New Year, New Vibes

Vol. 14 | Setting music resolutions

Author

Valerie S.
December 31, 2024

Hello there,

We’ve made it to the last few hours of 2024 — how are you holding up?

If your year’s been as much of a rollercoaster as mine, you’re probably in between wrapping things up and gearing up for a fresh start. But hey, at least the music was bussin’ this year. 🔥

That said, I can’t wait to see what music 2025 has in store! There’s no better feeling than finding a new song that draws you in from the very first listen. If there’s one resolution I’d love for you to stick to this year, it’s this: go where the vibes feel right.

As for my own music resolution, I have some exciting news coming in next week’s newsletter. I’ll give you a little hint: I’m stacking up for another launch. 👀

Alright I’ll keep this one short so you can get back to your festivities — let’s kick off the new year with some starter beats to set the tone for 2025. 🎶

Wishing you the best year yet,

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:

☝️ Opening Numbers

Admit it or not, there’s always an energy shift when the clock strikes midnight on the new year. Whether you're reminiscing about an old flame or soaking in the cool weather, it's the kind of mood that makes you want to write songs about.

Here are some openers that capture the new year spark:

💿 Album of the Week: PATTERNS by Kelsea Ballerini

What better way to close 2024 and enter 2025 than by tuning into some sentimental hits about closure and new beginnings, like Kelsea Ballerini’s new album.

It’s clear that Kelsea’s divorce and her current healthy relationship significantly influenced her songwriting on PATTERNS, but this album is more than just a love album. Much like a Saturn return, it’s a raw and introspective exploration of self-discovery, as she overcomes recurring cycles, embraces her shadows and mends her broken heart.

The album also reveals a more soulful and vulnerable side of Kelsea, with her deeper vocals and slower tempos. Pain changes your voice and your interpretation of music, but so do healing and self-love — she sounds like a more well-rounded artist now with all these experiences combined.

While reflecting on this album, I initially found it hard to connect with the music and lyrics in the first half, but the lyrics started to hit me from Track 9 onwards.

Here are my most-loved tracks:

  • First Rodeo: This feels like a slower, more reflective response to Love is a Cowboy. While LIAC captures the thrill of romance, this song describes the fallout. Now, she’s ready to try again, comparing her next love to taking another cautious rodeo.

  • How Much Do You Love Me: Abandonment trauma is real — it can make you question everything, even after the right person comes along. This song captures those anxious feelings beautifully, paired with gentle piano rhythms that add to the mood.

  • Deep: Our resident country girl went full R&B? Best believe she did — and she sounds amazing here!

  • Cowboys Cry Too (featuring Noah Kahan): Describing a man's vulnerability in the open is no easy feat, but Kelsea ensures this healthy masculine trait is validated, so every cowboy feels seen and heard.

☀️ It’s Giving Carpe Diem

Congrats! You now have 365 days and a million ways to start over. Ready to seize the moment and make this year count?

Keep the momentum for 2025 by listening to these tracks:

🎶 New Music This Week

What’s Leftover by frown line: I think of the repeating lyrics "leave me with the rest" as a metaphor for letting go of everything that's no longer serving you. It's about giving someone or something the space to take what’s not needed and embracing what's left.

Disco Yes by Tom Misch and Poppy Ajudha: I hadn't found a song that really woke up my subconscious until I heard this track. Definitely one of the best mood boosters I've come across so far!

ยิ่งดุยิ่งชอบ (Fiercer, Lover) by Billkin: Our How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies star recently dropped his latest single, and it’s the perfect vibe to dance to as you count down to the new year 🥳

📼 Your Go-To Mixtapes

Best of 2024: Make sure to save this playlist and listen to all the great songs from 2024 one last time before we usher in the new year! 🎆

Inspired by this week’s music picks?

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