Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers

Novelist, NAO, Julie Adenuga and more pick their song of the summer.

July 07, 2016

We've already had a go at predicting what the Song of the Summer in 2016 will be, but it's really still an open race. To take the temperature in the U.K. and Europe, we tracked down 15 artists and tastemakers to see what they'd have on the soundsystem at their own BBQ. Read on for picks from Novelist, Little Simz, Mura Masa, NAO, and more, and listen to their selections below, via Apple Music.

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1. Kodak Black, "Like Dat"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Sunny Shokrae for The FADER  

"The young boy is just draining himself on that." NOVELIST

2. DJ Juls f. Sarkodie, Mr Eazi & Eugy, “Teef Teef”

Passion

A photo posted by "Juls Baby" (@julsonit) on

"For about two weeks my boyfriend kept singing shout out to my girl, then complaining because he didn’t know how the rest of the song went or what it was called. Then — magically — his sister went to Ghana and heard it at a party. I have not stopped listening to it since. It is firmly on repeat. The sample. The lyrics. The verse in Twi. This tune is banging! It reminds me of the late night Adenuga family parties when we’d dance until seven in the morning… That and the big pots of party Jollof at the many African parties my parents would make me go to." JULIE ADENUGA

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3. Kaytranada f. Craig David, "Got It Good"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Alexanda Gavillet for The FADER  

"Song of the summer would be 'Got It Good,' from the new Kaytranada album." FAKEAR

4. NxWorries (Anderson.Paak & Knxwledge), "Link Up"

"I’m still listening to Anderson.Paak, mainly the stuff with Knxwledge. I like his album as well, but 'Link Up,' that's my song." LOYLE CARNER

5. Justin Bieber, "One Dance" (remix)

Right

A photo posted by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on

"Been listening to it on repeat! It's my song of the summer because I love Bieber's voice — it's like summer personified. So smooth... I just close my eyes and imagine that I'm hanging out on the beach with him and Drake and we're all having an amazing time together!" THROWING SHADE

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6. Skepta f. Wiley, "Corn on the Curb"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Samuel Bradley for The FADER  

"The Skepta album was super super fun. It was wicked, actually. I love the phone call he’s got with Chip, that’s my favorite bit. I love a little skit in an album." NAO

7. Flava D & Miss Fire, "Happy"

"Those synths, vocal chops, bassline variations; I love it. I'm rubbish at explaining why I like certain tunes so much, but 'Happy' feels like a classic. I've also been a fan of Miss Fire for a while, and these two are perfect together." MURLO

8. Paleface f. Kyla, "Do You Mind" (Crazy Cousinz remix)
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers

"'Do You Mind' gets played everywhere now, eight years later. I did love the U.K. funky scene so it’s good that it’s come back." CHAMPION

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9. Drake, "Controlla"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Mark Peckmezian for The FADER

"It’s a good summer for music — Drake [has song of the summer]. I like 'One Dance,' because it's sampled from an old school song, but I like 'Controlla.' It's more festival, more dance-y." SIOBHAN BELL

10. Hiatus Kaiyote, "Breathing Underwater"

"Choose Your Weapon by Hiatus Kaiyote — that whole record is just my summer jam." LITTLE SIMZ

11. Jeremih, "Oui"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Meredith Truax

"Oh my God, Jeremih, always. I love Jeremih. 'Oui' is my summer jam, I really want to cover it." MABEL

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12. Omar-S f. John F.M., "Heard Chew Single"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers

"'Heard Chew Single,' Omar-S. 100%. It’s incredible." —KEV KHARAS, REAL LIES

13. NAO, "Girlfriend"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers Samuel Bradley for The FADER  

"It's just a complete anthem, and NAO is the most important, young R&B artist in the U.K. She's going to be legendary. Those vocal ad libs don't lie." MURA MASA

14. Thundercat, "Them Changes"
Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers FADER TV

“How can you not vibe to this in the summer? I think this has been my go-to feel-good record since it came out…When you sing the bass notes as much as you sing the lyrics, you know you're on to something special.” LIL SILVA

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15. The Internet, "Get Away"

"The Internet’s Ego Death has been my favorite album this summer. One of my favourite albums ever." —REVA GAUNTLETT, NIMMO

Listen to their Songs of the Summer here:

Additional reporting by Neeliya De Silva.

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Listen To The Perfect Summer Playlist, Curated By 15 Artists And Tastemakers