Kat Says: “These Are My Favorite Tracks of 2022!”
Ending the year on a high note, getting back on the saddle and sharing the tracks that made my year.
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Hey Friends!
Wow, what a year, huh? I don’t know about you, but 2022 was one of the most transformational years of my life.
I’m so honored for every single one of you who has been a part of my journey and stuck with me while I get a handle on this here newsletter and how it fits into my life. I know I haven’t always been the most consistent, but I’ve got big plans for 2023, and your support gives me the strength to make it all happen :)
Here’s a weird picture of me standing in front of a TV that was showing images of Spin cover stories including mine with Rufus Du Sol and, obviously, Swedish House Mafia!
That being said, I’ve been a bit busy this December!
It started with a band, aka Art Basel Week in Miami. I was fortunate to have a pretty light workload, but it was my send-it bestie Joel’s big 40th birthday, so I didn’t get much sleep. I barely even got to see any art! What the heck was I doing?!
I went to my first real Elrow party and stayed up until the sunrise dancing with horrifying, Ron English-designed Ronald McDonalds. I took Joel to a fancy private dinner at the Museum of Graffiti in Wynwood and he got to take home an Atomik original right off the wall.
I also covered the official Spin party, which was really just an over-the-top private party in an island mansion. The best part was getting to know the Spin crew and see some friends. I wrote a slightly snarky review for the website about how the only real “art” on display was “the art of conversation.” Here’s a snippet:
An island mansion with glowing, vaporwave pools. Models with mermaid tails and stilt-walking drag queens. NFTs on glitching monitors, open bar cocktails, house music DJs and, somewhere in the middle, a bit of branding.
If you were lucky enough to get an invite to Creativo and Superfly’s The World Is Yours private mansion party on Hibiscus Island—held in partnership with SPIN—you could have made a clean sweep of your Art Basel 2022 bingo card.
Read the full story: SPIN Takes Over Art Basel 2022 With Private Island Party
After recovering from that whirlwind of pompous exhibitions, I capped Kat Calls Season 3 with some incredible chats. MZG joined me from Denver to talk about finding their musical voice and forever family in the Mile High City, as well as all the things you should never, ever ask twins.
Then Baby Weight became the first-ever repeat Kat Calls guest as we made good on our promise to always end the season with a ridiculous, long-running chat about nothing and everything all at once. It was a real fan favorite, and she came to us from outside a McDonalds, so that’s cute!
Speaking of Kat Calls Season 3! It’s finally all getting uploaded to YouTube! I’m calling it “The 12 Days of Kat Calls-mas” because there are 12 episodes to go, lol. It also coincided magically with the Winter Solstice, which launches the traditional 12 days of Yule.
If you’re bad at math, that means the episode with Baby Weight will be published on Sunday, Jan. 1. It’s been three days so far, and I’ve got Kat Calls: QRTR, Tennyson and Slushii up for watching right now! Here, I’ll make it easy for you and drop the links below.
Kat Calls: QRTR
Kat Calls: Tennyson
Kat Calls: Slushii
Once Kat Calls Season 3 closed its curtains, I spent a full week scheming a master plan for the first three months of 2023. It involves a lot of newsletters and video edits, and for that reason, Kat Calls Season 4 most likely won’t start until mid March. That way I can be sure I have all my outstanding obligations met.
That being said, I already have at least one really dope booking that I think you will ALL be VERY EXCITED about :) I know I am!
Also, please hit me up and let me know if there is anyone you’d like to see on the show. Joey Headset and Tordenstrike have sent some asks in, and I’m gonna do my best to get them, but you should throw some requests in, too! Like I always say, it’s your show as much as it is my show. <3 I just have to do the legwork lolol
So uh, yeah. I think that’s it. Nothing left to do in this year-end newsletter than to SHARE MY FAVORITE SONGS OF THE YEAR, YAYAYAYAYAY
Kat Bein’s 26 Favorite Songs of 2022
Swardy - “Compact Objects”
When Spotify went through all my data and gave me my Wrapped results for 2022, Swardy was my most listened to artist, and his Compact Objects EP was my most listened to release. This EP got me through some weird and wonderful moments in the first half of the year, and it will certainly continue to soundtrack my life for years to come. It’s pleasant, surreal, musical and serene—and he taught himself how to use Blender in order to set the whole thing to a cute animated short film!
Further Reading: Swardy’s New Animated Short Film Is Quirky, Charming & Porter Robinson-Approved
Pendant - “Static Dream”
I’d never heard of Pendant until this year. In fact, my introduction to the Oakland-born solo act came in the form of this very music video in early March. The song that plays in the intro is “LED Head Rush,” another absolute slammer, but “Static Dream” was the first official full-length song I heard from Pendant, and it’s nothing short of amazing. I became obsessed with the album Harp, easily one of my favorite LPs of 2022. I hope to get Pendant on Kat Calls next year, because I need to know more! Bonus points for the Trainspotting-inspired music video—my favorite movie!
Ninajirachi - “Start Small”
Speaking of my favorite albums of the year, Australia’s global-star-in-the-making Ninajirachi absolutely smashed it with her Second Nature mixtape. Yeah, it’s a mixtape and not an “album,” because, in her own words, it doesn’t have as cohesive a concept as she’d like her official debut album to encompass. What an artist, amirite? My favorite type of musicians put that much thought and care into their projects, and while Second Nature might not be the official debut LP for the Ninajirachi project, there’s nothing half-handed about it. “Start Small” is a single I have gone back to almost weekly since its release, and the music video is so ethereal cool!
Tennyson - “Iron”
Another of my top LPs of 2022, Tennyson’s Rot is extremely worthy of the title “debut LP” from one of the best musical projects of the past decade. I was honored to speak with Luke about it and write his official bio, then I was double honored when he and his drumming-savant sister Tess joined me on Kat Calls (which is already linked above, as you may remember). The story behind this album is crazy. Their parents' house was flooded and all this black mold grew. Tess’ entire wardrobe was basically destroyed in the process, and Luke almost lost his hearing. The silver lining? It inspired the slightly-simpler and more pop-facing sounds of Rot, which is still as complex and gooey as anything Tennyson has done previously. “Iron” is one of the catchier songs on the LP, which gets pretty gritty and dark. Please listen to the whole LP!
Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul - “HAHA”
And now for something completely different. French-born, Belgian-Caribbean producer Charlotte Adigéry is one of the most daring and intriguing electronic producers on the scene, and she made an entire album with Bolis Pupul called Topical Dancer that is just *chef’s kiss*. This single came out close to the beginning of this year, and it just floored me right away. I think it technically came out in December of 2021, but I don’t give a fuck. It’s on list for being the most original song of the decade so far. Like, you can’t not laugh when you hear this. I need a DJ daring enough to play it in a set STAT.
Hot Sugar - “He sells drugs at the Renaissance faire”
Speaking of absolutely original tunes, “He sells drugs at the renaissance festival” from Hot Sugar is grade-a wild. It sounds like it was made for GameCube, and as someone who worked at my regional renaissance festival in the early 2000s, this is very much the vibe. It does indeed sound like some dude on downers walking through the grounds, covered in dust as he lazily takes in the busty wenches and tries his hand at the ax throwing station. Literally wtf, I love it.
The Weeknd - “Gasoline”
You probably forgot The Weeknd’s masterpiece Dawn FM even came out in 2022, huh? It was released the first week of the year, and wow, what a moment. It’s such a perfect bop of an LP, every song unfolding with deeper narrative and more exciting experiments. Jim Carrey is an incredible narrator, and the monologue he delivers at the end is soul stealing. I’ve never heard a better album about death in my life, and I’ve listened to A LOT of albums about death, believe me. I’m goth as bat shit. This track rocks, and it’s got an REM reference and neon ‘80s synths, plus that voice is so weird. Highlight tune, for sure.
Quiet Bison - “Crash” Feat. Madalen Duke
Abel wasn’t the only artist to be inspired by the early morning hours in 2022. Portland-based experimentalist Quiet Bison also released an album named Dawn this year, his first official LP of all time! Mother fucker went all out. This LP has 30 songs! And they’re all bangers! Like, literally, kid goes pretty hard on the drums. “Crash” is one of my faves from the whole track list. Madalen Duke delivers a fairy-like vocal over QB’s master mechanics. It’s got juicy future beats and sassy hand claps, redlining bass booms, and a melodic hook that will burrow in your brain and never let go. I’m hooked on waiting for this feeling to never, ever end.
TEED - “Never Seen You Dance”
I only waited 10 years for Orlando Higginbottom, aka Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, to release his second album. His debut Trouble was one of my favorite things about 2012, and now When The Lights Go is one of my favorite things of 2022! His live show in New York City was absolutely a top 3 of the year, and it was so worth the wait and the air mile redemption. The full LP is a gorgeous meditation on love and loneliness, explored in a wide palette of sounds and styles. This single is one of the high points, just pure silly joy. Plus, the music video is so cute. We love librarian TEED!
Uffie - “Dominoes”
You know who else had a fire come back in 2022? The official princess of blog house came through with a hyphy lil indie pop-fueled album that just KICKS. “Dominoes” is a song I fell in love with as soon as I heard it. The music video is delightful DIY, as it should be, right? She went on tour with Alice Glass this year, and I regret that it came nowhere near me. Fun fact: I swore one of these lyrics was “love Le Tigre, hate The Gossip,” and I was like “that makes no sense…” but that’s not what she’s saying :P
Sam Gellaitry - “Star Of The Moment”
Truly one of my favorite artists on the planet, at this point. Sam Gellaitry went from beat-making wonderkind to alt-pop superstar of my heart. His take on catchy hooks and sing-along lyrics is so edgy without being alienating in the least. “Star Of The Moment” opens his VF Vol II mixtape, a bit of a damning slag on the pop star business. He was the first artist this year to tell me they didn’t want to call their “mixtape” a “debut album” because it wasn’t cohesive enough conceptually, s/o Ninajirachi for saying the same thing. So glad I got the chance to catch up with him about this release. He’s endlessly interesting to talk to. Peep the full article, please!
Further Reading: 20 Questions With Sam Gellaitry: The Scottish Producer on Synesthesia, Praying to God Before Sets & Why ‘I Don’t Even Like Pop Stars’
Biicla - “Never Be Mine” Feat. Rome in Silver
I got really into nostalgic rave sounds in 2022, and Biicla’s “Never Be Mine” is one of the best in that vein that I heard. It’s so sad yet so hyped up, like a heartbroken girl on a dance floor at 3 am who keeps railing speed in hopes that she’ll forget her lover is gone. The wailing synth siren on this is so massive. This track came off Biicla’s Yes Place LP, which is also stunning.
Manila Killa - “Take Me Higher” Feat. Fknsyd
More frenetic beats, please! This drum’n’bass track from melody man Manila Killa turned my head like I’d just been slapped. It showed an exciting new flavor for the producer, who I’ve known for years and always associated with sweet and pretty things. Fknsyd dropped a ton of incredibly haunting features this year, and this one is no different. This cut is from Manila Killa’s debut LP Dusk—which is really the “dawn” for club rats—and I was honored to have Chris come through Kat Calls to tell me all about his album’s musical journey. Stay tuned! That episode is Kat Calls will be posted to my YouTube channel in a few days!
Shygirl - “Shlut”
Did anyone have a bigger year than breakout rave-popper Shygirl? The anti-pop star might have won the debut LP battle among the critical elite. I don’t know a single critique who didn’t drool all over this one, and for good reason! Nymph’s production credits are a who's-who of underground heavyweights; from Arca and Sega Bodega to Mura Masa, BloodPop, Kingdom, Karma Kid and more. Shygirl is the real star, though, and this track is a mean and nasty bad bitch anthem that makes room for vulnerability and wisdom, not something we hear on every x-rated banger.
Pat Lok - “Lasting Luv”
And the award for French Touchiest song ever released by a non-French goes to! Each tune on Pat Lok’s Jolie EP is made with samples of Canadian singer France Joli’s catalog, so it only makes sense that he turned it out into a slap-happy nu disco loop explosion. “Lasting Luv” opens the four-track effort in brilliant style. It’s powerful, infectious and gets you in the mood for the funkadelic experience that is yet to come!
Party Pupils and Kaleena Zanders - “Me Without U”
On of Pat Lok’s best buddies in the music world is a dope dude named Party Pupils. I had the incredible privilege of welcoming Mr. Pupils to Kat Calls this year, which was actually a make-up for the time he missed our planned b2b Kat Calls with Pat at the end of 2021! He knocked it out of the park, though, as he did on this fantastic slice of funk with fellow Kat Calls alumnus Kaleena Zanders. She just destroyed this vocal, as she always does, and Ryan brought the musical bliss heavy. Fun fact: Party Pupils is usually a duo with pop-star Max by Ryan’s side, but this tune is all Ryan and Kaleena.
Amtrac - “Domino” Feat. Samuel T. Herring
I’ve said a lot about my favorite albums of 2022 so far, and that makes sense, because that’s what year it is—but I can already tell you with 100 percent assurance that Extra Time from Amtrac is going to be one of my favorite albums of 2023. How can I be so confident? Because I’ve already heard it, DUH! This is the lead single, featuring Future Islands’ lead singer Samuel T. Herring. Amtrac told me he send this instrumental to Mr. Herring and the dude came back with the fully-formed song, just perfectly recorded including all the background vocals and ad libby bits! Stunning. Impressive. King shit!
Tibasko - “Hawt”
More nostalgic rave shit! Tibasko is another group I discovered in 2022, and very recently, too. The talented duo dropped its self-titled EP in early October, and it was straight heat from start to finish. Almost immediately, Tibasko followed that up with “Hawt!” Like, take a fucking vacation, why don’t ya? Nah, just kidding. Never stop. This is fire af. Cross your fingers we nail Tibasko for Season 4 of Kat Calls!
Jubilee - “Sunscreen”
True Life: I Can’t Stop Raving. That would be the title of my MTV documentary, and Jubilee’s “Sunscreen” would absolutely be on the soundtrack. Big love for my girl who reps Miami harder than most. She brings the old school to life on all her tracks, but this one is a standout for me. That “are you ready” vocal send me every time. Yes, I am so ready. Please keep the break beats flowing!
The Dare - “Girls”
You know how I know I like this song? I extended my stay in New York City by three days just so I could see the crazy person who made it DJ in a Brooklyn dive bar. I wrote a whole newsletter about that adventure and how excited I am for the true-blue bloghouse revival. This is still the only song The Dare has released, but pretty sure there’s an EP coming in 2023. I just want it to bag things hard and no softer. THAT’S WHAT’S UP.
See also: Kat Says: “The Prime Time of Your Life, Now, Live It—Again”
Destructo & Tima Dee - “F With Me” Feat. Chromeo
You know who was there during the real bloghouse golden era? Not only was he there, Destructo was one of the American masterminds. He was the first promoter to book Justice in the United States. He started HARD and Holy Ship, and you know I’m looking forward to the triumphant return of Friendship in 2023. Chromeo too were icons of the original bloghouse movement, and this tune with Tima Dee brings that neon energy to G-Funk vibes. Can’t get enough of this one, tbh.
Joey Valence & Brae - “Hooligang”
This song is such a stomper. I still don’t know much about the artists. I found this randomly on Instagram or something and was floored. This is the most Beastie Boys sounding shit I’ve ever heard, and the world is desperate for this energy. Not a bit of it feels forced, though. It feels very fresh and stanky. Plus, drum’n’bass! Koopa Troopa name drops! Fisheye lens insanity! I just officially followed this project on Spotify so I won’t miss anything that comes next.
Hudson Mohawke - “Intentions”
Another of the most critically-acclaimed electronic albums for 2022, genre-defying icon Hudson Mohawke slaughtered with this Cry Sugar release. It’s strong and celebratory, overwhelming and nostalgic, jazzy and lovely and aurally offensive in all the ways I like best. Also, was it not the best thing in the world when his classic track “Cbat” went viral because of that hilarious reddit post where the guy made a “sex” playlist that his girlfriend fucking hated? Hahahahahaha. Also, I saw HudMo go b2b with A-Trak in Miami during Art Basel and it was fucking incredible. Really made up for the shit sandwich of a set he delivered at Bardot in 2013 LOLOL.
Nasaya - “Ciel”
“Ciel” means sky in French, and if the sky ever opened up and showered us with pixelated rainbow squares and God were an A.I. art generator, then the sky would probably look the way “Ciel” sounds. It’s a glorious explosion of color and texture, but it’s got a sweetheart center of melody that clings to your heart and gives it a sentimental hug. Nasaya is one of Odesza’s Foreign Family Collective members, and this tune is from his EP Reves.
Lamorn - “Who We Are”
Lamorn has the immense distinction of being deadmau5’ official protege, but honestly, the kid has the sauce before he ever met Mr. Zimmerman. Lamorn’s catalog consistently blows me away, and this feel-good, French-touch inspired track is just one of the funkiest things to touch my playlist this year. It sounds a bit like Madeon mixed with that Pogo track made up of Alice in Wonderland samples, but it’s like, much more than that. I just love this tune. It makes you wanna get up and beast your whole life.
Holly - “Close 2 Protect”
That’s it. We’re at the end of my list. Trust that I could have picked a lot more songs, but we’re going to “close” this list “2 protect” your eyes from having to scroll any further. Holly’s Minha Vida: Love is, you guessed it, amazing! “Close 2 Protect” is my fave track from that release, and during our Kat Calls episode (coming to YouTube v soon!) he told me that the title actually comes from the lockdown news where it’s like, close the world to protect yourself and those you love. I believe he said his mom is a nurse. Mine too! So I can relate to the anxiety that caused him. Anywho, this is another erratic playground of sound and feeling, mixed with heartfelt melodies that will give you the feels. My favorite kind of songs :)
AND THAT’S ALL FOLKS! Thank you so much for reading and for all your support. Please do check out this week’s playlists. I put all these top songs in the Weekly playlist this go around, so you can listen to the cream of crop, according to me, should you like.
I LOVE YOU. SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
Thanks for tuning into my newsletter. Listen to the playlists on Spotify. One is updated weekly with all the songs from each edition. The other is cumulative with all the updates ever!