The Plug’n Play: April (‘23)

May 1, 2023

You can listen to the full playlist on Apple Music, Spotify, or Tidal

The Monthly Roundup:

Throughout the month, Kevin and I select some of our favorite releases. In a lot of ways, this playlist — The Plug’n Play — is an extension of our text thread where we send new music to each other throughout the month. We hope you dig it! Songs 1-17 were selected by Kevin, Stanley. Songs 18-33 were selected by me, Stanley. As always, we hope you find a song you like and check out the larger body of work (and don’t put the playlist on shuffle!). Here are a few highlights from the month:

No More Lies — Thundercat (Featuring Tame Impala)

This song stopped me dead in my tracks. I mean, I think I listened to it at least 10x straight when I first saw the e-mail that Thundercat had a new song out, with Tame Impala no less! The “superstar” artist-team up thing doesn’t always work (it often doesn’t), but they got this one right. Following the release of No More Lies, Thundercat also announced a North American tour, which probably means we’re getting a new project (?). I’m beyond elated!

LUV (I KNOW I WANT THIS FOREAL) — Q

I think I texted everybody I knew/that would listen to me blabber about Q’s EP, UNDERSTAND. I was — am! — completely blown away by his ability to take a familiar sound and offer his own perspective on it.

Yesterday Was Heaven — Stefan Mahendra

Stefan Mahendra’s new tune — Yesterday Was Heaven — is such a refreshing song. The vocal mix is dynamic — doesn’t feel too “clean” — the piano intro is gorgeous. But the most impressive thing about the song to me is its compositional range, its ability to build and resolve tension — the music itself charts a story. I wasn’t familiar with Mahendra before this latest single release, but I’m all in, he’s got a fan in me!