tay’s favorite music of 2024 (so far)

an interlude of sorts, from my ears to yours

there’s a theory that music listening and exploration start to dwindle after a certain age. based on an informal study, the idea is that we become more attached to the music that met us in our formative years and stop seeking out newness around age 33.¹ i’m not at that age yet, but i already disagree.

the older i get, the more experimental the music is, and i welcome that trend to continue. granted, it’s always kind of been that way, with freak folk and neo-psychedelia being among my favorite genres. but this year specifically, my innate curiosity led me to various forms of electronic music.

i like being in my experimental music era. in the past two years, my listening taste has veered a little more jazz heavy (which is experimental in its truest essence). i’m also more fond of instrumental music as i get older. i’m becoming more okay with being alone with my thoughts.

when you frequently listen to a large variety of music, narrowing down a list of favorites is no small feat. sometimes i don’t even have all the words to explain exactly why i like something (at least not right away). the main criteria for my favorites list is music that makes me feel something and invites me to stay a while. music that actively told me to spend more time with it by holding my interest.

some things that are understood can be left unsaid. more often that not, the music is speaking well enough on its own. and oftentimes, i just want to share things i enjoy without the expectation of providing additional commentary.

that being said, i will offer some reflections on my past sentiments about certain artists/projects, but keep in mind that the amount of context and discussion i provide on the music has no direct correlation with where it ranks. as always, it’s quite possible that i haven’t even heard my favorite song or album of the year yet.² so let’s dive into the songs, albums, and EPs that i’ve loved from 2024 so far.

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albums/EPs

Saya Gray — QWERTY II

“2 2 BOOTLEG,” “! MAVIS BEACON,” “DIPAD33 / W . I . D . F . U”

this is what i previously had to say about this EP in a collection of nostalgic things, vol. 2:

• every song on QWERTY II is multiple songs in one, leading you on quite a visceral listening journey. it’s energetic, theatrical, existential, heartbreaking, and triumphant all at once…here are some standout moments that constantly replay in my mind:

  • on “! EDIBLE THONG,” Gray mentions smoking blue lotus to teach her what she needs to know. i’ve also gained quite a bit of insight from sitting with blue lotus these past couple of months.

  • “PIVOT!” is a directive that i will heed in this season (as heard on “RRRate my KAWAII CAKE.”)

  • “2 2 BOOTLEG” is one of the best songs i’ve ever heard. “! MAVIS BEACON” is close behind.

overall, the dynamic movement of this project speaks to my musical theatre heart. the theme of “higher purpose” repeats on a couple of tracks, and it correlates with this season of my life. i’ve shared Saya Gray’s work here before, but this EP pushed her towards the top of my “artists to watch,” “artists to see live,” and “favorite artists” lists with relative quickness.

Nia Archives — Silence is Loud

“Silence is Loud,” “Crowded Roomz,” Forbidden Feelingz,” “Blind Devotion,” “Unfinished Business,” “Tell Me What It’s Like,” “Out of Options,” “So Tell Me…” (at what point should i just say all?)

this album gives me goosebumps every time i listen to it, and i’ve played it a LOT. at 35 minutes, it’s the right length to listen to daily or anytime you need a pick-me-up.

Mk.gee — Two Star & The Dream Police

“Are You Looking Up,” “DNM,” “Candy,” “How many miles,” “Rylee & I,” “Alesis,” “Dream Police”

i’ve previously shared my fondness for Mk.gee on the newsletter, both as a solo artist and as a contributor to Absolutely by Dijon (which, as longtime readers might recall, was my favorite album of 2021 that i’ve never really stopped talking about). on Two Star & The Dream Police, Mk.gee gives us low-key rockstar energy with his reflective & captivating lyrics, mastery of the guitar, and chill demeanor. he polished this masterpiece with a lo-fi veneer, which showcases his unique charm and talent as a producer.

Brainstory — Sounds Good

“Peach Optimo,” “Gift Of Life,” “Hanging On,” “XFaded,” “Too Yung”

one day, i’ll tell y’all all about why i love Big Crown Records. but the long story short is that the label features artists like Brainstory (and my forever fave Bobby Oroza), who put a modern spin on a classic soul sound with the most heartfelt three-part harmonies and playful lyrics. the album title speaks for itself.

Crumb — AMAMA

“AMAMA,” “The Bug,” “Genie,” “Crushxd,” “Sleep Talk,” “Swarmed,” “XXX”

this is an album that i’m desiring to spend more time with, but it didn’t take much to want to add it to this list. the sweeping drums, swirling vocals, and overall whimsical nature are all right up my musical alley. i especially love when the band unexpectedly picks up the pace before resolving to the original tempo, a recurring motif.

@ — Are You There God? It’s Me @

“Soul Hole,” “Are You There God? It’s Me @”

at first, i couldn’t exactly pinpoint why i was obsessed with the song “Soul Hole," but i declared it one of my favorite songs of 2024 quite early on. as i prepared this review, i realized that it’s definitely the harmonies following the chorus, which remind me of sighing. i feel relieved whenever i listen to the song and i often play it on repeat. overall, the project Are You There God? It’s Me @ is short, but sweet.

The Marías — Submarine

“No One Noticed,” “Run Your Mouth,” “Paranoia,” “Love You Anyway,” “Echo,” “Real Life,” “Blur,” “Sienna”

this band has such a lush, swanky, and psychedelic sound that i just want to melt into it and live inside their universe for a little while. i was anticipating falling in love with this album ever since i knew they were releasing a follow-up to 2021’s Cinema, and my intuition was right.

musclecars — Sugar Honey Iced Tea!

“Circles II” ft. Toribio, “Tonight” ft. kamaal, “Every Party Must Come to An End” ft. kamaal, “Dream Boy,” “Ha Ya! (Eternal Life)” ft. Natalie Greffel, “Water” ft. New Past, “Hello” ft. aden, “I Don’t Remember the Last Time I Saw Stars”

this debut album by the NY-based producer duo musclecars is one of the longer releases on my list, but i enjoyed every minute of this dancefloor-ready mix. across thirteen tracks, the musicians balance and soften out various high-energy moments with moving gospel-esque refrains, intentional lyrics, and good, positive vibes. more specifically, i really love how “Tonight” transitions into “Every Party Must Come to An End.” that’s just a teaser; you’ll have to experience the rest of the treats this album has to offer for yourself.

Charli xcx — BRAT

“360,” “Everything is romantic,” “I think about it all the time,” “Girl, so confusing,” “Club classics,” “So I,” “Apple,” “365”

and to think i was in no rush to hear this album! shoutout to my partner, who first played it for me while we headed to H-Mart (and on the way back). it was in the 90 degree heat, sitting in the drive-thru of the bubble tea shop, waiting for my drink with perspiration on my upper lip, that i saw the vision. i was wearing the DIY safety pin top i previously shared here, and 3-D-style sunglasses (one lens blue, the other red). around the time “Everything is romantic” played, it really settled in: oh, we’re having *this* type of summer?

BRAT is a highly emotional, rambunctious, and very Leo album. it’s got “30-year-old teenage girl” written all over it.³ from the beautiful regret-tinged tribute to SOPHIE (“So I”) to the cohesive marketing to the cadence in which Charli sings “you gon jump if AG made it” on “360” which seems like a subtle nod to Ciara’s 2004 R&B classic “1, 2 Step” (“make you crave it, Jazze made it”), BRAT is immersive and entertaining. plus, it loops well for those who can’t help but play it on repeat.

SAM MORTON — Daffodils & Dirt

“Purple Yellow,” “Kaleidoscope,” “Let’s Walk In the Night” ft. Alabaster DePlume, “Cry Without End” ft. Alabaster DePlume

actress Samantha Morton teams up with producer Richard Russell for a cerebral and hazy electronic project that made my list pretty instantaneously (you see the pattern). i can foresee this being a great album to listen to during the fall.

WILLOW — empathogen

“b i g f e e l i n g s,” “symptom of life,” “the fear is not real,” “false self”

it goes without saying that Willow Smith comes from a talented, musically inclined family. yet, there’s something refreshing about the way she pushes her own artistic boundaries across albums and proves she’s a true student of music. on empathogen, she cleverly mixes jazz standards with pop and rock sensibilities for a singularly spectacular album that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

Durand Bernarr — En Route

“Fist Bump,” “GPS,” “Unknown”

i definitely listen to music with the instincts of a singer. stacked vocal harmonies, runs, sustained notes, breathiness (or lack thereof) — these are some of the main things that i notice and anticipate while listening. relatedly, Durand Bernarr’s music excites me because he is a powerhouse singer, a masterful storyteller, and a true performer. he gives us funk, gospel, R&B, pop, comedy, and theatrics, all intertwined. from modeling boundaries in social settings on “Fist Bump” to vibe checking a friend’s beau on “GPS,” En Route offers something for everyone.

also, whoever requested Flaming Hot Funyuns instead of Flaming Hot Cheetos for the munchies during “Pit Stop” is just like me.

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songs

Infinity Song — “Comedy”

my first thought when listening to this song was, “what in The Who’s Tommy, Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” sardonic rock opera is this?” (complimentary). i was fully captivated and proceeded to play it on repeat for days (and weeks) to come.

Saya Gray — “2 2 BOOTLEG”

Saya Gray — “! MAVIS BEACON”

Nia Archives — “Silence is Loud”

Nia Archives — “So Tell Me…”

Mk.gee — “Are You Looking Up”

Brainstory — “XFaded”

@ — “Soul Hole”

Thee Sacred Souls — “Lucid Girl”

The Marías — “No One Noticed”

James Blake — “Thrown Around”

Tinashe — “Nasty”

here’s what i said back in September when BB/ANG3L dropped: [Tinashe is] “an alt-R&B/pop icon coming to collect her flowers, steadily but surely. she’s been worth the wait.” the success of “Nasty” is something to be championed, and longtime fans been knew the moment would arrive.

the way Tinashe and producer Ricky Reed nod their heads in tandem at timestamp 6:25 is how you know *they know* that this song is a hit!

Crumb — “AMAMA”

Molly Lewis — “Crushed Velvet” ft. Thee Sacred Souls

Brittany Howard — “Red Flags”

Sevdaliza — “Alibi” ft. Yseult & Pabllo Vittar

i didn’t know until now how badly i needed a multilingual bop like this in my life. the femme-centric track “Alibi” cleverly incorporates Spanish, Portuguese, English, and French, resulting in a unique pop song with an engaging and empowering narrative. personally, i’d watch this movie if they wanted to take the video concept a step further.

Warpaint — “Common Blue”

WILLOW — “symptom of life”

Erika de Casier — “Ex-girlfriend” ft. Shygirl

when you’re *that girl*, obviously they’re still thinking about you.

Oodaredevil — “#salsa #surf”

Shabazz Palaces — “Angela” ft. Stas THEE Boss & Irene Barber

Billie Eilish — “CHIHIRO”

Jelani Aryeh — “Hang On”

when this song ends up in the sun-kissed trailer for a coming-of-age film, remember who said it first!

Sunni Colón — “Dream About You All Through the Night.”

SAM MORTON — “Let’s Walk In the Night” ft. Alabaster DePlume

Pond — “Black Lung”

Chicano Batman — “Fly”

this song makes me feel fabulous, fly, and free.

Coco — “Mythological Man”

Charli xcx — “The Girl, so confusing version with Lorde”

i’m grateful to this song for introducing “let’s work it out on the remix” to the modern lexicon. there is a lot of collective girlhood and friendship trauma that has been (and will be) healed by this song’s existence.

Durand Bernarr — “Fist Bump” ft. The Free Nationals

1. some other studies say that this taste solidifies around age 24, with exploration halting around 30. these surveys seem limited, in my opinion. like, did they interview any neurodivergent folks with music as their special interest?

2. i’ve got my eyes on albums by Thee Sacred Souls and Pale Jay, which are expected to be released this fall.

3. if we look at the 20s as formative adult years similar to early childhood, it makes sense that the 30s would be akin to a teenage phase.