I know that not everyone in the universe is as invested in the world of sports as I am, so I figured I could take this opportunity to write about something that everyone enjoys – music.
While we all have different tastes, there is something euphoric about finding a new artist or song you love. So, I thought I might list out some of my ‘under the radar’ favorites, in hopes that you’ll give their music a chance.
I numbered this list only for the sake of breaking up my thoughts and ideas, so don’t go ruling out any tunes because you didn’t like the one before. Likewise, these are my personal favorites from each artist, right now, so feel free to check out some of their other music as well. I promise you will not be disappointed.
- Jim Swim – Tribe
I don’t really know how to describe this joint aside from it being a happy beat with some witty rap lines mixed in. I found this song about the time that quarantine started and I kid you not, I wrote an entire 5 page paper with this song on loop the whole time. If you are ever in a bad mood, feeling down on yourself or just need a burst of energy, “Tribe” usually does the trick for me.
- Jake Scott – Favorite T-Shirt
Alright, this song is a must listen for anyone in a relationship. The lyrics are so relatable, the melody is soothing and speaking on experience, it’s a great song to sing to your girl if she’s feeling insecure. It really breaks down the feeling you get in your stomach when you look to your side and see the person you love just staring back at you – if you can relate to that, you should love this one.
- Christian French – paper thin
Really flipping the script with this one, but this is a polar opposite of the last. Christian French isn’t as ‘under the radar’ as he was when I first found him, but I still wouldn’t consider his music to be mainstream. This release is not as happy as the others, but still relatable in many ways. Do you ever feel like you and a friend or partner are just losing a grip of your relationship, along with reality, and trying to make it work? That feeling is “paper thin” to a tee.
- CHRIS YONGE – purple rain
I guess now we’re on the sad song wave. In “purple rain,” YONGE dives into what it feels like to go through a breakup, specifically one that ends with the significant other finding love again. The lyrics themselves are painful and I don’t suggest this song if you’ve recently been through a breakup, but otherwise the beat accompanies the track wonderfully and the dark tone can be overlooked entirely.
- Cal Scruby – Nostalgia
Talk about a banger. I’m pretty confident you’ve never heard of this fellow, cause I was in that same spot just a month ago. Spotify’s Discover Weekly is just the gift that keeps on giving. “Nostalgia” is a song that weaves clever rhyme schemes into a simple, yet comforting beat and throws out so many clever references, often with some sort of pun. You don’t have to like rap to like this one and that’s for sure.
- Matthew Chaim – Sunflowers
This one is exactly what it sounds like. Picture yourself in a field of sunflowers just taking in the scenery around you and you get this soundtrack. Chaim embodies feelings of contentment and satisfaction with this one, accompanied by a voice that “makes you want to text your ex.” If you really listen to the lyrics, it can get you down but as long as you’re in a decent mood, this is a song that puts a guaranteed smile on your face.
- Grady – 500 Days of Summer
Opening with somewhat of a tropical beat, this song quickly picks up to exude an all around great vibe. Anytime I hear this song, it takes me back to a pre-pandemic world where I am able to enjoy the pleasures of life alongside all the people that I love. If I am ever fortunate enough to afford a boat, this will be the first song I play when I get out on the water. No doubt.
- SEBASTIAN PAUL – BACK AND FORTH
This is making me realize that my music taste is very inconsistent, Jesus. In this song, Paul is walking through the steps of a breakup and the realization that you want to be back with the person you love. Underneath the lyrics is a clean, drum-heavy beat with simple guitar chords. Like many of his other songs, the vibe in this one is hard to find anywhere else and though dark, it’s easy to relax to.
- Quinn XCII – Am I High Rn
Before you get mad at me, I know Quinn is pretty popular today, but when I found him that was not the case. Off of his most recent album, this song is exactly what it sounds like. It walks through the thoughts we all have whenever we are “high,” but does so with a beautifully built up melody and a voice that feels angelic. Blackbear is featured with a quick verse which makes this song an all around vibe.
- Jon Bellion – Paper Planes
Last, but not least on the list is my favorite artist of all-time, Jon Bellion. Popular, yes, but well-researched, no. Some of Jon’s best work is his least played and this song is the perfect example. In “Paper Planes,” the artist uses metaphor to tell the story of a failed love, in which the beat builds and falls with the most critical moments of the narrative. As always, his voice is flawless and characterizes the sad nature of the song almost perfectly.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for this one. If you guys get a chance to give these songs a listen, leave a comment or two and let me know what you think. And please, be honest.
Stanley out.
zachstanley.blog 