April showers bring eleven great songs for May! Some fun collaborations, some new artists, some returning friends. One artist we’ve seen live recently, lots more we wish we could see. Come along and listen with us…
Show notes from our May 2025 Spotify Podcast:
We started with Phoebe’s ten submissions and Al’s ten submissions, We narrowed those submissions down and eventually ended up with these eleven songs…
Song notes (Quotes are from song lyrics):
- “I’m on that train that’s bound for success or death, well, either one will do, I guess”
Long time listeners know that we’re always down for some more Irish artists! Joshua Burnside has been in our playlist a few times, but this is Ciaran Lavery’s first visit. - “Open plans and open bodies, a small seed of an open mind, that we nurture in kind”
Nigerian artist Annahstasia brings us one of the best videos this month with her song “Sunday”. - “Ooh, and in the black of night, I wouldn’t be taken aback if the water came up and swept us out to sea”
We’ve kinda had Alela Diane picking around in our heads for a while, and have liked a lot of her stuff, but “Paloma” is the first time she’s actually been in our playlist. - “Been waitin’ so long for the train to come by”
Daniel Norgren has always been one of our very favorite playlist artists. We’re so happy to have him back with “Rolling Rolling Rolling”. - “Spring has come and gone again, but the winter cold is hanging around, though I tried with all my might, I could not keep you warm”
Danika is Danika Smith. She’s new to our playlist this month with her song “Better Weather.” - “Our haven on the southern point is calling us, and faced with all the obvious, she’ll carry us, avert your eyes from all of this, we’ll make it all back”
Long time listeners will recognize Daniel Rossen from his appearances with Department of Eagles. This time we feature his other collaboration, with the band Grizzly Bear. - “Can’t you see? Them eyes like steely knives, it cuts me to the bone”
Early James is back for his third appearance with us. - “Into the traffic changing, a good friend I have had. Today, today his leaving makes me sad.”
We featured The Innocence Mission once before in the first year of our playlist. This month they’re back with “Today”. - “So much stays unknown till the time has come, did you imagine you could ever be so strong, then watch your fear just turn into relief?”
The amazing voice of Beth Orton is a new addition for us, but we’ve both loved her work for a long time. “Pass in Time” is one of her older songs. - “I could take on the lies, admit that I’m wrong, there was a place, did you look to throw stones? To build up a wall, to hide yourself in, to hide yourself in. Will you hide?”
Maybe the best song we’ve featured in a while, from two artists who we have nothing but the greatest admiration for. This song (and this video) are a perfect illustration of why we love music, and what music means to us. - “And the sun will rise like it always does on the day that I die, and the world will spin, the sun will go on burning, never even knowing I was alive”
“There Is a Treasure,” and Jeffrey Martin is that treasure. What a sweet and touching way to end our playlist this month.
Both our Spotify playlist and our podcast are updated and released around the first of each month. We’re recorded monthly in the warm and cozy hug of the OML Studios in lovely downtown Manchester, Richmond, Virginia.
Thanks to 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey for help in recording this month. Theme music is from “Red Eye” by E’s Jammy Jams. On Top of It by Blue Dot Sessions. Golden Grass by Blue Dot Sessions. Trois Gnossiennes 3 by Blue Dot Sessions. Tarte Tatin by Blue Dot Sessions. Our Only Lark by Blue Dot Sessions. Dino De Deus by Blue Dot Sessions. Lahaina by Blue Dot Sessions. Dust Digger by Blue Dot Sessions. Tower of Mirrors by Blue Dot Sessions. Delicates by Blue Dot Sessions. La Naranja Borriana by Blue Dot Sessions.
Featured image: Feet, North of Avon, North Carolina.
Questions? Suggestions? Submissions? Drop us an email! As always, thanks for listening, and see you next month!
