My Perfect Summer Playlist
Written by Andy Katz
When I think of summer, I equate it to upbeat, captivating jams that compliment the open road, work well at a social gathering, or just have a fun vibe and groove behind them. I also like songs that bring a more relaxed, introspective vibe, that compliments the warm weather and lifestyle by the beach (I live in VA Beach). I want some of my songs drenched in sunlight, complete with good vibes and grooves.
If you only had 10 songs to listen to for a summer playlist, what would they be? I went with a lot of deep cuts that I enjoy, which makes me feel good. There’s also a “flow” that I like to have on my playlists. I wanted it to feel like a record. Not every song should be brimming with unstoppable energy. I like a little balance and some pacing. I pulled from a few different genres, mostly pop-punk, hardcore, easy-core, indie, and some post-hardcore. The order was deliberate as well - that is important to the flow of the playlist, having peaks and valleys to balance out the playlist. Including super popular songs doesn’t do it for me either - I wanted songs and artists that don’t appear on every emo night playlist, otherwise, I’d just download one of those pre-made playlists (which are great, but not for this article). Many of these songs hold meaning for me too. They remind me of certain times in my life, and nostalgia is always something I enjoy — whether it’s painful or joyous.
Some bands you absolutely will know, some might be new to you. Here is my list:
All About Her - New Found Glory
Beyond My Control - Meet Me @ The Altar
Swallowed Up - Down to Nothing
Warning Sign - Roam
31 Floors - The Higher
Junkie$ - Ocean Grove
Good Enough - The Ready Set
Legend - Dance Gavin Dance
Junesong Provision - Coheed and Cambria
Space Cadet - beabadoobee
Let’s start with number one. NFG’s “All About Her” from their self-titled record that came out 20 years ago. What an underrated jam. It just has a killer groove and is so upbeat. It appears towards the end of their self-titled record, but in my opinion, this song should’ve started the record from the top. It is immediately attention-grabbing, and starts those good vibes strong, right out of the gate. The sugar-coated vocal patterns and harmonies tie it all together making it one of the best summer jams.
To keep the pace quick and energy high, I chose “Beyond My Control” by Meet Me At The Altar. This song begins with a driving rhythm progression that underscores a really simple yet catchy lead that permeates the feeling of wind in your hair as you cruise down the highway on a sunny day in July. The verse slows up, allowing the song to breathe a bit, leading to an absolutely magnificent chorus that is damn near perfect. The bridge has two parts, one that builds with anticipation, combining a long snare roll with soaring harmonies. This leads to a crazy catchy easy-core breakdown. Then, all roads lead back to that chorus again. The vibes are just so good, making it perfect to continue the playlist riding with high energy.
For the third track, I wanted to bring in something that still carried a bit more energy, yet hyped me up and provided a groove concurrently. I love Down To Nothing and thought “Swallowed Up” would be a solid pick. Honestly, this song is all groove. There is an attitude, but it’s not obnoxious, inauthentic, or over the top. You get an aggressive track that doesn’t carry a dejected, sorrowful kinda feel. The dynamics of the playlist shift, but not in terms of energy. I wanted something to keep that energy going, but would turn down the pop aesthetic from the first two songs.
Roam’s “Warning Sign” comes in at number four. I was really into this song and their EP, “Viewpoints” when I visited LA for the first time years ago. This track is mild-mannered and generally sets an easier-to-digest pace that’s both catchy and remains loose. I picked this song purely for its nostalgia factor. I immediately get taken back to walking around Long Beach, just jamming the hell out of it.
To slow the pace, I thought a deep cut from The Higher was a reasonable choice. “31 Floors” has one of my favorite choruses from the neon era of pop-punk. The tightness of the verses are a great counterpoint to the loose openness of the choruses. The vocal hook stretches and bends as if its smirking at you with a rebellious attitude. Being that it’s in the middle of the playlist, those mellow dynamics break up the vibe but prevent it from coming to a screeching halt that would potentially throw off everything that came before it.
One of my favorite bands, Ocean Grove is next to bat. “Junkie$” is an audacious jam that’s heavy in all the right places. After a brief intro, once the song kicks in, it evolves into an absolute juggernaut. The main progression is laced with such fortitude and rigor that it’s guaranteed to make you headbang. The entire track is all about anticipation. It’s a neverending 0 to 360 kind of feeling, where everything gradually builds and pops off at just the right time. This track picks the energy of the playlist back up and catapults it right into your face.
The dynamic shift here is a little risky in terms of the vibe, compared to the previous track. I wanted a sun-drenched feeling that’s not entirely pop-punk. I went with The Ready Set’s “Good Enough” because the song is outstanding and radiates an effervescent vibe, perfect for that evening summer drive back from the beach, anticipating a night seeing good friends.
“Legend” by Dance Gavin Dance is such a versatile and dynamic track. It starts with a mellow vibe that builds to a chorus that’s anthemic and positive-sounding: “I’m strong / I am the decider…” In addition, that second chorus has one of my favorite Will Swan leads. He effortlessly climbs the fretboard and the tone just shreds through the mix. The drums follow along, adding ferociousness to his lead with a double kick to top it off. It’s such a blast of unexpected energy. The song just has a perfect balance of heaviness, warm, and relaxed vibes that are seamlessly intertwined throughout. It also starts to wind down the playlist with an even keel kinda feeling towards the end with that last chorus.
For the second to last song, I chose “Junesong Provision” by Coheed and Cambria. If you love Coheed as much as I do, chances are you will love this song. There is so much to unpack with this song, but for the sake of brevity, the best way to describe it is that it encapsulates the entire playlist altogether. The song has peaks and valleys of anticipation, clean and busy progressions, a furious intro, start, a jam-packed ending with over the top leads, overlapping vocal harmonies, and an explosion early 2000s emo nostalgia. Coheed makes this song completely theirs and it’s always been one of my favorites from them.
Beabadoobee’s “Space Cadet” is my concluding song. This song carries so much emotion, drive, and just makes for a perfect ending to this playlist. It also makes for the perfect song to summer ending, transitioning into autumn. The drums propel the song while the bass charges along. The vocal patterns and guitar progressions highlight the song perfectly. The guitar tones are so brilliant, giving you a feeling of longing and reflection. Bea Kristi’s voice is wonderfully calming and reassuring. This song is so perfectly well written and just feels like it can conclude any playlist you might put it on. I believe it’s about having a hard time and putting aside your worries, but you are trying everything you can to do so. I think in the end that’s what summer is all about - trying to enjoy everything you can, as best you can. A perfect song to end my playlist.