My Personal Mixtape

Hey y’all,

Just last week, we highlighted some of your personal favorites, and I still can’t get over how amazing it is to see how diverse our music-loving community is!

I believe that listening to a person’s favorite songs is like looking through a window into their life. It’s been heartwarming not only to explore the unique tracks you love but also to hear the stories behind them.

Of course, this sharing session wouldn’t be complete without sharing some of my own. This week, I’m flipping the script and giving you a sneak peek into my personal playlists 🎧

Oh, and did I mention it’s my birthday week? To celebrate, I’m sharing my story through the music that has shaped my personal vibes.

Happy listening! 🎶✨

Yours truly,

Val ♫

(P.S If you are reading this in your email, please click “Read Online” at the top-right corner next to the date for a better reading experience!)

In this week's setlist:

• 🎸🎻 Go-to Genres

• 🎼🎶 Music Profile

• 🔁 Songs on Repeat

• 🎶 New Music This Week

🎸🎻 Go-to Genres

I might listen to a variety of genres and music styles, but country and soft indie are two of my main genres that I always come back to. I guess what they all have in common is that slow, sentimental rhythm, which is also how I aspire to be as a musician.

Here are samples that best describe my comfort genres:

Soft Indie

• sweet night by Elina: I remember listening to this track last year whenever I needed a little boost to remind me that things would get better. It has such a soothing way of lifting you up and motivating you to chase your dreams.

• Dream Song by Shallow Alcove: One of the best songs I’ve stumbled upon this 2024. It captures that dreamy, nostalgic memories of the person you once loved.

Country

• What If I Never Get Over You by Ryan Hurd: ICYDK, this is a cover of the original by the hit band Lady A. One of the things I love about country music is how the covers often surpass the originals, and this is just one of those examples.

• Tennessee Orange by Megan Moroney: Will never get tired of the country-infused riffs – there’s something about bluegrass and fiddles that just hits me 🥺

🎼🎶 Music Profile

As a third culture kid growing up trilingual, I’ve always felt a strong connection to the sounds of my native language and the one I adopted over time — OPM (Original Pilipino Music) and Mandopop. Despite having widely different melodies, there’s something about both genres that connects on a deeper level, beyond just the notes and lyrics.

Here are some pretty-hidden gems from OPM and Mandopop that have made their way to my go-to playlists:

OPM

• Haging by Misha De Leon: Haging is a phonetic term that describes the sound of something making a whizzing or whooshing noise, much like how the song seems to sway and drift like it's carried by the wind.

• Makasama by Lucas Miguel: Makasama means “to be with”, a word with much weight, given that it’s always present in every romantic vow. The lyrics echo the singer’s vow-like sentiments very aptly.

• SIGAW by Ken Manguiat: As subtly hinted by the caps in the song title, sigaw means “scream”, which creates an interesting contrast with the track's cool, laid-back beats.

Mandopop

• 陽光總在風雨後 by Mavis Hee: The title means “The sun always comes after the storm”, which perfectly pairs with the lighthearted, hopeful piano melodies.

• 美麗 by Dawen Wang: Fell in love the first time I heard this OST from a Taiwanese drama. Such a wholesome song to serenade someone with and tell them how “beautiful” they are, just as the title says.

• 害怕 by JJ Lin: While not entirely unknown to many, I’m surprised this song isn’t as popular as his other hits (6 million plays on Spotify compared to some over 50 million). The title means “being scared”, and his vocals express that raw emotion so vividly.

🔁 Songs on Repeat

This week, my brain is saturated with not one, but THREE songs. What can I say, all of them complement each other just right to form a little loop in my head.

Without further ado, here are my current obsessions:

• last night’s mascara by Griff

• jagi by Shi Shi and KIRE

• Don’t Leave by Tom Frane and RJ Pasin

🎶 New Music This Week

Lock Me Up by Mercer Henderson: It’s giving Before Sunrise, “do it for the plot” vibes with someone you meet on a summer roadtrip. Take this acoustic gem for a spin on your next train ride.

Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call by The Bleachers: Jack Antonoff exudes major The 1975 energy in his latest holiday track, which is quickly gaining buzz all over the music side of Tiktok. It has a soundscape that feels like an echo from the void.

explicitly (for u & me) by jerika: Get into some chill R&B grooves with your boo — this track’s shifting bass tempos are irresistibly catchy and perfect for a cozy cuddling session.

📼 Your Go-To Mixtapes: X’mas Bops

X’mas Bops: Spruce up your holiday parties with the coolest and grooviest music of the season 🎄

Best of 2024: From mainstream hits and beyond, tune in to this mix of everything I vibed with this 2024 🌟

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