The Solo List.

What is Valentines Day*? For some of us, it is a myth. A myth that is apparently dumbed down to deep red, roses and dinner -Kanye shrug-. My mate wrote a piece about this, and it is apt. Others will be pretending to not care, some definitely won't. But if you're here, you care. About generating some vibes that make you feel at least plausibly indifferent. With films like How To Be Single recently released, I'm all in aid for championing self-sustainment and casting out the ghosts of romance past.

This is a delicate one, so I've made a point to get large from the start. French Kalash & Pompis "Independent Gyal" is a batty-flicking madness.It calls for too much. Mean-mugging, trigger fingers. Anything necessary to dun the dance.

Next we have three directly meaningful songs. From the "one" chanting in Lauryn Hill's classic "Lost Ones", the throwback to Outkast's "Roses", and Dizzee Rascal's unbelievably clever cyclical "love" story in "Round We Go", you're bound to get lifted. 

This is all good and well, but sometimes you have to harness the negative to make room for the good. We all have different healing processes. Some of us need to wallow to the sounds of some powerful lyrics (Arctic Monkeys, "Do Me A Favour", Etta Bond "Break Free"); some need a smash & flee release ("Best For Last", Adele); or to make some sweeping accusations (Chris Brown). Either way, it's all cathartic.

Sounds like: Strength & weakness
Skanks like: An emotional journey in skankin'
For: Lone wolves *For love, spooning anthems and the like, please see The Valentines List of 2014.

The Monochrome List.

Sometimes in life, you've gotta get sinkhole deep profound and manifest your melodrama, nahmean? Let me help you:

This playlist features sombre piano notes accompanied with sad slur champ Ghostpoet, and some unsettling glitch loops common to Crystal Castles' sound. SZA's "Teen Spirit" and Ruff Sqwad's "Misty Cold" breezy additions are mandatory for winter's sake, as is Sam Smith's intensity on Nirvana. As a pick me up, you can always rely on DMX to make you involuntarily skank to some diabolical raps, in addition to Mike Skinner's intro in "Empty Cans" which is faultless. Thank you for The Streets.


I was introduced to The Feeling somewhere in between Sixth Form and wondering what happened to Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Long story short, her husband (Richard Jones) is the bassist, and these guys created a ballad on Rosé wine. White Zin for the win.

Sounds like: A transition from self-pity to TOTAL LIFE DOMINATION

Skanks like: A sluggish two-step - head bob

For: The night