Creative Writer With A Passion For Music

Looking back on 2016: My favourite tracks of the year

What a year it has been… 2016 was a difficult year for sure. It kinda felt like an obnoxious tumble downwards, problem after problem. It was the year of the Brexit and the Trump and the loss of many loved musicians. 2017 is here and the ‘New Year, New Me’ advocates come crawling out of the woodwork. It wasn’t all bad was it? I consider myself to be an opportunist, so my view on the latter is when all fails, rely on music to rejuvenate the dire situation. Here, I take a look at what the sounds of 2016 has done for me.

 

  1. Daughter – Numbers

Reaching her fame with the track ‘Youth’ from her debut album If You Leave, I felt a compassionate connection with the heartfelt artist. I remember hearing this song as a tribute to a classmate of mine who had passed away, and it truly was expressive to the anomaly of the high strung emotions. Three long years later she releases Not To Disappear in January 2016 and the album shows no regression. Daughter has the ability to tug on your heart strings with the sincere passion in between the lines. I love the electronic tinges within this track, which leads the song onto the message she is sending across. There is a hidden darkness lingering in the air which portrays the troubles she faces, and many can comprehend. Daughter is a realist, who actively reveals the truth to the world.

  1. Kano – 3 Wheels Up

Kano’s celebrity reputation derives from his success as grime artist and his central role in popular television series ‘Top Boy’. Six years since his last album, Made in Manor was released in March and his fans went nuts (including myself). With over 7 million hits on Spotify, ‘3 Wheels Up’ became the track of the year.  Kano brings back the true sound of grime through the heavy energetic frenzy.

  1. Sampa The Great – 2 4

Hip Hop artist Sampa The Great impresses music advocates all over the world with her musical brilliance. Based in Sydney, she quickly rose to prominence in 2015. She has spoken out that her idols Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill (she’s a girl after my heart!) are her inspiration. Sampa’s 2016 single ‘24’ has a similar feel to the music of Fat Freddy’s Drop. Through the smooth instrumentals, she invites her listeners to experience a flight of spiritualism. There is an essence of soul and rnb in 2 4, portraying a relaxing atmosphere for her listeners. Sampa wants you to truly feel the music in your bones, without the intensity interrupting the true meaning of music.

  1. Chance The Rapper – No Problems

‘No Problems’ being the number one hit on the Colouring Book album released in May of 2016, fans were completely blown away. Chance introduces the sheer appreciation for summer through the delight of true American hip-hop. There is a sense of bright happiness combined with a ‘ready-to-rock’ energy. It’s incredible to think someone as successful and full of brilliant ideas as Chance the Rapper is the same age as me! That’s me full of envy.

  1. Threat of Joy – The Strokes

And there it is. Summer is here in full blast and we are greeted by The legendary Strokes. What a time to be alive. My earliest memories of The Strokes is grooving to the Is this it (2001) album in my youthful teens and being soulfully in love with the wonderful track ‘Last Night’. So when The Strokes brought out yet another fabulous album it brought back mesmerizing commemorations for me. The same beautiful gentle guitar leading the song into oblivion, and once we are captured into their nestled trap, the rest is history. The reason why this track stands out to me is like many of my other favourite artists, they raise political awareness. There is meaning and essence behind this joyful track. America is going through a difficult period right now, and who wouldn’t want to express their harrowing feelings through the only possible venture – music.

  1. Glass Animals – Youth

If I could put all of the tracks from How to be a Humanbeing (2016) album I would. Maybe that’s another thought for another review. The album is bloody fantastic. The perfect flow between contemporary, electronic and pop is what makes Glass Animals so unique. The balance of pop and contemporary is whether or not it sounds like it belongs in the Barbie bin along with the likes of Miley Cyrus and One Direction. If you liked their track ‘Gooey’ you will love this album. Youth brought out in August, takes you on a romantic whirlwind through summer. A strong essence of colour and well-being, this track is pure bliss.

  1. The Pixies – Head Carrier

Internationally renowned for the beautiful, sensational track ‘Where is My Mind?’ in 1988, famously used in Fight Club, The Pixies brand new album released in September reminds fans about their bad boy stance within indie rock. The conspicuous alternative genre had almost been left behind but of course we can count of The Pixies to bring back the 90s in another momentary album of theirs. An innovative better take on the likes of Biffy Clyro and the so called 21st century rock and roll, Head Carrier screams eccentricity, joining the ex-punk culture into the lost present genre.

  1. The xx – On Hold

The release of ‘On Hold’ in November of 2016 had fans go wild. There is something about The xx that brings out that sentimental emotion, and yet here we are again with The xx touching our hearts. It’s almost as if we feel the longstanding connection between the band members within the track. Behind the soft trails of intimacy, the mixture of electronic lifeline paths reverts backwards into the heartfelt romance of indie-pop. This track is a sense of being which we can all relate to, “Now you’ve found a star to orbit/It could be love/I think you’re too soon to call us old/When and where did it grow cold?/I thought I had you on hold”. The sincere trap we have all once found ourselves in that is heart break, and that is the underlying harrowing message of the song which they conceal so well with the beauty of how the track is constructed.

 

  1. Armand van Helden – Know Thyself

We can always rely on Armand van Helden to grace us with the ultimate grooving tune. A personal favourite of mine, and many disco lovers, ‘You Don’t Know Me’ and you can trust that Extra Dimensional keeps the disco king on top. As soon as the track begins there is an energetic glory in between the up-beat drum instrumentals. Further into the track we are greeted by a groovy ambience whilst simultaneously the soulful vocals are encouraging us to “Wave your hands!” and the rest is history. There is no sense of a cryptic persona but pure ecstasy.

  1. Huxley – 3 Weapons

Last but not least, the one and only Huxley ends 2016 on a high with ‘3 Weapons’. The repetition of circular waves lead the track into its steady thorough beat, getting the definitive track of the year started. There is almost a futuristic intrusion three minutes in, whilst the amplified sound of the female vocalist defines the track itself. Of course when Huxley comes into play, there is no means of explanation behind his mastermind. There is a lingering gloom in between the instrumentals, which is what makes Huxley’s music so enticing.