Music of the Month: November | Zafira
Hey!
How is there only a month left of this year? I can’t even remember feeling like it ever began.
So, it’s December. It’s freezing, it’s pitch black when I wake up at awful times to go to uni and it’s also…deadline season. I’ve been a little preoccupied with my assignments for the past month or so which explains the lack of content over on here which is incredibly unfortunate because I was feeling like I was on a roll with these posts a few months ago. Anyway, I have to prioritise what’s important to me right now and that is uni sadly. But I have a few weeks off for Christmas to rejuvenate and get my life into order so expect some very cute things next year.
For now, let’s roll on with my favourite songs this November!
In the midst of political nightmare, numerous breakdowns, a bad haircut (might as well call me Noel Fielding at this point) and nothing but stress pilling on top of me as the days pass, this month has definitely been a highlight in terms of music.
You can check out my entire playlist for November here.
FKA TWIGS
FKA Twigs’ new album was the most beautiful thing to have ever happen to me this entire year. I remember hearing Cellophane for the first time a few months ago and knowing that whatever she had prepared after that would be insane. And it was. Magdalene has been angelic. Like you know when you see those ads of like honey or golden syrup being drizzled in slow motion? That’s Magdalene felt like.
In NME I read that Mirrored Heart ”vibrates with Twin Peaks-style synths” and as a Twin Peaks fan from the age of 12, it resonated with me so much. I love Twin Peaks and FKA Twigs so this was the best of both worlds. Mirrored Heart sounds like a deeper version of Angelo Badalamenti’s Twin Peaks theme song it’s so weird. I love the lyrics in this too.
I love all the songs on this album equally but Thousand Eyes definitely stood out the most and has probably been my most listened to song in November. It’s so sad. I think it’s about Robert Pattinson which is strange considering nearly a decade ago this boy, sorry this man, was a nation’s heart throb for sparkling in the sunlight. It’s so haunting but I could totally sit staring into space and listen to this song for hours upon hours on repeat.
2. HELENA DELAND
If you’ve read some of my other Music of the Months, you’ll know I’m a huge fan of this music based YouTube channel called La Blogotheque. I watched the most stunning performance by Helena Deland and have now officially become her no.1 fan. You can watch her La Blogotheque performance here.
My favourite two songs by her are Two Queries and There Are a Thousand. They are the dreamiest songs ever. Even in her live perfomance, I had never felt so zen. I love listening to these at night or even if I’ve had a little bit of stressful day (everyday).
3. SLO BIRD WHISTLE - APHEX TWIN (PEEL SESSION)
This song emanates chaotic energy and I love it. I have nothing else to say about this other than it’s so so so great.
4. JOY CROOKES
I’m ashamed and embarrassed to even admit that it took me this long to find Joy Crookes.
I’ve struggled finding artists that I like that having a similar background or ethnicity to me so for me to find Joy (like literal joy), who’s Bengali (and half irish) and who sings like a literal angel was truly like hitting the jackpot. Her voice reminds me a lot of Amy Winehouse which I honestly never expected.
Since I Left You has been on my mind ever since I listened to it a few weeks ago. It feels so raw and melancholic and she sings it so effortlessly. The music video is filmed beautifully too. Early, which is another fave of mine, has a totally different vibe. It’s so upbeat and catchy and I love Jafaris in this. I’ve recently started following her on Instagram too and her outfits and makeup looks are so cool.
5. SO HEAVY I FELL THROUGH THE EARTH - GRIMES
As weird as Grimes is, I completely adore her music.
So Heavy I Fell Through the Earth feels and sounds very futuristic. There two different versions of this, so there’s the algorithm mix which is the version I personally have been listening to and there’s also the art mix. They’re both pretty similar and both amazing and I can’t wait for her to release her new album next year.
6. JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ
I’ve been listening to José González for years now but there’s just something about this time of year that makes me go back to listening to him on repeat for weeks on end.
Heartbeats is in my opinion, is the perfect song for a winter’s morning. I don’t know whether it’s because the guitar strums in the beginning sound like the soundtrack to a snowy day or because I found this song during the winter a few years ago. I also really love Crosses. I think these are both very love-y songs and I love love love them.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
Thanks for reading! I can’t believe this will be my last Music of the Month this year, it’s flown by so fast.
Lots of love,
Music of the Month: October
Hi!
I can’t believe how cold it is and I’m so confused to how it’s November already! I don’t really remember what I’ve done this month other than be as miserable as the weather and spend waaay too much time of buses (many thanks to my local roadworks). I’ve had a lot more time to listen to new things and I’m excited to share them with you.
As always, here’s a link to the full playlist for this month: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/55WAJhoACEPXLOEMFpcD6g?si=ZHzcO6GaQlOwkehm4yyA7g
HUBERT LENOIR
I’ve been madly in love with La Blogotheque recently. I’ve followed them for quite some time now but this past month, I’ve been watching their videos on repeat because they are easily the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. If you don’t know who they are, La Blogotheque are a music channel on YouTube who film and produce incredibly unique covers by a vast range of artists.
This is how I found Hubert Lenoir. I honestly can’t tell if it was him speaking French, him singing or the way the video was filmed that made me fall in love but he’s easily my favourite person this month. Watch him perform Sucre et Sel for La Blogotheque here.
My favourite songs by him are Momo, Wild and Free and Fille de personne II. These are 3 songs are so different from each other. Momo is super chill, something you’d listen to whilst reading or when it’s raining outside. It’s like a soft jazz pop instrumental. That was a lot of words wow. Wild and Free is similar in the sense that it’s another chill, soft jazz kinda song but this has a slight melancholic tone. Fille de personne II however, is the perfect happy song that makes me want to dance around my room anytime I listen to it.
2. RAMI KHALIFé
I also found Rami Khalifé on La Blogotheque and was left speechless by his performance. He just goes completely wild on the piano on a beach and I love it. You can see how passionate he is and it’s beautiful. The way the video is shot too is breathtaking. You can watch it here.
Along with Resist, some of my other favourite songs by him are The Dangling Rope and Spotlight which are similar to Resist in the sense that they start off a little sad but get even more wild as they go on. It’s great.
3. LIGHTS UP - HARRY STYLES
I’m waiting to face some sort of abuse from my family and friends for putting this in here but I really do love Harry’s solo work.
I’m not ashamed to say I know the lyrics to this song off by heart. It’s just so good I have nothing else to say.
4. EDEN
Words can’t express how happy 16 year old me is because Eden is back with new music!
My favourite from his latest singles is definitely untitled. It’s so melancholic and reminds me a lot of his songs from i think you think too much of me. It’s the perfect song for the end of summer . I also really love 909 and his latest single, projector. These are a little more upbeat. Eden is my favourite person to listen to at this time of year because his music reflects this season and how I feel during it so well.
5. KEATON HENSON
When Keaton Henson announced he was releasing a new album this month I think I cried a tiny bit. Keaton has a really soft place in my heart because his music either makes me feel like I’m madly in love or about to cry my eyes out.
This album is a little different since it is a classical album. I don’t really listen to a lot of classical stuff except from Classic FM at insane times during the night but this is so good. The album explores various themes such as trauma, mental illness, stress and anxiety and you can hear it in the music. My favourites are currently Breathing Out, The Falling and Initium but I could listen to the entire album for days on end.
6. DHL - FRANK OCEAN
Words cannot even express my excitement for the return of Frank Ocean. It’s exactly what I needed this month to lift my spirits. I have phases throughout the year where I’ll listen to Blond on repeat for weeks and I was in a Blond phase when DHL was released. It was so so so heartwarming. I don’t have a lot to say about this but I’m over the moon that Frank is back.
7. JELANI ARYEH
I mentioned Jelani Aryeh in last month’s MOTM but he released a new album this month and I’m incredibly smitten with it.
The album is a beauty, his voice, the lyrics, the themes he explores are all just *chef’s kiss*. I’ve been listening to the entire album literally everyday and everyday I fall in love with a new song on the album. Today I’m obsessed with Earl Grey and Gloss. I personally relate to Earl Grey quite a bit because it sounds like he’s going through a little bit of a personal crisis which I mean, same. Gloss however is about fame and worth and even though the lyrics are a little mellow, it’s a very pretty song.
8. GENGAHR
I don’t think I’ve listened to Gengahr since my college days and I was going through a little bit of an indie phase. I remember listening to She’s a Witch and Bathed in Light on repeat and I still love listening to them now here and there because they are great songs.
Over the past month or so, they’ve released some new singles called Everything & More and Atlas Please and they’re amazing. They’re still the indie band I used to listen to but they’ve become so much better. I’m so excited to hear their new album. Also they’re on tour with Bombay Bicycle Club at the minute and I could not think of a better duo.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
If you’ve enjoyed this, go check out my full playlist for this October here.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
Music of the Month: September | Zafira
Here we are, 2 months away from the end of the year! I said I’d start doing these more frequently so here I am with another edition of Music of the Month.
September has been a little bit of a wild month, uni started and that completely flipped my usual timetable and of course, I’ve been insanely busy. But one thing I have made time for this month is music. I’ll usually sit and do nothing for an hour or two and listen to something, it’s really helped to handle my stress and wind down.
Here are a few of my favourite songs this month! You can listen to my full playlist this month here.
DOMINIC FIKE
I think the first thing I even heard by Dominic Fike was ‘King of Everything’ and that was enough to make me fall so so so in love with him. The instrumental bit right at the beginning of the song might just be the prettiest thing I’ve heard all year. He’s a great mix of either very chill and mellow stuff or upbeat stuff that makes you want to dance around your room.
Some other faves of mine are ‘3 Nights’ which immediately put a smile on my face. It’s one of those songs that make you so happy and put you in the greatest of moods. I’m also loving ‘Phone Numbers’ which features Kenny Beats and the two of them together are a match made in heaven. This is another upbeat song and I love nothing more than listening to this in morning to wake me up and get ready for the day.
2. The XX - Seasons Run
Other than being impeccably named for this transitional time of year, this song has been a favourite of mine ever since it came out. The XX have played such an integral part of my teenage years so starting off my second year of uni without them would feel very wrong.
p.s this entire album is amazing.
3. JELANI ARYEH
These past few months, there has been one man and one man only I’ve had a vast amount of love for and that’s Jelani Aryeh.
‘The Garden’ popped up onto one of playlists around August time and I had it on repeat for weeks. It’s such a pretty song. It’s very calm and chill which is Jelani’s whole thing. It makes me feel like I’m in love and makes my heart a little bit warm.
I’ve also been loving ‘Patagonia’ which I can imagine listening to when I’m driving off into the sunset. Like ‘The Garden’, it’s calm and chill but also has a hint of mellowness.
I can’t believe Jelani Aryeh is the same age as me and is creating prettier things than I ever will.
4. CELESTE - STRANGE
Since we’re on the topic of mellow songs, this is probably the saddest song on my playlist this month.
Celeste has the voice of what I imagine an angel to sound like. I think she sounds a little like Amy Winehouse in the sense that she has such a strong voice and I love that.
This song is all about disconnecting with people and how you can go from knowing someone really well to not knowing them all. It’s about people changing and how the entire process of that is strange. It fits in perfectly with this time of year because when I think of September, I think of change. Everything is always changing in September whether that’s education wise or even the seasons.
There’s also a version she did for COLORS and it’s beautiful. You can watch it here.
5. FRANK OCEAN - BLONDE
I can’t even begin to explain how Blonde has impacted my life and how many times a week I go back to it. This month however, I spent a few days listening to the entire album on repeat and it feels like 2016 all over again.
This month I’ve been really into ‘Nights’ which I like listening to at night lol and ‘Godspeed’ because I heard it in the Waves trailer which is one of those A24 movies which always the best. I’m so excited to see it when it comes out. I have a feeling it’s going to be a good movie.
I’ve also been really loving listening to ‘Facebook Story’. I like the instrumental music in the background and obviously, the really obnoxious French accent but there’s something about it that makes me want to listen to it over and over again.
6. matthew dear - modafinil blues
I listened to a podcast this month called The Clearing which was amazing. It’s about a woman named April who suspects her father is a serial killer, the podcast focuses on what happens after she makes a call to a detective that leads to her father’s arrest and unwinds the truth behind several murders and explores whether her father was guilty or not. It’s wild. It might actually be the craziest story I’ve ever heard. You can listen to it here.
At the end of the podcast, they play Modafinil Blues by Matthew Dear and the song fits the story perfectly. It’s also a pretty good song. Very catchy.
7. bombay bicycle club
When I first heard of Bombay Bicycle Club I was like “wow finally I’ve found a great brand for a brown girl who’s white on the inside like me”. But in all seriousness, they're one of my all time favourite bands.
At the end of August they released a new song after 5 very long years called ‘Eat, Sleep, Wake (Nothing But You)’ and it’s just as good as their old stuff. They’re still as wonderful as they were in 2014.
I’ve also been re-listening to the ‘So Long, See You Tomorrow’ album on repeat for weeks now because it’s one of my favourite albums ever. The first three songs on the album which are ‘Overdone’, ‘It’s Alright Now’ and ‘Carry Me’ are my most listened to songs this month. I think they’re quite happy toned songs and make me smile whenever I listen to them.
8. BROCKHAMPTON - ginger
Now, is it really a music of the month without mentioning Brockhampton? They recently released Ginger and it’s changed my life a little bit.
My favourite songs on the album are definitely ‘SUGAR’ and ‘NO HALO’. SUGAR is very lovey dovey which I quite like whereas NO HALO is more about the band’s struggles with a lot of different things. I love the chorus of NO HALO so much. It was so hard to pick only a few songs off this album because the entire thing is so so so great.
HERE’S A FEW MORE SONGS I’M LOVING…
If you’ve enjoyed this, go check out my full playlist for this September here.
Thanks for reading!
Lots of love,
