15 months. 15 playlists. 15 albums. 15 songs.
A habit I picked up from an old flame
In 2017 I met a girl on Tinder. Her name was Tiana. Over the course of a few weeks we went on a handful of dates around Toronto, but at the end of it all I didn’t feel like we were going anywhere. Apparently neither did she. After work one evening she called me and told me as much... And like that, I never saw or heard from Tiana again.
Though our situationship was short lived, Tiana imparted on me a habit that I’ve kept on and off in the 4 years since we met. Each month, Tiana would make a playlist of songs she discovered or just listened to on repeat — her songs of the month. Her November 2017 playlist was the first of its kind to grace my music library, and it remains there to this day. I picked up the habit myself a year later with my first entry in November 2018, which I then followed up in February and March 2019, and then again in June of the same year. As you can see I kept up the habit religiously in those early days…
After another year long hiatus I picked up the habit again, but this time with greater success. Last month marked 15 straight months of playlists starting in October 2020. Each playlist embodies a month of my life and is named after my favourite song or a significant moment of the month.
Fair warning, as far as complete playlists go, some of these are complete trash … My eclectic music taste does not always make for the most cohesive playlists. However, if you have come here looking for a playlist or two to jam out to, I suggest November 2020, February 2021 (for some new jams from the motherland), April 2021 (for some old school grooving), and September 2021. You can find all my playlists on my Apple Music page @davidbread (sorry Spotify users…)
Here is my 2020/2021 slightly-more-than-a-year in review as told by my playlists. If you’re short on time or don’t want to read the whole piece, check out the summary below with my song and album of the month for the past 15 months. I’ve also put together a playlist called 15 Months, 15 Playlists: The Music of My 2020/21 (also on my Apple Music page) of all the songs mentioned in this article (and a few more). If you find a song or album you like, skip ahead to that month for a YouTube link.
For my dedicated readers, below you will find my favourite song and album from each playlist, along with some honourable mentions and the stories that inspired them (with special shout outs to the folks who sent me recommendations). Let me know what you think! and what music you have been jamming to over the past 15 months. So without further ado!
October 2020 — Akanamali
Shout out to my old roommate Laith for this one. Freshly arrived in Copenhagen, October 2020 was influenced by Laith’s love for afrobeats which was a mainstay in our apartment. Music has been the catalyst for many friendships in my life, and this was no exception. I discovered three of my new favourite South African artists from Laith that October — Samthing Soweto, ANATII and Sun-El Musician — all of whom are featured on this playlist. Fun fact: roughly translated from Xhosa, the title track, Akanamli, means to be without money.
Song of the Month: Akanamali by Sun-El Musician feat. Samthing Soweto
Album of the Month: IYEZA by ANATII
Honorable Mentions: Foreplay by Jalen Santoy
November 2020 — Beautiful Feelings
My roommates (Laith and Sebastian) and I loved music, though our tastes were often quite different. Walking past our bedroom doors was like roaming through stages at a music festival — one minute you’re fist pumping to EDM, only to hear chill afrobeats a few metres down the hall and hard rap across the living room. But one morning quite literally within minutes of each other, the same song could be heard coming from each of our bedrooms: Feelings by Patoranking.
Song of the Month: Feelings by Patoranking
Album of the Month: Detroit 2 by Big Sean
Honorable mentions (albums): Twice as Tall by Burna Boy and Black Pumas by Black Pumas (album)
Honorable Mentions (songs): Darlin’ by tobi lou, Jerusalema by Master KG, Colors by Black Pumas and Wolves by Big Sean feat. Post Malone
December 2020 — Like I Want You
Just like this article, December 2020 was inspired by a woman. Two months into a new relationship in Copenhagen, this playlist was inspired by the music that my girlfriend at the time and I bonded over. December also marked the return to lockdown. Short days, long nights and work from home restrictions turned an adventurous year abroad into a lonesome few weeks stuck in my room. What (and who) got me through it? Tobe Nwigwe. I discovered Tobe Nwigwe from the ever-giving YouTube algorithm that placed him in my feed one fateful lockdown day, and I never looked back.
Song of the Month: Like I Want You by GIVEON
Album of the Month: CINCORIGINALS by Tobe Nwigwe
Honorable Mention: Monster by Shawn Mendez feat. Justin Bieber (purely because of my brother’s grunge rendition of this song 😂)
January 2021 — Français
Home for the holidays, I arrived to a new home in Brockville, Ontario where my family had recently moved. My Congolese side comes out in full force when I am home with family, and January 2021 reflects that. My brother and sister are much more connected to the French and Congolese music scene than I am, so this playlist is inspired by the music we were jamming to when they took over the aux chord. January 2021 represents sibling love — the references, inside jokes and memories associated with it are priceless and will always remind me of two people.
Song of the Month: Walou by Keblack feat. Niska
Album of the Month: On s’enjaille (Apple Music playlist recommended by my sister that inspired January 2021— shout out to Christiane for this one!)
Honorable Mention: Mobali by Siboy feat. Benash and Damso (parce que Dimitri est dangereux Mobali)
February 2021 — Africa Rising
With the realisation fully set in that I would be stuck at home in Brockville for the foreseeable future due to COVID induced travel restrictions, February maintained its African influence. While most of my African music comes from the oldies my parents listen to, February was inspired by the fresh hits of an Apple Music playlist I discovered called Africa Rising. While February brings back no specific memories, it takes me back to home, family, pancake breakfasts on weekend mornings, a flurry of birthdays and the full arrival of winter.
Song of the Month: One Shirt by Jonzing World feat. Ruger, D’Prince and Rema
Album of the Month: For Broken Ears by Tems
March 2021 — Gives Me Life
I kid you not, for the entire month of March I listened to the same six songs on repeat. I would preach to anyone who would listen (so really just my family who had the pleasure of being stuck with me during lockdown) that these songs “give me life!” Working remotely on Copenhagen hours was rough. The 4AM meetings did not do me well after a while. When I needed a fresh jolt of energy, The Danko! Medley would never let me down. I would hop into a freezing cold shower and take deep breaths in time with the rhythm of the a cappella choral track: “Aaaaaaaaaayooooooo, Oooooooooouaaaaaaaaaaa!” This is what gave me life throughout this tough month (listen to it and you’ll see what I mean…)
I maintain that South African choirs are some of the best in the world, and my song of the month proves that point exceptionally.
Song of the Month: The Danko! Medley by Samthing Soweto and Mzansi Youth Choir
Album of the Month: Isphithiphithi by Samthing Soweto
The other 5 songs that gave me life: Akanamali by Sun-El Musician feat. Samthing Soweto (October 2021’s song of the month), Lotto by Samthing Soweto, Infinity by Olamide feat Omah Lay, Ye Mama by Toofan feat. Fally Ipupa, and Omama Bomthandazo by Samthing Soweto feat. Makhalfula Vilakazi
April 2021 — Leave the Door Open
One month after the world was graced with the lyric stylings and silky smooth vocals of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars — a.k.a. Silk Sonic — their debut single, Leave the Door Open, infiltrated my monthly playlist. A podcast I listen to, Switched on Pop by Vox, did an episode on the song where they examined all of the 60s and 70s soul music that inspired Silk Sonic’s hit. Inspired by this podcast episode, April 2021 takes it old school and features classic hits referenced in the podcast from artists such as The Temptations, Aretha Frankling, Otis Redding and many more…
Song of the Month: Leave the Door Open by Silk Sonic
Album of the Month: Soul Men by Sam & Dave
Honorable Mentions: Me and Mrs. Jones by Billy Paul
May 2021 — Mi Morena
Back in Copenhagen after 4 months away, May 2021 contains the songs that welcomed me back. Inspiration for this playlist came from all over the place. The title track, Mi Morena, is from Aba and Preach, two YouTubers my brother put me one who used the song for the end credits of their videos. Instagram also proved to be a great source for new music, as @raptivating gave me a couple of new songs for May 2021. Evening jam sessions with my other roommate, Sebastian, and recommendations from my brother rounded out the playlist. And of course, one of the most anticipated rap album releases of the year, J. Cole’s the Off-Season.
May 2021 takes me back to breathing in the fresh air of Copenhagen from walks around my neighbourhood, Nørrebro, and morning bike rides to work in Norhavn along the water.
Song of the Month: Mi Morena by sigo feat. Ghen
Album of the Month: The Off-Season by J. Cole
Honorable Mention: BELIEVE IT by PARTYNEXTDOOR & Rihanna (shout out to Sebastian for getting this one stuck in my head).
June 2021 — Half Marathon
June was the start of running season. The songs in this playlist remind me of my runs around Copenhagen, and all the running I used to do in Toronto and Kampala. Admittedly, June was also the first month that the playlist streak almost died… But! I gamed my own system to keep it alive.
In June, I ran a half marathon in Deer Park, the kings’ old hunting grounds in Copenhagen. Before going on my longest run yet, I knew exactly what music to queue up: my two dedicated running albums, Mura Masa by Mura Masa and The Human Condition by Jon Bellion. The former was my go-to back in November 2018 when I first entertained the idea of running a half marathon in Toronto. The latter was my running album in Kampala in the fall of 2019. The nostalgia was real — these albums take me back to the cities I used to call home where they were mainstays in my headphones.
June 2021 is a hack — when I decided to run the half marathon in Copenhagen, I smushed my two running albums together and added the recently released J. Cole album, The Off-Season to give me 2 hour’s worth of music I needed to get through the run. These three albums make up June 2021.
Song of the Month: Amari by J. Cole
Album of the Month: Mura Masa by Mura Masa
July 2021 — Tienen
My family is huge. According to my parents, I have over 20 uncles and aunts and over 100 cousins on both sides of the family, meaning that I have family virtually everywhere in the world. In July, I spent a week visiting my younger cousins in Tienen, Belgium. For some odd reason that I can’t quite explain, my cousins seem to think that I’m a rapper… I wonder how that idea got into their heads! July 2021 takes me back to Tienen, and the quality time I spent with my family who I don’t get to see very often. Listening to the song of the month, Pousse toi, I think back to my little cousins rapping this song and others to me in French and English. Though my siblings are usually my sole source of the latest French rap, for July 2021 I went straight to their source. June 2021 goes out to the cousins.
Song of the Month: Pousse toi by Tiakola
Album of the Month: Mansa by MHD
August 2021 — Old School
I love rap music. Growing up, I knew most of the 90s rap mainstays — Jay-Z, Nas, Dr. Dre etc. — but only from their hits that stood the test of time. Imagine if these 90s rappers were just starting their careers today, releasing their music alongside contemporaries like Kendrick, J. Cole and Drake. That is the premise of August 2021 — I listened to a selection of 90s rappers whose hits I was familiar with as if their early albums were just being released today. My favourite tracks make up August 2021.
Song of the Month: Still D.R.E. by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg
Album of the Month: The Blueprint by Jay-Z
September 2021 — Certified Lover Boy
I downloaded the album before boarding my plane back home to Canada. By the time I finished to the final song, The Remorse, I was close to tears.
“Pain is just the place I go to get the bars from.”
Ouf.
Something about the vocals on the instrumental touched my sensitive soul. The only thing wrong with this scene is that I was flying into Montreal, and not Toronto… Imagine listening to Drake’s new album while overlooking the city, and the CN Tower from above. Opportunity missed.
September was a month of transition. I packed up my life in Copenhagen to go home, only to pack it up again for Cambridge. I said goodbye to old friends and prepared to make new ones all over again. I prepared for my new adventure, while simultaneously trying to catch up with friends in Canada before leaving the country yet again. Not going to lie, September had me in my feels. And when in your feels, who better to turn to than Mr. In My Feelings himself.
Song of the Month: The Remorse by Drake
Album of the Month: Certified Lover Boy by Drake
Honorable Mention: Crazy Things by Tems and Fountains by Drake feat. Tems
October 2021 — New Adventures and Half Marathons
The start of a new adventure in the UK brought with it new music inspired by a friend. October 2021 goes out to Tamara. There are exactly two people on this planet who have sent me enough music recommendations to warrant me making an entire playlist named after them — Tamara is one of them. Though we first met virtually during lockdown back in 2020 through mutual friends for a virtual board game night, we only met for the first time in person in this past September when I ran into her randomly while visiting Toronto. Our chance encounter sparked a conversation about music which led to a flurry of recommendations back and forth on my train ride back home to Brockville. Among her recommendations was JOHNNYSWIM! Their album Moonlight became the soundtrack to my first month in my new home.
Oh, this also happened to be the month I ran my first half marathon race in Amsterdam — hence the title. Moonlight accompanied me on many morning runs leading up to the big day.
Song of the Month: Say What You Will by JOHNNYSWIM
Album of the Month: Moonlight by JOHNNYSWIM
Honorable Mentions (songs): Love Nwantiti (ah ah ah) Remix by CKay feat. Joeboy and Kuami EugueneWale
Honorable Mentions (albums): War & Wonders by D Smoke and Donda by Kanye West (I know this came out in September but Drake took all my air time that month… Sorry Kanye 🤷🏿♂️)
November 2021 — Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself
November will forever be remembered as the month I changed the pronunciation of my name. Jay-Z’s Public Service Announcement not only captures my own major life PSA in its title, but also served as the perfect soundtrack as I underwent the change:
“Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is…”
November 2021 also came with more music recommendations from Tamara — shout out to her for the Jacob Banks recommendation. Village became the soundtrack of my second month in my new home.
Song of the Month: Public Service Announcement by Jay-Z
Album of the Month: Village by Jacob Banks
Honorable Mention: Mood by Wizkid feat. Buju
December 2021 — Assignments in Peru
No, I sadly did not go to Peru this December… But I did have loads of assignments due! At the start of term I vowed not to pull any all-nighters this year back in school… That plan lasted all of two months 😅 Working late on an assignment (yes it was due the next day), our course group chat was alive with my fellow procrastinators. Sensing the need for a pick me up, my course mate Hameed dropped this absolute gem into the group chat: Peru by Fireboy DML. Just the track to inspire me back into action at 3AM!
Song of the Month: Peru by Fireboy DML
Album of the Month: High Hopes 2 by Bass Thompson
And that’s a wrap!
Those are my 2020/2021 playlists! Looking forward to all the new music I will discover in 2022! If you have any recommendations drop them in the comments below! I love bonding over music. And if you vibe with any of the artists I’ve mentioned, let me know.
Happy New Year!
