"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." - Bob Marley. Keep the pain away as you start your new school year with these songs!

Fake It - Bastille

While other artists and bands have reached the top spot in my hierarchy of music taste, Bastille has always been my most consistent favorite. I discovered them properly in the beginning of my sophomore year. After that, All This Bad Blood, the deluxe version of their first album, was my go-to for two years straight. That same year, I saw them live at Radio City Music Hall and fell in love. When I saw their announcement about a sophomore album after three years of relative silence, my heart admittedly fluttered a little. “Fake It,” the second single from the new album, Wild World, really got me excited for the new music. The sound isn’t much different than the first album, which to me, is perfectly fine. I’ve missed the heavy bass, the cinematic elements and Dan Smith’s melancholic (read: heavenly) voice.

Cruel (Feat. Zayn) - Snakehips

I was not alone when I discovered a group in eighth grade that would morph into the biggest boy band our world has ever seen. At this point, my One Direction appreciation has tapered to a slow burn. I had no hard feelings toward Zayn leaving the band and was excited to see what his solo career would bring. This collaboration with Snakehips is just one example of the fact that Zayn was always meant to be a solo act doing the music that he is actually passionate about. “Cruel” is comfortable, while still managing to get you “in your feelings” as the kids are saying nowadays. The lyrics “Cop radio screaming, noise and tears, death on the TV, and then there’s you,” describe a love that acts as a shield from the damaged world outside. While a love like this shouldn’t shield you so well that you become blind to issues that don’t directly concern you, a little security never hurt anyone.

Holy Ghost - Børns

How lucky is the world that Garrett Borns abandoned his dream of being a professional magician and turned to creating magic through music? The ethereal nature of his music just makes you want to want raise your hands and perform some type of nature dance (the non cultural-appropriation kind). “Holy Ghost” creates an image of a sinful mortal pining for the love of an angel with the lyrics, “In my mind you're the angel on the painted glass, looking for high divine connection, I’m a lover in need of confession” and “Let me satisfy your soul, not a saint but do I have to be?” The juxtaposition of the lightly masked lyrics that leave little to the imagination and the light, innocent melody is very nice to listen to. This mood carries all throughout Børns’s debut album, Dopamine, which I recommend to all. Børns's world is full of wonder, one where boys can wear crop tops and anyone can lose themselves.

Nobody (Loves Me Better) - Felix Jaehn, Jasmine Thompson

This song is not new by any means. The original was released in 1983 by Chaka Khan while she was a part of the band Rufus. The original version is funky and soulful, excessive in the best way. The cover, mixed by German DJ Felix Jaehn and sung by Jasmine Thompson adds a modern flair to a classic tune. This version was made for music festivals, which is where I discovered it. My friends and I were drawn to Felix’s tent by the yell of “DO YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME MUZZA FACKING MUSIC?” Intrigued by the fellow German, I was hooked by the hypnotic beats. We ended up staying for the whole set, which ended at 1 am. I was exhausted from the long, hot day but had found a new appreciation for the song that is my mom’s favorite.

For more of the music that I've been listening to, check out my latest playlist titled: fetty hop!