Ellie's Monthly Playlist: August

So, back in May, I started a little series called "Ellie's Monthly Playlist", which lets you in on my 5 favourite songs, albums or general artists from the month. And have I kept that up? Lol, no. And it's probably a bit early to be doing my August monthly playlist on the 18th, but I'm off on holiday from tomorrow and I doubt I'll find any material I adore more than the delights I'm gonna to tell you about now (plus I'm on a complete music buzz after seeing the angelic George Ezra live last night - I promise I'll do a 2018 gig round up at the end of the year which will tell you all about it). So let's get started: 

LOYAL TO ME BY NINA NESBITT 

Nina was mentioned in my last monthly playlist with 'Somebody Special', and if she keeps making music like she has been, she'll probably end up on all of them. Her entry on this edition is her latest single 'Loyal to Me', which, for me, is Dua Lipa's 'New Rules' against a 90s backdrop. The lyrics are super clever, super easy to pick up and also super empowering, paired with an infectious beat, including classic 90s instrumentals - like the acoustic guitar picking. As always, Nina's husky, 'female-Ed-Sheeran' vocals are on form, topping this silky smooth yet formidable song. 

TWENTY ONE PILOTS 

Together with Florence and the Machine, twenty one pilots are probably my favourite band, and have been for about...3 years now? When all the things about dema and Clancy started to surface towards the end of their hiatus (if you have no idea what I'm on about, check out this vid) I was on edge for new music. And I had a right to be, because their three new songs are just incredible. Each are as diverse as the material they've previously released, with 'Levitate' being a slick rap number (how am I meant to learn that for when I go and see them in March? No chance), 'Nico and the Niners' being a war cry to a reggae beat, and 'Jumpsuit' being a layered emotional labyrinth of a track, blending soft balladry in one section with punchy rock verses. Amongst many others, one reason I love twenty one pilots so much is their unpredictability; the only thing that can be predicted about their music is that it's going to be like nothing we've heard before, which makes me very very very very excited about their album 'Trench', released October 5th - put it in your calendars, people. 

WIPED OUT! BY THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

This, ladies and gents, is a bit of a weird one. I've known of The Neighbourhood for a really long time - 'Sweater Weather' was my Year 10 tune - and my pal Emma introduced me to the song 'Daddy Issues' from the album 'Wiped Out!' earlier this year. And one day this month I just clicked on the album and gave it a listen, and it's really very good. It's chilled but solemn, with darker themes muffled in the background of so many songs, like 'Daddy Issues'. That song is definitely an album highlight, but 'Single' is also beautiful, with simplistic acoustic backing Jesse Rutherford's pleading vocals, while 'R.I.P 2 My Youth' takes a different direction, with more aggressive tones. 'Welcome to Califournia' is also one of my favourites; although it's quite simplistic, it's just so quietly great. Even though the album tackles some harder topics, it's still a fairly easy listen, and it will always remind me of a recent trip to Paris, as I dozed off listening to the album in a park near the Eiffel Tower - pretty blissful, right?

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN BY BILLIE EILISH 

When I first Billie Eilish's 'ocean eyes' back in the day, never did I think I'd hear a surging pop, synth explosion from her. Well, here we are today with 'you should see me in a crown'. The chorus is a thunderous bid for the crown  - and I do think we've found a new queen of alt-pop here, with soft, haunting, Lorde-style croons married with hard-hitting instrumentalism that really do leave a mark. I don't think there's anything completely different about the song - it reminds me a lot of The Chemical Brothers, Lorde and Miguel's' 'This is Not a Game' for The Hunger Games - but I think it's so gutsy and the ultimate power anthem. I love it. 

LOVE IT IF WE MADE IT BY THE 1975 

Much like twenty one pilots, I've loved The 1975 for years now, although it's definitely not quite as intense a love as I have for Tyler and Josh. However, they have made a strong bid for my heart with their three latest singles, particularly 'Love It If We Made It'. Don't be fooled by it's simplistic instrumentalism - this song has something to say, which you can probably tell even if you just listen to the bold first line. Matty's vocals really come into their own on this song, being much stronger than any of the instruments. The 80s-style track deals with all sorts of struggles and frustrations, and the slightly more relaxed choruses simply repeating "I'd love it if we made it" drum in a bit of reassurance that one day we'll overcome all the world's issues; it's a weird, subtle kind of hope. And The 1975 do weird subtlety really well. 

That just about sums up my monthly playlist for August - I can't wait to see what September holds in terms of music! I'm on a lovely family starting from tomorrow so I might not be around for a while, but until I get back to you, stay classy.

From,
Eleanor