happy friday friends! i’m currently laying in bed with my foot elevated because i wrecked my ankle at a concert last night. but it’s okay because my ears still work so i’m back at it again with another new music friday where i make a list of my favorite underrated songs that were dropped this week with an accompanying spotify playlist!

this week we got the whole lion king soundtrack, willow and iggy azalea dropped a whole album, sam smith made his return and sooo much more. plus a bunch of my favorite artists dropped new songs so i knew i had to include them on this playlist as well. without further ado, here’s the best of the songs dropped the week of friday july 19th.

plastic angels: eben

honestly when i first heard this song, i was reminded a little of why don’t we’s music and after doing a little more research i found out eben opened and toured with them which is super cool. this song is a certified summer bop about LA and the perfect addition to your summer pool party playlist for sure. i’m just obsessed with this catchy song and eben’s voice so i knew it would be the perfect opener for this week’s playlist.

i wish: hayley kiyoko

i’ve been obsessed with this song since it came out on thursday and it’s meaning. the song itself is a direct message to a lover who’s been giving mixed signals and it’s not only catchy, but relatable. plus the music video is amazing. we’ve decided to stan forever.

away from you: slenderbodies

this songggg. it’s so chill and adorable and it just feels like a breath of fresh air honestly. it’s detailed and beautiful and just has all the chill vibes. i can’t stay away from it.

skeletons: keshi – skeletons, summer

this whole lil ep is full of all the chill vibes. love keshi’s vocals and the simplicity of these beautiful songs, especially the guitar in “summer” and “xoxosos.”

at least i look cool: sasha sloan

one of my favorite songwriters ever! much love for sasha sloan. every song she releases or is a part of is amazing. this song is soooo good i’ve listened to it on repeat for a few hours already. plus her voice is just sooooo chilllll, especially when she layers it.

that was yesterday: leon bridges

i’ve been a fan of leon bridges for a while now and his song “river” is one of my go-to fall season songs. i’m obsessed with his style in his songs and the perfect combination of his voice with a guitar.

lover / robin williams: noah gundersen – lover

besides his songs just sounding amazing, i’m a big fan of all of the emotion and feeling noah gundersen conveys through his music with the changes in his voice. whether you can relate or not, his voice makes you feel what he’s going through.

dreams, pt. 1: slow magic – daydream feat. julianne hope, when it rains but the sun is out too

all the chill vibes. all the electronic music. “daydream” is just a beautiful song and julianne hope’s voice is perfect for it. “when it rains but the sun is out too” honestly sounds exactly like the title. like i wouldn’t know how to describe that feeling that but now that i’ve seen the title it just…makes perfect sense.

take some time: surfaces

i’ve been obsessed with surfaces music for a while now so i knew this song was going to be great before i even heard it. it’s always so relaxing yet upbeat and inspiring i just love it. the calming ocean waves in “take some time” instantly transports me to laying out on a beach and just vibing. a perfect chill summer song and a great addition to any summer playlist.

i.f.l.y.: bazzi

speaking of chill songs, bazzi released a new song this week that might be my new favorite. y’all probably know who bazzi is. there’s nothing more for me to say except to go listen to it.

never seen the rain: tones and i

a freaking bop. it’s so catchy. according to tones and i, “never seen the rain” is about people who live the same repetitive life in fear of failure which i think the song portrays perfectly with the “rain” analogy. i’m a big fan.

the masquerade: mxmtoon – seasonal depression, prom dress

i love mxmtoon’s voice and her newest ep! not only are “seasonal depression” and “prom dress” very relatable, but they’re super upbeat and sonically quite the opposite of their title or lyrics. plus i’m just a sucker for a cute ukulele.

why do you love me: charlotte lawrence

from the first lyrics, i knew this song was going to be a little dark and edgy but this might be one of my favorites from this week. it’s so catchy and I’m straight up obsessed with it. you need to listen to it immediately.

half love: red hearse

highly underrated song right hereeee. the falsetto. the beats. never gonna love another song like this one.

acid dreams: max, felly

this song is a whole bop. it’s so groovy and cute and something you could definitely dance around your kitchen to. you love to hear it. it’s beautiful.

unspoken: aaron smith

this song is just so beautiful. the simple piano and aaron smith’s voice come together to create the perfect combination. you can feel the emotion in his voice so you can’t help but relate to the song and i’m excited for more from him.

stay positive: ross golan

this song sounds like something right out of inspirational musical theater. ross golan really went off on this one and i’m here for it. add this song to your morning motivational playlist and go kick your day in the butt from me and ross.

it wasn’t easy to be happy for you: the lumineers

ho hey! another one of my favorite artists! i’ve loved the lumineers for a long time now because of their chill vibes and symbolic lyrics but this song might be one of my new favorites from them!

stay high: brittany howard

i just want to take a second for y’all to understand how much i love this song. brittany howard is an artist and this song is so chill and so cute and i’m just a huge fan of her now. i can’t get over how good her voice sounds in it.

queen of the night: hey violet

i’m glad i found this trio this week because i’m obsessed with this song. “queen of the night” is all about loving someone despite the hardship of the relationship and it’s just sooo good. a solid bop. 10/10 would play on repeat again.

hope: (sandy) Alex g – hope

a little more of a faster tempo than what your typical chill song would be but i’m here for its chill vibes nonetheless. plus i just love this artist’s guitar work.

joyride: adam melchor

although it’s not my typical surf n skate choice, i’m throwing this song on that playlist anyway. love the guitar. love his vocals. and i’m a huge fan of the keys and car door sound at the end of the song to really bring out that joyride feeling.

champion: bishop briggs

this song BURSTS with confidence and i love it. i recommend throwing this song on your warm up or workout playlist and you’ll be jacked before you even finish your workout. bishop briggs vocals in this song are INSANE and it deserves everything and more.

freya ridings: freya ridings – lost without you, castles, love is fire, holy water

this self titled album is so joke. freya ridings went all out and we couldn’t be more thankful. with amazing vocals and beautiful, honest and emotional lyrics, her album comes with some upbeat pop faves all the way to a little slower more meaningful ones. i love them all and i’m sure you will too.

valleys (my love): whitney – valleys

the chill vibes. the mellow vibes. the soft falsetto. this song makes me feel like i’m running around in a flower field with mountains the background right before sunset with that good lighting and no other human beings around.

pure gold: half•alive – the whole thing

i’m obsessed with this group. their new ep is all kinds of bops from get up and dance beats like “pure gold” to upbeat songs like “still feel.”and “runaway” to songs you can just jam out to like “arrow.” the whole ep is a masterpiece and even though i normally would have only included “pure gold” in my playlist so it wouldn’t be super long, i felt all of their songs deserved some love. also their ep cover is like the coolest thing ever? love them and excited for their album.

have it all: cosmo’s midnight feat. age.sex.location

this song is a full bops. i’m obsessed with the trumpets in it and the dance vibes it gives off. this song truly has it all.

dollar: electric guest

another kitchen dancing song. you love to see it. to me, this song is all about living your life no matter your financial status because, well, yolo. it’s very relatable and this will be my new life motto starting now.

pulling away: sinead harnett feat. gallant

harnett and gallant’s voices come together perfectly to create an amazing song that might be my favorite collab from this week. the song is like magic and i’m here for it. also that painting metaphor? straight bars.

hotel walls: smith & thell – hotel walls

according to this swedish pop duo, “hotel walls” or a hotel is a metaphor for life where you check in and check out but we should celebrate the life we have and not fear the inevitable death. the song will definitely be a great addition to any celebration playlist you may have and will have you and your friends up and dancing like idiots in no time…or maybe that’s just me.

reader as detective: generationals – I turned my back on the written word, breaking your silence, xeno bobby, society of winners, deadbeat shiver, dream box

i’d never heard of this duo before i found them today and i’m so happy i did. this album is a whole masterpiece and you can be sure that i added pretty much the whole thing to my surf n skate playlist. it was SO HARD to pick my favorites because i love them all, but i knew i couldn’t include all of their songs in my playlist so i left a few out. you can obviously find those on your own and appreciate them yourselves.

i’ll die anyway.: girl in red

while this song may sound sonically like an upbeat bop, we’re going to classify her as a sad bop because of the lyrics. i love a good sad bop and this one is IT chief! go check it out now.

in my head: ryland james

ariana grande’s song might have some competition with this one. ryland james’ vocals are AMAZING and i love all the emotion behind his voice. tbh i’m going to have this song stuck in my head for the rest of the day.

glitter: zac greer

this. this is a freaking BOP. i’m not only obsessed with the song, but the cover art is super cute too. you just have to listen to it to get it.

hurt me now: quinn lewis

i felt this song. it just felt so honest and open and vulnerable and i’m a big fan. quite the sad bop if you ask me. and you KNOW i’m always down for a good sad bop.

maybe: justine skye

this song will put you in the mooooooood. we’ve decided to stan her vocals forever. and that’s all i’ve got to say about that.

lying: prettymuch feat. lil tjay

all of prettymuch’s voices come together and harmonize to create one heck of a bop. plus lil jay comes through with some fire bars to up the song to a whole other level. a summer bop for sure.

thrill of it: conro – remember you, thrill of it,

if you’re looking for some vibrant electronic music to jam out to, look no further. with his new ep thrill of it, conro outdoes himself with songs that ebb and flow at the perfect times. some of my faves include the instrumental “stars,” “remember you,” and “thrill of it.”

lost souls ep: knife party – no saint, death & desire feat. harrison

if you’re looking for more intense edm, dj style music that would have a mosh pit go insane at a music festival, then look no further because knife party is a great place to start. my faves are “no saint” and “death & desire,” but if you want even MORE intense stuff, you can check out the rest of knife party’s new ep.

bad news: phebe starr

besides being incredibly catchy and just an overall bit relatable mood, “bad news” is just a freaking bop. it’s just so good you can’t just take my word for it, you need to hear it yourself. so go listen to it!

taste: elijah woods x jamie fine

i love this duo together! if you listen to this song, i can confirm you have great taste in music. such a bop.

satellite: ben abraham

i love the simplicity with the piano and ben abraham’s voice in this song. it’s simple yet beautiful. the addition of violin makes it even more angelic. plus that crescendo at the end? *chef’s kiss*

not in love: running lights

an upbeat summer song that will elevate even the lamest pool parties. it’ll have anyone up and dancing around to the infectious guitar and catchy lyrics.

and that’s it! this week’s playlist is longer than the others because there were soooo many songs i just couldn’t resist putting on the playlist! i felt they all deserved some love. you can find the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4tMZbXnsgkpKfbb44IuBil?si=p_dmlVOzT8Ck1n0uFQbJiQ

see you next week! 🙂

kasual kook x

ps. want me to check out your music? find me on social media @kasual_kook or email me @ kasualkook@gmail.com

pps. don’t forget to follow the playlist and share it with others! let me know what your favorite songs are! if you think i’m missing a genre of music you’d like to hear, let me know! i’d love to broaden my horizons 

find other volumes and their playlists HERE