What do you gravitate to?
What inspires you?
For me, it is listening to women. I’ve always gravitated towards a ‘female’ sound, melodically, but also due to its familiarity all my life.
Music is a universal expression – listening to women, I feel connected and heard in particular. Through the sharing of their emotional experiences, melodic voice and resonation, I am drawn to music and how it shapes and reflects female expression and beauty. Listening to women, I find a lot of solace, and appreciate the power of music to build bridges between worlds.
Spanning throwbacks from the 2000s, the rise of independent music and soulful classics, L.O.V.E is for the girls – check out my TIDAL playlist here.
LOVE – jhene aiko
The thirteenth track from her third studio album Chilombo (2020), Jhene sings about having faith in love, reflective of her spiritual beliefs and practices. According to Genius, all the songs from this album features ‘crystal alchemy singing bowls as a form of sound healing’. A feel-good track, Jhene reminds us we are all deserving of love and good energy.
Free – SAULT
SAULT is the enigmatic British collective defining contemporary sounds with unique style, with Cleo Sol as the lead vocalist. Being free often means embracing aloneness. Energetic, lyrically political with up-beat rhythms, Free rejects the idea of ‘giving up’ for no one and having faith in a higher power to feel fulfilment.
Made It – Gayathri Krishnan
Trained in Carnatic music, Gayathri Krishnan is a rising LA-based independent artist blending traditional sounds with contemporary R&B influences. Made it is about hyping yourself up, staying true to your vision and persevering as the artist path is a non-linear one.
Sorry – Beyonce
From her visual album Lemonade released in 2016, I come back to this song religiously when I need a mood lift. Sorry is an empowering ‘clap back’ break up anthem. #sorrynotsorryJay-Z
Liquid in My Feet – Chandra
An independent artist hailing from NYC, Chandra maps a sonic dreamscape for the listener, opening a portal for deep connection and embrace through her melodic vocals. Conscious and soulful, this is for the lover girls.
God is a Woman – Ariana grande
Known as one of Ari’s grandma’s favourite tracks, I come back to this song for a few reasons – the truth the title holds, Ari’s unmatched vocals and the production side of things, especially the way it adds space and airiness to the mix and her sultry vocals.
Pretty Girl Rock – Keri Hilton
From her album No Boys Allowed (2010) and produced by Neyo and Chuck Harmony, Pretty Girl Rock is a fun, nostalgic throwback anthem, with the singer sharing how the notion of beauty is inherent to a woman’s uniqueness.
Survivor – Destiny’s child
Energetic, powerful and a classic r&b throwback, listening to Survivor feels like experiencing a mini catharsis. This is for the girls that need a reminder of their power.
Baby Girl – Chloe x Halle
I remember watching the covers of the musical duo and sisters around the Tumblr-esque era. Produced by Chloe, I love this song. The hook especially is catchy and melodic with an empowering message.
Flamenco – Beyonce
Flamenco is one of my favourite tracks from Cowboy Carter. It feels eerily existential, as Beyonce contemplates about her life and potentially the legacy she will leave after death, the decisions to make and even asks for divine intervention. Her layered vocals, harmonies and the acoustic-driven arrangement are gorgeous, emotionally opening us to the song.
Didn’t Cha Know – Erykah Badu
Erykah Badu and her music are divine experiences of their own. The second track from her album Mama’s Gun (2000), Didn’t Cha Know has a hypnotic rhythm and delves into the idea of flowing with the natural rhythms of life.
Mama – Raveena
Raveena has a special place in my heart. Dedicated to her mother and fellow immigrant mothers, she released ‘Mama’ on Mother’s Day. As she sings and ponders about what life was like for her mother before she became a parent, I find myself reflecting and wrestling on this question of motherhood often intrinsically linked with sacrifice and unconditional love.
I wish I knew how it would feel to be free – Nina Simone
Released in the late 60s, Nina sings about hope and freedom for black communities in America. Despite segregation being legally abolished in the mid-60s, racism was a systemic problem and still remains so today. Nina’s vocals are so pure and soothing, and when I first heard this song I felt touched by her soulful, enduring tone.
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