TOP CHILL SONGS - WEEK 26

It's the hottest day of the year as I type this. My air conditioning unit has stopped working (no joke) and I'm sweating in places that I never even knew that I could sweat (trust me, you don't want to know the full details). Like a cool breeze in the California desert, it's safe to say that this week's edition of We Are: The Guard's Top Chill Songs has come along at just the right time for me. As another warm weekend approaches, why not join me in beating this brutal summer heat this Friday morning by checking out the following chillaxing tracks from Vorsa, Robokid, Gorillaz, JONES, How to Dress Well, and five other favorites?!

VORSA – HUMAN

Vorsa's music sounds like it's not of this world, and perhaps it isn't, because even the enigmatic producer is questioning his own mortality on his ascendant latest single! “Sometimes I don't feel like I'm human/Sometimes I can't feel my own breath escape my lungs,” sings Vorsa on “Human,” a stunningly transcendent anthem of M83 circa “Midnight City” proportions.

ROBOKID – FISHING LESSONS

Fishing is said to be one of life's more relaxing pursuits (I, personally, have never been. Bucket hats are NOT a good look on me). It appears that it also inspires some of life's more relaxing music, at least if this fun, infectious-as-hell latest single from Boston producer and Moving Castle co-founder Robokid is anything to go by. Pass me a rod, already! 

GORILLAZ (FEAT. SNOOP DOGG & JAMIE PRINCIPLE) – HOLLYWOOD

Another week, another Gorillaz song, anyone?! A SNOOP DOGG-featuring Gorillaz song, I ought to add! Okay, so I admit that the darkly propulsive “Hollywood” could work in a party playlist as much as it could a chill playlist, but that's EXACTLY why I love this band! Their music seems to fit every mood, whether you want to dance, or, as I recommend in this case, sit back and enjoy the vibes!

DONTASK – OCEAN

Dive into “Ocean,” the quietly calming latest single from German sibling duo dontask. With poetic vocals dappling over acoustic guitars like sunlight dapples over sea waves, this ebbing-and-flowing ballad will leave you never wanting to come back up for air.

ZIC – STILL ALIVE

Belgium's ZIC are reminding us to seize the day on their uplifting debut single! With its infectious sampling of a kids choir (the best use of a kids choir since Pink Floyd's “Another Brick in the Wall, Part Two,” I might add), “Still Alive” is a euphoric house groove that transcends the dance floor in order to deliver an important message about living every hour, minute, and second like it's our last!

PETER COTTONTALE (FEAT. REX ORANGE COUNTY, CHANCE THE RAPPER, DANIEL CAESAR, MADISON RYANN WARD & YEBBA) – FOREVER ALWAYS

Peter CottonTale, Rex Orange County, Chance the Rapper, Daniel Caesar, Madison Ryann Ward, AND Yebba?! LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY EARS!

JONES – SILVER SCREEN

When it comes to JONES, less is very often more. The British singer-songwriter is once again displaying her voice of gold on her cinematic latest single “Silver Screen,” a simple, minimalistic piano ballad that proves that this artist requires no smoke and mirrors to shine like the star that she is.

RYAN SVENDSEN (FEAT. JEROME THOMAS) – ONE HUNDRED PERCENT

Trumpet extraordinaire and coveted film composer Ryan Svendsen teams up with soul crooner Jerome Thomas for a delectable jazz-R&B blend that's melting me like butter on hot pancake. No, really, music this smooth should come with some kind of warning label, as one taste and you won't be able to get enough of “One Hundred Percent.” More please, Ryan!

HOW TO DRESS WELL – THE ANTEROOM

How to Dress Well is back! How to Dress Well is back! Two years on from Care, the Chicago musician returns this 2018 with “The Anteroom,” a dark, chaotic industrial production that, while very different from Tom Krell's previous pillowy pop sounds, still has that signature searching vocal laid out over the top of it.

TOLEDO – ON MY OWN

Meet TOLEDO, the Boston band comprising of Daniel Alvarez de Toldeo and Jordan Dunn-Pilz who're completely enchanting me with their latest single “On My Own.” Blending folk, indie, and country influences, it's a song that oozes with a warm, dreamy familiarity while also offering something new and hypnotic, with the track coming accompanied by a HYSTERICAL video that sees the duo drowning their sorrows in Solo Cups at a hipster house party.

-

Until next week, don't forget to follow We Are: The Guard's Best Chill Daily! on Spotify for more! x

Photo by Ian Dooley on Unsplash

D