What’s playing in your headphones this summer? Here at the Music Section we have two new editors, and we’ve decided, what better introduction than to share what we’ve been listening to recently? Summer 2025 is seeing the release of so many anticipated works— from Pulp’s first album in 24 years More, to Lorde’s 4th studio album Virgin. There’s also been a rise in popularity of up and coming artists such as PinkPantheress and Addison Rae. Contrarily, with the highly publicised Oasis tour coming up, Jeff Buckley, Lauryn Hill, and Limp Bizkit trending— ’90s/’00s nostalgia music is once again back (though, when isn’t it?).
Everything is in this summer; so here are the tunes and albums that have stood out to us.
Our Top 3 Songs
Shenice’s #3
‘Ooh La La’ by Faces (1973)
A song that came out much before my time has become one of my most played this summer as of yet. ‘Ooh La La’ is nostalgic and auditorily nourishing in a rare sense that I’m convinced is felt by everyone who listens to the song. The introspective lyrics ‘I wish that I knew what I know now, when I was younger’ are strikingly heartfelt and relatable. Songwriters that master the art of storytelling within their music will always hold a special place in my heart, but Faces’ raw honesty and authenticity in this song is truly something special.
Tamsin’s #3
‘Eh, Eh (Nothing Else I Can Say)’ by Lady Gaga (2008)
I could not tell you what prompted this forgotten Lady Gaga single from 2008 to emerge from the recesses of my brain, but I’m so glad it did. It is so nostalgic, so bouncy, so energising – it sounds like it’s being played out of a pink Nintendo DS (this effect is heightened when listened to through Bargain Store AirPods—£12.99, #notspon).
Shenice’s #2
‘H.O.O.D -2025 Mix’ by Kneecap (2025)
‘H.O.O.D’ is a brilliant song, lyrically and instrumentally. However, the reason I’ve chosen the 2025 version is because it is unapologetic. The original version came out in 2019 before the band’s newfound and controversial popularity. Re-releasing this song shows that they stand strongly by their message, being a proud “H-double-O-D” and not giving into the pressure and ostracism of labelling. The song makes it to my top 3 because it feels ever so close to my heart when looking at the unique connection and solidarity between the Irish & Caribbean communities (Caribbean being my heritage). When I hear it I can’t help but be reminded of reggae songs that convey the same message– ‘Identity’ by Burning Spear comes to mind.
Tamsin’s #2
‘A Lady of a Certain Age’ by The Divine Comedy (2006)
This is a devastating song that I “discovered” (as much as you can discover a song with 9 million streams on Spotify) via the music website Radiooooo – it’s some truly beautiful storytelling which partially mourns the loss of vacant sons to careers in stocks out in Surrey.
Shenice’s #1
‘Could You Be Loved’ by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1980)
From their album Uprising, ‘Could You Be Loved’ is a beautifully poetic song about love, resistance and passion. This summer I’ve taken a liking to listening to the music that I grew up with and hearing it with new ears – this song is much more than just the reggae tune that everyone at the event belts the words out to. Now more than ever I’m finding it increasingly important to be listening to music made in times of political turmoil and revolution, being sonically reminded of the power of people and community. The positivity that emanates from this song enlightens the listener to the joy that can come from dancing together in the spirit of resistance.
Tamsin’s #1
‘RIP, KP’ by King Princess (2025)
King Princess is so cool it feels contagious. ‘RIP, KP’ marks the lead single of her upcoming album Girl Violence (releasing 12th September) and introduces itself with some pretty intense, wacky production alongside lyrics about being cut to pieces, having your life destroyed etc. Summer vibes!
Our Top 3 Albums
Shenice’s #3:
11:11 by Biig Piig (2025)
Having already written a review on this album for The Student, I will spare any detailed analysis, but these songs have been on repeat for me since their release in February. I find myself popping it on when I wake up to start my day on good vibes, or when I’m coming home to wind down– it’s been the album that I go to when I’m sad, or happy, tired, or productive. Somehow there is something for me to resonate with, no matter the vibe. ‘Stay Home’ is one of my most played songs at the moment, it fills me with an indescribable warmth contrasted by the devastatingly depressing, yearning type of love. On the other side, the bubblegum, nearly hyper-pop elements of ‘Favourite Girl’ have me feeling like I’m walking around the ‘mall’ with friends inside of a 00’s teen dramedy movie.
Tamsin’s #3
Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling (2020)
Laura Marling’s music is prettiness personified, with a deeper lyrical undertone that makes it the perfect listening for—honestly—most scenarios: wanting to switch your brain off, wanting to keep it firmly on, crying and dancing in equal measure. Addressed to her baby daughter, the album includes wide-ranging songs dedicated to fictional affairs, finding God, and calling yourself a socialist for the sake of it. It’s breezy if you let it be, but deeply affecting if you have the energy to really listen.
Shenice’s #2
I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! by Janis Joplin (1969)
First of all, an amazing album title. Another one on the list that is far from my generation of music, yet I feel as if its message is stronger than ever in 2025. I Got Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues Again Mama! is a tale of resilient optimism and perseverance. It is the most uplifting of records. ‘Maybe’ is one of my most beloved songs, I’ve never heard another that makes me feel quite the way that this one does. Whilst Janis did receive recognition after her passing, I still feel as if the world has never truly acknowledged the sheer power of her voice. Janis’ music is due to have its resurgence sometime soon. There is something about the blues that makes people feel deeply, in our bones and in our souls. I know that it’s very commonly said but it is true that they don’t make music like this anymore. Are we due for a comeback of the blues, and if so what would a blues tune made in 2025 even sound like? I’m filled with curiosity.
Tamsin’s #2
Forced Witness by Alex Cameron (2017)
Alex Cameron only came into my Spotify rotation this month, when I came across the single “Marlon Brando” and found myself intrigued by his—if you squint your ears—almost Brendon Urie-like voice and lyrics about men getting into catty fights with each other. The rest of the album is superb: particular highlights include ‘The Hacienda’ (an ode to pay-per-view television and infidelity), and ‘Candy May’ (a supremely 80s-inspired ‘love’ song that invites nothing but pity from the listener).
Shenice’s #1
Women In Music Pt III by HAIM (2021)
A time will come when I’ll feel as if I have finally “made it” in my chosen career path, and when that time comes I will go home, pour myself a glass of wine, make some pasta, and dance around my living room to this very album. In the contemporary era of artists churning out as much “content” as they can in order to retain relevance, it is so rare to stumble across an album where every single song is truly a banger. What says summer more than HAIM’s ‘Summer Girl- Bonus Track’, this song will always be the soundtrack to my summers and this album the soundtrack to my late teens. ‘The Steps’, ‘I Know Alone’, and ‘Gasoline’ are all objectively incredible songs and I have never been able to explain how immaculate I find the folksy vibes of ‘Man From The Magazine’. ‘Hallelujah – Bonus Track’ is a song that Stevie Nicks has repeatedly called one of her favourite songs of all time, and who are we to question the music taste of THE Stevie Nicks? So whilst I was ever so slightly disappointed by HAIM’s most recent release I quit, the craftswomenship* of Women In Music Pt III cements it as one of my favourite albums of all time, and certainly my album of the summer.
Tamsin’s #1
Pink Pearl by Jill Sobule (2000)
After Jill Sobule’s tragic death in January this year, I found myself getting deeply into her discography (previously, I was only familiar with ‘Supermodel’, thanks to its ingenious appearance on the Clueless soundtrack). Pink Pearl, her fourth album, is a masterpiece. Songs such as ‘Mexican Wrestler’ and ‘Somewhere in New Mexico’ achieve that impossible status of being heartwrenching, sincere, and hilarious all at the same time: and never, ever mawkish. She sings of subjects that would’ve been surrounded by taboo at the turn of the century (mental illness, self-harm, even the age-gap relationship that inspired May December) and somehow does it all with a lightness of touch and deep compassion that ensures she never leans into flippancy. 10/10.
With songs and albums spanning from 1969 to 2025, it’s fair to say our music picks for this summer are neither current nor dated. A secret third thing… timeless. In this streaming era of having access to everything all at once all of the time, it’s heartening to see that originality still prevails: we still yearn for the things we’ve heard before (the nostalgia of Lady Gaga from my iPod Nano, the Bob Marley of Shenice’s childhood) and still want to discover the things we never have. It’s interesting too, how little of a “summer” vibe we’ve curated: nothing listed is particularly seasonal, and so all of it is—again—timeless. Music is for life, not just for Christmas (or summer).
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