IN MY MIND: The Playlist (Vol. 6) - Monthly Picks

Each playlist created is a culmination of all the songs I love for the month of its release. IN MY MIND: The Playlist (Vol.6) happens to be one of my favorite playlists created thus far, so I thought it would be nice to highlight a few songs that stood out to me the most.

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1. Machinedrum Ft. Tanerélle & Mono/Poly - Star

Music producer Machinedrum links with fellow producer Mono/Poly and Tanerélle, a model/singer from Atlanta, to give us "Star" from his upcoming album "A View of U". Machinedrum and Mono/Poly provide a trance-inducing backdrop, which Tanerélle graces with her soft, yet pronounced vocals. The song's spacey feel goes perfectly with Tanerélle's lyrics, as she sings of a longing for something greater, something that will allow her to shine as stars do.

2. Maeta Ft. Buddy & Kaytranada - Teen Scene

Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Maeta's music. However, a track produced by Kaytranada and featuring rapper Buddy was more than enough reason for me to press play. Matea nostalgically sings of the relationships and carelessness of her teen years, which is complemented by a verse from Buddy. Despite how much I enjoy the verses, the real star of the show is Kaytranada, who manages to turn a simple loop into a hit.

3. Christian Rich & Vic Mensa - Night Riders

"Night Riders", by Nigerian production duo Christian Rich, features Vic Mensa singing of a nightlife filled with drugs, liquor, and women over an ominous beat. As the title suggests, this is the perfect song for a night drive.

4. Jamila Woods - Sula (Hardcover)

Just when I thought I couldn't love the song any more than I already did, Jamila drops another version. "Sula (Hardcover)" is a rework of "Sula (Paperback)" released a month earlier. This new version gives the song a more upbeat, boom-bap feel with production from Slot-A. Though I love "Sula (Hardcover)", the omission of the outro found at the end of "Sula (Paperback) makes the former fall short of its predecessor.

5. Lous and The Yakuza - Amigo

Let me start by saying I don't know French...not at all. However, after seeing Lous and The Yakuza's COLORS performance, I immediately became a fan. "Amigo", produced by El Guincho, Latin musician who has collaborated with artists such as Rosalía and J Balvin, is the perfect French-pop record that is guaranteed to make you dance. I have a feeling Lous and The Yakuza will become a force to be reckoned with in the near future.

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Be sure to check out these songs and more in this month's playlist!