THE 2020 LAST BUS ROUND-UP
2020 will be a year for the history books, but we’re sure you all know that by now. Luckily, music has been the beacon of light guiding us through what can only be described as a trainwreck shitstorm (and in the words of Leslie Jones, that’s offensive to shit and trains). But on a more positive note - here at Last Bus, 2020 has given us the opportunity to work with genuinely some of the best people you will ever meet, each holding ridiculous talent we’ve really enjoyed sharing with you. It’s always fun hearing what creatives have to say about the music that inspires them, and as much as we’d like to inflate our LB egos with our own selections, we’ve handed the baton over to our friends to see which songs have got them through this year.
Try and find another playlist with will.i.am, Townes Van Zandt and Bakey, we dare you. With that, we present to you…
(Follow us on Spotify hehe)
ORACLE SISTERS: Sparring Partner - Paolo Conte
“There’s so many! There’s been a lot of time to listen to music this year. Sparring Partner by Paolo Conte because it’s a poetic imperfect larger than than life song sung like a drunk wielding a swordfish in a knife fight. Another song is As The World Turns by Jessica Pratt: it’s the ultimate hibernation hymn - a song that is beyond philosophical and almost shamanistic entering the spirit world.”
DOUGAL: Dry the Rain - The Beta Band
“Because it manages to be depressing yet bad ass all at once!”
ED: Nightrider - Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes (feat. Freddie Gibbs)
“Because it has such a good bass line!”
TOM: Fly Me To The Moon - Groove Armada
“It’s a great distraction from the chaos”
ELI CARVAJAL: Key West (Philosopher Pirate) - Bob Dylan
“Dylan’s weaving personal histories in with his tapestry of American landscapes. He's laying stories over each other and letting the thrill of discovery speak for itself. He never tells the listener what to look for, how to think or why to feel.”
SHOT BY MELISSA: Take It Further - Bakey
“A nice slice of speed garage. Selfishly released in an age we’re not allowed to dance in. Can’t wait to hear this on a proper soundsystem & see this producer on some lineups when the time comes. Big ups Bakey”
JOSIE MAN: When I See U - Fantasia
“It’s not a new song but it makes me feel happy! It’s such a good song to dance to and to feel good!”
STEPHSEEKS : Demae - Let Go
“My no. 1 song of 2020 is Demae - Let Go it’s gona be my mantra for year of 2021 because my intention is to let go of all that doesn’t serve me; I’m letting go of my past, negative thoughts, unnecessary control, hurt. I’m letting go so I can be free and soar. Watch this space!”
ELIZA LAWRENCE: You Could Be More As You Are - Saâda Bonaire
“This year was all about losing stuff that was normality for me. A strong love, being comfortable, and being near family. There was a stage when I was dizzy with this loss but whenever I listened to this song I seemed to realise I needed to de-root myself and be uncomfortable in order to be more than I am! I now feel uncompromising and a little invincible.”
DELILAH MONTAGUE: exile - Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)
“I’m obsessed with them both, she inspires me a lot as a person - how honest and open she always is and her latest 2 albums make me cry. Especially because Bon Iver is featured and the National helped her write so many of the songs.”
IAMBOLEYN: Delete Forever - Grimes
“She has suspect child naming skills, but she writes, plays, produces and mixes all her own stuff. A real queen!”
CAITLIN SCARLETT: Love It If We Made It - The 1975
“The lyrics are so poignant and explosive, it perfectly matched my emotions of frustration and hope firing isolation. Last January I was one of the lucky people who saw their show at the O2, due to the coronavirus that tour will never be seen again as they have since made a new album. LIIWMI it was easily one of the most memorable and powerful moments of that show, and reconnecting with the song during a time where live music was banned really helped me deal with the reality, and look forward to the future again.”
SWEAT: Yazin - Rabeh Mariwari
“Originally Shazam’ed off the radio in Morocco, was one of the most-blasted tunes of lockdown that we used to get the party (for three) started. Unbelievably hype, plus the otherworldly melodics take you far away from a crumby room in London.”
MEDICINE CABINET: T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever) - will.i.am (feat. Mick Jagger & Jennifer Lopez)
“Let’s be real. This was the hardest year ever. We spent a lot of it at home. This song made us laugh a lot. Lines in it can be the answer to almost anything. It’s a banger.”
DEEP TAN: On Killing a Swan Blues - Legss
“We love the textural and angular energy of the song!”
JULIA BARDO: 1979 - The Smashing Pumpkins, The State I Am in - Belle & Sebastian & The Fairest of the Seasons - Nico
“All these songs have a very nostalgic feeling in common that’s attached to them, as well as a sense of hymn to youth kind of songs, like when you look at an old picture and remember some of the most significant moments of your life. That's what 2020 was for me: remembering better times and have a chance to think about others.”
DINNER FOR ONE HUNDRED: God’s Plan - Drake
“Nothing is more motivating for dough making than Drake!”
KATY J. PEARSON: Fare Thee Well, Miss Carousel - Townes Van Zandt
“I listened to this song most mornings from the start of lockdown. It’s sad and bittersweet but always filled me with joy.”
HOLLY WHITAKER: Força Bruta - Jorge Ben
“It helped me in every single way this year, 1 or 2-man dance parties, cooking on my ones, uplifting me when I had a big cry and also when lockdown got far too intense, countless times it’s shown up and done some good. I love that man with all of my heart and his entire back catalogue is perfect, but this song is on another level, so I think I’d say this is my number 1!”
MALADY: Yeah I Know by The 1975
“Hear us out - it captures the prevailing mood of the year pretty well, an overarching melancholy with a few bits of joy trying to burst through. When I heard it for the first time, it felt like the exact tune I wanted / needed to hear during a particular naff period of lockdown…I haven’t been able to stop playing it since.”
KHARTOUM : H.F.G.W (Canyons Drunken Rage) - Tame Impala
“We turned this on at our shack up in the middle of nowhere deep in the Scottish highlands. Dancing around a raging fire it felt like we were witches summoning up an ancient spirit.”
TIÑA: Tonight - Katy J Pearson
“I’d say my favourite song of 2020 is 'Tonight' by Katy J Pearson. Its a beautiful and insightful song, and Katy's voice is amazing. I love her light hearted approach to things of depth.”
ADAM BRAY: Come With The Ragga - Maxwell Owin, Phoebs
“Just a quintessential London tune. There’s more… Our Love - The Edge of Daybreak, a solid soul lost classic with an amazing backstory and also Observatory Crest - Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band, reminds me of days of post-fungus meanderings…”
PHOEBE FOX: Deep End - Holly Humberstone
“The last min trips to Grantham have been a massive creative highlight of my year. This track specifically, reminds me of the friends that have really been there, during a year where social encounters bring anxiety and plans are uncertain.”
LB TEAM (we couldn’t help ourselves…): Might Bang, Might Not - Little Simz
“Washing the dishes or walking down the street will never be the same again”