DNCE (otherwise known as Joe Jonas’ band).
My music taste is definitely very varied: I love country-pop (think old Taylor Swift, Megan & Liz, Hunter Hayes, Maddie & Tae) or rock-pop (ATC, 5SOS). I do enjoy some cheesy pop (think songs they play on the radio) but I find I get sick of it quickly and it all sounds the same. xx
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OMG that “Men I Trust” has just sneaked itself onto my playlist – thank you so much, never heard of it until now. I also absolutely LOVEEE Frank Ocean so I’m glad you’ve added a little song of his 😉 Generally a really great post xx
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Thank you Karen, glad you enjoyed this post! And YAY, I’m glad you found something you didn’t know / liked! Frank is the best, his music somehow is so timeless and beautiful to me xx
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THANK YOU!! I thought I was the only one obsessed with FEEL, so I was super happy to see it on your list Fiona. And I’m 100% the same with Frank Ocean, I can go months and months without listening to a single song, but there’s also weeks where I don’t listen to anything else! x
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Priya, I love you. FINALLY!!!! SOMEONE WHO AGREES THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ON FEEL. FOR WAY TOO LONG! And yeah, Frank is just such a classic but to me his music also requires a very specific mood that I’m not always in. But when I’m in it then I’M IN. Other music? Don’t know her. Frank (mainly Blonde and a few bangers from channel orange) becomes my world. x
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