Summer is the ultimate season for one of my favorite passive activities: while stuck driving you might as well blast your favorite songs with the windows down, bopping along to the tunes that set your heart on fire.
Driving home from the beach, hair whipping in the wind, salty, burnt, and tired sitting in that moment of absolute appreciation for the life you’ve created for yourself. Nothing is better than that. In these blissful moments I find myself reaching for songs that represent the ultimate soundtrack to my life in that instant.
Here are my top five for Summer of 2024
1. Nothing Matters by The Last Dinner Party
We fade in with a rhythmic piano part and quickly hear the haunting vocals. I hadn’t ever heard of The Last Dinner Party, but I’m so glad I have them in my rotation now.
My current visual obsession with the song has to be Ben Christensen’s dance video-
This song is a conduit that allows your to step into those moments of female rage and despair while somehow protecting the softest parts of your heart. It’s truly a wonderful sunset song and must be played at top volume.
2. Get To Be Mine by Vulfmon & Evangeline
Needless to say anything put out by the Vulf team is fabulous. It captures both that retro feel and new funk sound that has you right in that sunset summer mood. Your heart will recognize it as if you’ve already heard it a million times even though it’s your first time through.
With a bright catchy “Hey” at the beginning and a dope bass line you’re hooked. As we progress through the song you get fun flute snippets, horns, and the ever present ethereal Evangeline.
Knowing without knowing, the immediate spark and hot bright flame of meeting someone who may not be around for very long, or forever.
3. Illusion by Fulton Lee
My favorite thing about social media is the ability to find new artists. Sitting on the couch scrolling and up comes this video of a musician interacting with strangers in a unique (to me) way. I loved it! Here’s the Fulton Lee clip I first found:
I am a sucker for interactive art. Then you add in the absolute joy this song brings out of you and you have the perfect sound of summer.
A truly catchy beat, bright guitar, and Lee’s voice are the perfect combo to lift anyone’s spirit. This song mixes elements from a variety of genres and really captures the best of each one. Lee delivers in this song and I can’t wait to hear what he does next.
4. Gaslight by Dutch Criminal Record
I’ve been listening to Dutch Criminal Record for a few months now and always look forward to a new release from them. They also fall into the category of feeling so familiar without ever having had listened to them before.
I love the harmonies, the sort of “sprechstimme” of the verses, and the breaks. Not to mention the lyrics themselves which are incredibly relatable. These guys do an amazing job of capturing what can be such a heavy and hard topic and presenting in such a beautiful way that you find yourself putting this song on repeat.
5. Who’s Laughing Now by Durry
Another wonderful Instagram find, Who’s Laughing Now by Durry, this song will have you scream-singing by the end of it.
It captures something so many of us heard as children and presents in this soul-wrenching (in the best way) song.
The lyric that makes me tear up and get a huge lump in my throat-
“…and everybody knows there’s no way out…”
We all reach the same destination at the end of the day, why not do what you want (obviously within reason) while you’re here? Like turning up that volume, rolling the windows down, and enjoying the sensation of appreciation for your favorite songs.
Resilience Made 
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