024
December 2018
023
November 2018
022
October 2018
021
September 2018
020
August 2018
Breezy beats and (completely by coincidence) female vocals are the main feature of this month's list
Ebo Taylor's Mumudey Mumudey gets a delightful rework by Natureboy Flako, a signature treatment reminiscent of his pre-Natureboy sound.
Three tracks on the list clock in at under three minutes—beautifully crafted sample flips by Te'amir and Goldenninjah, and the closer, Masego's Lady Lady, which manages to sound both fresh and ol' skool.
019
July 2018
Breezy beats and (completely by coincidence) female vocals are the main feature of this month's list
Ebo Taylor's Mumudey Mumudey gets a delightful rework by Natureboy Flako, a signature treatment reminiscent of his pre-Natureboy sound.
Three tracks on the list clock in at under three minutes—beautifully crafted sample flips by Te'amir and Goldenninjah, and the closer, Masego's Lady Lady, which manages to sound both fresh and ol' skool.
018
June 2018
While I'm not pleased with how this playlist flows, each track is a certified Choon.
Nubya Garcia's ”Hold” is about as fuego as the weather right now, with that intoxicating brass bassline, bouncy drums, and melodic minor riffs.
The bottom half of the list is a study in lushness—dreamy, mellow sounds give me the feeling of refreshing lemonade.
017
May 2018
The weather is warming up, and the synths are out for summer.
That Vangelis Katsoulis tune...I was in Montreal with two different groups of good friends, converging for the first time, in a magical place that probably doesn't exist any more, with smoke machines, and that song gave us life. I know you probably won't hear it quite the same way I did, but I want you to hear it all the same.
Points for Mxxwll and Joe Armon-Jones, both of whom you'll be hearing a lot more of round these parts. The typically bouncy Aussie G-Funk of Mxx is a great way to start the day, but don't sleep on Armon Jones' modal-jazz-meets-trap banger.
016
April 2018
I spent the past month on the road, so a lot of these songs can be traced to a particular place and time. Wikipedia, for example, was the soundtrack to my scramble through London's Victoria Station.
I also had to delete and recreate my Spotify account (ahem, Facebook), so hopefully no glitches.
015
March 2018
This month's playlist has a sprinkling of African flavour, including one tune from the of-the-moment fictional nation of Wakanda.
Okmalumkoolkat's Cid-Rim-produced banger and Kokoroko's chill anthem are highlights.
014
February 2018
I was at a coffee shop playing all Badu, all the time. It was glorious. If you don't feel like listening to this playlist, do that instead.
With the exception of Erykah and Q-Tip, I discovered every other artist on this playlist through Spotify. It's kind of insane how much my listening habits have changed since I switched to streaming.
013
January 2018
Did you notice? I'm starting 2018 with the same band I ended 2017 with—that's how highly I rate Lydian Collective right now.
All new discoveries this month, with the exception of the very last track, which was the first Thundercat song I ever heard.
012
December 2017
Setting the mood for some downtime as we see the year out. A perfect playlist for gazing out of a window at a world you'd rather not get involved with right now.
That said, there are a lot of interesting rhythms going on here, from the double-time ghost notes of Gogo Penguin and Rohey, to the triple taps of Vicente Amigo and Lydian Collective, not to mention Fink's slow shuffle. Lots of table tapping opportunities here.
011
November 2017
When someone sees your Insta story and asks what the song playing in the background is, you know it's fuego. Enjoy Hypnotic Brass Ensemble's beautifully bouncy anthem, Linden.
The gliding melody of Koto Song was stuck in my head for a whole weekend, causing me to search my entire Spotify history to find it. Totally worth it for that hit of bittersweet bliss.
A quick word for Cid Rim, Dorian Concept, and The Clonius—three Austrian childhood friends turned underground electronic music megastars. Four Eighteen gives you a taste of the sensibilities and musical approach of each, but definitely dive deeper into each artist's discography.
010
October 2017
Opening with an outro, what a maverick. Seriously though, there is no better way to start this month's playlist than with MXXWLL's vibes.
Royksopp's deubt album, Melody AM, changed the way I hear music. Their quasi-tangible soundscapes helped me “see” sound. This tune in particular reminds me of my first trip to Shropshire.
Easter egg: tracks 3 and 4, as well as 5, 6, and 7, are in the same key. Pure coincidence?
009
September 2017
Remember the eclipse? Broken Social Scene definitely do. From the past. This track from their 2002 album "You Forgot It in People" feels like it was written for that afternoon (if you're in North America) just a few weeks ago. Then again, eclipses happen all the time.
The rest of the playlist is similarly given to the idea of breaking routine and escaping into nature.
With the exception of Laura Mvula, who, for the second time this year, provides a straight-up banger.
008
August 2017
A bit of get up and grind for you this month.
Phonte's "Something" reminds me of early morning starts in New York and Vancouver this summer, striding with purpose through streets that seemed endlessly mysterious yet vaguely familiar.
Right in the middle of the playlist, Bastien Keb and Mark de Clive-Lowe provide some seriously groovy, experimental, jazz/funk/hop. Oh, and Cappo has bars.
007
July 2017
These are all brand new discoveries for me, with the exception of the opener, which I've been meaning to throw on a playlist for a few months. Menahan Street Band's "The Crossing" is a classic soul joint released by a bunch of New Yorkers in 2012, and you can definitely hear a bit of Jay-Z in here (as well as he obvious Dr. Dre similarity in the opening riff).
"Godzilla" by Velis Trio is such a delightfully... abstract piece of music. Listening to it, I feel like I'm in a dream where the laws of physics no longer apply.
CAPYAC's "Disco Muse" veers into guilty pleasure territory—it's a pretty sugary track with a kind of Daft Punk meets Norah Jones vibe.
006
June 2017
This is a deliberately indulgent selection of summer grooves.
Iman Omari's “Energy” popped up on my Spotify on the first truly glorious day of my time in Manhattan. Walking around Union Square with this vibing in my headphones reminded me how much I love his silky production and effortlessly blended vocals. Watch out for more from his catalogue in future playlists.
Theo Croker, in a live performance, says “This Could Be...” is about being on the road and feeling like maybe, just maybe, your temporary life in this new place with new people could be your “real” life. That groove is just nuts.
Patrice Rushen (aka the female Quincy/Stevie who really should have the same level of recognition) is at her groovy, virtuoso best on a track I first heard in sample form on a Jazzy Jeff mixtape.
That's just the first three. Honestly, these tunes all sizzle. Bon été!
005
May 2017
Chantae Cann’s infectious scat and Ashley Henry’s prodigious piano seem like perfect bookends this month, both tunes move effortlessly between time signatures and almost mock the very idea of structure in places.
Lorine Chia delivers the ultimate get-out-of-my-face bad mood anthem with “I Just Want to Live”. Definitely my mood music right now.
MNDSGN may be a terrible singer live, but the dude can arrange. His melodic brand of lo-fi chillwave is on display here with Lather.
Oh, and the one Bombay Bicycle Club song I ever listened to.
004
April 2017
I wasn't too sure what I wanted to do this month—create a playlist of tunes I felt were truly transcendent, or a bunch of tunes that felt like the were about transcendence. In the end, I've done neither. Instead, here are a collection of tunes I hope transmit a number of different feelings, because I think ultimately our ability to experience different things is the reason any of this can exist.
Zero7's End Theme shows up ironically early here, a classic orchestral-yet-still-regular-music anthem for days when you need to feel epic. Chris McClenney's Untitled (Funk#2) feels like a Jamaica Funk rewrite, yet brings something new. Tigran Hamasyan beasts out completely on Ancient Observer (how's that for transcending?), and Kaminsky brings it home with a sweet, jazzy rendition of a Daft Punk hit.
003
March 2017
There are some incredible instrumentalists on display—GoGo Penguin are a jazz trio like few other, mixing hyperactive, often glitchy riffs into their songs. Uyama Hiroto, a dear friend, collaborator, and de-facto spiritual successor to the late, great Nujabes, sizzles on clarinet. L’impératrice, a funky electronic outfit from the nation that brought you Daft Punk, show their sensitive, worldly side on this acoustic reimagining.
For all that, possibly my favourite cut here comes from Alfa Mist, a UK producer making his debut on the other side of the studio glass. Backed by what sounds like a jazz three-piece, his flow is effortless but relentless at the same time. Bars.
002
February 2017
Musical genius/demon child/alien Jacob Collier can play and sing pretty much anything. Often, the stuff that comes out of such otherworldly talents can be a bit too complex for my mere mortal ears. I think he keeps it just about simple enough on “Hideaway”, despite multiple time and key signature shifts.
Anderson .Paak was pretty hard to avoid in 2016. “Am I Wrong” (ft. Schoolboy Q) was arguably his biggest banger. But this tune also features two of my personal faves—Pomo produced the beat, and Brasstracks laid down some tasty trumpet grooves.
Erroll Garner’s rendition of “Sunny” has everything that made him so great—playfulness, lightning fast fingers, and an unbelievable ear for melody. His grunting along to the track somehow makes it better.
001
January 2017
For whatever reason, the song I really wanted to end this playlist with is no longer available on Spotify. If you're so inclined, feel free to listen to “Colours” by The Cinematic Orchestra once the playlist is finished. A beautiful composition that to me, feels like the transition from day to night.
-001
Bonus Playlist 2
Ahh, you've made it to the bonus section.
Enjoy these “practice” playlists I made before Tuneage officially started.
-002
Bonus Playlist 2
Ahh, you've made it to the bonus section.
Enjoy these “practice” playlists I made before Tuneage officially started.