Playlist: RRA Summer 2022 Roundup
7 min
Hey friend, Meera and Anusha here, and as the summer comes to a close, we’ve have put together a playlist of the hottest releases from the summer for you before we trade our margaritas for hot chocolate.
Before that, I must share that this summer has been nothing short, but a thrilling time for the RRA team! Ravi made his first big move to the tri-state area all the way from Texas and has been loving every bit of the city life. Ravi and Suhana ran RRA’s first booth at our first music festival, Masala Mixtape, which was a blast! Lastly, Anusha and Meera are both recent graduates! Anusha graduated from the Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) and you can learn more about her experience from my feature on her. Meera graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a B.A. in Communication, a minor in Non-Fiction Creative Writing, and a certificate in Professional Writing.
We’re so proud of all that our team has achieved both professionally and personally. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring for our company and team members. If you want to stay up to date with all the exciting things happening at RRA, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.
South Asian artists released some fire music this summer. The RRA team got together to talk about the songs we’ve been bumping on repeat. Below we’ve highlighted 15 of our favorite records! Be sure to check out our full playlist for the complete roundup!
Disclaimer: this article includes a curated list of songs that we found and liked. The songs and artists below are not associated with the services that ravi ray audio provides, and their presence here is not in any way an endorsement of said services. This article was written purely for entertainment purposes only.“So Good” describes the internal conflict of being enamored by someone’s energy, but left unsure of their commitment to love you. Accompanied with a retro rock sound and soft chorus vocals, Weston Estate delivers another bop you’ll have on repeat.
2. “Heat” - Archana
Archana combines R&B and Pop so effortlessly in “Heat”, you can’t help, but get up and move your body to. Her smooth vocals tell the story of queer desire while also learning how to balance having fun and setting boundaries. The flamenco-inspired clapping, jazz instrumentals, and Carnatic fusion will definitely have you missing summer.
3. “Never Losing” - Sanjana
In “Never Losing”, Sanjana shares the story of admiring an idealistic woman and romanticizing her life. This song is skeptical with its aspirations and makes me think the Sanjana is calling out how we as people tend to compare our selves with other peoples lives who make living almost like its too easy. With her sweet voice and relaxed guitar chords, this song reminds me of laying on the beach, soaking up the sun and watching the waves crash.
4. “Tunnelin’” - Janaki, Woodah, Zco
“Tunnelin’” will capture you its soulful voice, passionate lyrics, and catchy beat. All 3 artists share the common thread of choosing music over other life commitments and the struggles that come with that. This song seamlessly combines heavy piano chords, violin, and an unforgettable chorus by Janaki that will give you goosebumps. Fun fact: Ravi Ray Audio did the mixing and mastering for this record as well! Learn more about mixing in our FAQ, and about our music mixing and mastering services here.
5. “Nobody (Stripped Version)” - Renao
“Nobody (Stripped Version)” describes the feeling of the chasing your dreams and the ideal fantasy of what they will lead to and not needing anybody, except yourself, to get you there. Renao’s aspirational lyrics, fun sound effects, and laid-back catchy melodies make this the perfect jam for late-night car rides with friends.
7. “Nasha” - Shevya
“Nasha” is about still being drawn to that person even though you know they’re not good for you. Sigh, it happens to the best of us. Shevya’s gentle vocals and Hindi lyrics will leave you feeling like you’re floating through the clouds. The song closes with a guitar solo like a classic slow rock ballad.
8. “Therapy” - Anusha Savi
“Therapy” is by far my favorite song from Anusha Savi. It serves as a homage to that special person who despite your flaws or previous trauma, is genuinely there to get you through the dark days and tough times. Her beautiful metaphorical lyrics and pop/R&B fusion beat, perfectly encapsulate the kind of person we all hope to have in our life.
9. “We Will Meet Again” - San Holo, Jai Wolf
“We Will Meet Again” catchy lyrics and upbeat rhythm make me excited to meet summer again next year. Jai Wolf creates another fun song festival to pool party song to dance to. It’s full of hope and euphoria and we love this record a lot.
10. “Just Cuz” - Akshara
Akshara serves her classic velvety vocals that feel on this gorgeous R&B record “Just Cuz” . Powered by trappy-jazz beat, luscious vocal harmony arrangement, she transports us into an ambient land that feels incredible. She captures the feeling of wanting somebody for no other reason that you just do.
11. “I Breathe” - Sonez
Sonez pours her heart out in this moving and pulsing pop ballad. Her voice soars like a bird over the gorgeous piano chords. In this song, she explores the freedom of what life could bring after a broken relationship. The composition shares a sense of acceptance and euphoria that that really cuts through. “I Breathe” is one of our favorite tracks of Sonez incredible pop album 20something.
12. “My Band” - Abhi the Nomad, gianni & kyle
If you need a funky summer bop to groove to, Abhi the Nomad created the song “My Band” for you. This record feels like a jam with special sound effects, a stanky bass line, the occasional horn adornment, and irreverent lyrics.
13. “Seasons” - Maharani, ItsyaboiKay, Tha Mystro
A veena kicks off the song and leads to buttery tamil vocals served by the masterful Maharani who intersperses carnatic swarams over a great R&B trap beat. Tha Mystro responds beautifully in the second half of the song by both singing and rapping in tamil. Produced by ItsyaboiKay, “Seasons” oozes confidence, evokes the style of tamil movie song classics, and jams for five glorious minutes.
14. “The Nightingale” - Parekh & Singh
Parekh & Singh transports us to a mystical and hypnotic land that continues to unveil itself as the song builds. Their lush vocals fill the spacy soundscape with restraint and intrigue. Perfect for an introspective nighttime drive or journaling session, “The Nightingale” will definitely get your brain in a meditative state.
15. “True Colors” - Shuba
Last but not least, Shuba delivered the perfect pop punk rock angsty track that calls out a dishonest ex. Reminding us of our favorite Y2K Avril Lavigne records, this “True Colors” record is so catchy and fun to scream out the window when cruising down the highway.
Wow, what a great collection of music, right? In summer 2022, these South Asian artists really showed out with their music! The theme the RRA team got from all of these records is a fearless and vivacious spirit for life. There is a contagious sense of hope or irreverence in each of these records. Though we highlighted 15 songs, this 25-song playlist is perfect for you as we wrap up summer and go into fall. If you enjoy these records and this playlist, go ahead and “like” or “heart” it so you can easily access it! Make sure to also support these artists on their socials as many of them are independent artists that you have the opportunity to get on the ground floor for!
Stay well, shine bright.
~Meera & Anusha
