Sounds for a Chill-Girl Summer
Not every summer needs to be loud. Some are for deep listening: to yourself, to the world, to the rhythms that hold you. Amid global and political uncertainty, music has become more than just a backdrop. It’s a way of processing, grounding, and making sense of it all. It is Medicine. Memory. Mirror.
These are the sounds I’m moving with this summer. Tunes that feel ancestral, affirming, and alive.
Little Simz – Lotus
Little Simz is a truth-teller. She doesn’t perform pain or power; she embodies it. On this latest EP, she moves with quiet clarity and creative conviction. “Lion” has been playing on repeat for me.
“Bet you never seen a young Black woman so fly / Got the heart of a lion, my Nigerian pride.”
That line hit me like a mirror. It reminded me of the fire I carry, the fire passed down from those who came before. From lands and languages I may not speak fluently but feel in my bones. Simz doesn’t need to raise her voice. The roar is already in her.
Tiwa Savage – Celia
I’ve had Celia on rotation for years. And somehow, it still unfolds. Tiwa moves with ease between spirit and sensuality, tradition and evolution. This album feels like a long conversation with your favorite older cousin. The one who tells you the truth about love, Lagos, heartbreak, and healing, all in one breath.
She laid the foundation for the Afro-R&B fusion that’s everywhere now. Tiwa is legacy. Still building. Still fire.
Olamidé – Olamidé
This is grown folks music. Olamide’s 11th solo album is layered and intentional. He’s not chasing trends. This time around, he’s cementing legacy.
With features from Wizkid, Popcaan, Asake, and even Dr. Dre, it spans continents but stays rooted. “99” and “Kai!” hit hard, but honestly? The whole project plays like a man reflecting on what he’s built and then getting back to work. Yoruba soul meets global energy. Mature. Grounded. Timeless.
Forever (Netflix Playlist)
This one surprised me. The Forever playlist is a soft place to land. It feels like a love letter to 90s R&B and intimate, reflective spaces. You’ll find Zhane, Donell Jones, and Brandy alongside SiR, Mereba, and Alex Isley. It blends old and new in a way that feels like a Caribbean auntie’s Sunday mix (you know, me!) paired with the sultriness of a Brooklyn rooftop at golden hour.
It’s become my soundtrack for slow mornings and soft moments. Warm. Reflective. Music that makes space for breath.
Mical Teja – Home
Summer in the Caribbean without soca? Let’s not get carried away. You don’t have to chase every fête for the music to find you. It’s in the breeze, in the way your shoulders start to sway without permission.
I’m spending more time indoors this summer, but Home has been keeping me company. Easy on the spirit and sweet on the ears, Mical Teja reminds us that soca lives beyond carnival. It’s for cooking, cleaning, liming with friends, or simply being.
Across 13 tracks that blend groove and melody, he reminds us that home isn’t just a place. It’s a feeling. And with this album, he’s given us something tender and true.
What’s on your playlist right now? I’m listening. 🎧