“Quarantunes”: All The New Songs We’ve Been Blasting During The Q
Press pause on life and hit play with these new tunes!
by AINSLEY HOLMAN ★ MAY 15, 2020
While spending this much time inside is definitely not ideal, it has given us the opportunity to discover and listen to amazing new music! From indie to pop to country, so many artists have released music over the past few months. Whether it’s blasting during your ab workout, playing through your earbuds while you’re walking the dog, or silently accompanying your banana bread making, listening to music is a must. Music is a great way to find comfort and joy during these tough times, and there’s no shame in breaking out into a solo dance party every now and then! Here are some of our favorite new songs, albums, and playlists that we can’t help but play on a loop.
Songs that we have on repeat:
1. “Window” by Still Woozy
“Window” is the perfect jam to get you in the mood for summertime! Sven Gamsky, also known as Still Woozy, is no stranger to catchy beats and fun lyrics. His unique electro-pop sound, accompanied with slower, more acoustic moments, makes Still Woozy’s newest bop one of our favorites. Definitely check out the rest of the artist’s songs; we love them all!
2. “Inside Friend” by Leon Bridges and John Mayer
This newest track from Leon Bridges and John Mayer follows the love life of an introvert as they discuss their idea of a perfect date. While the song is amazing on its own, we also love the fact that the release is accompanied by new merchandise on Bridges’ online store, with all proceeds going to MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund.
3. “Cayendo” and “Dear April” by Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean dropped two stripped-down acoustic tracks recently, both of which got immediately added to our playlists. “Cayendo,” a super emotional ballad sung partially in Spanish, and “Dear April,” an equally moving track, have all of us wondering where Ocean’s long-anticipated third album is.
Frank Ocean; Credit: VSCO
4. “midnight love” by girl in red
Singer-songwriter Marie Ringhem, more commonly known as girl in red, just dropped “midnight love,” an ode to casual sex and feeling like you are not good enough for the one you love. With touching lyrics and a beautiful melody, “midnight love” is the perfect slow song. The 21-year-old singer is expected to drop her debut album “World in Red” in October, and we can’t wait!
5. “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)” by The 1975
The 1975’s newest track, “If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know),” has been stuck in our heads all of quarantine! It sounds straight out of a coming-of-age film with amazing guitar, saxophone, and techno moments. Also, FKA Twigs is featured on the track, so you know we have to love it.
Matty Healy from The 1975; Credit: Alt Press
6. “Gimme Love” by Joji
Joji’s newest track has been on a constant loop! Slightly reminiscent of Joji’s lo-fi roots, “Gimme Love” is an intoxicating song with a catchy beat in the beginning and amazing vocals in the latter half. It’s a sneak peek of his sophomore album, Nectar, which is set to release July 8.
7. “Summer Feelings” by Lennon Stella and Charlie Puth
Lennon Stella and Charlie Puth join forces on the upbeat song “Summer Feelings.” As the name implies, this track is a breezy bop that is perfect for summertime. It has a catchy tune that is perfect for singing along, and will most definitely get stuck in your head! When not playing “Summer Feelings” on repeat, be sure to check out Stella’s new album, Three. Two. One.
8. “More Than My Hometown” by Morgan Wallen
For all of the country fans, Morgan Wallen’s newest song “More Than My Hometown” tells the story of a couple at a crossroads in their relationship. Wallen is rising in popularity within the country music world, with top tracks such as “This Bar” and “Whiskey Glasses.” He also recently collaborated with Diplo on “Heartless,” another Wallen song we highly recommend!
Morgan Wallen; Credit: VSCO
9. “I Got Nothin’” by Dion, Van Morrison, and Joe Louis Walker
Fresh off of Dion’s new album Blues With Friends, “I Got Nothin’” is a track filled with amazing guitar moments that are perfect for those lazy summer nights. Music legends Van Morrison and Joe Louis Walker accompany Dion on the song to create an amazing sound! We can’t wait to hear the rest of Blues With Friends, which is set to release June 5.
Albums that we can’t stop listening to:
1. Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Arguably the most iconic album of 2020 so far, Fiona Apple’s fifth record, Fetch the Bolt Cutters, is unmatched. The tracks on the album are all raw and beautiful (don’t make us pick a favorite!), with each deserving a listen. If you’re a fan of Apple, we definitely recommend you check out her interview with Vulture breaking down each song on Fetch the Bolt Cutters!
2. Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
We are obsessed with Dua Lipa’s newest record! With traces of retro-funk and disco-pop, the album showcases fun upbeat tracks that are sure to become stable summer bops. Our favorite songs off the album are “Physical,” “Break My Heart,” and “Don’t Start Now!”
Dua Lipa; Credit: VSCO
3. It Was Divine by Alina Baraz
Alina Baraz’s debut album is amazing! The R&B record features appearances from crowd-favorites, such as Khalid and 6LACK. We love the message Baraz conveys within the album, as the songs follow the importance of loving and accepting others, as well as yourself. Our favorite tracks are “Off the Grid” and “Frank.”
4. Home Tapes by Oh Wonder
Home Tapes is a quarantine project from alt-pop duo Oh Wonder. All of the songs are written, recorded, produced, and released from their London home studio! The two tracks on the record are both fantastic in their own ways. “Lonely Star” is a slow song about loneliness (a little too relatable right now), while “Keep On Dancing” is a faster and more upbeat tune.
5. love is not dying by Jeremy Zucker
Jeremy Zucker’s debut album is spectacular, to say the least. He first gained popularity from his singles and EPs, and we are so glad Zucker has finally released his own album! From slower songs like “oh, mexico,” to songs with a killer beat like “julia,” this record covers all musical moods.
Jeremy Zucker; Credit: Pinterest
Playlists that are on a constant loop:
1. “POLLEN” by Spotify
Sorry, Apple Music users! “POLLEN” is a Spotify playlist that features fantastic tracks and artists, such as Frank Ocean, Joji, Brent Faiyaz, Mac Miller, and more. According to its description, the playlist is “genre-less” with “quality first,” and we couldn’t agree more!
2. “Just Vibes Dude” by Kateplus8feet
This is the perfect playlist for driving around during warm summer nights! “Just Vibes Dude” features tracks from top artists like Dominic Fike, Summer Walker, and PARTYNEXTDOOR.
Dominic Fike; Credit: @bypetepark
3. “Outer Banks Netflix Soundtrack” by Daisy Dream
ICYMI, Outer Banks is one of the hottest shows of quarantine, and we absolutely recommend you watch it if you haven’t already! While the plotline and characters are super interesting, the music featured on the show is equally worthy of praise. We are loving the soundtrack from the show, which can be listened to in its entirety with this playlist!
We hope you enjoyed our top new music picks of quarantine! As always, we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy!