my music rotation consists of new music, old music and everything in between. I like to rediscover music i’ve already listened to or find songs i didn’t listen to on albums that I loved. my music can also be any genre because i love music! i will listen to anything from classical to hip hop to rap to pop to rock to alternative to… well you get the idea. so these are the songs that have some heavy play from hellokhaiyah.
listen to the playlist as you read about the songs
Miguel – Skywalker, Coffee
skywalker is his new single. the song features travis scott and it has a “coolin’ it at the party” vibe. i don’t really know, it just has sweet vibes and i’m about it. i #loveit . coffee is a song from the “wildheart” album that came out two years ago. the song is literally talking about going to sleep and then waking up in the morning and it has that type of feel. sleeping to this song is nice because of the mellifluous voice of Miguel. #yesplease
Paramore – Misguided Ghosts, Hallelujah
misguided ghosts is a song from the “brand new eyes” album from about eight years ago. this song has been out for eight years and i listened to this album all the time and yet i had never heard this song before. who am i? anyway, this song is an acoustic which i especially like because if you know Paramore, they are an alternative band and it is difficult to find a song without an electric guitar or drums. Finding this completely acoustic, more heartfelt and slower songs was like i won the lottery. Hayley Williams’ voice is melodic and simple in this song with no screaming and not too many dynamics. The sheer simplicity of this song makes the song easier to connect to. hallelujah is a song from the “riot” album from ten years ago. i always skipped over this song and i’m not sure why because currently i am obsessed with it. contrary to misguided ghosts, hallelujah includes lots of guitar and more screaming, but also contrary to popular belief it isn’t displeasing to the ears. it actually sounds amazing. that is the only way i can put it. i love the buildup and climax near the end of the song where we get to a mini guitar solo and a stronger repeat of the chorus. this song is… amazing.
dvsn – With Me, Do It Well, The Line
all three of these songs are from the “SEPT. 5TH” album that came out last year. i think this whole album consists of songs that you can listen to while laying on your bed and staring at the ceiling. i love those types of songs because you literally don’t have to do anything. all you have to do when you are listening to this album is get lost in the music. all three songs have lots of harmonies and a relaxed feel. i call these songs “get high” songs because i feel like this is what all music would sound like when you are high… not that i could even remotely know.
Brent Faiyaz – Invite Me
invite me is a song off of the “A.M. Paradox” EP. this song is about a guy basically telling a girl that beauty isn’t an issue for her and that she should “invite him” to “be with her”. this song has similar vibes to the dvsn album making it fall into “get high” song category or the “stare at the ceiling and think about life” category. honestly, i don’t if any of these songs can go into these categories anymore because i’ll listen to any song and stare at the ceiling so…
solo is on the “blonde” album that came out last year. i like this song because frank ocean’s rap/singing on top of this sort of organ/piano instrument with minimal background vocals make this song extremely raw. when we hit the chorus you can simply hear the passion and talent in ocean’s voice and through the powerful runs he uses. then at the end he seems to just be improving and they kind of sound like bird calls which may turn you off, but don’t! this song is #feels.
Sabrina Claudio – Unravel Me
unravel me is a single that came out this year. this song is categorized under R&B/Soul, but I also think it is kind of alternative just because of the way the chorus sounds honestly. her vocals are so soothing and the bass beat and claps work together to make the basis of the beat with little things added to make the song what it is and her lovely voice is like icing on the cake. i would highly recommend listening to her album “confidently lost” and her other single “belong to you” because they are bops and they all have the same #feels type feel (if that makes sense).
NAO – Dywm
dywm stands for “Do You Want Me” and this song is on the album “For All We Know” that came out last year. NAO has this very high light and somewhat airy voice and it contradicts well with the backing of the powerful bass guitar in the chorus and throughout the song. the backing vocals create harmonies that take this song to the top. the end of the song showcases these harmonies quite well and coincidentally this is also one of my favorite parts of the whole song.
Drake – Teenage Fever
teenage Fever is on the “More Life” album that came out this year. Now we all know Drake and honestly it will be endless if i try to describe my love for Drake and his beautiful voice. So just check this song out because like every other song i have put on this list it is also #feels. #ilovedrake #justinbieberisbetterthough ?
Chance the Rapper – Juke Jam
juke jam is from the “Coloring Book” album that released last year. First of all let me say, Chance the Rapper has this (i really don’t want to use this word, but for lack of a better one) “swagger” about him that really escapes well through his voice and his sing/rap/talk combo makes for a real low-key song. this song is way better than it should be actually because of my husband on the chorus. Justin Bieber sends this song to another stratosphere and it is a complete yes for me.
LOLAWOLF – House Key
house key is from the “Everyf*ckinday” EP that came out two years ago. this ep is categorized under R&B/Soul which I can understand because of the beat, but the way the voices are on top sounds alternative, but who am i to categorize songs, right? this song is much different than the other songs i have on this list, but what can i say “variety makes for a larger audience”. i heard this song on the movie “Before I Fall” which is an amazing movie btw, and I was like “yooooo, i like this song”. this song is basically about a guy needing to return the girls’ house key because the relationship is over. the whole ep is pretty cool and you should check it out.
Big Sean – Marvin & Chardonnay
so y’all know I had to do this. of course, I need a club banger on here. well this song isn’t necessarily a club banger, but it is more of a banger than Amy Winehouse. am i right? this song is from the “Finally Famous” album that came out six years ago. i think i love this song so much because of the catchy chorus and it also showcases old school Kanye which I love much better than this new Kanye, just saying. give this a listen when you want to pick up a party or just a pick me up honestly. this song is just a bop overall.
HAIM – Kept Me Crying
i love HAIM and i really loved their last album “days are gone” and I had been waiting and finally four years later… another album. kept me crying is from their new album that came out this year titled “Something to Tell You”. this song starts slow and kind of soft and it picks up lightly by the time the chorus hit with a somewhat acapella moment accompanied to claps. i think this is a good breakup song (not that i have any experience in that, trust me). also, the sisters’ intuitive harmonies in this song are just blasé blasé.
21 Savage – Thug Life
yesssssssss! I know you have been waiting for 21 Savage and so have i. i #love 21 Savage, his “Slaughter King” album was on repeat for a solid… year. thug life is on the new “Issa Album” that came out this year. the song begins with an old school sample of En Vogue’s “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” kind of tricks you into thinking this song will be soft, but he still comes into this song saying all the same things he said in his past albums. I do have to say “Issa Album” is a bit less “shoot, kill, imma blood” than the past albums which is what many people liked about him, but “Issa Album” is still litty. 10 out of 10 would recommend.
Amy Winehouse – Some Unholy War
Amy Amy Amy. some unholy war is from the “Back to Black” album that came out 11 years ago. i love this song because of the authentic feel with all of the real instruments and the kind of “doo wop” vocals in the background paired with Amy’s raspy and harsh yet smooth voice. her passion as we enter the end of the song gives me chills and if you ever want to hear real music, this is where you should go.
Madison Beer – Dead
i think we all knew i was going to put a pop song on here because really who is hellokhaiyah? i don’t know. if you find out let me know. this single came out this year and i just think it had to be included because minus the chorus the song actually has an R&B type feel which really drew me in when i first heard the song. the chorus kind of grows on you, but i think they only made the chorus “pop-like” to “fit the mold” i think they could’ve went a much better direction with the chorus. the words are actually really funny “if you say you can’t live without me, why aren’t you dead yet?” i feel like that is to all those creepy guys that just won’t give it up like, dude, leave me alone, lol.
Travis Scott – through the late night
this song is from the “Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight” that was released last year. i am so in love with this song because of Kid Cudi’s vocals throughout the beginning. Can we just come to a consensus that he is the best “hummer” ever. Like literally in the beginning of the song he is just humming and making little riffs with his voice and it sounds so soothing and melodic and amazing and now i am fan girling. oh, travis scott’s part is pretty good, too.
Miley Cyrus – Inspired
inspired is a single that came out this year and yes it is pop. what is a music rotation without a lil Miley. so this song is very simple and acoustic. it sounds like one of those songs you just come up with while your with friends and it just comes out naturally. that is what i love about this song. i also think many people forget that Miley can actually sing. like she isn’t like all of those other Disney stars that just have an album for the heck of it. like her dad is Billy Ray for goodness sakes. when she belts the notes out it actually sounds beautiful and it is much more difficult than you might think to yell out a note like that and stay on key and not sound like you are trying to kill horses so, applauds from me Miley.
Kanye West – Through the Wire
through the wire is from the College Dropout album that came out 14 years ago. first of all i love this song because old school Kanye is the best Kanye. second, i love this song because here he is rapping about real things and his real life experience, now he raps about things that don’t particularly mean anything to, well… me anymore. regular people can’t relate to balling out in Givenchy, but people still like that music so, who am i, right?
Sonder – Feel
this song is from the “Into” album that came out this year. this song is literally the epitome of #feels. I mean, come on, the name of the song is literally “FEEL”. that is enough evidence for me. about to go listen to this song and stare at the ceiling brb. anyway, i just like the low-key aspect of this song and the light voice on top singing about how a girl must not be able to feel what she wants anymore and she doesn’t love.
Daniel Caesar – Get You
get you was a single, but now it is featured on his new album “Freudian” that came out this year. i like this song because it is really unbelievable that the voice in the song is coming out of the guy in the picture. it also just has the #feels and i think you have begun to see the trend folks.
One Direction – If I Could Fly
okay. okay. i know what you are saying. khaiyah what the heck? one direction? are you kidding me? no i am not kidding you and honestly i am genuinely sorry i have included them on this list, but it had to be done because this song just kicks all the emotions into high gear and i like when a song can make you feel real emotions and that is the only reason it is on the list. btw, if i could fly is from the “Made in the A.M.” album from two years ago.
Bryson Tiller – MoneyProblems/BenzTruck
what is a rotation without my main man B. Tiller? this song is off of the “True to Self” album that came out this year. I like this song because of the beat and because it just talks about his glo up and I like when artists can rap about where they came from and how no one believed in them and they came out on top. i love a good “started from the bottom” story.
Jon Bellion – Guillotine
guillotine is a song from “the human condition” album that came out last year. i love guillotine because it incorporates many different types of songs into one. and i can’t explain it any better than the man himself. Jon uploaded a whole video about the making of this song and i think this will make you like the song just as much as me.
Jeremih – Paradise
paradise is from the late nights album that came out two years ago. please do not judge me for this… i heard this song on the end of a keeping up with the kardashians episode. DO NOT judge this song simply because of that because this song has a very nice vibe. the song sounds kind of solemn with the acoustic guitar playing in the background and jeremih’s silky vocals in front.
Kendrick Lamar – LUST. , LOVE.
LUST. and LOVE. are both off of the DAMN. album that came out this year. LUST. begins with a riff that repeats and plays throughout the entire song. every time i hear this song i just want to completely focus on the song and bob my head because it just has that aura about it. his rhymes in this song are so effortless that you aren’t as focused only on them as you are the feel of the entire song. not to mention the chorus is catchy in a weird sort of way. speaking of catchy choruses LOVE. was on repeat in my brain for a solid three months before i listened to anything else. was it just me or did we all think that ZACARI sounded just like Justin Bieber on this song and that he probably would’ve sounded amazing on it? just me? okay. anyway, LOVE. starts with ZACARI singing oh so beautifully the catchy chorus i was talking about and in this he sings a beautiful falsetto that just had to be acknowledged. this song has a peaceful vibe to it and then the bass comes in and the drum hit making the song yet another bop. Kendrick’s flow in this song is so easy to listen to and catch on to quickly. while we are on Kendrick Lamar i completely recommend this whole album because even though some of the songs are a little overplayed the whole album was amazing when it came out and it still is. give it a listen.
Sam Hunt – Drinkin’ Too Much
drinkin’ too much is a single that came out this year and it is categorized under country. can i just say that i love Sam Hunt? i really do. his country style is not only tolerable, but very enjoyable. you’ll find that country music isn’t my first choice, but if you can give me a good country artist to listen to that i can vibe with, i’m all about it. i think i especially like his style and this song specifically because of his sing/talk talent. he literally talks on top of a beat and then sings at the chorus which also by the way sounds completely amazing. he has this voice like, you know when you are talking at night and you are kind of tired and you are gonna fall asleep, but you don’t quite want to stop talking because the conversation you are having is too good? this song has that kind of vibe, but ten times better with his singing. check it out.
Sleeping At Last-Sun,Turning Page,Saturn
sun is from the atlas: space 1 – EP that came out 4 years ago. I absolutely love the light and airy voice of Ryan O’Neal because it is so strong yet light and beautiful… very serene. these are the type of songs that make you think really hard about your life and kind of want to cry because of how lucky you are. i really love the piano in this song and how intricate the music is in general. it reminds me so much of an orchestra and when they pay behind a singer. by the second half of the song we have hit the climax and everything is strong and then it starts to tone down again at the end to just pull you right back into the song just when you thought it couldn’t get any better. the songs of Sleeping At Last are the type of songs you dance to whether it be contemporary or lyrical or maybe even ballet. Turning Page is a single that came out six years ago. the song starts with a melodic piano solo and Ryan enters in softly. I wouldn’t be the best person ever if i didn’t tell you that they included this song in Grey’s Anatomy and that just makes this song ten times better because it will give you all the feels of the episode every time you listen to it. Saturn is from the Albas: Year One album that came out 4 years ago. Saturn starts peacefully with a violin and what sounds like a cello, but i could be very wrong because i do not play these instruments though i really really wish i did. at the one minute mark the piano comes in and seems to take over the lead spot in instruments with still no singing from Ryan until around two minutes and some. still coming in peacefully and growing with the instruments in unison.
John Mayer – Neon, Free Fallin’, In Your Atmosphere
i listened to all of the songs on the Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles album because the best versions of John are live versions. am i right? or am i wrong? let me know in the comments. neon is the first song and the album and also coincidentally the first song i listen to and the first song i fell in love with on the album. i played this song two times a day everyday for a month. no joke. this live version starts with John doing this long riff on his guitar and he starts to sing around the one minute and thirty second mark. his raspy and strong voice make the whole crowd mesmerized and enraptured in his talent. the song grows and falls and it is beautiful. by the way this is a pop album that came out ten years ago. free fallin’ is such a good one and i love it because it has that feel where you are in the backyard of your friends’ house and y’all are just singing songs together at night. in your atmosphere also… starts with a guitar! are you surprised? this song is much like the other two in relation to the vibe, but very different in it’s own right because of the words and chords etc etc, but this one also just stuck with me for no particular reason. I first heard this songs on Monica Church’s vlog channel and it was a bop then much like it is now.
ZAYN – fOol fOr YoU
this song is from the Mind of Mine album that came out last year and it is categorized as pop. when i heard that ZAYN was no longer in One Direction I was kind of sad for them, but then immediately happy for ZAYN because that is what he had wanted forever. I like this song particularly because it shows off his vocals very well especially his falsetto cause he is hitting those notes honey. this song begins with piano and then ZAYN enters very peacefully, but i promise the song has so much feeling and the power comes in later.
A Boogie wit da Hoodie – Artist
artist is from the album artist that came out last year. I listen to songs on this album all the time, especially my sh*t, and i never heard the song artist. i listened to it a couple weeks ago and now i haven’t been able to turn it off. A Boogie wit da Hoodie has a distinct kind of voice and the rapping in this song is combined with singing and it just makes me want to move my shoulders to the beat as it plays cause this song is lit. trust me, i don’t think this would be played in the club, but loud in the car at night on the highway is the perfect scene for this song.
Mac Miller – My Favorite Part
my favorite part is from the album the divine feminine that came out last year. this song features his now girlfriend Ariana Grande which adds a certain spirit to the song that just gives it this old school feel and flow. Mac singing in this song is oddly beautiful because he isn’t about to win any best singer awards, but the words he is singing and his effort doesn’t sound bad. when Ariana’s voice comes up in the second half of the song everything comes together to beauty and that is why this song is a good listen.
if you have made it to the end of this very very long post, CONGRATS you just got lots and lots of fresh new music for your rotation! let me know, which songs you like and those you don’t in the comments. ALSO tell me some of the songs in your rotation right now because i need new music despite what you might think this list isn’t enough. LASTLY there are many many more songs that i know of and listen that just didn’t happen to make it on the list, but i love all music so don’t be afraid to make suggestions!! thanks for reading this post ?
hellokhaiyah <3