Oh, sweet May. Where do I begin? There is no better feeling than opening Spotify and hearing fresh tracks back to back that you actually enjoy. Honestly, I barely indulged in music the first few months of 2024, but this month summoned magical artistry and lyrical masterminds that made music feel like music again. From usual favorites like RM to iconic artists like Cigarettes After Sex, my Gen-Z coded playlist provides me everything I need all summer long.
bowie box – dominic fike
This is nothing like anything I have heard from Fike, especially not like his tracks on his second album just released mid last year. The collection of songs in his new project 14 minutes that literally totals to 14 minutes (and 22 seconds) are just as described–a memory box of Fike’s inner monologue that has finally been opened. Track number five, “bowie box,” just feels like the perfect unofficial interlude to this project. With as little as eight lines, this song speaks volumes. It somewhat feels like what you would hear if you listened to the voice of the breeze backed by a humid, sunny afternoon.
Dark vacay – cigarettes after sex
I barely listen to Cigarettes After Sex, even when they were heavily trending for “Apocalypse.” Then “Tejano Blue” dropped, followed by “Dark Vacay,” and from there, I played their discography start to end (apologies to die-hard fans, but I understand now). In this track, the band’s distinctive layers of whisper-vocals among spacey reverb strings and soft drums soothed me into an affair with the song as it was on repeat for about three car rides and a whole shift at work. It was probably my most played song of the month with the seamless loop it turned into.
come back to me – rm
My ARMY heart will never fade. It has been a bittersweet feeling watching the personal moments of growth that each member is taking, from their musical journeys to their passion projects. Namjoon, better known as RM, recently released his second solo album featuring the single, “Come back to me.” I like the simplicity of the lyrics, “I forgot to shower,” with subtle guitar and whistle melodies. Yet, there is a deeper message of staying true to yourself and acknowledging days where you don’t feel aligned. RM is known to voice his thoughts with such eloquence and it is no surprise that it translates to his music. This six-minute letter will surely keep me grounded amidst the whirlwinds of life.
Please don’t fall in love with me – khalid
When I heard this booming from the surround sound at my family’s AirBnB during graduation weekend, I was shocked to see that the artist was none other than my favorite 2017 pop singer. I haven’t heard a song from Khalid in what feels like forever. It was a major throwback, but I also forgot how much I enjoyed his vocals. This track is different, though. Beginning with sampling Alicia Keys’ “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready),” Khalid brings out his most personal voice to date–a deep melancholic cry of heartbreak that sends him from his radio-pop era to a matured R&B songwriter.
Tune into the rest of my favorite songs of May on our Spotify!
rachel liu
As a full-time college student, Rachel turns to music and writing to escape the pressures of life. She began her journey in the digital music space as a writer for blogs under Laura’s playlists and is continuing that under Daybreak.
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