“Listen In” is a feature in which we ask musicians to curate a mixtape-length playlist of songs they’re currently digging. Click the big play button above to hear the whole playlist or scroll down to see and hear individual tracks.
Kitty, nee Kitty Pryde, used to live in Florida and be a rapper. Now she lives in Los Angeles and is some kind of rapper who’s also a K-pop singer and the girl at the party who’s constantly looking at her phone. She’s carved out her own niche as a singer/rapper/producer whose unglamorized personality acts as a trojan horse for her sophisticated songcraft. She has a new track out June 22nd via the Adult Swim Singles Program, one of the best sources of hot new songs on the entire internet. Check that out, watch the video for her most recent song “i can’t beat sonic adventure,” download her excellent Frostbite EP from last year, and listen to the summer mixtape she made ANIMAL.
Candidate – “Strange Girl”
I discovered this song last summer when I found out the instrumental from one of my first songs used a sample of it that I didn’t even know about. I had to remake the entire song, and ended up listening to it a million times. It reminds me of walking around alone in the very last little piece of daylight.
Koop – “Koop Island Blues”
I found koop in high school, and their music is amazing for when I’m going through phases where I only want to speak in a transatlantic accent and wear white silk gloves. I experience this most summers.
Stan Getz & João Gilberto – “The Girl From Ipanema”
Speaking of those little phases I have, I’m sort of in one right now. My boyfriend and I have chosen to listen exclusively to some weird radio station we found between frequencies that only plays songs from the Great American Songbook. Did y’all know the Great American Songbook actually goes?
SAWA – “Sing It Back”
SAWA always puts me in a chill mood, which is weird because her voice is not relaxing. I like the promise of mixing Japanese and English.
Natasunami – “Gameboy”
I don’t know who these girls are, I found this on soundcloud. I wish it had less internet-ty references but I’ve been singing this hook for a week.
King Louie ft. LeekeLeek – “Banana Boat”
This is one of the greatest rap songs of all time. Someone on Twitter told me It’s racist, but I can’t really figure out how. I just get so happy when he says “I made a friend on banana boat.”
DJ Assault – “Sex On the Beach”
I love to listen to this song at night in the car. Do that. Preferably riding in the car with someone you want to have sex with.
Major Lazer ft. Wild Belle – “Be Together”
I invented a dance called “the squid dance” the other day. I’ll teach you guys. It works perfectly with this song, and it’s the most important dance of the summer.
Sophia Grace – “Best Friends”
I know this one came out in winter, but I’ve been waiting for months to dance to it in a sundress. It’s awesome.
