Being very European with my August and am jetting off again next week. This time to The Annual Murphy Family OBX Beach Week. The Outer Banks to me is the epitome of R&R. It’s like the Hamptons minus the dregs of banking interns held together by pleated khakis and needlepoint belts, plus abundant thrift store shopping, great coffee and expansive beaches. Much to the chagrin of my boyfriend / chauffeur, it also takes 8 hours by car.
I love roadtrips. Probably because I have exactly two responsibilities: 1) to keep excellent tunes going strong (piece of cake) and 2) mildly navigate the blue dot’s southbound traverse via Google maps. Obviously, since I make them, my playlists get some airtime in my own life. But this one, I have in heavy rotation. It has a smattering of soul, folk, indie-pop and even some hip-hop and is perfect for traveling in a car, the LIRR — or just sitting couch-bound as we squeeze out every last drop of summer.
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It opens with some soulful, downbeat pop from London’s Caitlyn Scarlett. “Rust” was produced by Jack Gourlay who's also worked with Tom Odell, Jack Garrett (aka instant hit) and transports me to my Honda Civic in 2002, blasting Christina Aguilera’s Stripped. Seriously dust off that CD and tell me you disagree.
Denver husband / wife duo Tennis’ latest track “Ladies Don't Play Guitar” almost didn’t make the cut for being already too popular. (How heinously hipster does that sound?) But the tongue-in-cheek title, lyrics and casually 90s soft-pop vibes are perfect for long drives or laying poolside.
Confession, I took the ¥EN remix “Where Do I Go?” from another esteemed indie playlist aggregator, BIRP.FM (yes they’re back). But it’s probably my favorite thing I’ve heard this week, so giving credit — and sharing the love. No real preamble for this; just listen until :38 and you’ll be blanketed with shimmery synth and find your feet attempting to mimic the addictive, eccentric beat.
Philly’s Schilly gives us “Saucy,” prod. by Wildabeast — and it’ll make you feel just that. I enjoy running to this and swiveling my hips a bit as I do so. Not a recommendation, more an admission. His relaxed rap style backed by mallet-instrumentals and quasi-chaotic wooden flutes is so summer, and somehow this hip-hop drop could be labeled cute.
A few last notes before I close out what has quickly become a dissertation: Other favorites include “Drive” (<< fitting) by Gretta Ray who’s like a Norah Jones meets Sara Bareilles, RIVVR’s powerful anathematic ballad “Conquer,” and Max Jury’s classically country-soul release, “Love That Grows Old.”
Thanks for the sharing, the submissions, and most of all your listens. Don't forget to send us submissions using #IndieSkim!
