Here at PlayNetwork, our creative music experts work with clients around the world to curate music for a diverse range of clients, from high-end retailers to small mom-and-pop places that want to hear the best music for their brand and audience. From this unique perspective, we tend to look for music that is popular and familiar, and we dig deeper for more obscure music by an artist or band that just broke into the scene that no one knows about yet. Below is a small peek of some of those artists and songs that were used the most by our clients here at PlayNetwork.

And to continue our annual end of the year list, we will be posting some of our Music Supervisor top albums and songs that they loved and most likely curated for their clients in 2019. And make sure to check out our December playlist and discover some great new tracks to add to your rotation, handpicked by our entire music team.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S […]

This month’s music discovery blog comes to you from Music Service Manager, Dean Carlson who is sharing three of his current favorite tracks performed by some amazing new artists. Check out our December playlist and discover some great new tracks to add to your rotation, handpicked by our entire music team.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Looking for some new music? Here are three artists to watch in 2019, from all around the globe, who I believe will continue to gain more fans and exposure in the coming year. Each of these tracks are on heavy rotation in my own playlists–I hope that you enjoy them too! 

Artist: J.S. Ondara

Track: American Dream

Twitter: @jsondara

Singer-songwriter J.S. Ondara was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota to pursue a career in music, partly due to his adoration of native Bob Dylan. You can easily hear the influence in this powerful track “American Dream,” which also showcases his intimate singing style. His […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by Nicole Maroutsos, who is one of our Music Service Managers within our Music Team. Our November BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to enhance your playlist with this month’s music discovery.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

In the past few months, we’ve seen a new trend arise: the ode to throwbacks. Songwriters seem to be more nostalgic than ever before, singing about the good old days and referencing iconic tracks of yore. These three tracks were released within the past six months and all take it back to the old school.

Artist: Anne-Marie

Track: 2002

Twitter: @AnneMarie

Nostalgic reference weave in and out of this ballad that Anne-Marie co-wrote with Ed Sheeran and Julia Michaels. In just the chorus alone, there are six references from tracks released in the late 90’s and early 00’s; “Oops, I got 99 problems singing ‘bye, bye, bye’ / Hold up, if you wanna go and take […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira. Our October BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with this month’s music discovery.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

This month’s choices are focused on those songs which seem out of place with mainstream. The songs I picked are those that take the listener on a journey through highs and lows within the song. Some of the songs are slow and some are a ride into an uplifting euphoria. These songs are hidden gems, which rarely get the spotlight but never the less, deserve recognition of the artistic substance they encompass.

Artist: Maggie Rogers

Track: Fallingwater

Twitter: @maggierogers

This song seems to take the formula of a song and reverse it. Rather than a slow build up, the song seems to pulsate at the beginning, then slows down the tempo within the middle, and finally ends on a […]

This month’s Music Discovery Blog comes from one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Kalla Vavra who has highlighted three movie scenes brought to life by music. You can peep these tunes below and be sure to check out the new addition of the September BrandRadio playlist, brought to you by our music team to refresh and impress your ears.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Music supervisors have a pretty cool job. On a daily basis, we take a deep dive into the right side of our brains, the side that sparks creativity and enhances the artistic senses, to create an emotional connection and reaction through the power of music. At PlayNetwork, music supervisors use music to enhance a brand’s identity through custom-curated playlists.

This month, I’m highlighting key scenes that have struck a chord with me (pun intended) due solely to the music placement. Whenever and wherever I hear the following songs, their corresponding scenes instantly play in my mind. Whittling my choices down to just […]

This month’s music discovery blog is brought to you by Grady Tyree who makes it all happen in procurement and label relations! Our playlist is all new and has been handpicked by our entire music team to hopefully help you stay cool during the hot summer month of August!

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

This month’s selection of tasty ear-worms come out of pure discovery, as in I’m trying to refrain from rehashing content that is a known quantity to your ears. This month, I’m tipping you listeners and readers off to my own exploratory work and discovery, new artists that were unknown’s to me until 2018. This is no easy task, but I’m always up for a challenge.

Artist: Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Twitter: @RKSBandOfficial

Track: Fever Pitch

Hailing from the mountains of Boone, NC, the genre-blending, harmonizing quintet known as Rainbow Kitten Surprise pack a formidable punch that will have you reflecting, at times, on the early releases of Modest Mouse or Kings […]

This month’s music discovery blog is brought to you by one of our newest Music Supervisors, Pete Greenberg! On his off days, Pete dedicated to his small vinyl release label that celebrates some of the great artists of the Northwest who have released some phenomenal albums. Our playlist is all new and has been handpicked by our entire music team to get your summer officially started!

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

This month, I selected songs that have caught my ear recently–in the way that great songs just sort of come to you when you’re not really expecting it. Having been a Frightened Rabbit fan for a while, I kept Mastersystem on my radar, and was curious as to how their debut album would distance themselves from their respective associated bands (Frightened Rabbit, The Editors, and Minor Victories). Their track “The Enlightenment” does an excellent job of illustrating a more angular shaping. Hatchie’s “Sugar & Spice” was just one of those songs that once you hear […]

This month’s music discovery blog is brought to you by Alex Ruder, not only is he a multi-year Music Supervisor vet, he is also a part-time KEXP DJ, and runner of DIY label Hush Hush Records. Our playlist is all new and has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the month of June.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

The summer season is approaching, so it’s time to get some tasty tunes ready to go for your BBQ + patio playlist. I’ve combed through a stack of new and upcoming releases and selected a handful of standout choice cuts to sprinkle into your mix. These tracks are sure to add some mouth-watering slow-motion underground funk to compliment the inescapable summertime pop anthems.

Artist: Bluestaeb

Twitter: @Bluestaeb

Track: Left & Right

Splitting time between Berlin and Paris, electronic producer Leon Giseke (aka Bluestaeb) has consistently provided smooth beats since debuting in 2013, and the early singles from […]

This month’s music discovery blog is by our seasoned Music Supervisor Alex Espinosa who has over 30 years’ experience in the music world. Our May BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with this month’s music discovery.

  LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

My earliest memories of music are from the spring and summer months; where the days got longer and the music blared on the radio. I still remember where I was when I first heard “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, or asking my mom to turn up the radio when “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers would come on. These songs have always had a lasting impression on me, as they evoke the perfect chill vibe that is perfect during the warm days and nights this time of year. Below are some new cuts that are all about this vibe, as well as an older classic that will sure to bring […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one of our Music Supervisor, Aaron Voros. Our March BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the month of March.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

As a music curator at PlayNetwork I spend my time making playlists designed for overhead play in retail, hospitality, and restaurant spaces. While every playlist creates a unique experience, they all set out to achieve roughly the same goal of grabbing the attention of the listener from the second they first step into the space and sustaining their interest until they make their exit. I usually focus on selecting the upbeat, the energetic, the catchy, the succinct, and anything else that can make a quick first impression.

Call it a rebellious streak, but despite the time I spend searching for music placed in retail playlists I generally gravitate toward mellow music and instrumentals. Three relatively recent releases by a few of my […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisors, Christian Zabala. Our February BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the New Year.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Hello world! I’m Christian and I’m an Associate Music Supervisor at PlayNetwork. For our Music Discovery post, I’ve decided to share some music knowledge with the readers on the nightmares of clearing samples. Let’s go down this rabbit hole together, shall we?! HERE WE GO!!!

When I’m not at work helping our music team get the freshest records out to our clients *wink* – I’m usually at home working on some sort of music project or idea while some rerun of The Flash, The Office, Friends, Modern Family, or late night television is playing in the background. As I stare at my workstation, I sometimes will pull up a folder of some soul samples I found just to see if I can […]

Every year the music supervision team at PlayNetwork review thousands upon thousands of songs trying to find the perfect tracks that resonate with the many brands we partner with. While many of us don’t adhere to the genre phenomenon, our motto is always “If the sound fits, hit PLAY.” In 2017 over 8,000+ albums/EPs/compilations made it into our extensive library and as is tradition, we are tasked to name our top albums of the year. Just from the music team alone, there were over 150 distinguished albums that made the list, an astonishing number that speaks volumes on how diverse our team truly is.

Without further ado, we give you our top 20 albums of 2017

1. Kendrick Lamar – Damn (Interscope) 2. SZA – Ctrl (RCA) 3. Mura Masa – Mura Masa (Polydor Ltd.) 4. Kelela – Take Me Apart (Warp) 5. The xx – I See You (Young Turks) 6. Tyler, The Creator – Flower Boy (Columbia) 7. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted our Procurement and Label Relations guru, Grady Tyree. Without Grady, the Music Supervision team would be lost-as he is the gatekeeper for all the music that comes through the PlayNetwork doors. Grady writes on why the new Benjamin Booker release WITNESS is one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Benjamin Booker

Album: WITNESS

Track: Believe

Twitter: @bennybookmarks

Thousands of songs passed through my ear canals this year, but out of all, one album bore its way into my subconscious and became a worm in my apple… WITNESS by Benjamin Booker, released in May on ATO Records. The sophomore release from the singer/songwriter finds a slow-burn of a record, leaving its mark in your psyche as […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted seasoned Music Supervisor and Manager, Dean Carlson, who has over 25 years’ experience in the music industry. He got bit by the music bug early, first DJ’ing at his high school radio station, and then having a successful 15 year radio career afterwards. Dean even launched his own syndicated radio show heard in over 25 countries. Dean writes on why the new Mura Masa self titled album is one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Mura Masa

Album: Mura Masa

Track: What If I Go?

Twitter: @mura_masa_

I can remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Mura Masa and his single “What If I Go?” It was in my car listening to […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor Alex Ruder who has over 15 years’ experience in the music industry. Besides his work here at PlayNetwork curating music for brands, you can find Alex hosting variety and electronic on-air shows at KEXP or mixing it up behind the decks in nightclubs around Seattle. If that’s not enough, he also runs his electronic label Hush Hush records. Alex writes on why the new Kelela release was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Kelela

Album: Take Me Apart

Twitter: @kelelam

Track: LMK

It was five years ago when I first heard the stunning voice of Kelela Mizanekristos. She appeared on arguably Teengirl Fantasy’s best song ever, “EFX,” from their 2012 album Tracer. […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira, who prior to his time here at PlayNetwork worked with record labels and wrote blog post for Tour Worthy. When he’s not procuring, editing or cataloging music here at PlayNetwork, Ruben enjoys playing his guitar and piano while tutoring a music theory lesson here and there. Ruben writes on why the new Hoops album was one of his favorites of 2017.

“Because this album brings the nostalgia and innocence lacking today.”

This album was honestly one of my favorites. I don’t know, something about the shimmering notes and dancy drums, combined with heavy reverb vocals, really spoke to me. With all the negativity going around, the entire album, […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Mark Campbell, who has over 25 years experience in the music industry. When he’s not curating playlists for our many brands, he loves spending time in his home studio where he creates his own music using his array of vintage analog synthesizers. Mark writes on why the new Bicep release was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Bicep

Album: Bicep

Twitter: @feelmybicep

Track: AURA

Great electronic music always features a good balance of the expected and the unexpected. On their eponymous debut album, the Irish DJ duo of Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar deliver on all levels – providing the proper blend of club-ready comfort and surprise. Elaborate analog synth textures, punchy […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Associate Music Supervisor, Christian Zabala, who has been DJ’ing since he was 15 years old and has also DJ’d some of our client’s events. When he’s not working on finding new cool and hip songs for our clients, you will find him always with a deck of cards at arm’s length ready to perform a magic trick. Christian writes on why the new album Flower Boy was one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Tyler, The Creator

Album: Flower Boy

Twitter: @tylerthecreator

Track: 911

One of my top albums that I kept on repeat in 2017 was Tyler, The Creator’s fourth studio album Flower Boy. Up until this album, I wasn’t the biggest fan of […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Blake Kirpes, who has over 12 years in the music industry. Blake can also say that he helped shape the sound of bands such as Death Cab For Cutie and The Shins where he worked as an audio engineer in studio. When he’s not curating music for his many brands, you can find him collecting cassettes and vinyl while also designing abstract art. Blake writes on why the new Alvvays album, Antisocialites was one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Alvvays

Album: Antisocialites

Twitter: @alvvaysband

Track: Dreams Tonight

In 2014, the Indie music scene was flush with bands, that on the surface, sounded like Alvvays; bands with a sunny day reverb sound […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Chris Robles, who besides having a background in production, is an amazing graphic designer who creates posters for our in-house PlayLive series. He has also helped booked live shows for legendary artists like George Clinton & Parliament, Pete Rock and Questlove to name a few. Chris writes on why the new SZA album, Ctrl, was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: SZA

Album: Ctrl

Twitter: @sza

Track: Supermodel (contains explicit lyrics)

This album stood out to me as one of the best of 2017 because of SZA’s clever (and sometimes sassy) songwriting; her unique, smooth, and soulful vocals as well as her ability to experiment with a variety of music […]

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Senior Music Supervisor, Leroy Henry, who has been at PlayNetwork since 1999 and has spent his entire career in music. His passion for music runs deep going back as far as the 70s where he was a DJ at Seattle’s rock station KZOK. Leroy tells you why Barefoot in the Head is one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Chris Robinson Brotherhood (The CRB)

Album: Barefoot in the Head

Twitter: @TheCRB

Track: Behold the Seer

“Who the heck is The CRB?” I asked as I unsuspectingly inserted a new CD. The very moment I heard the opening bars, I was struck by the beautiful, open sonic quality and level of musicianship and arrangements. This was the new Chris Robinson album, formerly of the Black Crowes! The album instantly became my favorite of the year and it’s never wavered. And it’s not what you would really expect – it’s not hard rock but instead is an […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

To get things started we have enlisted one of our seasoned Musics Supervisors, Alex Espinosa, who has been curating music for clients all over the world for over 20 years. Alex tells you exactly why Slowdive is his favorite album of 2017.

Artist: Slowdive

Album: slowdive

Twitter: @slowdiveband

Track: Star Roving

Shoegaze is a term that originated in the early 90s in London that typically means hearing distorted layered guitar sounds behind ethereal vocals. Many classic bands such as Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine have come out of this era but one that stands out for me is Berkshire natives Slowdive. It was during the release of their debut album Just for a day (1991) produced by legendary Alan McGee, that had shared vocal […]

Every year, our Music Supervision team at PlayNetwork is exposed to a countless number of songs and albums released by the masses. This year alone, we saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library. With each person comes their own unique criteria for song selection and favorite albums. For our December playlist, we’re excited to share our team’s top songs of 2017!

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisors, Ruben Lira. Our November BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for this month’s music discovery.

The Seattle music scene is one of variation on intensity; the scope of rock is as broad as the terrain of Washington state. As a lover of a multitude of music genres and music discovery, I bring you a group of bands who do not get the notoriety they deserve. These are a mix of local Seattle punk and rock bands who are slowly gaining more acclaim, and have the potential to become the new foundation of the scene. As a person who loves exploring the depths of music, these are my current favorite local Seattle post punk bands. These are the bands who lean more on the raw, loud side of the music spectrum; you have been warned.

Artist: SHIVERTWINS

Twitter: @shivertwinz

Track: Rearrange

[…]

This month’s music discovery comes to you from one of our Music Supervisors, Gabriel Marowitz, an experienced Music Supervisor who enjoys rocking to the local scene here in Seattle. Gabriel has handpicked a number of awesome tracks, all added to the October playlist-handpicked by our entire music team. Check it out!

When I’m not sitting in my office at work writing blog posts like these or updating the Starbucks playlist, I’m often playing music with friends around town. One of my favorite parts of being in a band is all the interesting and fun people you meet along the way, so here are a few songs from some of the talented musicians we got to cross paths and hang with over the summer.

Artist: Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown

Twitter: @TBSHAKEDOWN

Track: Loaded Dice & Buried Money

These guys came all the way from Nashville to headline Chinook Fest in Central Washington, and the next time they’re out that way they’ll probably be rocking […]

This month’s music discovery comes to you from one our seasoned Music Supervisors, Alex Espinosa, who has worked in this business for over 25 years. As always, our September BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction with some new music discovery.

Music has always been about diversity for me–not caring about color or religion when it comes to the music. My personal opinion has always been, “If it sounds great, who cares who sings it.” With today’s political climate and a them vs. us mentality, I’m happy that music still has that universal feel to it where everyone can just enjoy good tunes.

Below is a list of songs from 2017 that I feel embodies undividedness where it’s the music that really matters.

Artist: Bomba Estereo

Twitter: Bomba Estereo

Track: Ayo

This Colombian band has been making their steady climb since performing at SXSW back in 2009. Since then, they have […]

Summer isn’t over yet! Check out our August playlist for some great new summer tracks, curated by our Music Supervisor team – with four featured tracks from Chris Robles.

During this summer there is been no shortage of great new releases, but these four tracks caught my attention and have been in constant rotation on my Summer 2017 playlist. Sit back and enjoy the rest of your summer with some new music.

Artist: Toro Y Moi

Twitter: @ToroyMoi Track: Girl Like You

The first single from the recently released album Boo Boo is a chill song with an 80’s vibe (check out the visuals in the music video) yet still sounds current with a hint of auto-tuned trap sounding vocals that are, thankfully, not too overdone.

Artist: Jessie Ware

Twitter: @JessieWare Track: Midnight

This song premiered on BBC Music last week as DJ Annie Mac’s “Hottest Record In The […]

Ready for some amazing summer jams? Check out our July playlist, curated by our Music Supervisor team – with featured tracks from Blake Kirpes!

Late-Winter through Spring can be hit or miss for new music releases; there are always a handful of great albums, but there are also long stretches with little movement. However, now that we are in full-on summer mode, there are amazing singles and albums coming out seemingly every day.

In addition to the songs detailed below, be sure to check out the brand radio link which features great new releases from Japanese Breakfast, Algiers, Benjamin Booker, Amber Coffman, Chad VanGaalen, Grizzly Bear and Seattle band Great Grandpa.

Without further ado, here are some of my favorite summer releases for 2017.

Artist: Alvvays

Twitter: @alvvaysband

Track: In Undertow

If you’re looking for a melancholy summer jam, then this is your track. It has been three years since Alvvays released their amazing debut self-titled debut album, and after […]

This month our Music Discovery is brought to you by one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Christian Zabala, who may or may not be a little obsessed with New Jack Swing. And, as always, our June BrandRadio playlist has been hand picked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the beginning of summer.

“The Roof! The Roof! The Roof Is On Fire!”

It was a Saturday morning. I had woken up early to make my Gordon Ramsey inspired scrambled eggs with some orange juice. As I sprinkled the salt & pepper over my creamy egg concoction in Salt Bae fashion, I couldn’t help but find myself grooving to a song I randomly saved on Spotify; Full Force’s “Ain’t My Type of Hype.” Unfortunately, I found myself microwaving my food as I had let it sit out too long from dancing.

After eating, I found myself sitting on my couch watching the movie responsible for my cold breakfast that morning, “House Party.” As I watched […]

This month our Music Discovery is brought to you by one of our Associate Music Supervisors, Hallie Sloan, who has decided to break down the evolution of music’s pillow talk starting with the master, Marvin Gaye to the modern day masters such as Miguel and John Legend. And, as always, our May BrandRadio playlist has been hand picked by our entire music team to refresh your spring playlist.

Let’s Get It On // The Evolution of Pillow Talk from Marvin Gaye to Modern Day

Let’s reminisce on our parents’ notion of “simpler times”. This baby-booming generation romanticized direct communication, when carnal encounters were supposedly not contingent on a slide right. We hear their stories of love and lust and we hear it in their songs. And questions you may have asked such as, “Mom, tell me how you met dad?” “Well, one day he was leaving tennis practice just as I was starting my swim lesson, we locked eyes and…” let me stop right there. Many of us are […]

What the World Needs Now is RAPtivism

For the month of April it is all about RAPtivism. Our Associate Music Supervisor, Kalla Vavra, has picked four songs from Aisha Fukushima, Kendrick Lamar, The Relatives, and Kevin Michael, which feature elements of RAPtivism in their music. You can peep these tunes below and be sure to check out the new addition of the April BrandRadio playlist, brought to you by our music team to refresh and impress your ears.

You can feel it all around. There’s an unspoken electricity triggered by the current state of affairs in our nation. Out of such conflict, there is a rise of artistic expression that captures the diverse views and opinions in our cultural environment. During this time of uncertainty and unrest, it is a common habit to focus on the negative because we are so inundated with what the opposition believes that it eventually becomes a competitive divide: rights vs. wrong, us vs. them, me vs. you.

That’s why I’ve chosen to highlight […]

For the month of March we are stepping in to the Seattle music scene which has a diverse history of music, and it is still going strong. “There is an amazing variety of artists ranging from all styles of music who are captivating the Seattle Music Scene. The publicity may not be as noticeable but the creativity is as strong as ever. With an ever changing landscape of technology and corporations, it is no wonder why the local youth are challenging the establishment with a multitude of genres touching on soul, rock, hip hop and folk,” according to Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira. With so many artists to choose from, Ruben as chosen four bands that he says are currently captivating his palate. Plus, our entire music team has made sure our playlist for our March BrandRadio is all new to keep your playlists current for 2017!

Artist: Spirit Award

Facebook: @spiritawardband Track: Las Vegas

Vintage dreamy indie rock. I love how the […]

Some songs have power to make you hit that repeat button; they are the songs that you wish were  longer, and the kind you will surely be playing for years to come! You know it’s a great song when you start it from the beginning right when it’s over. This month, Blake Kirpes has selected some of his current favorite tracks, all of which get the “repeat” treatment when he plays them. Check out our February BrandRadio, as our entire music team has hand selected a mixture of new music to keep your playlists current!

Artist: Future Islands

Twitter: @futureislands

Track: Ran

The amazing new single from Future Islands is sure to be a hit and another classic in their catalog! This is the band’s first single from their upcoming album The Far Field – The song is about a person telling their love that they, “can’t take this world” with out them. This song is dramatic, powerful and emotional; it’s everything we’ve come to […]

The Music Supervision team at PlayNetwork is exposed to a ton of music each year, in fact, in 2016 alone, we added 6,000+ albums, EP’s and compilations to our massive music library. Each Music Supervisor has their own unique criteria for selecting songs for a playlist, and at year’s end, we all vote for our personal favorite albums that pass the test. Here are some of our favorite tracks, featured on our Top 20 Albums of 2016, as determined by the esteemed/opinionated/obsessive music team at PlayNetwork. Enjoy!

Number 1:

Artist: Beyoncé Album: Lemonade (Columbia) Track: “Sorry”

Number 2: Artist: Radiohead Album: A Moon Shape Pool (XL) Track: “Burn The Witch”

Number 3: Artist: Solange Album: A Seat At The Table (Columbia) Track: “Cranes In The Sky”

Number 4: Artist: Frank Ocean Album: Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry) Track: “Pink + White”

Number 5: Artist: Anderson .Paak Album: Malibu (Steel Wool) Track: “Am I Wrong” (Feat. ScHoolboy Q)

Number 6: […]

Artist: Kaytranada

Album: 99.9% – XL 2016

Follow: Facebook, Twitter

I first heard of Kaytranada through Soundcloud with his remixes of various R&B and hip-hop songs from the 90’s and 00’s such as Janet Jackson, Amerie and The Fugees; and then hearing songs he produced for artists like The Internet and Anderson .Paak. The album 99.9% blends elements from house, soul, funk, R&B and electronic music. This is one of those albums you can play from beginning to end and not get bored and then start it from the top!

Artist: Shura

Album: Nothing’s Real – Polydor 2016

Follow: Facebook, Twitter

The alias of British artist Aleksandra Lilah Denton, Shura first emerged in 2014 with the immediately arresting song “Touch,” the first in a string of singles that confidently introduced her sultry 80s-steeped R&B/pop sound. Last year she unveiled a few more stellar singles, appeared on an excellent single from fellow up-and-coming UK talent Mura Masa, and anticipation for her debut album consequently increased to a fever pitch. Fortunately, her debut album Nothing’s Real delivers on the promise of those early singles, yielding one of my favorite pop albums of 2016. Stacked with all of her prior standout singles and seamlessly sequenced to paint a full, cinematic, and expansive sonic landscape in just under an hour, Shura’s first full-length album offers a mature yet playful spin on the nostalgic and romantic tropes of 80s pop with a slick, refreshing, contemporary R&B touch.

One of the more challenging aspects of being a Music Supervisor is taking a well-worn music genre and making it new and fresh again. This is often the case with holiday playlists, that are normally filled with traditional Christmas gems by Bing Crosby or Dean Martin sandwiched with modern holiday pop by the likes of Ariana Grande, Colbie Caillat or Train.

A growing trend here at PlayNetwork, with many of our custom in-store retail playlists, is incorporating non-holiday songs into the mix, tracks that were never originally intended to be associated with Christmas, or included on holiday albums, but feature seasonal themes like: travel, home, family, winter, etc. What I like best about these non-holiday songs is that it elevates the experience and gives the playlist a bit more meaning and a human element.

Joni Mitchell’s “The River” and the Fleet Foxes “White Winter Hymnal” are tender acoustic songs evoking a snow covered landscape and an inner peace that we all search for. Madonna’s “Holiday” and Dream Academy’s “Life In […]

Artist: Anderson .Paak

Album: Malibu

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Malibu was released all the way back in the second week of January, and it has yet to be surpassed by any other album that has passed through my ears in 2016. From front to back, this album is drenched in funky beats, LA soul and infectious grooves that will keep you nodding your head and tapping your toes throughout the 16-track effort. This album has staying power, and in a society where flashes-in-the-pan are all the masses are looking for, it’s easy to overlook masterpieces that don’t cater to the current model, but do your ears and your soul a favor by stopping and fully immersing yourself in this personal journey Anderson has laid out for all of us to delve into.

From the opening guitar flicks of “The Bird” to the ode for the not-so-blessed, “The Dreamer”, Brandon Paak Anderson has crafted a truly unique album that is not to be missed. Personal […]

Artist: Kamaiyah

Album: A Good Night in the Ghetto – Self Released 2016

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2016 was a tough one. Luckily, in swoops Oakland, CA’s 21 year old rap superhero Kamaiyah and drops her debut mixtape, “A Good Night in the the Ghetto” to save the day/year. “AGNITG” is a fonkay feel good record about being young (I’m not), having fun (I’m allergic), and partying West Coast style (allll day) over vintage Bay Area styled blaps of 80’s and 90’s R&B. On the mic, Kamaiyah is a natural spitter brimming with confidence and honesty whether rapping or singing or somewhere in-between. Hoochie Hoooo!

Artist: Santigold

Album: 99 Cents – Atlantic Records 2016

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I chose to write about Santigold’s 99 Cents as my pick of 2016 because it was an album that caught my attention from the very first time I heard the lead single “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself”. The song was catchy, fun, and unique enough to be memorable. I kept coming back to it, and then discovered that several songs off the album were getting stuck in my head: “Banshee”, “All I Got”, “Who I Thought You Were”, and “Chasing Shadows” all checked the “hey, that’s actually a pretty good song!” box for me. Individually, the tracks have their own sonic elements that really differentiate them from each other. The album as a whole has this not-your-average-pop vibe to it, which is what made it stick with me.

Artist: Chance the Rapper

Album: Coloring Book – Self Released 2016

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Chancellor Bennett a.k.a Chano a.k.a Lil’ Chano from 79th or better known as Chance The Rapper took 2016 by storm with his 3rd mixtape “Coloring Book” which was filled with an abundant amount of features to compliment the colorful soundscape that is created within the 14 tracks of this masterpiece. From the Hip-Hop bass heavy sounds of “No Problem” to the lush and intimate sounds of “Summer Friends” to entrancing love songs like “Juke Jam” to dancing in the club on “All Night” and more importantly the gospel inspired tracks like “Blessings” that drives the overall message of the project. 

I loved this album because of its overall sound, subject matter, and tactic to put in religious connotations throughout and in between songs that listeners are used to hearing from Chance. Enhancing that with amazing production from Brasstracks, The Social Experiment, Lido, & Kaytranada and you pretty much have a […]

Artist: Kate Tempest

Album: Let them Eat Chaos – Lex Records 2016

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Many would agree that our current world climate is one of an anxiety and simultaneously hopefulness, where technology and consumerism move at record speeds but things in many ways stay the same. A world in which war has shifted from man to computers and in which the world is at our finger tips even if we can’t grab it. In this world artists like Kate Tempest are needed more than ever. No one in music is able to dissect our current social climate, our hopes and struggles, to show us both the beautiful and tragic results better than Kate Tempest.

If anything, this album is a “state of the world address”, in which no corner of society is left unturned. This album is a perfect although at times tragically perfect examination of the world today, as seen through Kate’s eyes and more specifically the eyes of those around her. As Kate said in a 2015 interview, “When you’re […]

Artist: Wilder Adkins

Album: Hope & Sorrow – Wilder Adkins 2016

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I live for this kind of experience in the sharing of music.  This is the story of bringing you an artist I discovered on vacation with my family in Birmingham, Alabama.  We were at a venue called Moonlight on the Mountain for an in-the-round show with four acoustic artists.  The first three musicians were fairly pedestrian but when it was Wilder Adkins’ turn, we all turned to each other and eyebrows went up.  And each time Wilder had his turn, we became bigger fans.  His voice is so warm, sincere and dripping with honesty.  His lyrics simple but true and make that instant connection that we long for. 

From the song, When I’m Married, “There’s a love that grows between us like a gently creeping vine.” I can’t get that out of my head.  His finger picking is so good, the compositions are perfect and he is so humble […]

Artist: Bon Iver

Album: 22, A Million – Jagjagwar 2016

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Almost 10 years ago, Justin Vernon spent a long winter in his father’s cabin in Wisconsin; recovering from mono, binge watching Northern Exposure and writing a groundbreaking album under his new persona. Bon Iver, loosely translated, means “good winter” in French, which is the optimal time to listen to his latest album, 22, A Million.

I picked this album as one of my personal favorites of 2016 for a variety of reasons; it’s personal, experimental and it’s a gorgeous example of an artist continuing to evolve and push musical boundaries. The intimacy and tone of “22 (Over Soon)” is accompanied by angelic voices, then interrupted briefly with quivering glitches that cause one to stop, breathe and pay attention. The slight use of saxophone and slow-building keyboards give “8 (Circle)” an almost ambient blues kind of vibe, that grows on you after repeated plays. Bon Iver’s 22, A Million is a gift, […]

Artist: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Album: Call It What It Is – Concord/Stax Records 2016

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I love how Ben Harper write songs which epitomize so much that is going today. This album dances around a multitude of genres. He figures a way to balance soul with rebellious attitude which harkens back to the days of Stax Records and powerful songwriting. The songs are full of depth, and go from the joys of life to unapologetically challenging the establishment with vivid descriptions of the actions we do not want to talk about.

I enjoy the songs which do not just follow what is normal. Music is supposed to be the message which others just can’t vocalize. With this album, life is defined if every song, every phrase, every simple beat. It’s harder to find artists who challenge the establishment yet find a way to respond with grace. It is one the best albums because it displays why music is so vital, especially […]

Artist: Trentemoller

Album: Fixion – In My Room 2016

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Ten years after his 2006 debut landed Trentemoller the international spotlight, the Danish producer has blessed us with his darkest hour, fine-tuning the concept album to reflect his new shadowy aesthetic. Meta-critics of Fixion haven’t given this album justice; reminiscing on his 2006 debut “The Last Resort” which sounded like a hybrid of Massive Attack and Flying Lotus, this material is a total departure – undeniably postpunk at its finest. Jehnny Beth from Savages pays the album its dues, making an appearance on the cut “River In Me.” Grainy textures and classic science-fiction synth lines make this post-synth-punk album to be an IRL fan-tasy.  Recommended for fans of Soft Moon, Lust For Youth, Tropic of Cancer, and Black Marble. 

As we inch closer to the new year, we reflect on everything that has happened in the music industry in 2016.

This year has been marked with many heartaches, with the passing of some of our legendary musicians like David Bowie, Prince, Sharon Jones and Leonard Cohen to name a few. But, there have also been some bright spots in the music world with so many amazing releases and new artists emerging.

At PlayNetwork, our music supervision team stays on top of the current trends in music, and work to program these new releases and artists in our branded playlists. As our holiday gift to you, we present our 12 Days of Music, a collection of album reviews from our music supervisors highlighting their favorite albums of 2016.  You may not find many of these on year end charts, but these albums are earworms that you should discover sooner rather than later.

To kick it off, I would like to share with you my favorite album of the year.

[…]

Although the music industry slows downs during the Winter, it definitely never stops. Great new music is being released every day! The new music below from Childish Gambino, Xiu Xiu, and Kero Kero Bonito are all hot off the press. And the album “Air Guitar” from Sat. Nite Duets, is one of those that I’ve had on repeat since September. The good music just never stops. Plus our entire music team has hand selected a mixture of new music discoveries to keep your playlists current through the winter month of December.

Artist: Childish Gambino

Facebook: @donaldglover

Track: Redbone

If you heard this song in passing you’d be hard pressed to guess the artist; after all Childish Gambino is known exclusively in the music scene for Hip Hop. This new track and Donald’s other new single “Me and Your Mama” are a complete departure from his previous releases. A great departure that resulted in his best album to date! The new album from […]

Artist: Cass.

Facebook: Casswheel

Album: Youth Sessions

Emotional Response records released this hauntingly beautiful 9 track LP from German Ambient producer Niklas Rehme-Schluter AKA Cass. Following on from his amazing collaboration with Wolf Muller “The Sound Of The Glades” on International Feel. Youth Sessions, moves seamlessly between beat-less ambient soundscapes and otherworldly pensive slo-mo electronic house grooves. Soothing and evocative in equal measures, truly a work of art.

Our Music Supervisor, Mark Campbell, shares with you an artist he feels is one of the best of 2016. And along with his pick, our entire music team has hand selected a mixture of new music discoveries to keep your playlists current through the fall days of November.

Artist: The Head and The Heart

Twitter: @headandtheheart

Album: Signs of Light

Midway through their third LP, the song “Library Magic” features the refrain, “There will always be better days.” The lyric is a perfect summation of the overall optimistic direction of one of the best records of 2016. Producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Cage The Elephant) makes the most out of the well-crafted songs – bringing them to a polished and unexpected level. At times, the Indie Folk band from Seattle sounds like the latest and greatest in the world of Pop music – in the best and most-welcome sense. Tempos and arrangements vary throughout the record. From the driving beat of “City of […]

The best season of the year is finally here! Despite what many people think, the weather in Seattle isn’t mild year-round (it doesn’t rain 365 days a year), and we actually do have a summer season–with weather in the high 80’s and even low 90’s! Those “highs” are laughable to most but once you are acclimatized, the struggle is real. So when it gets back down to the 60’s it’s a beautiful thing. Especially if you love the overcast days. Blake Kirpes has picked four tracks that he’ll be spinning though what he considers to be the best season of the year, fall.

Artist: Amber Coffman

Twitter: @Amber_Coffman

Track: All To Myself

I’m absolutely loving the brand new single from Amber Coffman (of Dirty Projectors). It’s hands down my favorite song at the moment. This is her first single from her upcoming album on Columbia Records called City Of No Reply.

Artist: Angel Olsen

Twitter: @AngelOlsen

Track: Never Be Mine

The new Angel Olsen […]

With the summer months coming to an end and fall just around the corner, we’ve created a list of songs that our talented group of Music Supervisors have been listening to lately, be it spinning these tunes DJ’ing at clubs, relaxing at home while finding that next un-discovered artist, or curating these selections for the many clients we program for around the globe. One of our seasoned music supervisors, Alex Espinosa, has selected a few of his favorites below that will take you on a journey where the sun starts to fade and the cold nights get longer.

Artist: Rob Crow

Twitter: @rob5d4

Track: Business Interruptus

Besides being from my hometown of San Diego and seeing his previous band, Pinkback, numerous times, Rob Crow’s solo efforts never seems to amaze me with how current he tends to be with his indie sounds of using heavy bass and amazing melodies. With his current band called, Gloomy Place, and the single “Business Interruptus” this trend still exist. […]

Best known as half of Manchester electronica duo Lamb, Lou Rhodes has been quietly fashioning a concurrent solo career in atmospheric, gently pastoral folk for some years. Her fourth album sees love balladry and witchy woodland acoustica collide. Cellos, plucked harps and electronic textures augment a sound that emerges somewhere between Nick Drake, Carole King’s Tapestry and the Wicker Man soundtrack. Out now on Nude Records.

Artist: Lou Rhodes

Twitter: @lou_rhodes

Track: All I Need

With summer still going in full force, we’ve pulled together a list of some of our favorite summer jams and summer related songs from 2016. Check out the playlist for the soundtrack for your summer, whether you plan to spend it on the beach, or on a road trip. Plus, one of our music supervisors, Blake Kirpes, has selected a few of his favorites to share below and they are definitely worth checking out!

Artist: Whitney

Twitter: @whitneytheband

Track: No Matter Where We Go

If you get a chance to see this band live, do it! I saw them live last week at the Sunset Tavern in Seattle, and they were amazing! This is my favorite summer song for hanging around the house or taking a drive. This is a timeless track that sounds as if was written 30 years ago or 10 years from today.

Artist: Avalanches

Twitter: @TheAvalanches

Track: Subways

The thought of “subways” doesn’t necessarily […]

As the founder of Finders Keepers and Twisted Nerve, Dom Thomas knows a thing or two about psychedelia. A renowned crate-digger, Dom has also been stockpiling a few left field gems of his own. New project Whyte Horses is the result. Fragrant psychedelia which steers clear of standard tropes, there’s a shade of Go! Team exuberance matched by the chiming guitars of, say, the Paisley Underground. Out now on CRC Music.

Artist: Whyte Horses

Twitter: @whytehorses

Track: Promise I Do

Pumarosa have been together for just over a year, developing from the core of Isabel Munoz-Newsome and drummer, Nicholas Owen, to the five-piece who released “Priestess” on Chess Club records. One seven-minute, epic song about freedom and dancing set to propulsive bass, spaced-out guitar, more than a hint of dance music, saxophone and hypnotic vocals. What’s not to like?

Artist: Pumarosa

Twitter: @pumarosamusic

Track: Priestess

Signed to the mighty 4AD record label, D.D Dumbo’s reverb-soaked songs erupt in thunderous rhythm and euphoric drone. Minimal in structure and complemented by Perry’s astonishing voice, they subtly reference traditional stylings from around the globe such as African desert blues, Tanzanian ilimba and transcendental Tuvan melody.

Artist: D.D Dumbo

Twitter: @DDDumbo

Track: Satan

Section Records released Subaquamarine – the 2nd LP by Roberto Sodano AKA Audioglider. “Aerial View” is just one of 11 beautifully crafted electronic soundscapes on this stunning new album. This collection of electronica gems mixes influences from the dance floor to the ambient sunset feel of classic Balearica.

Artist: Audioglider

Twitter: @AUDIOGLIDER

Track: Aerial View

When it comes to bright, sunny songs for your summer soundtrack, we’ve got you covered. Nothing resonates with listeners more than a classic hit being re-imagined into a new favorite. In the past few months, there have been some great covers released by artists like Panama Wedding, Campsite Dream, Filous and Betty Who. You can check them out as well as many other new releases (both covers and originals), selected by our Music Supervisors, using the Brand Radio player below. Discover new favorites, sing along and get nostalgic!

Artists: Panama Wedding & Great Good Fine OK

Twitter: @PanamaWedding, @GreatGoodFineOk

Track: Easy Lover

This is a fun, cheerful cover of the 80’s smash by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey. It was released with perfect timing, given the fact that the Genesis legend recently announced he’ll be coming out of retirement and hitting the studio!

Artist: Campsite Dream

Twitter: @CampsiteDream

Track: Try Again

Tropical house duo Campsite Dream […]

During the day-to-day process of matching bands with brands, our Music Supervisors are obliged to listen to an eclectic spectrum of music. From high-fashion retailers to fast-casual restaurants, the search for needed content exposes our team to a wide range of emerging talent and overlooked classics.

One of our Music Supervisors, Tom Killorin, has featured three songs from Charlie Musselwhite, Bubble Puppy, and Peter Wolf which reflect the diverse scope of songs our team utilizes on a daily basis. You can check out these songs, as well as many other new releases chosen by our Music Supervisor team, using the BrandRadio player below.

Artist: Charlie Musselwhite

Twitter: @musselwhiteharp Track: Good Blues Tonight There are blues harmonica players and then there is the master-class tone and verve of Charlie Musselwhite. That Musselwhite smile is genuine and he is one of the friendliest down to-earth musicians you will ever meet. The American Blues ambassador has over 50 years on the road. The mere opening of […]

Alicia Keys is no stranger – this Girl on Fire has been a household name for well over a decade. However, her style takes a new turn with “In Common,” her first single in four years. Keys has stepped away from her signature piano anthems and instead released a song that’s breezy, stylish and sun-drenched. “In Common” is in line with the growing tropical house movement and features breathy, understated vocals. Keys is not only evolving her sound and staying relevant, but she’s knocking it out of the park. This track is mesmerizing and addictive – you’re sure to have it on repeat all summer long!

Artist: Alicia Keys

Twitter: @aliciakeys

Track: In Common

Two giants of the underground dance scene join forces to produce a sure fire future Ibiza classic. Alex Metric & Aeroplane are Metroplane. The simple formula of this track works wonders on the more discerning dance floors. Loped vocal sample filtering in and out, disco stabs ghosting over a chunky house groove. Everything you need for a heads down slice of basement house.

Artist: Metroplane

Facebook: Metroplane

Twitter: @Alexmetric, @VitoAeroplane

Track: Over Me

During the day-to-day process of matching bands with brands, our Music Supervisors are obliged to listen to an eclectic spectrum of music. From high-fashion retailers to fast-casual restaurants, the search for needed content exposes our team to a wide range of emerging talent and overlooked classics.

One of our Music Supervisors, Mark Campbell, has featured four songs from Band of Horses, Postiljonen, Tiga, and Blitzen Trapper which reflect the diverse scope of songs our team utilizes on a daily basis. You can check out these songs, as well as many other new releases chosen by our Music Supervisor team, using the Brand Radio player below.

Artist: Band of Horses

Twitter: @bandofhorses

Track: Casual Party

From their forthcoming album Why Are You OK (due out this June), the Seattle rockers share their new single – a peppy, indie rock gem that indicates a slight departure from their previous sound. If this song is any indication, this album should be a standout for 2016. Having Rick […]

David Holmes, Keefus Ciancia and Jade Vincent make up Unloved. The band comes from a fondness for moody rock noir and 1960s girl groups. Guest players are also on board – including Jim Keltner, Deantoni Parks, Wayne Kramer and Gus Seyffert, and together they evoke the sounds and spirit of The Shangri La’s, Bruno Nicolai, The Paris Sisters, The BBC Radiophonic Workshop and Phil Spector’s wall of sound.

‘When a Woman is Around’ is the second single taken from the LP Guilty of Love.

Artist: Unloved

Twitter: @weareunloved

Track: When a Woman is Around

The very talented South Londoner, Huntar has come out with quite a bit of music in the last year through his signings to Good Soldier Songs in the UK and Glassnote Records in the US. He has been supported by Pigeon and Planes as well as Noisey, both saying he is one to watch for the future. As the future RnB sound is becoming more mainstream, Huntar will be there to make sure everybody gets a fantastic fix.

Artist: Huntar

Twitter: @HUNTARmusic

Track: SK1N

More music from Huntar

Two of the very best deep house producers come together on this new release from Local Talk. Atjazz’s “Fox Tooth” was a big track in 2015 and has now been remixed by Kaytronik AKA house legend Karizma. A deep brooding underground club bomb. Stripped back and lovingly rebuilt for the basement dancers.

Artist: Atjazz

Remixer: Kaytronik

Twitter: @martinatjazz, @KAYTRONIK

Track: Fox Tooth (Kaytronik Floss Dub)

Check out what our music supervisors are listening to this month in our Music Discovery playlist for April. Also featured are some great songs to help lift your spirits into spring, hand picked by Alex Ruder, one of our music supervisors.

Following months of constant rain, grey days, and early sunsets here in the Pacific Northwest, I welcome the transition into spring with wide open arms. Time to finally roll the car windows down and jam out to some feel-good music. While I’d still bump these tracks year-round, these 5 new tracks are all sounding especially nice in the sunshine.

Artist: The Range

Twitter: @therangejames