For me, January was a month of new music.
I gave myself a challenge. Once a week, I’d listen to an album from start to finish. Many of these albums were new releases from some of my favorite artists, but I tried to focus on albums from artists I’d had my eye on for a while but hadn’t given a genuine listen yet.
From this little experiment, I curated a playlist of songs that make me feel warm, anticipating that I’d need some soothing music to help me get through the next few months of cold temperatures.
“Orion Sun” by Orion
If you like R&B and soul music but have been searching for songs that feel classic and innovative at the same time, Orion Sun’s alternative style might be just what you’re looking for.
Her latest album, “Orion,” feels like a breath of fresh air.
Her smooth vocals and production create the perfect atmosphere for this kind of weather. I find myself turning to this album when I’m up late studying or up early walking to class.
“Take My Eyes,” “These Days” and “Rather Be” are my favorite songs off the album. All three are perfect for mentally battling the cold.
“Access All Areas” by FLO
When I’m trying not to get knocked over by the wind, I at least like to have something upbeat coursing through my headphones. If I had to use one word to describe FLO’s debut album, “Access All Areas,” I’d simply say “fun.”
In my opinion, a girl group that creates the same feeling as Destiny’s Child or TLC has been missing from R&B music for quite some time now.
I wouldn’t go so far as to call FLO the new Destiny’s Child, but I will say that when I listened to the song “Caught Up,” I did get the same excitement I felt when I heard “Bills, Bills, Bills,” by Destiny’s Child for the first time.
“AAA” is my favorite song off the album, but “Check” is my cold-weather pick since it never fails to get me in a good mood.
In “Check,” FLO sings about finding the perfect guy who even meets the girls’ picky friends’ standards. The song’s music video shows FLO’s members, Stella, Jorja, and Renée, hanging out and dancing in a bedroom, giving off major slumber party vibes. It encapsulates the feeling of the song perfectly.
“Check” lifts my spirits when I’m feeling down about the sun setting before 5:00 pm every night, and it makes me want to dance around my room just like they do in the music video.
“My 21st Century Blues” by RAYE
RAYE is another artist I’ve been missing in my life. I’ll admit it — I regret not hopping on the RAYE-train after her song “Escapism.” blew up on TikTok, but it’s better late than never.
Her 2023 album, “My 21st Century Blues,” has some songs I would call perfect. Her vocal performance on “Oscar Winning Tears.” is incredible, only topped by her live performance of the track at the Royal Albert Hall.
It might be freezing out, but RAYE’s jazzy voice feels like the sun. I’ve had her song “Worth It” on repeat for a few weeks, and I highly recommend it.
“MUTT” by Leon Thomas
I also finally listened to Leon Thomas’ album “MUTT.” He released “MUTT” in September 2024, and I can’t believe I waited so long to listen to it all the way through.
Even if you haven’t listened to his music, chances are you’ve heard Leon Thomas’ words before. You might know him from playing Andre on the Nickelodeon show, “Victorious,” but he’s written songs with Ariana Grande, SZA, Drake and more.
He has a stellar voice, and I struggled to pick a favorite song from the album. The title track, “MUTT,” and the first track, “HOW FAST,” are the ones I’ve been adding to my playlists.
“Charm” by Clairo
Listening to Clairo’s “Charm” felt a bit like cheating because Clairo is not a new artist for me. Her 2019 release, “Immunity,” is one of my all-time favorite albums, but I realized I never set aside time to listen to her most recent release, “Charm.”
It’s a beautiful, cozy album.
Similar to RAYE’s “My 21st Century Blues,” “Charm” has some very jazzy songs. I’d recommend “Add Up My Love” and “Thank You” to anyone feeling a little down about the weather — both songs feel like being wrapped up in a warm blanket.
Those are my warm songs and album recommendations to help you get through this winter. I’ll be back with more music next week, but until then, don’t forget — I’m always here to listen.
