BEST CHILL SONGS – WEEK 48

Thanksgiving is over for another year, which means that it's time for us to turn our attention to – you got it – Christmas. With less than four weeks to go until the big day, you may be starting to stress out about gift shopping, or quite simply about how you're going to shift that extra turkey weight so that you can squeeze into your ironic Xmas jumper. I feel your pain, but BitCandy is here to help you stay sane this holiday season with the latest edition of Best Chill Songs. Forget Mariah Carey prancing around in an inappropriately tiny Santa outfit. All you'll want for Christmas this 2016 are the following tracks from Jai Wolf, Lyves, Cigarettes After Sex, REECE, Shy Girls, and more.

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JAI WOLF (FEAT. JMR) – GRAVITY – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

If you're yet to listen to New York City musician Jai Wolf's debut EP Kindred Spirits, then reconsider what you're doing with your life because you're missing out on breathtaking electronic pop gems such as “Gravity.” Featuring JMR on guest vocal duties, the song is truly earth-shattering to the core, showcasing Wolf's most dreamlike production to date.

LYVES – NO LOVE – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

London songstress Francesa Bergami, aka Lyves, makes music that speaks to the soul. Case in point: “No Love.” Produced by Lyves alongside Atu, the song is a devastatingly gorgeous slice of electronic-tipped R&B that, having first formed part of “Victoria” by Sonder back in August, here takes on a life completely of its own.

ILLIAL – QUITE – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

“Quite” by ILLIAL is a lesson in the art of minimalism. A spacious electronic soul ballad that makes full use of the Swedish musician's impressive vocal range, it comes accompanied by an atmospheric music video-meets-art film that finds ILLIAL crushing everyday items (eggs, butter, a light bulb) in his Reebok Classics. #Aesthetics

MACKSI – KEEP ON LYING

Having previously worked as an assistant engineer for the likes of Shura, Jack Garratt and A$AP Rocky at the famous Red Bull Studios London, Australian musician Macksi makes his solo debut today with “Keep On Lying.” Not to be confused with the Tame Impala song of the same name, “Keep On Lying” is a smooth, soaring piece of electronic-inflected R&B that leaves me wanting more from Macksi in 2017.

HURLEY MOWER – HOME COOKED

Chicago producer Hurley Mower is certain to set your mood to chill with the forward-thinking “Home Cooked.” Featured on his recent EP of the same name, the song is an ambient-leaning instrumental that hears the 21-year-old pair melodic electronic samples with more organic elements, including an emotive guitar solo towards the outro.

MALK – METHADONE – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

Citing Pink Floyd, The Beatles, DJ Shadow and J Dilla among their influences, Australian duo Malk make their debut on the blogosphere with “Methadone.” Blending the production side of hip-hop with a more rock-orientated arrangement, the instrumental is five minutes of narcotic bliss, the hypnotic side-effects of which stay with you long after listening.

CIGARETTES AFTER SEX – K. – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

Cigarettes After Sex are a Brooklyn collective who make music that sounds exactly like their name suggests. “K.” is a bleary eyed ambient pop ballad that evokes a drag on a Marlboro in the arms of the one that you love, with lyrics that are sure to hit you in the feels this cuffing season (“And I'm kissing you lying in my room/Holding you until you fall asleep/And it's just as good as I knew it would be/Stay with me I don't want you to leave”).

REECE – LOST IN TRANSLATION – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

Having recently made the move from Virginia to Los Angeles, REECE makes his anticipated return with “Lost In Translation.” Produced by Casper & B and Big Drez, it's a cinematic, ambitious R&B ballad that hears REECE deliver perhaps his most spine-chilling vocal performance to date. “This song is about those moments in life when you try to salvage a relationship that is quickly dissipating, but you just can't seem to get yourself together, no matter how hard you try,” REECE tells Pigeons & Planes. Check it out.

SHY GIRLS – TRIVIAL MOTION – CURATOR ROBERT DUFFY

Ahead of the release of his debut album Salt in January, Portland purveyor of PBR&B (is PBR&B still a thing?) Dan Vidmar, aka Shy Girls, has shared “Trivial Motion.” Centered around propulsive, 80s-indebted synths and Vidmar's truly lovely vocals, “Trivial Motion” is one of those songs that's best listened to while taking a late-night drive through the city.

DÆVA – DREAM

Gigi Mead, the Brooklyn singer-songwriter who records under the name DÆVA, has completely charmed us here at BitCandy with her latest single “Dream.” Featured on her debut album Beta Persei, the song is a shimmering dream pop reverie complete with lyrics that are providing us with some much-needed escapism this Friday (“Don't look back/Don't look back/Let it go/Let it go”). For fans of: Grimes, Nicole Dollanger.

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Until next week, why not check out our Indie and Indie Pop tabs for more music? x

“Photo” by Lizzie Guilbert is licensed under CC0 1.0 (cropped and resized).

About Jess Grant

When Jess Grant isn't writing on music, she can be found playing it – on her guitar, on her ukulele, and on her recently acquired mandolin. Playing it hideously, she ought to add. Jess also studies. She studies the English language, to be precise. Jess is currently on her way to a degree in the subject, and enjoys starting and never finishing novels, screenplays, and poetry in her spare time. She also likes dogs. Lots of dogs.