I’m not going to lie, quarantine has not been easy for me — even as an introvert. Turns out, being trapped alone with your thoughts can take a giant toll on your mental health. But thankfully, I’ve always had music to turn to, and my Spotify playlists are honestly one of the only things getting me through each day. So, I thought I’d recommend five artists that I’ve been listening to on repeat these past six months, and maybe they can help brighten your day as well.
- BTS
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I’ve never really been interested in K-Pop before this year, and although I tried to get into BTS a few times, I struggled to see their appeal. However, during quarantine, I’ve managed to fall deep into the BTS rabbit hole, and now I am a full-fledged ARMY. In fact, I’ve never stanned an artist this hard. What finally captured my heart was a combination of their raw talent, genre-diverse discography (from hip hop to R&B to pop to ballads), live performances, charming personalities (which really shine in their Carpool Karaoke), and the care that goes into their lyrics. Many people refuse to listen to music that isn’t in English, but I personally think that causes you to miss out on many talented artists. The best way to enjoy BTS is to approach them without preconceptions. I used to be biased against them too, but once I gave them a proper chance, it didn’t take me long to fall in love.
- Megan Thee Stallion
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There are many debates about who the true Queen of Rap is, but in my humble opinion, this honor should go to Megan Thee Stallion. If you’re familiar with TikTok, then you’ve probably heard of Megan’s hit song “Savage”, but the rest of her work deserves love as well. Some of my favorites are “Cash Sh*t,” “Girls in the Hood,” and “Money Good.” Megan’s energy is unmatched; she is unapologetically herself.
- Kehlani
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I’ve always been a big fan of R&B, and Kehlani’s music perfectly fits the style that I love. Two particular songs—“Honey” and “Bright”—have been on repeat for quite a while now, and I don’t see my obsession ending any time soon. I’m also loving “Everybody Business” from her latest album, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t.
- My Chemical Romance
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Am I discovering my emo side ten years too late? Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was missing out on My Chemical Romance for too long. Everyone knows the timeless classic that is “Welcome to the Black Parade,” but my personal favorite MCR track is “Mama” from the same album. The opening guitar chords alone are enough to make me throw my head back like I’m the main character in a coming-of-age teen movie.
- Ariana Grande
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No playlist of mine would ever be complete without Ariana, who I’ve been listening to on a regular basis since she released “Problem” back in 2014. However, I’ve never been much of an album listener, and this year I decided to change that by finally listening to Ariana’s entire discography. I’m so thankful that I did, because I ended up discovering many underrated songs including “Sometimes,” “Jason’s Song,” and “Daydreamin’.” Now, I have a full playlist dedicated to her and absolutely no regrets.
That’s all I got for now, but I hope you enjoy these wildly talented artists as much as I do.