Ten bangers to backdrop (the remainder of) your summer

With festival season in full swing, and live music very much back up and running, this has turned out to be the most normal summer we’ve had in quite some time. Why not make the most of the remaining weeks with some tunes to soundtrack those sunny days? Here is an eclectic mix of ten songs I’ve been playing on repeat during July and August. Whether you’re dancing and singing alone in your room with the windows wide open, or jumping in unison with a crowd of sweaty, joyful people, I hope these songs might find a place in your 2022 summer experience - or what's left of it.

1. Crest of the Wave - Foals - The thumping four on the floor bass drum makes this song a real foot-tapper. It’s one of the less upbeat tracks on the Oxford group’s recent album Life is Yours, and the atmospheric synth patches will make you feel like you’re floating. The song is the perfect backdrop for chill car rides on coastlines, but will also make you want to get up on your feet (hopefully not while you’re driving, though).

2. Jennifer - Everything Everything - Taken from their latest album Raw Data Feel, the playful melody in this track is reminiscent of The Cure, particularly Just Like Heaven. Don’t be fooled, though - under the lightness of the instrumental, the lyrics are tinged with melancholy and nostalgia. Nevertheless, the (incredibly catchy) hook keeps the track optimistic: “The pain in the end, is all in your memory”.

3. Summerland - half alive - I love how visceral these lyrics are, evoking images of cutting your hair as the days become warmer, and sharing ‘golden moments’ with friends who make you feel at home. There is something very magical about throwing your arms up in the air whilst on your mate’s shoulders, screaming the lyrics, “Dancing all night with all my friends, sitting on the shores of Summerland”, at the top of your lungs. It’s true, “something about May makes it all feel better”.

4. Headlight Glow - Year of the Dog - This underrated brasshouse-soul group, hailing from Cardiff, gained a spike of visibility after being featured as the swing band in season one of Netflix’s Sex Education. Looking like they were pulled straight from the set of Peaky Blinders, these guys are oozing cool, and I hope to one day see them get the recognition they deserve. This particular track is their most recent release, and you can hear the musical chemistry in the way the horns and bass lock in with that tight, crisp drum beat. If you’re looking for an addition to your main character soundtrack, this is it.

5. Catch Me In The Air - Rina Sawayama - This track strikes an emotional chord with its sincere lyrics, as it’s about the often-turbulant nature of the mother-daughter relationship. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Rina describes: “I really wanted to write about this weird relationship with single parents. You do catch each other in the air. Everything that she had done in the first 28 to 29 years of my life had been for me. And once she realised that I didn’t need support as much any more, she just eased off. Now, knowing how much she had to go through, I can understand and sympathise with her.” This is a pop banger with a rich history, and laced with hope for the future.

6. Traps - bloc party - ‘Traps’ was the post-punk group’s first music in five years. More hyper and heavy than the first few tracks on this list, this song is strongly bass-driven, and that dirty riff will be on loop in your head for days. Filled with energy, this one sounds like it was absolutely made for festival season. On that note, if you get the chance to see Bloc Party live, do us all a favour - don’t miss out!

7. Anxieties (Out of Time) - The Regrettes - The introduction song from the LA indie group’s latest album, Further Joy, this song is riddled with, (you guessed it), anxiety, but also hints that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The line “Knocking me down, I won’t back down”, is particularly optimistic, and the cutesy, upbeat melody has proven to be a good start to my week. I’m a big fan of songs that contrast a light instrumental with more sincere or somber lyrical content, and this one really hits the spot.

8. I Was Neon - Julia Jacklin - The latest track from the Melbourne singer is a dreamy indie tune, but the lyrics tell a less cheerful story. The refrain “Am I losing myself again?” is overtly existential, but serves as a gentle reminder that you don’t have to be enjoying yourself all the time. This song reminds me that it’s normal to be questioning your sense of self, and to feel burnt out sometimes - reminders that are important to have when FOMO is at its peak. Julia grapples with the uncertainty of transition, and the desire to remain grounded - two feelings that have become all too familiar in these last few years.

9. Honey - Morgan Reese - On a lighter note, this chill bedroom-pop track from the upcoming Texan artist will have you grinning from cheek to cheek at its sweet, lovestruck lyrics. The perfect song for napping under a tree on a sweltering day (at least, in my case, once you’re perfectly dosed up on antihistamines first). I highly recommend Morgan’s entire debut album, Letters from the Invisible Girl, for more warm summer tones and candid lines.

10. Catch You On The Way Back In - Spector - When the drums kick in on this one, I want to jump five feet into the air. The adrenaline rush you feel during the build-up in the bridge is powerful, and the final beat drop will leave you feeling triumphant. The witty line “Nobody can miss you with your camera on” addresses the last two years with a light-hearted touch which is very much welcome, in the wake of what was retrospectively quite a heavy time.

There you have it - a small selection of songs that I’ve had on loop for the last two months. Music and memory go hand in hand, and I hope that some of these tracks can serve as the perfect backdrop for more picnics in the park, BBQ parties, and fun times with you and your friends.

Equally, these tracks can be enjoyed in the comfort of your bedroom, as you lay on your floor on a Sunday afternoon, daydreaming set to max, with sunlight streaming in through a crack in your blinds.