Reflecting on my 2021 musical journey

January 23, 2022 — by Jason Cheng
My stand-out R&B and indie artists of the previous year are staples in my Spotify playlists. 

2021 was my musical metamorphosis. 

After spending numerous hours sifting through Spotify’s recommended playlists, what began as a chaotic hodgepodge of arbitrary genres materialized into an organized and personalized collection of songs that have uncovered my deepest musical interests and what music truly means to me.

My thousands of listening hours on Spotify have been built up over countless late-night study sessions, which require a soothing blend of R&B and indie hits. In particular, Summer Walker and SZA were standout artists for me. Their listenability for any environment, ranging from midnight sleep precursors to workout pumps, meant I streamed their songs 24/7.

Specifically, Walker’s recent album “Still Over It,” released Nov. 5, depicts a toxic break-up through melancholy beats and bitter lyrics. Standout collaborations “No Love” with SZA and “Unloyal” with Ari Lennox epitomize Walker’s evolution as an artist and her capability to enchant listeners. Unlike her 2019 album “Over It,” Walker abandons her highly criticized use of autotune and focuses on natural vocals in tracks such as “Insane” or “4th Baby Mama.”

While SZA remains virtually stagnant since dropping her renowned album “Ctrl” (her most prominent appearance in 2021 was a feature in Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me More,” a hit song nearing 1 billion streams on Spotify), her single “I Hate U” is a reminder of what she can produce.

In a similar manner to both SZA and Walker, Dominic Fike rose to the top of my R&B-influenced indie list. His only release in 2021, a remix of Paul McCartney’s “The Kiss of Venus,” combines electric guitars and live drums in a mind-boggling performance, showcasing Fike’s unique style. His 2020 album “What Could Possibly Go Wrong” remains one of my favorites, combining catchy pop hooks with hard rap verses in singles like “Vampire” and “Florida.”

Straying from his typical R&B hits, Jaden Smith has captivated audiences with his newfound indie style, after his successful collaboration with Justin Bieber on “Falling for You” in 2020 translated into success in 2021. His singles “Cabin Fever” and “BYE” emit fun road-trip energy through upbeat tempos and smooth backing vocals.

Through these artists, I discovered more emerging artists, such as Kiana Ledé and Victoria Monét, while revisiting more established artists like Jhené Aiko and PARTYNEXTDOOR

In a year of transition and adaptation, my music taste followed suit, migrating through multiple genres and refining my preferences. Embarking on these musical journeys through Spotify was one of the most fulfilling experiences of 2021. 

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