Ken 22 — Studio Playlist
10 tracks to light you up! (…Even if you’re fizzled out!)
July 2020, Listen here: Apple Music / Spotify
Well Hello! Thanks for joining me for July’s playlist. I’ve curated the 10 best songs we’ve been listening to in the studio this month. lately it’s been all high energy and motivation, and that shines through in these song choices. I’m very excited to share them with you. Step 1: Follow the links (Apple Music / Spotify) to get the playlist on your preferred streaming service. Step 2: Get yourself hooked up with a speaker or plugged into some headphones. Step 3: Kick back, press play, and read along with me for some tasting notes! let’s listen to music together!
Track 1: Hardbeat by Jamie Lenman
Tasting Notes: Suspense, Build, DRUMS!
We start things off with a whisper. This track by Jamie Lenman was the opener to his 2017 solo album, setting the tone for an exciting new era with the awesome Big Scary Monsters label. Soft vocals that tease your ears, and some unexpected electronic sounds. Midway through it packs a punch with one of the best drum beats I’ve heard in my life. It still makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when the drums kick in. Layer upon layer of atmospheric guitar and vocals builds up to a climax. Stunning.
“Small speakers inside you’re head, about as intimate as it can get”.
Track 2: Restless by Evil Nine
Tasting Notes: Energy, Momentum, Bass.
We springboard straight into a slamming bass line and rythmic drums that emulates forward momentum like nothing else. The repetition of one line pretty much sums up the feeling for a lot of young people across the county who recently took to the streets to have illegal raves and parties. After 4 months of lockdown, there was a lot of pent up energy which needed to go somewhere, and we saw it spill out across UK parks a few weeks ago during the heat wave.
“We running wild and we restless, and we jump till we breathless”.
Track 3: Testify by Rage Against the Machine
Tasting Notes: Bounce! Attitude, R I F F !
This banger makes me want to jump up and down. Rage always deliver on energy, and Zack de la Rocha brings his usual gritty vocal licks. Distaste for the way things are run, the government, the media, Zack calls on us to collectively take action and demand change. Tom Morello’s signiture guitar packs some serious bouncy energy into a few simple chords, it’s an anthem of unrest in a restless time.
“Who controls the past now, controls the future. Who controls the present now, controls the past. Who controls the past now, controls the future. Who controls the present now?”
Track 4: Get Up by Mother Mother
Tasting Notes: Uplifting, Motivation, Good Vibes!
This Brother and Sister indi-band from Canada are really speaking to me right now. Looking inwards, this upbeat track provokes me to “put your head on straight” and “fly away little birdie”. It’s poppy, catchy, and uplifting as hell! I definitely needed to hear it this month. The harmonies are gorgeous.
“For such a little thing, you sure are in your own way”
Track 5: Ooh La La (feat. Greg Nice & DJ Premier) by Run the Jewels
Tasting notes: Attitude, Laid Back, Chimey!
I’m loving the new album from Run the Jewels, one of my favourites of 2020. This track in particular is oddly digestible. The awkward off key piano and tap of the drums rolls along nicely with oh so typical, delightfully cynical lyrics, hilarious, clever and flawlessly delivered from two of the best in rap.
“People we the pirates, the pride of this great republic”
Track 6: New Banger by KANO
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Tasting Notes: Grime, Punch, B A N G E R !
This song is utterly addictive, the lyrics are clever, memorable, and the sound is unreal! The spoken word at the end is my favourite part. The occasional ‘hey’ in the background reminds me of playing wipeout 2097 on the original Sony Playstation console (anyone remember this?).
“These are plastic-over-Nan’s-sofa lyrics”
Track 7: Levitating by Dua Lipa
Tasting Notes: Light, Floaty, Chilled.
I’ve been loving this pop-tastic track which my wife Joy introduced to me to. It’s so floaty and happy, I really do feel like I’m levitating! Dua Lipas voice is silky, light and cloud like. Good vibes.
“Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes, shining just the way I like”
Track 8: Knocked Around by Jordan Max
Tasting Notes: Soulful, Faith, Slow Jam.
I’ve been loving Jordan Max recently, he’s soulful, laid back, and has the voice of a seasoned veteran. It’s hard to believe he’s younger than me! I describe his style as ‘sink into your sofa’ kind of jams. Very easy listening. Finding meaning, and keeping the faith is something we all need.
“Lord I know you’re looking out for me, lord I know”
Track 9: Emerge by Fischerspooner
Tasting Notes: Build, Energy, Rave!
This recently remastered anthem appeared on the season 3 soundtrack of Westworld. I really didn't rate the season, it got waaay to ‘Sci-Fi’ (which ordinarily I love FYI). It felt almost lazy, like “hmm not sure where to take the plot, so lets just spend loads of money making a shiny futuristic world to walk around in, that’ll distract viewers from the lack of story”. I had high expectations of where this original series was going, and I feel like they really failed to deliver a sufficient ending. Anyway… moving back to the music, this track is catchy, alive, and full of energy. It’s a great tune.
“You don’t need to emerge from nothing, you don’t need to tear away”
Track 10: Low (feat. RuPaul) by Todrick Hall
Tasting Notes: Funny, Addictive, DANCE!
We end this months playlist with a hilarious dance anthem! This clever Wizard of Oz themed album ‘Straight outta Oz’ finishes with this banger featuring RuPaul on guest vocals. It’s funny, catchy, and dancey as hell.
“Uh, It’s going down, Timber! Never seen a tinman on tinder, but he had that sex appeal, swipe right cause I knew he had buns of steel!”
I hope you enjoy the tunes this month. Make sure to check out the other past playlists too, there’s a whole bunch of bangers to discover. Follow us on Spotify and Apple Music to access all the playlists (Links are at the bottom, keep scrolling!).
Enjoy em, laugh at them, dance to them, whatever you do, check back next month for another 10 studio favourites.
Happy Listening
Keiron Calder
Design Director / Ken Design Studio
