I’ve found that waiting for new music to come out can be a serious let down. Recently, I’ve been struggling to find new music that I really really like.

Oftentimes I’ll find one song that I love, put it on repeat until I can’t stand it anymore, and then never listen to it again. I have a feeling that I’m definitely not the only one who does this. Since our favorite artists seem to be releasing more singles than albums, it perpetuates this cycle and the boredom comes on strong.

That being said, I’ve decided to compile a short list of songs that I’ve been listening to recently that I haven’t become really tired of. The list is a mixture of old and new music, so you might actually see some names that you know!

1. "All the Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA

This song was released on the Black Panther soundtrack and it sounded too good to be true. It has a dreamy, night time vibe that intertwines with SZA’s hazy voice perfectly. The steady drum beat balances out Kendrick’s hard voice and the refrain sticks in your head all day long. It fits into the new R&B trend that is dominating music recently with songs like Redbone by Childish Gambino, Another Sad Love Song by Khalid, and All We Got by Chance the Rapper. Play this song once and it’ll be on all of your playlists.

2. "Turn" by The Wombats

Track number three off their new album Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life (best title I’ve heard in a while), was released as a single to ready everyone for The Wombats’ return album in 2018. Since Glitterbug was such a success with it’s airy, pop sound, most fans were expecting this next album to be even better. Despite the fact that Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life had a bit more of a rock tone to it, Turn sounds more like a bonus track off of Glitterbug. It has a nostalgic harmony with lead singer, Matthew Murphy, completely destroying our hearts talking about a past relationship. What more could you want?

3. "Love Lies" by Khalid and Normani

In my opinion, this is the ultimate sex song. Both Khalid and Normani have voices as smooth as velvet that give you that feeling of seduction and intimacy. I’ve had this song on repeat since it came out a couple of months ago. Plus, I don’t know anyone who isn’t a Khalid fan so hopefully as soon as you see his name, you’ll hop right onto this sultry song.

4. "All We Ever Knew" by The Head and the Heart

I know that this isn’t a ‘recent’ song considering it was from The Head and the Heart’s 2016 album, Signs of Light but it’s one of those songs that makes you think about summer. Maybe that’s a personal correlation but it feels like one of those tunes that you blast while driving down the road on a sunny day headed somewhere with your pals or your significant other. With an upbeat rhythm and antiquated vocals, it’s a song that has purpose. When you want to listen to something that’ll make you smile, definitely give this one a try.

5. "About a Bruise--" Recorded at Spotify Studios NYC by Iron & Wine

This is one of those rare moments where the live version of a song is better than the original. There’s a lot more heart in this version and it feels a lot more personal than many of Iron & Wine’s songs. The fact that it starts with one of the band members sneezing and everyone laughing about it gives this version a ton of character that the original never had.

6. "hold on" by flor

If you’ve ever had crush on someone or if you’ve ever felt yourself falling for someone after spending a lot of time with them, this song will give you those same butterflies. I’ve always been impressed by flor’s vocals because they embody the word sensitivity. Every time I hear this song I think about the glowing smile that someone has when they talk about someone they care about. I know how ridiculously cheesy that sounds but hey that’s how I feel and you’re reading this to hear my opinion, right? No? Alriiiight.

7. "Hearts a Mess" by Gotye

My sister first introduced me to this song and originally, I thought, “what the hell is this and why does it sound so dark?” but guys, IT GROWS ON YOU. I have never listened to anything by Gotye except for the absurdly overplayed Somebody That I Used To Know, but in my humble opinion, this song is way better than that one. It has this strange harp and flute melody that will immediately question why you’re listening to it, but oh my goodness just trust me this one is worth it. Listen and watch it get completely stuck in your head. I apologize in advance.

8. "The Louvre" by Lorde

This is probably my favorite song on this list because it reminds me of a person in my life. Not only this, but its one of those songs that is so gorgeously personal that it feels tender towards your senses. This is one that you have to really listen to the lyrics to understand what I’m talking about. It makes the listener feel as though this was a poem that Lorde personally ripped from one of her journals to share with us. So many of the lines are relatable for me, and could probably feel relatable to you, too. I recommend putting your earbuds in and laying down and just listening to this song—eyes closed and heart open.

If you have any recommendations for me, feel free to leave your musical suggestions in the comments below. Happy listening!