Okay Kaya’s Valentine’s Day Playlist for COOL HUNTING

"I wanna tickle that little part of the back of people’s brains," the Norwegian musician tells us

“Making a playlist for someone is a big deal to me,” Norwegian singer/songwriter Okay Kaya (aka Kaya Wilkins) says, when discussing the Valentine’s Day playlist she crafted for us. “I wanna tickle that little part of the back of people’s brains.” But ultimately, she says the question “Will it get me laid?” motivated each song choice. Of course, playlists are acutely personal and Wilkins’ reflects …

Ras: Boogie

Sparse at first but ever-growing, Berlin-based disco trio Ras’ newest single, “Boogie,” is a bop that references Mediterranean club music, poolside pop, disco and funk. Members Dekel Adin, Eden Leshem and Guy Gefen hail from rural Israel, but after recording their self-titled debut album in Berlin, the trio stuck around and worked to contrast the city’s energetic, industrial house music with laidback beats and vintage-sounding …

Listen Up

Radiant synth-pop, scuzzy lo-fi and soaring soul, all from women artists

Lido Pimienta: Eso Que Tu Haces Lido Pimienta (who won the 2017 Polaris Prize for her debut album, La Papessa) has returned with a radiant song from her second album, Miss Colombia. Colombia-born and Toronto-based Pimienta combines soulful synth-pop, international rhythms and pretty vocals within her music. “Eso Que Tu Haces” (translated: “That thing you do / Is not love”) is no exception. Clapping percussion …