Another Monday, another full week of quarantine ahead of us. Something’s gotta give, right? If you’re feeling a little bummed out by the state of the world, you’re not alone. We’ve put together this playlist to pick up your spirits just a bit.

xx

darling kaye – shark attack

Written February 2020 (so crazy how time changes things)

I watched a video clip about an Australian surfer being attacked by a shark when I was starting to write the album in 2019. I realized that as terrifying as a shark attack would be, in a way we are all risking being subject to such violence and unpredictability in our every day lives. With the way things are in the world right now, (not even just violence and war, but even the sheer chaos of walking down the street with cars and trucks driving fast right next to you), you’d think we would all live in constant fear as if a shark was circling right underneath us. However, we do not live in constant fear. Generally, we go on about our lives in varying states of happiness/sadness as if the shark is not circling us at all. This song is also a metaphorical account of a human-maker watching us flail around in the water from an outside perspective.

Darling Kaye

The Undercover Dream Lovers – “Chardonnay”

This track by The Undercover Dream Lovers is sooooo funky. The song is from their debut full-length album It’s All in Your Head which just came out at the end of February. The video for the track was directed by filmmaker OTIUM and you can watch it below (finally, something to feel good about).

Meyru – “At Some Point”

The storytelling that Meyru does in “At Some Point” is downright poetry. The indie-rock five-piece released their single ahead of a show at our local haunt in Brooklyn, Baby’s All Right.

They’ve perfected the sound of nostalgic indie-rock and Alex Turner-esque vocals that feel more like an aural hug than anything else.

“[At Some Point] is kinda the start of a different direction for Meyru. It’s simpler. I mean I didn’t think we could get any simpler, but it is. It’s a short, sweet and poppy love song telling someone who may or may not love you back to get their shit together and just tell you what they want.” 

Meyru

Marian Hill – “Was it not”

I first saw Marian Hill ages ago at the top of the Standard hotel in NYC and it’s so nice to hear a familiar artist grow in such exponential ways. The platinum-certified duo is made up of Jeremy Lloyd (production/songwriting) and Samantha Gongol (vocals/songwriting).

Their tunes toe the line of sexy and sensitive, presenting audiences with a narrative of life and love wrapped in an indie-electronic package.

TOLEDO – “Lovely”

I’m obsessed with Brooklyn-based indie rock band TOLEDO. Full of nothing but good vibes, sunshine, and skateboards, TOLEDO makes music that you can smile to—and that’s no easy feat in today’s climate. Made up of Daniel Alvarez de Toledo and Jordan Dunn-Pilz, not only is this band one to watch but it’s one to keep on your rainy day playlist as well.