Gearing up for the first term of the new year requires some good music. Tunes to help us mentally prep for the hefty workload to come as well as retaining that little sense of normality we’re all still clinging onto. So what’s this been this month’s ‘greatest hits’ for the voices of Platform? Find out below…
The Kooks – Naive (Single)
Throwback songs seem to be taken over my Spotify for the last few months, and this month the leader in this is the 2006 hit Naive by The Kooks. Compared to their most notable single She Moves In Her Own Way, this song has always been my preferred choice.
What I love about this song is the build-up from the start with the entrance of the guitar, and then how it hits with Luke Pritchard opening lyrics. Like some of my other throwback favourites, this one takes me back to when I was younger and indie music was at its best – alongside some classics like Paolo Nutini, Arctic Monkeys and of course The Kooks.
Rating: 9/10
By Katie Green
Joji – Nectar (Album)
Joji has arguably already shown us the best his second LP has to offer with those excellent teaser singles (including Daylight), but just maintaining that sky-high level of quality across all 18 album tracks has resulted in a strong candidate for my album of the year. Nectar keeps the moody tone of its predecessor Ballads 1 whilst demonstrating huge growth in all areas; the production is richer, the vocals are stronger and the ideas on display are so much smarter. This could be the start of a chain of great albums or Miller’s peak as an artist – either way, we’re lucky to have him.
Rating: 8.5/10
By Jamie Morris
Taylor Swift – august (Single)
When Taylor Swift dropped her surprising 8th album, she gifted us with a subdued and emotional masterpiece. One of the highlights of the album being august, part two of a three-part story about a teenage love triangle. The song tells the story of ‘the other woman’ reflecting on her fleeting affair. The song is soft, summery and feels like a stab in the heart in a four-and-a-half-minute package. Producer Jack Antanoff announced it’s some of his favourite work he and Swift have ever created, and I have to agree. The song is worth listening to just to hear the swell of guitar at 3:09, it’s the closest thing to a bass drop I ever want Taylor Swift to create.
Rating: 9/10
By Robbie Nichols
Disclosure – Watch Your Step (Single)
With the return of Disclosure last month, they have earned the top spot in my September playlist. After releasing their third studio album ENERGY on 28 August, I was hooked, listening to it on repeat for most of the month. Watch Your Step is always at the top of my queue when I jump in the car to go shopping or after I’ve opened my laptop for a day of work from home. It boasts 90’s club vibes and is just a fun song to listen to. This is exactly the feeling that Disclosure and Kelis wanted to evoke with this track, and although the clubs aren’t open, you can bet this will still make you dance around the kitchen, making your own dance floor at home.
Rating: 9/10
By Courtney McLaven
Damien Rice – Cannonball (Single)
Are you feeling both excited and melancholic about the start of this new academic year, especially after having spent so much time back home with our loved ones? Cannonball by Damien Rice is the nostalgic song you need to listen to whenever you want to follow the flow of your feelings, instead of locking them down. Rice’s voice, which has inspired a wide range of singers (including Ed Sheeran, who has his name tattooed on his arm) is pleasant and warm and if you are vibing with this song, try the whole album: O, from 2002, has the right blend of chill and sad sounds you might need.
Rating: 8.5/10
By Jessica Piazzi
James Bay – Chew On My Heart (Single)
This month I have had James Bay’s Chew on My Heart on repeat. Whilst love songs and yearning is what we’ve come to expect from James Bay, his latest single takes this sense of yearning in a new direction and becomes upbeat and optimistic, which in turn makes for a catchy pop song. The song itself is immediately recognisable as Bay and builds up to a chorus of him admitting he wouldn’t find being hurt by the person he’s in love with. All in all, a catchy and up-tempo song that ultimately takes Bay’s music in a different and exciting new direction.
Rating: 9/10
By Faith Pring