This month’s music discovery comes to you by one of our Music Supervisor, Chris Robles who is missing Sade and her old band mates. Our April playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to get you in the mood for spring!

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Artist: Sade

Twitter: @SadeOfficial

Track: Flower Of The Universe

In early March we were blessed with the first new song from Sade in over 7 years. “Flower Of The Universe” was made for the soundtrack to the movie A Wrinkle In Time. I wasn’t sure what to expect when it was announced that a new song would be coming, but it was a pleasant surprise to hear that familiar stripped down, mellow style with soothing vocals. 

After hearing this song, I was left wondering if we’ll be hearing more new material from Sade or Sweetback (the group the band members formed without Sade Adu at vocals)… Until we find out, I’ve been listening to the old

This month’s music discovery comes to you by one our Associate Music Supervisors, Christian Zabala. Our February BrandRadio playlist has been handpicked by our entire music team to set your playlist in the right direction for the New Year.

LISTEN TO THIS MONTH’S PLAYLIST >

Hello world! I’m Christian and I’m an Associate Music Supervisor at PlayNetwork. For our Music Discovery post, I’ve decided to share some music knowledge with the readers on the nightmares of clearing samples. Let’s go down this rabbit hole together, shall we?! HERE WE GO!!!

When I’m not at work helping our music team get the freshest records out to our clients *wink* – I’m usually at home working on some sort of music project or idea while some rerun of The Flash, The Office, Friends, Modern Family, or late night television is playing in the background. As I stare at my workstation, I sometimes will pull up a folder of some soul samples I found just to see if I can […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted our Procurement and Label Relations guru, Grady Tyree. Without Grady, the Music Supervision team would be lost-as he is the gatekeeper for all the music that comes through the PlayNetwork doors. Grady writes on why the new Benjamin Booker release WITNESS is one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Benjamin Booker

Album: WITNESS

Track: Believe

Twitter: @bennybookmarks

Thousands of songs passed through my ear canals this year, but out of all, one album bore its way into my subconscious and became a worm in my apple… WITNESS by Benjamin Booker, released in May on ATO Records. The sophomore release from the singer/songwriter finds a slow-burn of a record, leaving its mark in your psyche as […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted seasoned Music Supervisor and Manager, Dean Carlson, who has over 25 years’ experience in the music industry. He got bit by the music bug early, first DJ’ing at his high school radio station, and then having a successful 15 year radio career afterwards. Dean even launched his own syndicated radio show heard in over 25 countries. Dean writes on why the new Mura Masa self titled album is one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Mura Masa

Album: Mura Masa

Track: What If I Go?

Twitter: @mura_masa_

I can remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Mura Masa and his single “What If I Go?” It was in my car listening to […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor Alex Ruder who has over 15 years’ experience in the music industry. Besides his work here at PlayNetwork curating music for brands, you can find Alex hosting variety and electronic on-air shows at KEXP or mixing it up behind the decks in nightclubs around Seattle. If that’s not enough, he also runs his electronic label Hush Hush records. Alex writes on why the new Kelela release was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Kelela

Album: Take Me Apart

Twitter: @kelelam

Track: LMK

It was five years ago when I first heard the stunning voice of Kelela Mizanekristos. She appeared on arguably Teengirl Fantasy’s best song ever, “EFX,” from their 2012 album Tracer. […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Associate Music Supervisor, Ruben Lira, who prior to his time here at PlayNetwork worked with record labels and wrote blog post for Tour Worthy. When he’s not procuring, editing or cataloging music here at PlayNetwork, Ruben enjoys playing his guitar and piano while tutoring a music theory lesson here and there. Ruben writes on why the new Hoops album was one of his favorites of 2017.

“Because this album brings the nostalgia and innocence lacking today.”

This album was honestly one of my favorites. I don’t know, something about the shimmering notes and dancy drums, combined with heavy reverb vocals, really spoke to me. With all the negativity going around, the entire album, […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Mark Campbell, who has over 25 years experience in the music industry. When he’s not curating playlists for our many brands, he loves spending time in his home studio where he creates his own music using his array of vintage analog synthesizers. Mark writes on why the new Bicep release was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: Bicep

Album: Bicep

Twitter: @feelmybicep

Track: AURA

Great electronic music always features a good balance of the expected and the unexpected. On their eponymous debut album, the Irish DJ duo of Andy Ferguson and Matt McBriar deliver on all levels – providing the proper blend of club-ready comfort and surprise. Elaborate analog synth textures, punchy […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Associate Music Supervisor, Christian Zabala, who has been DJ’ing since he was 15 years old and has also DJ’d some of our client’s events. When he’s not working on finding new cool and hip songs for our clients, you will find him always with a deck of cards at arm’s length ready to perform a magic trick. Christian writes on why the new album Flower Boy was one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Tyler, The Creator

Album: Flower Boy

Twitter: @tylerthecreator

Track: 911

One of my top albums that I kept on repeat in 2017 was Tyler, The Creator’s fourth studio album Flower Boy. Up until this album, I wasn’t the biggest fan of […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Blake Kirpes, who has over 12 years in the music industry. Blake can also say that he helped shape the sound of bands such as Death Cab For Cutie and The Shins where he worked as an audio engineer in studio. When he’s not curating music for his many brands, you can find him collecting cassettes and vinyl while also designing abstract art. Blake writes on why the new Alvvays album, Antisocialites was one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Alvvays

Album: Antisocialites

Twitter: @alvvaysband

Track: Dreams Tonight

In 2014, the Indie music scene was flush with bands, that on the surface, sounded like Alvvays; bands with a sunny day reverb sound […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Music Supervisor, Chris Robles, who besides having a background in production, is an amazing graphic designer who creates posters for our in-house PlayLive series. He has also helped booked live shows for legendary artists like George Clinton & Parliament, Pete Rock and Questlove to name a few. Chris writes on why the new SZA album, Ctrl, was one of his favorites of 2017.

Artist: SZA

Album: Ctrl

Twitter: @sza

Track: Supermodel (contains explicit lyrics)

This album stood out to me as one of the best of 2017 because of SZA’s clever (and sometimes sassy) songwriting; her unique, smooth, and soulful vocals as well as her ability to experiment with a variety of music […]

Continuing our theme of top album write ups, we’ve enlisted Senior Music Supervisor, Leroy Henry, who has been at PlayNetwork since 1999 and has spent his entire career in music. His passion for music runs deep going back as far as the 70s where he was a DJ at Seattle’s rock station KZOK. Leroy tells you why Barefoot in the Head is one of his favorite albums of 2017.

Artist: Chris Robinson Brotherhood (The CRB)

Album: Barefoot in the Head

Twitter: @TheCRB

Track: Behold the Seer

“Who the heck is The CRB?” I asked as I unsuspectingly inserted a new CD. The very moment I heard the opening bars, I was struck by the beautiful, open sonic quality and level of musicianship and arrangements. This was the new Chris Robinson album, formerly of the Black Crowes! The album instantly became my favorite of the year and it’s never wavered. And it’s not what you would really expect – it’s not hard rock but instead is an […]

The music supervision team at PlayNetwork saw over 6700+ albums, EPs and compilations added to our extensive music library in 2017. With so much amazing music to pick from, our Music Supervision team finally narrowed down their top 10 albums of the year.

To get things started we have enlisted one of our seasoned Musics Supervisors, Alex Espinosa, who has been curating music for clients all over the world for over 20 years. Alex tells you exactly why Slowdive is his favorite album of 2017.

Artist: Slowdive

Album: slowdive

Twitter: @slowdiveband

Track: Star Roving

Shoegaze is a term that originated in the early 90s in London that typically means hearing distorted layered guitar sounds behind ethereal vocals. Many classic bands such as Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine have come out of this era but one that stands out for me is Berkshire natives Slowdive. It was during the release of their debut album Just for a day (1991) produced by legendary Alan McGee, that had shared vocal […]

Artist: Kaytranada

Album: 99.9% – XL 2016

Follow: Facebook, Twitter

I first heard of Kaytranada through Soundcloud with his remixes of various R&B and hip-hop songs from the 90’s and 00’s such as Janet Jackson, Amerie and The Fugees; and then hearing songs he produced for artists like The Internet and Anderson .Paak. The album 99.9% blends elements from house, soul, funk, R&B and electronic music. This is one of those albums you can play from beginning to end and not get bored and then start it from the top!

Artist: Shura

Album: Nothing’s Real – Polydor 2016

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The alias of British artist Aleksandra Lilah Denton, Shura first emerged in 2014 with the immediately arresting song “Touch,” the first in a string of singles that confidently introduced her sultry 80s-steeped R&B/pop sound. Last year she unveiled a few more stellar singles, appeared on an excellent single from fellow up-and-coming UK talent Mura Masa, and anticipation for her debut album consequently increased to a fever pitch. Fortunately, her debut album Nothing’s Real delivers on the promise of those early singles, yielding one of my favorite pop albums of 2016. Stacked with all of her prior standout singles and seamlessly sequenced to paint a full, cinematic, and expansive sonic landscape in just under an hour, Shura’s first full-length album offers a mature yet playful spin on the nostalgic and romantic tropes of 80s pop with a slick, refreshing, contemporary R&B touch.

Artist: Anderson .Paak

Album: Malibu

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Malibu was released all the way back in the second week of January, and it has yet to be surpassed by any other album that has passed through my ears in 2016. From front to back, this album is drenched in funky beats, LA soul and infectious grooves that will keep you nodding your head and tapping your toes throughout the 16-track effort. This album has staying power, and in a society where flashes-in-the-pan are all the masses are looking for, it’s easy to overlook masterpieces that don’t cater to the current model, but do your ears and your soul a favor by stopping and fully immersing yourself in this personal journey Anderson has laid out for all of us to delve into.

From the opening guitar flicks of “The Bird” to the ode for the not-so-blessed, “The Dreamer”, Brandon Paak Anderson has crafted a truly unique album that is not to be missed. Personal […]

Artist: Kamaiyah

Album: A Good Night in the Ghetto – Self Released 2016

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2016 was a tough one. Luckily, in swoops Oakland, CA’s 21 year old rap superhero Kamaiyah and drops her debut mixtape, “A Good Night in the the Ghetto” to save the day/year. “AGNITG” is a fonkay feel good record about being young (I’m not), having fun (I’m allergic), and partying West Coast style (allll day) over vintage Bay Area styled blaps of 80’s and 90’s R&B. On the mic, Kamaiyah is a natural spitter brimming with confidence and honesty whether rapping or singing or somewhere in-between. Hoochie Hoooo!

Artist: Santigold

Album: 99 Cents – Atlantic Records 2016

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I chose to write about Santigold’s 99 Cents as my pick of 2016 because it was an album that caught my attention from the very first time I heard the lead single “Can’t Get Enough Of Myself”. The song was catchy, fun, and unique enough to be memorable. I kept coming back to it, and then discovered that several songs off the album were getting stuck in my head: “Banshee”, “All I Got”, “Who I Thought You Were”, and “Chasing Shadows” all checked the “hey, that’s actually a pretty good song!” box for me. Individually, the tracks have their own sonic elements that really differentiate them from each other. The album as a whole has this not-your-average-pop vibe to it, which is what made it stick with me.

Artist: Chance the Rapper

Album: Coloring Book – Self Released 2016

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Chancellor Bennett a.k.a Chano a.k.a Lil’ Chano from 79th or better known as Chance The Rapper took 2016 by storm with his 3rd mixtape “Coloring Book” which was filled with an abundant amount of features to compliment the colorful soundscape that is created within the 14 tracks of this masterpiece. From the Hip-Hop bass heavy sounds of “No Problem” to the lush and intimate sounds of “Summer Friends” to entrancing love songs like “Juke Jam” to dancing in the club on “All Night” and more importantly the gospel inspired tracks like “Blessings” that drives the overall message of the project. 

I loved this album because of its overall sound, subject matter, and tactic to put in religious connotations throughout and in between songs that listeners are used to hearing from Chance. Enhancing that with amazing production from Brasstracks, The Social Experiment, Lido, & Kaytranada and you pretty much have a […]

Artist: Kate Tempest

Album: Let them Eat Chaos – Lex Records 2016

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Many would agree that our current world climate is one of an anxiety and simultaneously hopefulness, where technology and consumerism move at record speeds but things in many ways stay the same. A world in which war has shifted from man to computers and in which the world is at our finger tips even if we can’t grab it. In this world artists like Kate Tempest are needed more than ever. No one in music is able to dissect our current social climate, our hopes and struggles, to show us both the beautiful and tragic results better than Kate Tempest.

If anything, this album is a “state of the world address”, in which no corner of society is left unturned. This album is a perfect although at times tragically perfect examination of the world today, as seen through Kate’s eyes and more specifically the eyes of those around her. As Kate said in a 2015 interview, “When you’re […]

Artist: Wilder Adkins

Album: Hope & Sorrow – Wilder Adkins 2016

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I live for this kind of experience in the sharing of music.  This is the story of bringing you an artist I discovered on vacation with my family in Birmingham, Alabama.  We were at a venue called Moonlight on the Mountain for an in-the-round show with four acoustic artists.  The first three musicians were fairly pedestrian but when it was Wilder Adkins’ turn, we all turned to each other and eyebrows went up.  And each time Wilder had his turn, we became bigger fans.  His voice is so warm, sincere and dripping with honesty.  His lyrics simple but true and make that instant connection that we long for. 

From the song, When I’m Married, “There’s a love that grows between us like a gently creeping vine.” I can’t get that out of my head.  His finger picking is so good, the compositions are perfect and he is so humble […]

Artist: Bon Iver

Album: 22, A Million – Jagjagwar 2016

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Almost 10 years ago, Justin Vernon spent a long winter in his father’s cabin in Wisconsin; recovering from mono, binge watching Northern Exposure and writing a groundbreaking album under his new persona. Bon Iver, loosely translated, means “good winter” in French, which is the optimal time to listen to his latest album, 22, A Million.

I picked this album as one of my personal favorites of 2016 for a variety of reasons; it’s personal, experimental and it’s a gorgeous example of an artist continuing to evolve and push musical boundaries. The intimacy and tone of “22 (Over Soon)” is accompanied by angelic voices, then interrupted briefly with quivering glitches that cause one to stop, breathe and pay attention. The slight use of saxophone and slow-building keyboards give “8 (Circle)” an almost ambient blues kind of vibe, that grows on you after repeated plays. Bon Iver’s 22, A Million is a gift, […]

Artist: Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Album: Call It What It Is – Concord/Stax Records 2016

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I love how Ben Harper write songs which epitomize so much that is going today. This album dances around a multitude of genres. He figures a way to balance soul with rebellious attitude which harkens back to the days of Stax Records and powerful songwriting. The songs are full of depth, and go from the joys of life to unapologetically challenging the establishment with vivid descriptions of the actions we do not want to talk about.

I enjoy the songs which do not just follow what is normal. Music is supposed to be the message which others just can’t vocalize. With this album, life is defined if every song, every phrase, every simple beat. It’s harder to find artists who challenge the establishment yet find a way to respond with grace. It is one the best albums because it displays why music is so vital, especially […]

Artist: Trentemoller

Album: Fixion – In My Room 2016

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Ten years after his 2006 debut landed Trentemoller the international spotlight, the Danish producer has blessed us with his darkest hour, fine-tuning the concept album to reflect his new shadowy aesthetic. Meta-critics of Fixion haven’t given this album justice; reminiscing on his 2006 debut “The Last Resort” which sounded like a hybrid of Massive Attack and Flying Lotus, this material is a total departure – undeniably postpunk at its finest. Jehnny Beth from Savages pays the album its dues, making an appearance on the cut “River In Me.” Grainy textures and classic science-fiction synth lines make this post-synth-punk album to be an IRL fan-tasy.  Recommended for fans of Soft Moon, Lust For Youth, Tropic of Cancer, and Black Marble. 

Artist: Cass.

Facebook: Casswheel

Album: Youth Sessions

Emotional Response records released this hauntingly beautiful 9 track LP from German Ambient producer Niklas Rehme-Schluter AKA Cass. Following on from his amazing collaboration with Wolf Muller “The Sound Of The Glades” on International Feel. Youth Sessions, moves seamlessly between beat-less ambient soundscapes and otherworldly pensive slo-mo electronic house grooves. Soothing and evocative in equal measures, truly a work of art.

Our Music Supervisor, Mark Campbell, shares with you an artist he feels is one of the best of 2016. And along with his pick, our entire music team has hand selected a mixture of new music discoveries to keep your playlists current through the fall days of November.

Artist: The Head and The Heart

Twitter: @headandtheheart

Album: Signs of Light

Midway through their third LP, the song “Library Magic” features the refrain, “There will always be better days.” The lyric is a perfect summation of the overall optimistic direction of one of the best records of 2016. Producer Jay Joyce (Eric Church, Cage The Elephant) makes the most out of the well-crafted songs – bringing them to a polished and unexpected level. At times, the Indie Folk band from Seattle sounds like the latest and greatest in the world of Pop music – in the best and most-welcome sense. Tempos and arrangements vary throughout the record. From the driving beat of “City of […]

As we countdown to 2016, we have been reminiscing about all of the amazing albums that dropped in 2015. This list of the Top 20 Albums of 2015 has been compiled by our Music Supervision team, and includes their favorite albums of the year, spanning all genres. The wait is over, here are numbers 5 – 1!

5. Tame Impala – Currents

Over the summer, Aussie indie psyche-rockers Tame Impala released Currents, their third album and follow-up to the critically acclaimed Lonerism. This time around, their approach was minimalistic synth-infused pop, with less focus on rock influences and more on electronic sounds.

Song: “The Moment”

4. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, Sometimes I Just Sit

Killer guitarist, songwriter and humble performer, Courtney has the whole package. The Aussie rocker draws listeners in with her compelling lyrics, Down Under accent and unusual vocal style.

Song: “Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party”

3. Justin Bieber – […]