Right after TikTok was banned in India, Instagram came up with a similar feature, Reels. While both the social media platforms have created a community of content creators, it has also led to the rise of musicians globally. We already know the power social media has in terms of making a career, but the help of using music for creating Reels has only helped existing and new artists in the music industry gain recognition. Even blasts from the past are reaching the music charts and are being played on radio stations. In fact, apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and more have playlists featuring songs trending on TikTok.
Thanks to Reels, music is more accessible in India and has only led to the discovery of talented singers. Being a music lover, I’m always on the lookout for new music. So now my playlist has a bunch of songs that I would like to share with you too. Here they are.
1. Stunnin’ by Curtis Waters ft. Harm Franklin
Remember those videos of people styling themselves in outfits inspired by their favourite TV show characters? Stunnin’ was the track used for that trend.
About The Artist: Born in Nepal, Curtis’ real name is Abhinav Bastakoti. He now lives in North Carolina and has been making music for six years. He recorded Stunnin’ while balancing college and a job making smoothies. When he released his song on TikTok, little did he know that it would be an overnight hit.
2. Dreams by Fleetwood Mac
If you like soft rock, you’ve probably heard of Fleetwood Mac. TBH, I wasn’t aware of them till I saw Nathan Apodaca’s viral video of him sipping cranberry juice and lip-synching to Dreams (a well-known song by the band) as he skateboarded down the street after his vehicle broke down on the way to work. The song from the group’s 1977 album, Rumors, was already a chart-topping song, but in October 2020, it entered the Top 10 on Billboard’s chart with 16.1 million streams, thanks to Nathan’s video.
About The Group: The British-American rock band was formed in London in 1967 by guitarist Peter Green and drummer Fleetwood with bass guitarist John McVie.
3. Driver’s License by Olivia Rodrigo
While the #DriversLicenseChallenge is a great trend for people to show off their acting skills, I personally only became a fan of the song and its singer.
About The Artist: American actress Olivia Rodrigo is best known for her work in Disney Channel’s Bizaardvark and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. Ever since the 18-year old star released her single, Driver’s License, it has become the most-streamed song on Spotify in a single week and spent eight consecutive weeks on the top of Billboard 100.
4. Telepatía by Kali Uchis
Searching for a song with a mix of Spanglish lyrics in a sweet, melodious voice with groovy beats? Then you have to listen to Telepatía, and trust me; you’ll get addicted to it.
About The Artist: The Grammy-winning artist has served major hits since 2014, but it was Telepatía that boosted her popularity. The Latin American singer and songwriter is known for her pop and R&B music which often goes from Spanish to English. This cultural mix has been a major contributor to her success.
5. Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit
We might not get to go on a beach to enjoy the sunset for now, so let’s settle for the view from our terrace while playing this chilled-out, soothing song.
About The Artist: Known by his stage name Petit Biscuit, 21-year-old Mehdi Benjelloun is a French DJ and music producer. He amalgamates acoustic elements, electronic production, and vocal manipulations in his music.
6. La Vie En Rose by Emily Watts
Do a Google search on Emily Watts, and you’ll barely find anything, which was a big surprise given her popular song, La Vie En Rose on Reels. I’ve mostly seen it being used for those aesthetic coffee-making reels, but some have also used it for videos with scenic views.
About The Artist: Aged 20, Emily Watts is still very new in the music industry. Her songs are available on music streaming platforms. Her Spotify bio says, ” I love the rawness music can have, I try to have that in all my songs. The raw human emotions that make us who we are.
Photographs: Instagram, Pexels
