My Summer 2021 Playlist Picks

With summer already here, I've decided to share what songs I will be playing every single day of this summer. Some of these songs are new to the music scene and some have been in the game for a while. These songs hold great memories for me and I hope to create even more to them this summer. If you like finding new music and are looking to make a soundtrack for your summer, then you've come to the right place.

Kiss Me More - Doja Cat feat. SZA

My friend, Rachel, put me on to this song when it was first making its way around Tiktok. I hadn’t heard it in full yet and Rachel was adamant that this would be our friend group's “song of the summer”. I 100% agree. This song is so fun to sing and dance to with your friends. This is probably my top pick on this list which is why I listed it first. Grab your friends and start the summer off right with this song.

Deja Vu - Olivia Rodrigo

We all know who Olivia Rodrigo is by now as she topped the charts for quite some time with her single “Driver’s License”. While this song has the same heartbreak theme to it, it has a more positive and pop-sounding tone to it compared to her previous single. This song has also been flooding Tiktok and most likely you and your friends probably already know the lyrics. It’s a great song with a relatable topic that anyone can scream at the top of their lungs with their friends.

Good Days - SZA

“Good Days” has been in the song circuit for a while now, but I’m not done playing it yet. This song is perfect for sunny days tanning outside. Honestly, I was super excited when this song came out and after listening to it for a couple of months I’m even more in love with it than I was then. This song is so optimistic and SZA’s vocals are incredibly dreamy. If by chance you haven’t heard this song, do yourself a favor and listen to it right now!

2 Am - SwaVay

This song is one of the few that a lot of you are probably not going to know. I think I stumbled upon this song when I was looking for new music while in quarantine. I’m completely and utterly obsessed with listening to this on chill nights. Whether I’m by myself or hanging out by a fire with a couple of friends, this song gives a different vibe than all of these other songs. This song has a more melancholy tone, but it doesn’t take away from the ultimate feeling of the song. Yes, this song might be a good one to put on your crying playlist (we all have one, right?) but I would argue for this to also be put on your summer playlist as well.

All My Friends - Snakehips ft. Tinashe & Chance the Rapper

This has been a staple song in every single summer I’ve had since junior year of high school. Whenever we would hang out with our friends or go on car rides we would play this song because of the memorable lyrics and upbeat tempo. I’m not a huge fan of Chance the Rapper, but truthfully he makes this song way better than if he was left off the track. Tinashe’s vocals are completely underrated and I think she did a great job portraying the youthful tone of the song.

Electric - Alina Baraz feat. Khalid

The next two songs are also courtesy of Rachel. Without her, I don’t think I would’ve listened to either of these songs. This is another lowkey night with your friends song. I haven’t heard any other songs by Alina Baraz, but after listening to this song for years, I’ve really come to enjoy her voice and this song as a whole. Her light, angelic vocals are paired beautifully with Khalid's low tone and make this song a great one for whether you’re alone or with friends. This song feels like an absolute dream.

Ocean Drive - Duke Dumont

Ocean Drive is my favorite song on this list hands down. When I hear this song I think of driving on gravel roads with the windows down blasting this song at full volume. It’s an upbeat tempo song with incredible lyrics. Duke Dumont has a great way of portraying the juvenile tone throughout the song without sounding immature. It has a great mix of lyricality and rhythm that makes this song a really fun listen.

ORANGE SODA - Baby Keem

Lastly, we have “ORANGE SODA” which is a rap/hip hop song that I’m surprised doesn’t have more listens. I’m sure you might’ve heard this song in passing on different social media sites, most notably Tiktok. You can easily add this song to your summer party pre-game playlist. The lyrics aren’t anything special, but it’s easy to remember and absolutely effortless to vibe to. Give it a chance, it won’t disappoint.