For a self-proclaimed music enthusiast, I sure have a strong tendency to listen to the same ten songs over and over again. I think it has a lot to do with my fondness towards familiarity. Nonetheless, sometimes I get frustrated knowing that there is plenty of good music out there that I have yet to discover. Hence, I've been trying to squeeze in some time to step out of my little "music bubble". Guess what? I found out that there are other artists that can make me feel things the way Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers do. Shocker.

I'm delighted to recommend these five wonderful artists that should be in your playlist starting today:

These past few years have witnessed an impressive amount of young talent bringing colours to the music industry. Billie Marten is another young force to be reckoned with. In fact, I think she has got to be one of today's most polished songwriters. Her lyrical skills are incredibly refined. Even if the prominent jazz/indie folk influence across her repertoire may not necessarily be your cup of tea, you cannot dismiss the maturity and wisdom that she ever so effortlessly exudes in her lyrics. 

Currently, I am in love with her second full-length album Feeding Seahorses by Hand, particularly its second track titled Mice. In one interview, she mentioned that the song was written when she was feeling "empty and lacking a lot of purpose" (sounds a lot like yours truly). With lines brimming with self-awareness like "I can doubt myself and then I'll doubt you" and "To me, I am my only vice", it's impossible to not resonate with her music.

Billie Marten's music doesn't demand for your attention; rather, it's much like that one friend who is more than happy to accompany you as you study/work, do chores or simply lie in your bed hearing the pitter-patter of the rain outside. Even in Flora Fauna (her third full album) in which she experimented with productions that mark a departure from the mostly acoustic-led sound in the two preceding albums, there's still beautiful subtlety underneath. While that is true, when you do pay attention to her, her music can be the reason to shut down everything else that's going on around you for just so you can indulge in an introspective experience she can bring you with her profound lyricism.

I truly have to thank Spotify from the deepest of my heart for this one. When Joy Oladokun's song heaven from here first came up when I put my "Discover Weekly" playlist on shuffle, I remember thinking, "Wow, THIS is the artist that we should be paying attention to." I am not exactly the most erudite in terms of vocal abilities, but as a listener, I can say with great confidence that she has so much versatility in her voice. This versatility is translated into the range of genres that she has explored and excelled in: pop, folk, R&B, ballad...you name it.

One of the things I love about Oladokun's music is its rawness. When I listened to i see america (a track off her 2020 full album in defense of my own happiness) for the first time, I found myself hanging on to each and every word recounting her story as a woman of colour. That is how you know the artist is not just a great songwriter, but also an astounding storyteller. Also, Poison off her first album Carry is, dare I say, one of the best songs I have stumbled upon this year. The way she writes and sings about the detrimental pleasure gained from a perilous, doomed relationship - calling it "a dagger draped in jewelry" - is everything I believe a ballad should be.

I find the utmost delight in discovering new music, sharing it with other people and receiving suggestions from others. I think I might have annoyed quite a few people when I gave them links to songs that I came across on Spotify. God bless those souls for being patient with me.

Since I genuinely enjoy recommending songs, I've decided to write a monthly post that solely focuses on music recommendations - songs that I've been listening to on repeat each month. I really hope that you'll stumble upon one or two tracks that might make it to your playlists. That being said, here are some of my picks for this month:

For me, this is a standout track from our favourite bedroom pop artist's debut album Immunity. I love how calming and 'soft' (pun intended) the song is - with the repeated guitar riffs, chill drum beats and Clairo's almost 'sleepy' and soothing mezzo-soprano voice. Personally, this would totally be the song I would opt for as the background song of a video for my other half.

3) Science - Allie X

From Allie X'x Super Sunset EP

Have you ever listened to a song and a clear image or scenery is conjured up in your mind? This song does it for me. I always imagine myself to be standing in the middle of a city lit up with bright neon lights around. I specifically visualize neon blue, purple and yellow whenever I listen to this song. Science talks about how everything feels so natural when you're with someone that you have such high compatibility with. I find it interesting how the message of this song is so contradictory to its production. The song talks about the naturalness of a relationship, but there's so much going on in the production and I can say that that there's a slight heaviness in the way the track is produced. I think this kind of duality is an element that really elevates a record.

4. Volcanic Love - The Aces
From The Aces' When My Heart Felt Volcanic

The first time I came across this song, I just freaked out over how good it is. I wanted to immediately go out for a car ride and blast the heck out of this song. I always imagine this song to be played at the beginning of early 2000's coming-of-age movies. Anyway, we love a budding-romance summer anthem by an all-female band.

5. Talia - King Princess
From King Princess' Make My Bed EP

If anyone ever asked me to describe my music preferences, I would show them this song. Yes, it's another track by King Princess. Yes, I am in love with her. If you're following me on Twitter, you might have seen my thirst tweets for her debut full-length album and my obsession with this particular track. Let me tell you something about this song: it's so good that you don't know whether to bop or cry your heart out to it. Since I don't want to complicate things, I just decided to do both simultaneously. This song captures the theme of denial really well. You try to convince yourself that it's okay even though the relationship has ended and it has taken so much from you. But once the substance hits you, what you really feel about the whole situation and what you really desire just come washing over you like a gigantic wave. When Mikaela (King Princess' real name) sings "Talia, I hope you're happy anyway", I can actually feel my heart breaking. And I also feel like I need to teach Talia a lesson too (whoever she is), but we don't condone violence in this house.

6. Gleam - MAMAMOO

Give me one girl group that can make a commercial song sound like it should be a comeback song. You can't. This song has everything you need for a good comeback: good vocals, good lyrics, amazing rap flow, amazing production, fun choreography and an aesthetically-pleasing video. In other words, MAMAMOO does not disappoint.

7. Sugarplum Elegy - NIKI

If you're a fan of Joji, then you might have heard of Niki. She's an Indonesian R&B singer signed under the same label as Joji and she writes as well produces her own songs, which makes her a very promising artist. Sugarplum Elegy is a mellow R&B track with Christmassy vibes, in which Niki talks about how her relationship with her partner is hanging by a thread and they're both "tiptoeing around the innocent truth" by pretending that everything's fine. This song  kind of makes me want to experience winter nights just so I could sit by the fireplace and listen to it. Definitely not possible in Malaysia. I find the ending of the song impactful when Niki sings, "I'm so proud I got to love you once", which does not really happen in breakup songs nowadays. That particular line sounds almost like a point of realization that you did not really lose anything in the relationship. That person might have made you feel unneeded, but you had big enough of a heart to love them so unconditionally. So really, it's not your loss. 

8. My Bad - Khalid
From Khalid's Free Spirit

I know Khalid is almost everyone's favourite R&B artist nowadays and he truly does deserve that amount of love and respect. My Bad is one of my favourite tracks on his album Free Spirit. I don't have a lot to say about this song, but if I see any kinds of disrespect towards it, then you and I are going to have several discussions.

9. Tomorrow Tomorrow - Babygirl

This song is totally meant and written for a worrier like me. Being a type six (of the Enneagram), I tend to overthink and create the worst-case scenarios in my head. Worrying too much about the future has always been one of my biggest problems. Occasionally, I tend to neglect what's happening in the present because I'm too caught up in making and overthinking plans for what's ahead. Hence, this song is a nice, warm and soothing reminder for all of us to save our energy today for today and tomorrow's energy for tomorrow. It's not always a good thing to be one step ahead if it means you're risking the present. Just like one of the lines in the song, "I'll think about tomorrow, tomorrow."

10. Death by a Thousand Cuts - Taylor Swift
From Taylor Swift's Lover

Initially, I wanted to put another song as the last recommendation but ever since the release of Taylor Swift's Lover, Death by a Thousand Cuts is one of the songs that I haven't been able to get out of my head. I love that album to death and there are so many good songs on the record, but I've been listening to this one the most. The fact that it was inspired by the Netflix film Someone Great just makes it even more beautiful and sad for me. I can really see Jenny (the main character) and her dynamics in the lyrics. Taylor did a wonderful job at capturing the character's struggles with the aftermaths of a years-long relationship ending. If you haven't watched the film, please do so! I think it's one of the most realistic romantic comedy films. It doesn't sugarcoat the pain of a breakup and there isn't a fairytale happy ending, either. Rest assured, you'll be going on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

I hope you'll enjoy these songs as much as I do. I'll come back with another ten recommendations next month! It would be lovely if you could also drop some song recommendations in the comment box below. There's no harm in sharing and appreciating art together.

Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day. 💘