Mid-Year Checkpoint: A summer playlist

June brings with it sweltering heat and the realisation that half the year has somehow gone by. In times like these, I personally gravitate towards busy, bright, and lively songs. Partially to liven up the mood, and partially to keep my head above water. If you’re like me, and need some songs to tap your feet, or fully groove to, here are seven songs spanning genre and language to listen to this summer! 
 
‘Can’t Keep a Beat’ by Say Now 
Emerging UK-based girl-group Say Now’s recent release ‘Can’t Keep a Beat’ has an excellent balance between instrumentation and vocals. A consistent techno beat and an especially electric bridge makes this song difficult to get out of your head. The lyrics are bright, talking about being in a secure relationship where the only drawback is that “the boy can’t keep a beat”. Say Now’s members – Yssy, Amelia, and Maddy – have excellent synchronisation on the track, and their discography continues to be promising and versatile. If you’re into pop and girl groups, or just want a happy track to listen to, check this song out! 
 
‘Günah Benim’ by Eypio 
Turkish singer-songwriter and rapper Eypio released this timeless song in 2016. With an addictive guitar hook and a steady drumbeat, ‘Günah Benim’ (which roughly translates to ‘the sin is mine’) is bursting with musical flavour. Eypio shows great skill as a singer and rapper, and it’s no surprise why the song has amassed over 50 million streams on Spotify.   
 
‘Wait on Me’ by KAI 
Famed K-Pop idol and member of famous musical groups such as EXO and Super M, KAI’s recent mini-album Wait on Me offers exciting pop tracks that exude summer. Its titular track, ‘Wait on Me’, marries techno with a reggaeton beat. ‘Wait on Me’ is consistently electrifying, but I especially enjoyed the instrumental break at the two-minute mark. The song is gaining traction, having amassed two million streams in under a month. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys fusion in their pop music, or to anyone who wants to check out K-Pop in general.  
 
‘Hot Sugar’ by Glass Animals 
Glass Animals’ 2020 album Dreamland presents some amazing experimentation with synth-pop in particular. As an alternative band, Glass Animals continue to vary their sounds across albums, and ‘Hot Sugar’ is a perfect example of this. Frontman Dave Bayley shows his admirable vocals in a masterfully mixed and produced song. Similar to the last track, ‘Hot Sugar’ excels in developing individual instrumental tracks and giving them space to breathe and grow, which is evident through an instrumental riff at the three-minute mark. With an entirely dreamy sound (no surprise, given the album name), the song is reminiscent of guzzling down lemonade on a scalding summer day.  
 
‘Doin’ Time’ by Sublime 
A robust and energetic song from Sublime’s self-titled album, ‘Doin’ Time’ showcases the band’s ability to blend reggae and ska with punk music. Released in 1996, ‘Doin’ Time’ was recorded before late lead-vocalist Bradley Nowell’s tragic passing. It’s the first song I think of during summer, perhaps because the first line is “summertime, and the living’s easy”, and perhaps because of how thoroughly alive this song is. From start to finish, the song maintains the same momentum without feeling tired. As a result, it’s a song that you can always rely on to get your mood up again.  
 
‘Back to Me’ by The Marías 
Indie pop band The Marías new track ‘Back to Me’ starts slow and eventually blossoms into a vibrant pop rock track. Lead singer María Zardoya’s vocals transition from pensive and breathy to strong and certain with effortless ease. The instrumentation is also top-notch, with Jesse Perlman on guitar and Josh Conway on the drums, signalling tonal shifts seamlessly in tandem with Zardoya’s vocals. The song has gathered an impressive 21 million plus streams since early April.   

‘Summer Wine’ by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood
Written by Hazlewood, this duet version with Nancy Sinatra released in 1967. Sinatra’s excellent breath control and Hazlewood’s effortless meandering vocals are an outstanding match. The timeless drumbeat and the ascending violin complement the vocals, despite the contrast in timbre and tone. ‘Summer Wine’ is a timeless classic. As the song fades away with a steady morendo, the melody itself will be imprinted in your mind’s ear.

Listen to the playlist here: