Playlist #5: I’ll Be Your Lifeline Tonight

From hard-hitting rap to soulful church vibes, there’s something for everyone in this week’s lineup. Anil and I are overjoyed to present week five of Heavy Rotation:

Perfect

Bibi Bourelly, Earl St. Clair / Single

Right from the beginning of the song, the listener is blasted with a powerful horn section, à la Chance the Rapper. I found myself bobbing along like I was in church on Sunday morning listening to the best gospel choir ever — while this might not be the reaction elicited by normal humans, I guarantee that this is unlike most of the regular Top 40 songs that you’ll hear if you turn on your radio. Classic electric keyboards, a swingin’ band and such unique voices in Bibi Bourelly and Earl St. Clair make this a masterful track for your ears. And it’s crazy to think that this is the same singer/songwriter who wrote the lyrics to Bitch Better Have My Money by Rihanna… — Anil

Purple Lamborghini

Skrillex, Rick Ross / Suicide Squad soundtrack

ROZAAY! We’re talking about Rick Ross. The same guy who started a feud with 50 Cent just because he looked at him the wrong way at an award show — this rapper is larger than life! (pun unintended) So what if he used to be a correctional officer? That doesn’t mean he can’t pretend to be a heartless villain for the Suicide Squad soundtrack. When he raps “Every day was life and death, that’s when the cash came / Count money, drug residue even blood on ‘em,” is he speaking from authentic experience? Probably not. But that’s what makes this track fun and over-the-top. Skrillex shows off his versatility by arming Rick Ross with the hardest hitting hip-hop beat of the summer. Throw this track on, pump some iron at the gym, patrol the streets looking for trouble, rob a bank, whatever you’re into in your free time. We could all take ourselves a little less seriously. — Dilip

The Coast

Coolwater Set, RAC, Jzvel / Single

Jzvel sounds a lot like Rihanna. Like, a lot. And that’s a good thing — her soft voice is so soothing and calming, especially when doubled up in sections of the chorus. And although Coolwater Set is quite the obscure artist (don’t believe me? Google him), his verses sound less like rap and more like spoken word, which helps in a song with a relaxed vibe. This fits perfectly into a chill out playlist, and definitely has enough in it to keep you engaged for its entirety. I really hope I hear more of these three artists, because I could use more mellow tracks like this one. — Anil

Cold Water

Major Lazer, Justin Bieber, MØ / Single

Diplo scored two huge hits in 2015 through collaborations with Justin Bieber (Where Are Ü Now) and MØ (Lean On). So it’s easy to imagine him lounging in his studio on a late Tuesday night, sipping some red wine and wondering “I need another hit…. what if I made a new song with Bieber and MØ. And that Ed Sheeran kid writes pretty good songs for other artists…. yeah I’ll get him to write it.” Yes, it’s undeniable: Cold Water was definitely manufactured to be a hit. But it’s still so damn infectious, from the pretty guitar riff in the verse, to Bieber’s smooth vocals, and even the (cliche but still relevant) dancehall inspired drums in the chorus. Get used to this track, you’ll be hearing a lot of it this summer. — Dilip

Rise N Shine

Eva Shaw, Poo Bear / Single

In the era of crossover celebrities, it should come as no surprise that many former actors, models and socialites have crossed over into the music industry. What I haven’t seen before is a former model turned producer — that too, an EDM producer. Eva Shaw teamed up with four-time Grammy award winner Poo Bear to release the dance track “Rise N Shine,” and it’s pretty solid for one of her first tracks out of the gate. Soft beats and a sampled female vocalist have become quintessential in this dancehall-pop genre, but something about this song feels more unique… if I had to pinpoint a section, it would be when the 80’s synths come in halfway into the song. Check some of the extra songs this week for some more unique tracks in this space.

Distraction

Kehlani / Single

This track has some serious Ariana Grande vibes. And by that, I mean it combines 90’s R&B vocals with a bouncing trap beat for outstanding results. Unlike Ariana, Kehlani has a natural maturity to her voice and focuses more on her sultry tone than whistle-register acrobatics. Her Rihanna-esque alto range in the verses contrasts with the airy pre-choruses and gives the song an extra layer of depth. Props to songwriting duo Pop & Oak — they’ve followed up some of their massive successes with Elle Varner, Alicia Keys, Tory Lanez, and Alessia Cara with another excellent song. — Dilip

Other Songs

Stuff we just couldn’t keep off our list.

Just because we didn’t review them doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to be on repeat:

For Free (DJ Khaled, Drake cover) / Anth, Conor Maynard / Single / Spotify

Chimes (Alexander Lewis and Y2K remix) / Hudson Mohawke / Single / SoundCloud

Make Me Blue / Pierce Fulton / Borrowed Lives / YouTube

Talk / DJ Snake, George Maple / Single / YouTube

We hope that you enjoyed the music and commentary! Please send any feedback our way — for example, if you’d prefer us to use Soundcloud, Spotify, YouTube, etc. This is definitely a work in progress, and we’d love to hear from our readers. Lastly, if you have any song suggestions, don’t be shy — we love listening to new tracks! Reach us on Twitter at @dilipsrajan and @anilchitrapu