PLAYLIST: Niya’s Best of 2017
While 2017 was a rough year to get through for many, I’m happy to say that it has been a great year for music. Many of my favorites returned with new music that did not disappoint and I discovered several new artists that I’m excited to see flourish in 2018. Without further ado, here are my thirteen (painstakingly narrowed down from thirty) favorite tracks released this year.
“You Don’t Do It For Me Anymore” – Demi Lovato This song is at the top of my list because it is, hands down, my favorite vocal performance of 2017. In stripping down the vocal processing and heavy instrumentals that characterize the rest of her album, Tell Me You Love Me, Lovato showcases her raw, soulful tone and incredible range. In her YouTube documentary, “Simply Complicated,” Lovato spoke about tapping in to a more soulful and sexy part of her sound. With this new shift, I believe Demi Lovato will continue to produce incredible tracks and distinguish herself as one of the great voices of this generation.
“Tied Down” – Jaymes Young The opening track of Seattle native Jaymes Young’s debut LP perfectly encapsulates his unique style. Young’s impressive vocal range lends itself to conveying the sultry, dark love stories he is wont to tell. While the verses are more acoustic, harkening to his more indie beginnings, the pre-choruses serve up a synthy smooth R&B feel, and the hard-hitting choruses have an electronic groove that is positively infectious.
“VJS – Interlude” – Huntar This is the shortest song on this playlist, but it sure packs a punch. London-based artist Huntar expertly manipulates a chorus that consists of one simple phrase into a dynamic electro-pop epic. I’ve listened to this song on repeat an embarrassing number of times this year, but I did take a break long enough to know that it flows perfectly into my next pick…
“4 A.M.” – Santino Le Saint Some tracks, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, transport you to a different reality constructed by the artist. Santino Le Saint, a 19-year-old, unconventional R&B artist whose influences range from indie rock to Motown, does exactly this with “4 A.M.” The rich vocal harmonies, captivating lyrics, and haunting guitar licks made this song one of my most listened of 2017.
“DNA.” – Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is a hip-hop album like no other. While I recommend listening from beginning to end, as it was meant to be heard, “DNA.” is a microcosm of the album as a whole: inspired, provocative, and impossible not to dance to.
“The Sky Is A Neighborhood” – Foo Fighters This playlist wouldn’t be complete without a bit of Dave Grohl’s growl. For Foo Fighters diehards, the band’s ninth album does not disappoint. The fourth track of Concrete and Gold has a cross-genre appeal that converted me into a fan the second I heard it played at the grand opening of The Anthem.
“Glory” – Bastille This song is a summer drive with the windows rolled down packed into a three minute and thirty-nine second package. Three years after their debut album, Bad Blood, Bastille has returned with Wild World. The British band’s sophomore LP, once again, expertly pairs Dan Smith’s smoky vocals and danceable beats with thought provoking and often depressing lyrics, making for nineteen pop hits with real substance (and one of my favorite albums of the year). “Warmth,” “Lethargy,” and “Blame” receive honorable mention.
“Happier” – Ed Sheeran While the singer-songwriter took a detour from the more homogenous style of his sophomore album, this track from Ed Sheeran’s latest LP, Divide, harkens back to the simplicity of his earliest tracks. “Happier,” a tale of love lost, is beautiful in its unfussiness and heartbreaking in its nuance.
“Transformer” – Donna Missal Donna Missal is one to watch in 2018. Just this year, the New Jersey native has released several singles, was featured on a track from Macklemore’s new album, and was Elvis Duran’s New Artist of the Month in November. “Transformer” effortlessly melds rock, electronic, and R&B influences, all tied together by Missal’s powerful, gritty vocal. Donna Missal has a voice unlike any other in modern music and I can’t wait to see what’s next for her.
“Lick” – Cardi B, Offset 2017 was the year of Cardi B. Her rise from reality television and Vine (R.I.P.) popularity to international stardom and recognition in the hip-hop community seemed to happen overnight. While “Bodak Yellow” will most likely be the song she’s remembered for, Cardi was also featured on several chart-topping tracks including G-Easy’s “No Limit” and Migos’ “Motorsport.” “Lick,” a collaboration with her fiancé and Migos member Offset, is my favorite track from her latest EP.
“Keep Me Sane” – Kacy Hill Kacy Hill’s debut LP, Like A Woman, is chock full of gems. However, I think that “Keep Me Sane,” the album’s second track, best showcases her trademark haunting sound and voice that is at once ethereal and utterly grounded.
“I Believe In Us” – LÉON I saw LÉON perform at U Street Music Hall this November. The show as a whole was stunning, yet this song in particular stood out to me. The soulful Swede was an electric performer and incredibly funny in between songs. Before she sang “I Believe In Us,” though, her tone turned somber. She simply stated that the song was one of the most personal she had ever written and apologized in advance for tearing up during the performance. The pure simplicity of the track paired with LÉON’s expressive storytelling left not a single dry eye in the house.
“The Village” – Wrabel Coincidentally, I first heard this song when Wrabel opened for LÉON and I dare say it is the most important one on this playlist. While the song itself is powerful, the music video, depicting a trans teen’s struggle for acceptance, elevates Stephen Wrabel’s vocal performance and nuanced songwriting to a new, incredibly moving level. Wrabel told Billboard, “I came out as gay around 23 into a church in Los Angeles that told me I could and should change; that I was unnatural and wrong. I hope this reaches anyone in need of it and makes them feel like they're not alone.”
With that message of acceptance and love, I now leave you—carry that feeling with you into the New Year. I hope you’ve had as much fun listening as I have making this playlist. Catch you at a Club show in 2018!
-Niya Avery
