This is truly going to be a December to remember, and I’m sorry if that makes this soundtrack feel like an end of year car savings spectacular. Normally, this time of year brings with it more of a peaceful quiet in the music industry, as everyone slows down for some time off. But this year, things seem to be ramping up at the end of the year. The industry is buzzing while everyone is buzzing at their holiday parties, and we’re throwing new music at you left and right. Check out our December soundtrack, with songs from ILLENIUM, M. Ward, Kali Uchis, Circa Waves, Myoa, Griff, and more!
Check back all month for new additions to this Spotify list. Remember to save it to your favorites!
This is a playlist blending my R&B influences. It may not show very much in my own music but I’m a huge R&B fan. Most of the vocal melodies I hear in my head stem from R&B artists, (it doesn’t mean I can actually sing them though!). This is a mixture of old and modern R&B songs and shows how my nostalgia can go down a rabbit hole of music. Music has the ability to make you feel very many different ways, but I think creating and retaining memories is one of the most vital reason we listen to music.
I’ve been in the process of really stepping into my power and learning myself as an artist, businesswoman, and person, but most importantly: a woman. I’ve been taking the steps to restructure my life so that I can enjoy the harvest of that work in 2019. Through this process, I’ve frequently been listening to all of the songs on this playlist. Ranging from Hip-Hop and Latin Trap, to R&B and Pop, all of these songs make me feel uplifted, confident, and hopeful, as I step into my day every morning. This is the playlist that will keep the fire in you burning and growing.
This playlist is the embodiment of Handsomebeast’s new musical and visual direction. We want to paint a picture in the way that some of our favorite films do: dangerously. In reflection of how dynamically eclectic the band is, these songs venture between exciting getaway tunes with high energy to slow burners that can melt anyone into the bedsheets.
With Tarintino-ish vibes from tunes like “Black Venom” from The Budos Band and Adrian Younge’s “Turn Down the Sound”, you could imagine this playlist playing during a well-executed heist (some of our favorite movie plots).
In the other direction lay the smooth after effects of such invigorating action: the love making (yeeeah). Smoke something with Houston’s UGK. Pour one up with Warren G. Grab your partner and slow dance to Daniel Caesar’s “Get You” or Liquid Monk’s “On the Rocks” before the feds bust in.
Some of these artists are huge influences on the band that stuck with us through the evolution of our personal sound, such as Gorillaz, James Brown, Talking Heads, and the Isley Brothers.
Baring in mind how musically diverse the band is, it’s no wonder this playlist ranges from Kendrick Lamar to early 60’s Peruvian Chicha pioneers Los Mirlos. Inspiration comes in many forms, but as long as it grooves, Handsomebeast will jam it.
This is Heist-Rock. This is Hip-Hop Noir. This is music For Robbin’ Banks & Makin’ Love After.
Check out Handsomebeast on one of their tour dates below!
9/13 – Hi-Tone Café – Memphis, TN
9/15 – Foggy Mountain Brew Pub – Asheville, NC
9/20 – Pianos – New York, NY
9/21 – Connie’s Ric Rac – Philadelphia, PA
9/22 – Gypsy Sally’s – Washington, DC
Over the last 3 years I’ve been writing and working on my debut album SARRA. It’s a 14 track concept album and the first single “Kerosene” drops this Friday. I’ve consumed and have been influenced by a massive amount of music since the beginning of this process, and so much of this journey was spent trying to pinpoint my sound. My love of music spans from Pop, Electronic, to R&B so it was a really fun experience getting to pull from those genres and create the right sound that represents SARRA. This is a playlist of songs that have influenced me as an artist throughout the process of making this record. There’s so much good music being made right now and one of the best things about this process was discovering new artists!
