Soph's Weekly Playlist - 9th February

*Pretend it's Monday, please*

Since getting a real job in the real world (madness, right?) it has given me a lot more time for music. Travelling to and from Manchester allows me to sit down for a good hour, plonk my earphones in and concentrate on nothing but the music, melodies and lyrics... and maybe the attractive person facing me. However I have found myself creating playlists for my morning and evening commute and have decided to share this week's playlist! 

Sam Smith - Lay Me Down

His latest single and a new video that is currently slaying the charts of iTunes, Sam Smiths Lay Me Down is at the top of my playlist this week.  His sixth single from his debut album ‘In The Lonely Hour’ I’m almost certain this will be another huge success.

I’ve had his album on repeat since summer and surprisingly this is my most played song from the album. So obviously when I saw that he was re-releasing and putting out a video, I was a little excited! The song already made me cry like a baby and when I watched the video, everything simply fell into place. The whole video is a whirlwind of emotions from Smith marrying a man in a church and then mourning the loss of his husband at his funeral.  One thing that contributed to the constant tears that were flowing out of my eyeballs was the message it communicated – “this video shows my dreams that one day gay men and women and transgendered men and women all over the world, like all our straight families and friends, will be able to get married under any roof… in any country”. His endless fight and support for the LGBT community is inspiring and creating music and videos like this is all part of communicating this message.

Rihanna, Kanye West and Paul McCartney - FourFiveSeconds

I feel like I’ve been waiting years for new music from Rihanna… oh wait I have. Waking up to find notifications from Rihanna saying something along the lines of ‘NEW SONG, listen here…” Made me throw up. The fact Yeezus is also featured on the song may have contributed to the metaphorical throwing up (and now I pretend how happy I am that Paul McCartney is also featured on the track). It took me a couple of listens to get into it but now I cant’ stop playing it! Its a completely new sound for Rihanna and she’s slaying and its slaying – so whatever.

Charli XCX Ft. Rita Ora - Doing It

I cant type the title without screaming "WE STAYING ALL NIGHT, WE NEVER SLOW DOWN" What a bloody tune this is, I am obsessed with this song, its catchy as shit and instantly makes me want to get up, get drunk and dance the night away. Featuring Rita Ora, it’s the perfect collaboration for London Queens (see what I did there?) and pop music that gives you that good feeling. 

Ryn Weaver - OctaHate

I’m always on the hunt for new artists and new music and recently found Ryn Weaver through Billboard! Obviously after stalking her Twitter account and pictures, I was led to her sound cloud and found her song OctHate and after 10 seconds - I was hooked. It sounds like nothing I’ve ever heard before and it felt refreshing to hear something unique from a female artist. Her Promises EP will definitely be on repeat this week and you should go check her out on Sound Cloud.

Ellie Goulding - Love Me Like You Do 

The Weeknd - Earned It

Both songs from the soundtrack of the highly anticipated 50 Shades of Grey film, I cannot wait to get my hands on the whole soundtrack! Let me begin with The Weeknd because I am already a massive fan of his music and his whole sound is perfect for this film - romantic, hauntingly eerie and seductive. And then Ellie Goulding's 'Love Me Like You Do' has already topped the charts in the UK becoming this week’s number. I love that Ellie has made it her own; I thought the music for 50 shades would be really generic and shitty but getting artists such as Ellie G on board has created great music that is also giving great coverage for the film.

Nick Jonas - Jealous

Everybody loved the Jonas Brothers as a teenager, not only their looks but also their music. They didn't half release some right crackers like Burnin' Up and Paranoid (personal faves) - either way the fit one aka Nick has released a new single after 'that' saucy crotch grabbing photo shoot. "You're too sexy beautiful" he's sings in my ears every morning whilst I’m on my way to work, how kind! For a comeback single, Jealous is strong and although its not expected until 1st March, I have it feeling it’s going to do just great.

Raury - Armor 

Another new artist I have recently discovered - Raury was featured at number 4 in the BBC Music Sound of 2015! At the tender age of 18, this guy has already sang for Kanye and got the approval from Outkast. Raury is all about the lyrics, they're empowering and most importantly - honest. Armor begins with a feature shouting “nothing but a memory" but Raury soon drifts in with the sound of sweet piano keys, rapping about relatable relationship shit. Featured on his free EP/album Indigo Child - this guy is going to be the next best thing.

Meghan Trainor - 3am

I kind of hate myself my featuring this because I cannot stand All About That Base and it doesn't help that every time I turn Grimmy on in the morning, he's playing it! But everybody has been telling me to listen to her album and in the end I gave him and found myself playing 3am on repeat. One of her slower songs on the album, the beat reminds me of the music in the latest Annie adaption mixed with a bit of Lily Allen. Its just one of them songs that makes you bop when you hear it - I like it, I really like it.

Nicki Minaj Ft. Ariana Grande - Get On Your Knees 

A collab featuring two of the HOTTEST female artists in the world right now and what are they telling us to do? BABY, JUST GET ON YOUR KNEES. Yas, yas and yas for the female empowerment in this song! I love it. Girls rule, boys drool and it’s as simple as that. If you haven't heard this song, I strong advise you go and purchase The Pink Print a long with Ariana Grande's My Everything because every song will have you screaming SLAY in public. 

Wiz Khalifa - Promises

I was completely obsessed with his earlier albums Rolling Papers, ONIFC and Taylor Allderdice but recently I just haven’t enjoyed his music as much. Although I have just downloaded his latest EP 28 Grams, so I report my thoughts back on that next week. However Promises is one of his songs where I feel he really slowed down and stopped to think about writing a song with good lyrics and a good beat. I’m glad he's past (I say loosely) his repetitive shitty phase! ‘Promises’ really shows his potential and I hope he keeps creating music like this. 

Soph x