My 2025 Q1 Mixtape
The last 12 months of my personal life have been some of my most turbulent, eventually leading up to me turning 30 last week. As I look ahead, and consider the lessons I've learnt the last year and in the past decade, these are some of my favourite songs of the year so far. These songs that have seen me come out the other side: a mix of "old" and new releases, known artists and new challengers, but all new songs to my rotation. 1 song per artist. |
| 1 |  | Ethel Cain
Inbred
"Crush"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu-t3tqDyAY
January already seems like a lifetime ago. This song oozes pure sex and sadness. |
| 2 |  | Tainy
DATA
"Lo Siento BB:/ ft. Bad Bunny & Julieta Venegas"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO7EtdR3Dyw
My forays into reggaeton are thus far pretty shallow but idc. A few gems on this album got the heavy replay, with this the pick of the bunch. If a song can make me wanna dance and cry or scream at the same time, or drive a truck through the desert night, it's probably already won me over. I don't even speak Spanish. |
| 3 |  | The Weeknd
Hurry Up Tomorrow
"Open Hearts"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bn-3ICGjz0U
Another dancefloor requiem, and the crowning jewel of The Weeknd's new album, best heard in context of the LP really. This is Blinding Lights if that song was actually as good as people say.
It was exactly 13 years ago to the week, as I turned 17, that I discovered House of Balloons. Abel narrated my coming of age and he has dominated my ear canals ever since. |
| 4 |  | FKA Twigs
Eusexua
"Room of Fools"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84kJivpNyhc
When all the elements come together, FKA Twigs really hits the spot. Vibey, sultry, groovy & bass heavy trip hop. Everything I like. |
| 5 |  | Fred Again..
USB
"flex fm"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZgiAu8QRAI
I'm always a sucker for a sexy fred again club remix. Here he takes one of the biggest dance songs of the last few years, cranks up the bass even more and weaves in the vocals from Lil Yachty & Future's "Flex Up". And I thought the original from Joy Orbison couldn't go any harder. |
| 6 |  | Imminence
The Black
"Death Shall Have No Dominion"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkMqZw_Rpys
A slight change of pace, but easily my favourite metalcore track of the year so far, from one of my favourite metal artist discoveries of the last few years. I love the blend of heavy and violin-tinged melodic that they normally play, but the violence is turned up to 11 on this one and I want more. |
| 7 |  | Thornhill
Bodies
"Silver Swarm"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfj5YXnUXsI
These guys have been a mainstay of mine ever since I played the absolute shit out of Butterfly EP a couple of years ago. Not many are doing the faux-Deftones/metalcore thing better right now. Shit makes me wanna buy a baritone guitar (then smash it against my window). |
| 8 |  | Playboi Carti
Music
"EVIL J0RDAN"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTKheLpo4nQ
There hasn't been a huge amount of trap on my rotation lately & Carti's latest has the grace of a 3gb google drive porn dump, but sometimes I just want my McDonald's. |
| 9 |  | 1tbsp
megacity1000
"The City Never Felt So Good"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKjMt_q-jnU
A delightful discovery in the realm of vibey House à la Four Tet. I love the way this dude blends melody and rhythm, simple grooves and atmosphere. The whole album has a light & whimsical feel to it, but this city has nooks and crannies, and an eeriness. Sure to get some playtime from me this Summer. |
| 10 |  | BADBADNOTGOOD
III
"Confessions"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=237Nq3O4XXE
These guys were always on the periphery of my awareness, until my flame played me this and the saxophone took me from the start. Cue the next two hours sharing aux duties. |
| 11 |  | Niechec
Reckless Things
"Afazja"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyrMkiMEbI8
This album is going wayyy under the radar but it may be their best & most cohesive yet. A journey through electronic bounce, noir melancholy and rock drive. A must if you like bands like BadBadNotGood; I may have to review this at some point. |
| 12 |  | Deafheaven
Lonely People with Power
"Body Behaviour"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq5kBkD-F1o
Barring a few highlights I never quite got the full hype for this band, until this album. It's really switched me on to the grandiosity of their music, and especially how their heavy plays into that. So far this song epitomises that for me, though I could have picked about four others though. |
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