Our favourite radio presenter, journalist and man about town, Giles Brown, has roused himself from his hammock between the palm trees – which he claims is the ideal isolation location – to style a sun-kissed selection of tunes, perfect for those long summer beach days.
Pop in your ear buds, mark out your socially distanced patch on the playa, splash on the sunblock, turn up the volume and enjoy the music. The new normal never sounded so fabulously funky!
JOY CROOKES
Mother May I Sleep With Danger?
Looking for a song that gives you a little summer sundowner sass? Might I humbly suggest Joy Crookes? Born in Lambeth with Bangladeshi-Irish heritage, Joy proves there is life after Amy with this perfect slice of soulful swing.
LE YOUTH
About Us
A perfect road trip soundtrack. Picture yourself coming over the wind turbine strewn hills above Tarifa with the beaches laid out before you and you get the general idea of the vibe. Great sounds from the Los Angeles DJ and producer.
LIANNE LA HAVAS
Can’t Fight
Drop everything you are doing now and listen to Lianne La Havas. This young, London-based singer songwriter is the real deal with an incredible voice. Her 15 minute Tiny Desk Concert (go forth and find it on YouTube, you can thank me later) is one of the best things to come out of lockdown. Already my song of the summer.
THE ISLEY BROTHERS
Summer Breeze
A bona fide 70s summer classic from the fabulous Isley Brothers, “Summer Breeze” is one of their finest. From the opening notes to the storming guitar solo, this song oozes summer sensuality. And if the lyrics “And I come home from a hard day’s work, and you’re waiting there, not a care in the world”, don’t put a wicked grin on your face, you got no soul!
CONKARAH
Work
As we slowly get back to the “New Normal” – although I haven’t been normal since the 80s to be honest – many of us are taking a long, hard look at how we work. “Work from Home”, “Flexi-work”, “Work-Life Balance” are very much the issues of the day. One man who took a long, hard look at “Work” was Conkarah – who put a brilliant Jamaican spin on the RiRi hit!
JARABE DE PALO
La Flaca
Spanish music lost a genius this year with the death of Pau Dones, but his music will live on forever. The soundtrack to a thousand summer beach days, I’ve chosen this Cuban influenced version of one of his best known songs “La Flaca”. The singer may be gone, but the dance will still go on…