2024 Spotify reWrapped

So the 2024 Spotify Wrapped came out, and I'm not upset at my own results. I thought the statistics gathered in this year's Wrapped were more interesting than last year's (sorry, I didn't care to know which region my music taste resonates with). I'm sure the Spotify teams have to pick and choose which statistics to include, but for me, 2024 specifically is greatly reflected upon the albums that I listened to. I don't think I necessarily listened to music this way in previous years, but these artists must've put something in the water, because once I listened to these albums in their entirety, I couldn't stop. In every lap of listening to the album, I acquired more songs to my Liked Songs library; eventually, (nearly) the whole album is saved.

Here's my 2024 Spotify Wrapped, reWrapped to highlight what it didn't show.

Albums/Soundtracks of the Year, in chronological order of discovering them:

Hozier - Unreal Unearth (: Unaired + Unending)

This album released in August of 2023 and I missed the opportunity of a LIFETIME to see Hozier in concert because I wasn't into the album yet. Then January 2024 rolls around and all of a sudden, I'm in the mood to test the waters. Missing him perform these songs is one of the few regrets I'll carry with me in life. Yeah, sure he'll probably go on tour again in the future, but it won't be the same, because then he'll be on tour for a different album and the songs performed from this album will be seen as bonus, throwback performances.

Unreal Unearth takes me on a journey every time I listen to it. It's one of those albums that should be listened to in order. Whenever I feel bold and listen to it on shuffle, I still have to queue 'De Selby (Part 2)' after 'De Selby (Part 1)' because the transition is too good to pass up. I love 'Francesca,' 'I, Carrion (Icarian),' 'Who We Are,' and 'To Someone From A Warm Climate (Uiscefhuaraithe),' but 'All Things End' by far takes the cake. I was at work when I listened to it for the first time, and I could barely contain myself. That choir really got me, and the build in the song is just, ugh, so good.

In August, I found myself listening to the album again, and I vividly remember collapsing and gripping the floor seeing that he released the Unaired EP. It felt like Hozier knew I was listening to the album and personally handed me the cherry on top. An absolutely, all-around splendid album; what a strong start to the year.

Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever

Before I listened to Happier Than Ever, I had only 'Billie Bossa Nova' and 'my future' saved from a past Discover Weekly. I'm not sure what came over me to try out the album from 2021, but I'm so glad that I did. I knew Billie Eilish was and is a talented artist, but I just never got to her music. Happier Than Ever was my formal introduction to Eilish. This album in particular has an overarching calm feeling to it, but the beats are dynamic enough for the songs to feel interesting on loops. I mostly remember listening to this while working on school- or work-related tasks. Listening to this album really set me up for HIT ME HARD AND SOFT which came out a couple months after discovering Happier Than Ever.

Emile Mosseri - Minari Soundtrack

I had always heard good things about Minari, but I knew that it was a subbed movie that needed my full attention, so it took some time for me to get to it. While watching Minari, I fell in love with the soundtrack and knew I was going to listen to it afterwards. 'Halmeoni' was the first track that I gravitated towards; it's the darn string plucking. The undertones of cello throughout the whole soundtrack made me feel grounded and calm. Similar to Happier Than Ever, I listened to this soundtrack on so many loops while doing school and work. Movie soundtracks are a whole other topic, but this one definitely made me feel like I was in my own movie. Emile Mosseri is one of my top five artists this year, solely because of the Minari soundtrack. Sure, I listened to some of his other music, but mostly when the Minari soundtrack finished and Spotify played recommended songs afterwards.

Billie Eilish - HIT ME HARD AND SOFT

Billie Eilish intentionally leaked a snippet of 'CHIHIRO' and I was hooked. I played that TikTok over and over again as I'm sure many other people did. When the album released, the song lived up to the anticipated hype. I don't think there's much that needs to be said about this album; its popularity speaks for itself. My favorite songs from the album are 'L'AMOUR DE MA VIE' and 'WILDFLOWER.' For the former, it stuck during my first listen, and for the latter, what can I say? I love a good belt. Because this was the second album of Billie Eilish that I was listening to on a loop, it's clear as to how she became my top artist this year. You did well, Billie Eilish.

Troye Sivan - Something to Give Each Other

Listening to this album feels like a casual jog on a cool day. I was obsessed with 'Rush' during a separate time, so I can't even count it towards my favorite songs on the album; it's its own entity. 'Silly' and 'One Of Your Girls' are my favorites, but 'What's The Time Where You Are?' is an honorable mention fun song. My only complaint about the album is that it's too short. More please, Troye. Charli and Troye came to town in October, and although I had a conflicting trip during the time, I still wish I got to see them perform. I just know it was an amazing show with lots of energy. Let's not glaze over the album cover. Obviously, the poses are fun, but the color makes it even more enticing and aesthetically pleasing to look at. Troye Sivan's smile in the photo is so genuine; it encapsulates the essence of the album.

Omar Apollo - God Said No

Not to be one of those people, but I swear I've been a fan of Omar Apollo since he had three songs out, 'Brakelights,' 'Ugotme,' and 'Pram.' And now here he is, selling out venues on tour--insane but well-deserved. I bought a ticket for the God Said No tour before listening to the album. I've been a big fan for too long to pass up an opportunity like that. The concert was set for the beginning of October, so I was studying up all of September, and let me tell you, studying for this concert was no trouble whatsoever. 'Less of You' and 'Dispose of Me' have really stuck to me, reflecting a great balance of fun energy and emotion in the album. I didn't want to be spoiled of any performance surprises, so I avoided any concert clips, but from what I saw, I knew it was going to be a PERFORMANCE and boy was it one. Gosh, the choreography, the cinematography, the prop work, the lighting--phenomenal. When I say I enjoy concerts because they're experiences, this concert was the epitome of that.

We also can't glaze over the transitional track 'Pedro.' When I first listened to the album, I didn't track which songs were playing and didn't know the song titles yet. But then I heard a familiar voice speaking into my ears. Pedro Pascal? Yes way. I'm so curious as to how that track came to be, as the audio recording of Pascal speaking sounds so genuine.

MICHELLE - Songs About You Specifically

Let's just get this out of the way, my favorite song from Songs About You Specifically is 'Noah;' the bridge gets me every time. I bought a ticket to a MICHELLE concert mostly because it was cheap and I knew the vibes would be good based on a couple of songs that I had already saved. Fast forward a few days and I realized I mixed them up with a different group (DAISY), but I still did know some of their songs. I put faith in them and started studying up. Turns out I'd listen to the album on a loop just like all the others mentioned before. The graphics and choreography of the small video playing on Spotify while a song plays further enticed me. Also their group photo is just so easy on the eyes. The women specifically are so beautiful, and (not to objectify them but) I fell in love with all of them the night of their concert. They're so entertaining and talented--each bringing a distinct voice to the table. MICHELLE's concert is one you don't want to miss if you're even an adjacent fan.

Thee Sacred Souls - Got a Story to Tell

I'm truly not sure it's possible for Thee Sacred Souls to create a song that I don't like. I was a fan of their debut album and saw them in concert then, so there was definitely lots of anticipation for Got a Story to Tell. I pre-ordered the album's cassette tape and that was how I listened to it for the first time. I can feel that this group is climbing up their ranks of fame, but every time I listen to their music, I'm shocked as to how they're not as popular as I believe they deserve to be. Their genre (R&B/Soul) may be a little niche--it's no ordinary indie band--but Thee Sacred Souls produces objectively good music, in my opinion. Although I may not have listened to this album as much as others, it is the most perfect album on this list--no skips. Every song is incredible which makes such an enjoyable cassette tape. I could list each song and explain why I like them, but there's a general sense of "uhh, duh, this is good. Are we listening to the same thing?" Josh's (the singer's) range of gentleness in 'I'm So Glad I Found You, Baby' to belting his heart out in 'Somebody Knew' adds so much dimension to the group dynamic. Got a Story to Tell is meant to be played out loud in a house.

(P.S. Also I fell in love with Alex, the group's drummer, in concert and I just found out he also plays the organ on top of playing drums and guitar and I absolutely need to share that. I mean, are you kidding me??)

Kendrick Lamar - GNX

Now this album was a surprise for me. I knew that Kendrick Lamar is an incredibly talented artist and lyricist, but I don't generally listen to rap. My sister first introduced me to 'tv off (feat. lefty gunplay)' which I'd say is the best song on the album, and it was serendipitous timing for me to get hooked to the album. I was commuting to various places on public transportation, and this album helped me push through. I thought this album was best listened to this with headphones on, but then I heard it blasted in a car and everything changed. It feels like a personal anthem. It's a little unfortunate that it may not be reflected on a lot of people's Wraps because it came out right at the same time, but Kendrick doesn't need Wrapped recognition.

I have to give shoutouts to the following songs for the following reasons:

• 'peekaboo (feat. azchike)' because it's a bop

• 'hey now (feat dody6)' because it's a bop

• 'luther (with sza)' because I can't stop thinking of the clip of Janine and Tarik from Abbott Elementary dancing to it

Song of the Year

Tom Misch - 'Better Days'

I've thought about why I love this song so much on multiple occasions. This song released in September, and the day it released, I was hooked. I wasn't going through a rough time, but the song still resonated with me somehow. Tom Misch is truly an artist. I can feel his craft when I listen to his music. If I had to choose one artist to listen to for the rest of my life, he'd be one of the few artists I'd consider. With his new music releasing, I pray that he goes on tour. Whenever I listen to his music, I check on Spotify if there are any events listed, and one day, there will be (I have to believe this). I love Tom Misch in general, but I somehow ended up in the Top 0.001% of listeners worldwide for 'Better Days' in particular.

'Better Days' is told in the perspective of someone encouraging another. What I really love about this song is that I can relate to both perspectives. I can be uplifted by his words, or I can relate to Misch like when I'm trying to help someone out. The calm chord progressions feel like gentle waves. Lyrics aside, the song feels peaceful at its core, and I think that further plays into how I would approach comforting someone. Things can be challenging at times, but there's always faith that everything will work out for the better. It's the same theme to one of my favorite books The Sun Also Rises; by knowing what the good times feel like, it aids us in getting through the tougher times. I mean, the first line of the chorus is "You can't stop the sun from rising."

When I learned the power of diction in high school, I took it and ran. Word choice can seem so miniscule at times, but it's so powerful, creating completely different impressions in a sentence. In this case, Misch chooses to say "There'll be better days" and not "good days," implying that facing obstacles does not constitute utterly bad days. Music can get so complex and fun with adding layers of sound bits to create harmonies, but sometimes a simple song like this is all I need.

Honorable Mentions

Still Woozy - Loveseat

If it weren't for Loveseat, I wouldn't have discovered 'Rid Of Me' which I would listen to on actual loops when I felt burnt out, exhausted on a commute, or plain old sad. The rest of the album is lovely to listen to, but this song in particular ended up in my Top 5 Songs. Still Woozy is a talented artist, and I can't believe he performs 'Rid Of Me' to close out his concerts. He's definitely on my list of artists I'd like to see live.

The Grinns - Burn It Up

Okay, I haven't listened to the full album yet, BUT I know that Burn It Up has to be good. I absolutely love The Grinns, and they're possibly my favorite band that sounds super indie. I cannot believe that they're not more popular than they are, and I don't even know how I discovered them, but I'd recommend this band to anyone who enjoys the early Wallows. I'll probably find Burn It Up on my 2025 Wrapped.

I could dive more into each album, but at the end of the day, music speaks for itself. Of course, I'd highly recommend any of these albums. I hope that I can learn more about music and how it's produced, simply to have a deeper appreciation for it. I watched Pharrell Williams' phenomenal LEGO biopic, Piece by Piece, which cracked open a door to the world of music production, so I'll take that as my foot in the door.