As the popular phrase goes “April showers bring May flowers,” yet the transition of my music taste from March to April wasn’t as gradual as the phrase. As soon as the afternoons consistently hit 60 degrees, any somber or slow songs were removed from my daily rotation in favor of lively and enthusiastic ones. April not only marked the transition of my music taste and rotation, but it also marked the beginning of the end-of-school-year transition. Based on my music listening experience this past month, here are some of my top songs from April that I highly recommend.
Five: “Circles” by Post Malone
I recently heard “Circles” again while scrolling through TikTok, and I was quickly flooded with countless memories of middle school and pre-COVID life. I was reminded of how simple and fun life was back when this song was released, I had started playing football again, the seventh grade had started, and the whole friend group was still together. However, I don’t enjoy this song solely for the nostalgia it brings me, but also for the emotionally simple vocals of Post Malone and the instrumental. Even though I hadn’t listened to “Circles” in over two years, Malone’s chorus and that guitar instrumental have continued to pass through my mind, reminding me of simpler times.
Four: “Earrings” by Malcolm Todd
This may come as a surprise but a Malcolm Todd song wasn’t my most listened to song of the month. Although “Earrings” didn’t appear as my number one most listened-to song of the month, it is still an excellent song that provides every I love about Malcolm Todd and his music. As usual, Todd masterfully crafted another drum and guitar-based instrumental that gets me moving. His smooth and casual vocals throughout the song make it an enjoyable experience, and the guitar solo that he included in the middle of the track elevated it even higher. “Earrings” was the final song from his series of “Sweet Boy” mixtape run, and I can’t wait to hear what he has in store for the future.
Three: “7 Summers” by Morgan Wallen
Simply put, “7 Summers” is one of the best songs to play whenever you’re missing summer or doing any activity throughout the summer. As previously mentioned in my “Monthly Tunes” series, I’m a sucker for drum and guitar-based instrumentals, and “7 Summers” might be my favorite one ever. Morgan Wallen’s vocals smoothly cruise over this lusciously soothing instrumental, his slower and more emotional delivery perfectly matches the slower-paced instrumental. Yes, I may only have listened to Wallen’s “mainstream” songs but how can I not when songs like “7 Summers” exist in his catalog?
Two: “One on One (Remix)” by Micah Dailey-White, Headband Henny & Mickey Doo
If I were to describe “One on One (Remix)” in one word, it would be groovy. From the wavy and almost retro-sounding instrumental to the smooth vocals by Micah Dailey-White and Headband Henny, this hasn’t escaped my mind this month. Especially Dailey-White’s chorus, which is the absolute best part of the song, as it pairs wonderfully with the instrumental. An interesting fact about Dailey-White and Henny is that they are both creators on TikTok, with Dailey-White accumulating over 1.2 million followers on the platform for his comedic videos. He also recently released a self-titled album on Soundcloud that I’ll be listening to soon.
One: “Sit Still, Look Pretty” by Daya
It may be surprising to see a song like this appearing on the list of my most listened-to songs for the month, but it has been hard not to listen to it throughout my day. As I’ve been driving more and experiencing the improved weather of April, I’ve leaned upon “Sit Still, Look Pretty” as a song I can play while cruising around town. Maybe in the past, I would’ve been ashamed to listen to this song in public, but I cannot get over the catchy electronic whistle of the instrumental, paired with the upbeat hi-hats and infectious vocals from Daya and her producers. Since it was released in 2015, “Sit Still, Look Pretty” acts as a way to jump back to the past while enjoying the present moment with a smile.
I hope my selections can help expand and diversify your music taste, or possibly remind you of songs you’ve once enjoyed. I’m looking forward to listening to more music as the year progresses.
