BEST CHILL MUSIC - WEEK 1
by Jess Grant
1/4/19
Now that Christmas is out of the way, you'd think that we could start to relax and unwind a little. But with all of the talk about New Year's resolutions and such, we tend to put just as much pressure on ourselves at the beginning of January as we do during the holiday season. And while it's important to have goals and aspirations to strive for in 2019, we must remember to slow down and enjoy life “as is” every once in a while. On that note, why not treat yourself to some much-deserved me time this weekend with help from We Are: The Guard's Best Chill Songs, featuring A.CHAL, 6LACK, xxyyxx, Möwe, Shallou, and more?!
-
A.CHAL – EXOTICA
The temperatures may be plummeting, but A.CHAL is transporting us straight to the hot and humid clubs of Miami on his latest single. “Top down in exótica/Bad bitch been exótica/Miami, Santa Monica/Run it up, doing what I want,” raps the Latin trap artist over a hip-swaying blend of reggaeton beats and Spanish electronic guitar on the Rvssian-produced “EXOTICA,” which will leave you dripping in sweat just like it's a summer night.
BENTLE – 100X
Introducing BENTLE, the Australian native who's going to leave you entirely mesmerized with his debut single “100X.” If you're like me and a sucker for a blend of falsetto and feels, then prepare to be utterly enchanted by this rising artist, who's kind of reminding me of a mixture of James Blake and Troye Sivan.
6LACK – BEEN A WHILE
It's only been four months since he released East Atlanta Love Letter, but 6LACK is already back on the grind this January with “Been a While.” The wistful ode once again finds the LVRN rapper going deep into his feels in order to bring forth the melancholy vibes, with 6LACK heard studying the distinction between “wanting” and “needing” someone over a plaintive beat courtesy of Fwdslxsh and Neenyo.
XXYYXX – YOU ARE WHY I AM INVISIBLE PT. 2
Seven years on from the release of “You Are Why I Am Invisible,” xxyyxx returns with the follow-up that we never knew that we wanted. Just like the original, “YAWIAI Pt. 2” hears the Orlando producer delivering on the Saturday morning vibes, with the song opening to the sound of birds before immersing listeners in Marcel Everett's warm liquid ambiance. Coffee, anyone?!
BLVTH – DISARRAY
Meet BLVTH, the German producer and singer-songwriter who's making his debut on We Are: The Guard with “Disarray.” With a warped trap instrumental meeting a mind-meltingly deranged vocal performance, this track is best described as a deep dive into the psyche of a tortured genius after they've slipped one too many of Colin Ritman's acid tabs.
MÖWE (FEAT. EMY PEREZ) – DOWN BY THE RIVER
Winter may be starting to take hold across the Northern Hemisphere, but fear not as Austrian duo Möwe are keeping the summer vibes flowing on their latest single. By bringing together whistled hooks and islandic percussion, Melanie Ebietoma and Clemens Martinuzzi will make you feel like you're stranded on a white-sand beach with tropical cocktails on tap with “Down by the River,” which features additional vocals from Emy Perez.
SHALLOU (FEAT. COLIN) – COUNT ON
Los Angeles producer Shallou gets 2019 off on a quietly blissful note with his latest single “count on.” For three and a half minutes, this collaboration with Colin will genuinely take you to a whole other universe, with the chill chopped-up vocals really serving to compliment Shallou's subtly euphoric instrumental.
FLEURIE – LOVE HAS NO LIMITS
The holiday season may be coming to a close, but Fleurie continues to burn a beacon of love and hope in her heart on her tender latest single. “Someone told me that love/Love has no limits, no limits,” sings the Nashville native through a wall of vocoder on “Love Has No Limits,” a winter hymn that evokes a sky full of snow and possibility, while offering a warm refuge to all of those who need it.
MOBY – THE CEREMONY OF INNOCENCE (IONNALEE REMIX)
Moby's Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt is a gift that keeps on giving. One year on from its release, and we're still getting treated to must-hear remixes from the album, like this icy one courtesy of ionnalee, which hears the iamamiwhoami frontwoman bringing a crystalline layer to “The Ceremony of Innocence” with her frozen synths and backing vocals. Listen.
GOODY GRACE – REST YOUR EYES
Goody Grace is a small-town boy with big dreams. Hailing from Selkirk – a Canadian city famed for its steel mill and major psychiatric hospital – the Bananabeat Records signee is setting his sights on more far-reaching success with “Rest Your Eyes,” a rawly devastating ode to love and loss that doesn't just tug at the heartstrings, but fully pulls them out.
-
Don't forget to follow We Are: The Guard's Best Chill Daily! on Spotify for more! x
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.