TOP CHILL SONGS - WEEK 7

There's nothing I love more than to change into my pajamas and make some hot cocoa while listening to the latest edition of We Are: The Guard's Top Chill Songs. Okay, so it's not exactly the wildest of ways to spend a Friday night (even if I do sometimes replace the hot cocoa with a big ol' glass of wine), but who cares? To quote Bon Jovi: “IT'S MY LIFE!” On that note, excuse me while I change into my jammies and enjoy the following songs from H.E.R., Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes, Victoria Monét, and more.

P.S. Can you tell I'm totally ignoring the fact it's Valentine's Day? #ForeverAlone

-

H.E.R. – COMFORTABLE

Just in time for V-Day, H.E.R. is setting the mood for romance with “Comfortable.” The follow-up to “Sometimes” – which the rising talented recently performed at the GRAMMYs – is a flirty acoustic ode to a lover who makes you feel completely at ease, both in and out the sheets, with H.E.R. sounding totally confident as she beckons her bae to the bedroom.

TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYES – WHAT KINDA MUSIC

British jazz masters Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes join forces for “What Kinda Music.” With Yussef's shuffling drum fills acting as a base over which Tom is able to explore his demons, “What Kinda Music” is an emotional, experimental groover that, quite frankly, SLAPS (in a chill enough manner to justify getting featured in this column, of course).

JP SAXE – SAD CORNY F*CK

There are a plethora of breakup songs released on the daily, although none quite like “Sad Corny F*ck.” JP Saxe brings a much-needed pinch of levity and self-awareness to the topic on the Hold It Together EP cut, with acoustics lightly strumming behind JP as he coos: “And I still don't know what you've done to me/I'm just a sad corny f*ck suddenly.”

UMI – PICTURE PERFECT

UGH! UMI just keeps getting better and better. Following on from the release of Love Language EP late last year, the Seattle act returns today with the ethereal “Picture Perfect.” Over a serene piano motif and tranquil hip-hop beats, listen as UMI gently bids adieu to a toxic relationship on the cut, which surrounds you like an otherworldly reverie.

JEREMY ZUCKER – ALWAYS, I'LL CARE

This is utterly adorable! Jeremy Zucker pledges allegiance to his friends on his latest single “always, i'll care.” “'always, i'll care' is an ode to platonic love. It's a song for my friends, whom I love deeply, and a promise to do better,” says the 22-year-old of the tribute – a short but truly sweet piano ballad that reminds us to always be there for those we love.

TEFLON SEGA – LONELY & FREE

I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING! Jokes aside, Teflon Sega has genuinely moved me to tears with “Lonely & Feel.” The song hears the anime character exposing the sparking, sputtering inner workings of his emotional core for us all to see, with Teflon's voice quaking with vulnerability as he sings about chronic loneliness and his inability to hold down love.

SHOFFY – I CAN'T HELP

And now for something a little different from Shoffy. The Los Angeles troubadour is sure to win you over with this take on Elvis Presley's V-Day classic “Can't Help Falling in Love.” Listen as Shoffy's charmingly chill cadence comes contrasted with playfully pitched-up vocals in the chorus of “I Can't Help” – a jazzy dream of a listen for lo-fi lovers everywhere.

ARLO PARKS – EUGENE

Nobody does heartbreak quite like Arlo Parks. Following on from the release of Sophie EP late last year, the British balladeer returns today with another incredibly intimate look at lovesickness in the form of “Eugene.” Written about falling for a straight friend who has a boyfriend, it's a deeply personal, diaristic cut as framed in Arlo's beautifully folky trip-hop.

EDX – ADORE ME

It's been a while since I've featured some deep, deep, deep house in this column, but Swiss producer EDX's “Adore Me” is here to change all that. There's still 108 days until summer, but it's easy to feel like you've been transported to a hot, humid Ibiza dance floor listening to this song, with clubby pulses holding down a sweltering female topline.

VICTORIA MONÉT – MOMENT

Victoria Monét is perhaps best known for her collaborations with her BFF, Ariana Grande, up to this point, but the R&B artist is ready to be seen in her own right with “Moment.” “Give me all of your emotions/Ah, it's your motherf*cking moment,” purrs Vic on the slinky, seductive, string-laced incantation, which deserves pride of place on your V-Day mixtape.

-

Until next week, why not follow We Are: The Guard's Weekly Chart for more? x

Photo by Mak Mozza on Unsplash

Jess Grant is a frustrated writer hailing from London, England. When she isn't tasked with disentangling her thoughts from her brain and putting them on paper, Jess can generally be found listening to The Beatles, or cooking vegetarian food.