Each week, staff members compile a themed playlist and spotlight some of their standout selections. This week, we compiled a list of our favorite songs to party to.

“iPod Touch” by Ninajirachi

By Mateo Christians

If there’s anyone wondering if you can listen to EDM casually, the answer is a big, enthusiastic, “yes” from me. “iPod Touch” by Ninajirachi is not only something that sounds great in a concert setting, but something that you can enjoy while walking or working out– although it does distract me too much to listen to it when studying. It perfectly incorporates lyrics that communicate a relatable story about personal discovery through music and feels nostalgic every time I listen to it. When she references hiding her iPod underneath her pillow when she should have been asleep, I remember doing that with my 2DS while playing Pokémon. Overall, I feel like this track really speaks to me. As someone who only started listening to EDM recently, I was really surprised by how much I came around to liking this song. I have a friend who listens to EDM all the time, and when I put him onto this song, he said, and I quote, “that’s a banger, dude.” I came across it completely by chance, and it managed to singlehandedly push me into a completely different genre of music I wouldn’t have considered before. If you’re someone who hasn’t gotten into EDM yet, I would highly recommend not only this song, but Ninajirachi’s entire album by her, I Love My Computer. Although, “iPod Touch” still feels like the main standout to me.

“Rewind featuring bladee” by Charli XCX, Bladee, and A.G. Cook

By Maya Eberlin

I’m gonna be honest- long before I was a Charli girl, I was riding the Drain Gang wave. Transparently, I didn’t listen to any of Charli’s music (barring the obvious radio hits) prior to Brat, which I streamed on release day for fear of missing out on what proved to be a major, year-defining cultural phenomenon. When Charli announced the remix album, Brat and it’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat, citing Bladee as the collaborator for “Rewind,” I had a feeling that a song I had slept on in the initial album would soon become a favorite.

 What I didn’t expect, however, was the staying power this song has had for me, personally. Every time I go to a party or am within a quarter-mile radius of a TouchTunes jukebox, this song is always the first request that comes to mind. Even after having heard it countless times thanks to my own lack of DJ-rejection-fear, each listen hits just as hard as the last. Bladee’s understated, rhythmic delivery complements Charli’s deep monotone as they both reflect on their respective success and self-loathing. As the two lament about money and fame getting to their heads, I, a college student holding a rum pineapple that I just spent my last seven dollars on, feel like nothing could possibly speak to me more.

“LSDXOXO_TRUTH OR DARE_123” BPM by Kelela and LSDXOXO

By Natalie Hogan

When I’m looking to party, the first thing I need to get into the mindset is a good song. Something fun, upbeat, with an infectious groove to block me from sitting still. I could write endlessly about Kelela’s unique and captivating discography , but one of her most creative outputs as an artist are her remix albums. 

Following any mixtape, EP, or album she releases, Kelela follows up with a remixed version showcasing a plethora of her favorite producers, DJs, and musicians. “LSDXOXO_TRUTH OR DARE_123” is a remix of “Truth or Dare” off of her first studio album, Take Me Apart, that features Philadelphia’s own LSDXOXO. The original track is a bit slower and has more of a sonically gloomy feel, but the remix completely flips it. LSDXOXO is best known for his techno sleaze sound. Both him and Kelela bond over their shared love for electronic music that breaks the genre’s barriers. The track hits you in the face immediately with intensely layered electronic beats. While the lyrics and song structure stay pretty similar, LSDXOXO’s tempo change and added backing beats transform the track into an essential party song. 

Any time I’m getting ready to go out, compiling a playlist for a party, or need a good dance, “LSDXOXO_TRUTH OR DARE_123” is the first song I think of. I am a bit biased as Kelela is one of my absolute favorite artists of all time. Her ability to create a variety of soundscapes ranging from solemn and introspective to dominant and sensual and letting other producers and artists reimagine a track’s mood on a remix is what always keeps her on top for me.

Listen to the full playlist:

Contributors: Chloe Brown, Mateo Christians, William Delrossi, Anna Brammer-Depuy, Kelsea Clarke, Maya Eberlin, Isabella Gonzalez-Heres, Delaney Heckman, Natalie Hogan, Caroline Maurer, Cara Reddington, Aya Soussi, Tate Weaver, Lane Webb, Alyssa Westcoat