Playlist Highlights: verano 2023

My summer playlists are always a bit more upbeat and joyful than the rest and verano 2023 was no exception. This playlist starts off on a particularly high note with the Fred Falke remix of “Passion” by Roosevelt and Nile Rodgers. It’s a funky disco vibe that’ll have you swinging your shoulders or rocking your waist in the first 10 seconds. I’ve now listened to this song countless times, but every time the horns greet me for the first time at minute 3:18, I enter a trancelike state and can’t hear anything other than the song. I lose all focus on whatever else is happening until the song wraps.

“adore u” by Fred Again.. and Obongjayar was a track that I burned long before it was available on Spotify thanks to a recording from Glastonbury. This song, dedicated to Fred’s little sister, is a beautiful representation of the love between siblings and always leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy as I think about how much I love my little brother.

Another musical highlight from my summer was seeing DRAMA live in our shared hometown of Chicago at Thalia Hall. It was a wonderful display of the power and beauty of my city with the crowd showing up to sing and dance like fans. I’m always proud to share that I’m from Chicago when I see my city show up with good vibes and enthusiasm. I immediately felt at home when I heard the opener (another Chicago local DJ Iggy) toss a little Bad Bunny into his set. I was grooving from the minute I walked into Thalia Hall. The DRAMA edit of “Feel the Same” is just one of two DRAMA songs that made it into my verano playlist but I spent the entire week of the show bingeing all things DRAMA.

My guiltiest pleasure from this summer was “Forever and a Day” by LP Giobbi and Caroline Byrne. I have been spotted by friends biking through the city while shamelessly singing this song out loud. It’s a particular favorite because it’s perfectly within my vocal range and also happens to contain a piano riff, bass line, and perfectly delightful sonidito from an electric violin.

It may be due to recency bias, but I must give a special shout to the closer of verano 2023, “Deadbeat Gospel” by Barry Can’t Swim and deadbeat. It has a nice and slow start but once it picks up speed, it’s an instant bop. The vocals combined with the piano give it a very Fred Again.. vibe but the handpan is a nice exotic little sound.

There are plenty of favorites in this seasonal playlist but the real anthem of summer 2023 was “Nothing On Me” by Maz (BR). I had the pleasure of hearing this song live four times this summer. The first time I heard it was the Keinemusik set at the Diynamic Offsonar event before the track had been released. I immediately went to follow Maz (BR) to catch the song as soon as it became publicly available. I’d then proceed to freak out every time I heard the song played by Blond:ish, Agatha Pher, and at Hi in Ibiza. It was mildly comforting to see that I was not the only one to lose their shit with this song. The drop is epic and it demands a celebration.