Man, I almost didn’t make it. This list that is. But, I got to thinking about how our favorite songs usually have more to do with the memories they’re tied to, rather than the song itself. That made me want to honor those memories that provided me with the uplifting moments that I needed often during 2022. In doing so, I give deserved recognition the songs too. So, here it is!


12. “As It Was” by Harry Styles

Seeing my niece, my favorite fourteen-year-old’s love for this song over the summer was a highlight for me. Remembering how important our taste of music is to our identity, how it even shapes it, and reliving this through someone else, I soon learned to love the song myself. Although, she probably didn’t appreciate the constant reminders of how “As It Was” borrows stylistic elements from songs of the 80’s. But, just as my Aunt and Uncle would remind me in my younger days that there’s nothing new under the sun while listening to hip hop tracks riddled with samples, it was now my turn to “help” someone else understand the same.

11. “Saturday Morning at Chuck’s” by Alex Brown feat. Tim Green, Warren Wolf

Since we met, my wife Lauren has deepened my love for jazz and she happens to be personal friends with the amazingly talented jazz artist Alex Brown. At some point during the year, probably on a Saturday morning, Lauren sat me down and said “you gotta’ watch this”, which was the music video for “Saturday Morning at Chuck’s”, a song fully composed, arranged, mixed, and produced by Alex. This jazz instrumental is super clean and easy to get lost in.

10. “Footprints on the Ceiling” by The Belief Cycle

I’ve had the privilege of hitting the studio many times as of late with Ryan Marquez and Drew Mantia of The Belief Cycle as they helped me create my latest EP Summer You, Summer Me. They even joined me on stage during my performance at Nighthawk, my best show of 2022. Our song together, “Playground”, was voted the number 1 song of 2022 by listeners of 90.9 FM The Bridge. Alas, I won’t put my own music on my favorites list but it’s easy to highlight The Belief Cycle when they continue to put out catchy, danceable grooves such as “Footprints on the Ceiling”. This song captured me from the start. It’s pure fire. Someone convince The Belief Cycle to make a music video for it.

9. “Take My Breath” by The Weeknd

Although The Weeknd’s newest album Dawn FM feels like a sub-bullet compared to his 2020 release After Hours thanks to the hit “Blinding Lights” (now the most streamed song on Spotify), overall, I enjoyed this album more. I had slew of nights in a row during the year listening to Dawn FM on repeat. “Take My Breath” leans heavily into the retro vibes on trend today, as do many of the songs on the new album. But, when they sound this good, I don’t mind in the slightest.

8. “Belize” by Black Thought & Danger Mouse feat. MF Doom

Funny story – when I first heard this song my player was accidentally on repeat but I loved it so much I didn’t even notice until after the third rotation. Black Thought’s lyricism next to a buttery posthumous verse from MF Doom over a Danger Mouse beat that feels like an anthem to march up a hill and plant a flag, was exactly what I needed. Black Thought and Danger Mouse’s collab album, Cheat Codes, is packed with other gems as well, such as “Aquamarine” feat. Michael Kiwanuku, which is probably an even better song than “Belize”.

7. “Thun” by Nas

With the release of King’s Disease 3, Nas caps off his string of collaborative albums with producer Hit-Boy. The series feels like a championship three-peat run. Dynasty status. “Thun” has no hook, just raw rhyming, hometown repping, visual storytelling over a hard beat, giving us a classic meets modern Nas flow that continues to gift hip hop and the culture. I love Nas’s bars reflecting on his beef now turned friendship with fellow hip hop titan Jay-Z. “No beef with rivals, they playing "Ether" on TIDAL / Brothers can do anything when they decide to win a Range Rover / Dissecting bars from "Takeover" Sometimes I text Hova, like, "Nigga, this ain't over", laughing”

6. “King of Sweden” by Future Islands

Maybe it’s lead singer Samuel T. Herring’s opening lyrics about travel but any time I was privileged to be up in the clouds on a plane this past year I played this Future Islands song. For me it evokes cleansing emotions. “Kings of Sweden” provided me with relax-and-refresh moments that I needed plenty of during 2022.

5. “Different Today” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Cool It Down by Yeah Yeah Yeahs is a stellar album. Karen O’s lyrics in “Different Today” remind us that in a crazy world spinning out of control, it’s important to tell those who are close to us exactly how we feel about them before it’s too late. I interpreted this as people we love. Give them their flowers soon and often while you still can. This truth has been as real and hard as ever for many of us over the past few years.

4. “In My Pocket” by Sol

Sometimes I feel like the only Sol fan in the Midwest but after discovering his near perfect album Yours Truly in 2012, I’ve kept up with this Seattle MC. Sol is one of the best at chill and laid back songs and “In My Pocket”, with its catchy bass groove, is exactly that. To me, this smooth track is the epitome of a “good vibes only” situation.

3. “Softly” by Arlo Parks

Getting into Arlo Parks’ catalogue was one of the best treats for me in 2022. Her silky vocals and melodies mesmerize, as they do in the song “Softly”. Pro tip: pull up YouTube and put Arlo’s Live on KEXP at Home session on in the background during any task while at home and you’ll be joyfully soothed. I promise.

2. “Do Better” by Ab-Soul

This song is beautiful. Coupled with the music video, this song is powerful. It gave me chills reflecting on how strong we must be simply to exist – it’s hard to process. Ab-Soul bares his soul in this vulnerable performance. It shows us the grace we must give ourselves, even as we strive to improve. From survivors’ guilt to self-shame, Ab-Soul tackles relatable dark moments many of us face more times then it’s comfortable to admit.

1. “After Midnight” by Phoenix

Phoenix is a favorite of mine, but I don’t think I’ve loved a song and album by them this much since their breakout hit “1901” on their 2009 album Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. Their newest album, Alpha Zulu, returns to a foundation sound that brought me back to why I fell in love with this band in the first place. The rapid pace of “After Midnight” lands perfectly over energic synth and the soft vocals of Thomas Mars, especially during the chorus. This tasty jam had all the right ingredients for me.