Happy New Year! It's time to say hello to 2022 and get ready for the brand-new releases that are going to be flowing out within the next couple of months. Although the new year is all about resolutions, planning for the year ahead and leaving 2021 behind, we've decided to have a recap of what tracks got the Kindred. team through the year just gone. Given the question "What was one track that got you through the year?" and their answers spanning from tracks back from the 80s up to 2021 releases, this is what myself and the team had to say:
$500 Ounces - Westside Gunn ft. Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano
To be completely honest, when I first heard the Westside Gunn Pray For Paris album, I never really gave myself a chance to fully sink into it, take in the lyrics and listen to the complexities of the sampling. After a year or so, I decided to give it another go and fell in love with '$500 Ounces' mostly because of its captivating production. With a sprinkling of Freddie Gibbs superior wordplay to start the track off, it reminds me why I love Hip-Hop so much. Not to mention seeing The Alchemist, who produced the track, spin this at a show he did last year; it really was the cherry on top. - Shenead
THAT'S WHAT I WANT - Lil Nas X
If there's one artist who blew up throughout 2021 and has everyone talking about their music constantly, it's Lil Nas X. With his eccentric music videos and entertaining narratives, Reem mentioned that her favourite song of 2021 was his track 'THAT'S WHAT I WANT' from his album Montero. "The entire album is a no skip album for me and I had this song on repeat in particular because it gave me positive, upbeat vibes and I played it every morning for an entire month to get me awake and hyped." - Reem
Nkao Tempela - Ch'cco ft. Mellow & Sleazy
Taking an interest into the newly emerging genre Amapiano, Babajide showed us what he's been into recently: "This is my favourite song. I just heard it like, last week don’t know what they are saying but it’s vibes. The only bit I understand is at 2:50min and it’s basically saying "don’t make me go crazy". I think it’s South African." - Babajide
Mimi Webb - Dumb Love
British singer/songwriter Mimi Webb grew to fame after TikTok star Charlie D'Amelio featured her track 'Before I Go' on a video which quickly went viral. "I think one of my favourite songs of 2021 is 'Dumb Love' from Mimi Webb." Janet Says. "It tells the story of the joy and nostalgia of young love, and it's the perfect song to listen to when you want to reminisce about the good old days. I found Mimi on TikTok during lockdown and fell in love with her voice; she has since gone viral and even had a song in Billboard's Top 40 Airplay. Her sound is heavily influenced by Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Sam Smith, among others. If you really want to feel something, listen to the entire Seven Shades of Heartbreak EP." - Janet
Tears On My Window - Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn ft. Eleni Drake
Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn are a rap and production duo hailing from Brighton, UK. With their musical relationship and friendship stronger than ever spanning over 9 years, they take influence from Hip-Hop, Rap, Garage, Grime and Dance. "I’m gonna go with ‘Tears on my Window’ by Frankie Stew & Harvey Gunn. After what we’ve all been through these last few years this song just really hit a chord. Frankie Stew just puts everything on the table and so it’s a go to when I’m feeling a little disheartened with the world." - Laila
Raise A Hallelujah - Bethel Music
Leslie reflects that her faith is what kept her grounded when things started to get tough in 2021. Sharing the track "Raise A Hallelujah" with us by Bethel music as her most listened to track of the year, Leslie says: "It’s a song that is my song of victory. Whenever I had difficult moments or things stressing me out or making me worry, I would listen to this song and become confident that God will see me through the trials. This song is uplifting for me and reminds me that everything will be alright and in his perfect plan." - Leslie
Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Taking us back to the 80s with this track by Tears For Fears, the blowup of old music has had mostly Gen-Z appreciating how good music was back then and making various tracks go viral on TikTok. “I’ve always loved the band Tears for Fears since I was in my teens," Says Emma. "But it’s only this year that I’ve discovered this 1985 track of theirs, ‘Head over Heels’, thanks to its resurgence on TikTok. It’s been on constant repeat on my phone, and captures that angst of falling for someone unattainable. Plus that 80’s synth is to die for!" - Emma
Joy Crookes - When You Were Mine
Joy Crookes had an exceptional year leading up to the release of Skin. With soulful, anecdotal ballads, Crookes had one of the biggest debuts in 2021."This has to be my favourite track from Joy Crookes’ debut album that came out in October and potentially my favourite song of 2021. I just love her style and lyrics, there’s not one skip on the whole album." - Lucy
Olivia Rodrigo - good 4 u
Cait's favourite track from 2021 was one that makes her feel nostalgic every time she hears it. With Olivia Rodrigo making a mark with her Sour album release, the singer was met with waves of positive reception that's made her one of the most popular artists of 2021. "Olivia Rodrigo's 'good 4 u' is just one of those songs that when I hear it I am immediately taken back to the summer. Living with three of my best friends during third year I learnt so much about myself and what true friendship and unconditional support actually is. This song takes me back to staying up late and screaming it at the tops of our lungs for absolutely no reason and to be transported back to that moment with them when I was at my happiest, even just for 3 minutes, just makes this song so important to me." - Cait
What are the tracks that got you through the year just gone? Let us know in the comments below!
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