BEST TRACKS OF 2017-ARTISTS LIST #68
Experimental pop troubadourĀ Kisos (avatar of Nate Hernandez) will be issuing a new EP in early 2018 which we are looking forward to hearing! Here he sharesĀ a few thoughts about what tracks and sounds influencedĀ his year!
We bout to get real!!!!!!!!! Ā My 2017 was stressful, crushing, revolutionary, spectacular dream come true. I started my own business, released new music, went through a big breakup, and fell in love with someone new. My favorite songs I discovered this year tend to come from summertime on, but do a good job of walking you through my emotional journey, from the doubt to the heartbreak to the turn up.
01.Ā John Splithoff- Show Me
Kicking it off with my boo, his newest single came out like a week after my breakup and it's a vibey, bounce funk jam that's hot af and all about saying "damn i know we got our issues, but I still want you, let's work it out" Prob not a good song to get over a breakup lol but it's so catchy I couldn't help it.
02.Ā Death Team- Weekend
I love slow burning bangers, and this one comes from a Swedish duo who just signed to Warner. Simple lyrics, simple beat, but done to perfection. Even without booming bass it makes me wanna go crazy and cartwheel around my apartment, an anthem for the turnup and reveling in freedom.
03.Ā Jazmine Sullivan- InsecureĀ
Tried to stick mostly to undiscovered artists but had to include my all time fave Jazmine. Her voice skins me alive, and this track especially had a couple lines that lit me on fire: "I did all I could do, but you be wanting more." That struck a chord, "yeah I gave my all and it wasn't enough for this boy, what's the deal dude?"
04.Ā Lizzo- Truth HurtsĀ I promise I wasn't seeking breakup songs....lol they just happen to be the best kind of music, moody to powerful, so many options. Lizzo kills it with her confidence and had me hooked with her intro line, "Took a DNA test turns out I'm 100% that bitch." Her refrain is sassy and relatable- "Why men great til they gotta be great?"
05.Ā Niniola- Sicker
THIS. IS. MY. JAM. Started getting way more into afrobeats, and Niniola made my favorite song of the whole year along with producer SARZ. Practically no recognition for this track outside of Nigeria and it's a shame because this song will pop any party off and keep it at a 10. And she looks fly as hell in the vid. Don't skip this one.
06.Ā CupcakKe- Cumshot
Ok so this song randomly came on in the car one day and I freaked out. Rated X hahaha but just damn CupcakKe is a discovery and super on the come up. This one is outrageously nasty and the first one of hers I heard, so including for nostalgic reasons, but she has tons of great songs that are tamer.
07.Ā Isaac Dunbar- PHARMACY
Stumbled upon this track, streamed it for 3 hours straight, learned how to play it on guitar, shared it with all my friends and am still obsessed months later. It's a critique of our unhealthy obsession with loving that which hurts us. POWERFUL STUFF BOI. Isaac has major talent, 14 years old and writing, singing composing, producing, mixing all himself. He's blowing up Billie Eilish x Khalid style in 2018.Ā
08.Ā Orkid- SoulmatesĀ
A supremely self aware song about being apathetic towards your lover, despite them being perfect on paper. "You fade away like the rest of my soulmates." Like damn read my mind. I've had partners who gave me everything I needed yet I couldn't love them like they loved me. In my recent relationship it was the other way around, and this song gave me some clarity. Sometimes love doesn't work no matter how much you give, so I stopped with the "what ifs."
09.Ā Anna Dellaria- Bolder
Originally fell in love with her track Climb, and then Bolder came out, a poignant, chill inducing song full of rich bass with gorgeous electric harp gudness on top. Reflecting on a love spiraling towards its end, knowing its over but trying to hold on to the flames for one more night. Tragic, beautiful, and I love her voice/style- she can really sang.
10.Ā Deatomize- Kisos ft. Kirsten IzerĀ OK so this last one is me, but honestly I adore this track. It birthed from one of the darkest points in my life. I hated my job, wasn't happy at home or in my relationship (a different one lol) and was just beating myself down emotionally every day. I spilled all of that pain into this track, of wanting to give up and disappear, faced those emotions and began my recovery process. Kirsten is amaze and brings this to another level.
For more of my favorite jams you can follow my
Spotify playlist (updated monthly) and for more of my original music or social media, head to my site