Playlist: Speelburg grinds through the night with songs that rule

Welcome to Playlists, a series where we turn over the reigns to artists to curate the next big playlist

Speelburg cozies up to nightmarish dreamscapes, relinquishing his soul into a thick fog of sticky ’90s lo-fi. Prisms of light shoot from his fingertips. His late-blooming 2018 release, Noah’s Audition Tape EP, which was written for the sole purpose of landing a job on Saturday Night Live, busts at the seams with swatches of neon. He’s a curious mastermind who has learned the only way to break through the noise is to take charge, ripping the reigns away from the powers that be and galloping away to the earth’s edge. He spits in their face with his cobblestone pop-punk mixtape, and even when the melodies induce torrential night-sweats and chest-ripping terrors, as they do on such cuts as “I’m Always Late” and “Stan Sm,” there is something bizarrely soothing about his voice. He pulls you through electrifying sound waves, and you can’t help but swallow every single drop.

So, it was only appropriate to have the trend-busting architect construct an exclusive B-Sides & Badlands playlist of all his current addictions. From IGBO, Your Smith and Cola Boyy to Viagra Boys and Squid, the Songs That Rule Playlist is a splendid display of some of the best musicians, producers and songwriters working tirelessly at the grindstone. If you haven’t heard of any of them, you’re probably not listening hard enough. Time to expand your horizons and get lost in Speelburg’s corner of the (snow)globe.

Below, the up and comer walks us through each of his picks with his dry, sly, cheeky charm.

“I’m Always Late” by Speelburg

If you’re into powerful messages, this message is kind of powerful. I now have something handy to send to friends when I’m inevitably late, because I always am. Next time your friend texts you something like, “Hey dude, it’s midnight, dinner’s over and grandma’s in bed, don’t bother coming,” text them back a link to my new single. It will make things better.

“Gimme Gimme” by IGBO

My buddy recently showed me “Gimmie Gimmie.” If this song doesn’t make this band the band of the summer, then the world is a much dumber place than we thought. I know it came out in 2016, and several summers have gone by, but I am very influential and very easily influenced. So, here’s hoping I can affect the world as it has affected me: for the better. If no one else agrees, at least me and my buddy can boogie on through morning to this very cool song.

“The Spot” by Your Smith

Shout out to Spotify for feeding me this nugget. There I was on my Christmas morning run in Glendale listening to Caroline Rose (who also rules), then this came on. Lots has been said about how Californian it sounds. Many flatterings and compliments and Sheryl Crowe comparisons have been inked, because Youtube comments are the greatest form of journalism.

“Penny Girl” by Cola Boyy

Holy moly, this rules. Cola Boyy’s debut EP ‘Black Boogie Neon’ is exactly what I want to listen to most of the time. It’s so fucking colorful, and I very much encourage you to watch the videos, too. If you’re dying to meet me, I’ll be at one of his shows probably, so see you there!

“Ordinary Pleasure” by Toro Y Moi

Chaz bear has made yet another thing I love. With an almost bored-like delivery, here’s a single from his forthcoming album ‘Outer Peace.’ If you can find coherency with your music and it’s image, you have my attention. The square peace logo is a delight, and I can’t wait to wear it around my neck.

“My Delight” by Gavin Turek

It’s a good thing I watch most of the late-night talk shows. Conan had Gavin Turek on, and I hadn’t heard a thing about her before that. There’s a reason I’ve provided two links for this one. The first [inside the playlist above], the track in its full quality has one of the greatest bass lines of 2017. The second, Turek actually performing it on Conan. Shit, that’s cool. “It takes a lot to make it in this business, but if you can dance, you can make it on tv” ⏤ a quote I just made up that I hope a scholar will one day quote back to me.

“Burning Off My Clothes” by Sworn Virgins

Along with their other great single “Fifty Dollar Bills,” Sworn Virgins have appeared out of nowhere and taken over my earbuds. One of the many advantages of having your music released through Soulwax’s Deewee label is that they will mix your songs. They are verrrry good at mixing. Kicks and bass work perfectly together. The highs are sharp but don’t make you want to tear your face off.

“All Nite Long” by Handbraekes

Another very well mixed song, courtesy of Mr. Oizo and Boys Noize. Surely, they considered the name “Noizo”?! Anywayz, this song is weird and great and, it, too, rules!

“Peppergood” by The Samps

Pitchfork compared them to the Avalanches which they disagreed with on Instagram. I think I agree with them disagreeing. Sure, it’s cut up samples, but this song feels more at home in an Ed Banger compilation. That’s not to say that the self-titled EP this track is taken from doesn’t share some colors with those Australian godfathers, but there’s a whole other thing going on here. It’s eclectic, as well, sometimes even dipping down into Onra’s well. You might also enjoy Amelia Airhorn….

“New York Is Red Hot” by Amelia Airhorn

….so with that in mind, here’s Amelia Airhorn. Totally under appreciated, this, in fact, shares a lot of DNA with the Avalanches. Movie samples, love of disco etc…too bad there isn’t any more. I guess the Knocks and Skylark Spence are busy with their own endeavours.

“The Dial” by Squid

I was meant to be DJ’ing in a bar in Brighton during Great Escape, and when I got there, these dudes were playing. I was so in. It was at times Beastie Boys-ish, at times at the Drive-In, at times Parquet Courts, all the while listening to the same stuff James Murphy grew up on. What a great show.

“Sports” by Viagra Boys

I’m jealous I didn’t direct this video. I did something similar once, but this is just perfect. “Sports” is a rock-hard jam. You could slip it into any decade in the past 50 years, and it would probably make sense. Weiner dog

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