Hi y’all. Hope you’re doing okay! I was listening to some music today and thought I’d revive this newsletter for old times’ sake.
So much has happened since I last sent it out. I got engaged! I wrote a book! Covid-19!
I put together a playlist of 25 songs (and one recipe!) that I’ve been enjoying a lot lately and thought I’d share them with you. They’re not all bops (or even pop songs). Just 25 songs I’m really liking right now.
If you enjoy the playlist—or even if you don’t—please consider donating to G.L.I.T.S. today. Also lmk what you think of these songs/if you want more picks regularly etc.! A reply to the email goes straight to my inbox.
SUMMER 2020 PLAYLIST (not summer jams though, although some are)
On Spotify // On Apple Music
“UN DIA (ONE DAY)” by J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
I don’t really think there’s a “song of the summer” this year but I think this is one of the best songs I’ve heard in a long time. I loved the Dua album at the beginning of quar and I think Bad Bunny is like the most exciting human on the planet, but this song just does it for me. 10/10
“Holiday” by Little Mix
It’s a little basic but I can’t stop listening to the new single from the (forever-underrated) girl group Little Mix. It’s pretty much a Kim Petras knockoff but I can’t bother caring about that.
“Weak” by Flo Milli
Flo Milli’s new mixtape, the excellently titled, Ho, why is you here ?, is so fun and this song is probably my favorite song on it. She’s just hilarious and the sample is great, too.
“betty” by Taylor Swift
I like this song from the new Taylor Swift album a lot because it reminds me of Fearless, my favorite Taylor Swift album. It’s a song about what happens when people hurt each other, which is what the best Taylor Swift songs are about. I think it’s probably gay, too, which is a fun twist for her. I think the whole album is really good actually and I prob have not stanned for her this much since I went to Philadelphia to see the Red Tour :)
“Why” by Rema
Apple Music semi-recently rounded up all of the scattered releases of Rema, a cool Nigerian artist, and I finally really took a listen to him and really loved it. “Why” has definite Rae Sremmurd with a little bit of Weeknd vibes.
“Thankful” by StarBoy & Blaq Jerzee
There’s no one better for summer than Wizkid and the EP he put out recently (listed under Starboy on streaming) is just so easy to disappear in. So many flawless horns throughout, but especially on this song.
“Jolie nana” by Aya Nakamura
Aya Nakamura, this really pretty French singer, released the amazing “Djadja” a few years ago and I’ve been following her since then. “Jolie nana” is prob the closest she’s come to matching the magic of that song and I’ve been playing it back a bunch lately.
“Green Papaya” by Lianne La Havas
I loveeee this song. Her voice is just so beautiful and I think the lyrics are dreamy: “I'm greedy with love, but my hunger to give is strong enough.” See also: her supreme cover of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes” on her new album as well.
“Among Climetree Harbors” by The Marx Trukker
I discovered this song through Matt Schnipper’s new playlist newsletter and I adore it. Throughout quar, I’ve been fondly remembering a trip to Miami with my friends in late February. We sat by the pool and listened to fancy electronica like this and drank pretty drinks. The world is so different now that it feels like a really good dream I’m remembering and not real life.
“Confirmation (SSBD)” by Westerman
I think this album from this U.K. guy Westerman might end up being my favorite one of the year. Every song just sounds spectacular and new. This song is the first one I heard from the project and think it might be the best one, too. Would encourage you to listen.
“Meet Again” by LP Giobbi f. Little Boots
I saw LP Giobbi do a DJ set for Wynwood Pride and she teased this collaboration with Little Boots. I needed to hear the full version immediately and was so happy when she finally released it. It reminds me of taking a cab home from a late night out, which is something I’d like to do again soon.
“Do To Me” by H.E.R.
I think H.E.R. is an industry plant but this song is undeniable.
“Girlfriend” by Charlie Puth
I have a crush on Charlie Puth and I have nothing interesting to say about this song.
“BeBe’s Kids” by Pi’erre Bourne
This man has the funniest producer drops in the world. This ridiculously long album is really good background music, tbh, because all of the beats melt into the walls and make you feel like you’re the central character in a video game. I picked this song because he mentions Jimmy Neutron and the beat makes me laugh, too.
“Experience” by Victoria Monét, Khalid & SG Lewis
Maybe the best capital-p “Pop” song I’ve heard in a long time. A song with so much energy it makes Khalid sound alive. Just great work all around, especially from SG Lewis (more from him in a minute!).
“Ungodly Hour” by Chloe x Halle
I love these girls and I’m so happy they finally made an album equivalent to their talents. The title track is *chef’s kiss*. Kaytranada said it’s a rip-off of his music and I don’t necessarily disagree but I feel like that was bound to happen eventually because it really is some of the best dance music out.
“Inna Song (Gin & Lime)” by DarkoVibes & King Promise
This man never lied: "I put all the energy you give me in a song/ All the good vibes you give me in a song." So much good energy and vibes here!!!!!!!!!
“Distance” by Yebba
God, I am obsessed with Yebba’s voice and this song is such a good example of why. I always play this song at sunset like a cornball mcgoo but I don’t even care because it’s so perfect for it. I need the full album right this second.
“Lotus” by JÁNA
Lol, I always play this song after the Yebba one and think they go so well together. Just more dreamy music for pink skies and orange wines.
“Woo!” by Remi Wolf
I’m so excited by Remi Wolf’s music and “Woo!” is a good example of why. This single is kind of her intro to the world and I’m looking forward to hearing a lot more from her. Like, she just sounds cool as shit.
“Chemicals” by SG Lewis
This song makes me think: Oh my GOD, get me to a big gay bar. NOW. It’s not even that gay of a song, but I just love this beat so much.
“rock n roll” by Dijon
A song about enjoying music/Prince. Just like, one of the most interesting songs I’ve heard this year. Also, it reminds me of The-Dream’s “Yamaha,“ one of the best songs ever.
“All I Need” by Jacob Collier, Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
I cannot get enough of this song. It plays with Jazz in such sneaky ways and I love how it goes up-and-up-and-up-and-up. Just phenomenal.
“Babylon” by Lady Gaga
I will never get over this idiotic song and I don’t want to. After Gaga released ARTPOP and I thought her career was over, I thought that she should just live out the rest of her career doing the kookiest shit she wants to and relentlessly touring for her psycho fans who don’t care how weird some of her choices are. She’s….kind of done that, minus the touring part, but winning Oscars instead. Everything about this song is garbage and I think it’s incredible.
One Recipe
Here’s how you make mytan ribs: buy a rack of frozen pork ribs, cut them in half with a big knife, season them all over with some bbq rub and let em chill in the fridge for like a day or a half a day, then put your lil rack in the instant pot and pour out one beer and some shakes of fish sauce into the bottom, if you have a half an onion lying around add that in too, then stand your ribs up on the tray in like a circle kind of with the meaty side facing out, then cook them on high pressure for like 27 or 28 mins, let the pressure release naturally, then take the ribs out and rub bbq sauce on them, then broil/grill them, and then put a lil more bbq sauce on top after that :)
I will see you on the other side