Here we are again: a new year emerging on the horizon as the last 12 months disappear in the proverbial rear-view mirror of life. January is always rife with clichés, resolutions and romanticising imagery of departures and new beginnings. It’s an inevitable part of our human nature to divide our lives into smaller, more easily digestible chunks (read here: time is a construct) and with these habits come a nature of reflection and speculation. As easy as it may be to look upon the year that has passed and feel jittery anticipation for what could possibly be to follow, there’s also excitement and strength to be found in facing our futures head on – revitalised and refreshed after a festive hiatus of friends, family and pigs in blankets.
In support of positivity, I’ve put together a playlist to soundtrack our bright and brisk, wintry days and welcome the new year in with the knowledge that it can literally only be up from here. Resuming business as usual after holidays and parties can feel like such a hefty task and even on the kindest of mornings getting out of bed will rarely be the highlight of your day. Only recently have I realised the power of the perfect morning soundtrack to remedy this and, really, if you think about it, January is pretty comparable to one very long morning.
In this playlist, you will find old classics such as Sam Cooke, Nina Simone and Otis Redding, who are a sure-fire way to wash away the cynicism on an impatient Thursday afternoon. The infectious Afrobeat rhythms of Ebo Taylor and Fela Kuti will up the tempo while you brush your teeth to the beat of the drum. The gospel chants of Chance, Common, Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo are hopefully enough to restore some faith in 2017 or at least in yourself. Other artists you’ll find in the list include Kendrick Lamar, Noname, Shakka, Girlpool, Kanye West, Isaiah Rashad, Solange, Toro Y Moi, Pinegrove, Anderson .Paak, Thundercat, some smaller names and a few bigger ones too. So without further ado:
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