Her Campus at U Ottawa acknowledges that we are located on the stolen and unsurrendered land of the Algonquin people.
The one upside to my almost hour-long commute to campus is that I have time to plug in my music and disconnect from the world. There are no assignments due, no midterms to study for, and nothing demanding my immediate attention. It’s just music blasting in my ears and random thoughts in my head. All this time, commuting has allowed me to discover a lot of new music that I have to share. So here’s some of the music I’m currently obsessed with!
Indigo by RM
RM’s first solo album, Indigo, was released on December 2nd, 2021. Since then, it has cemented itself as one of my favourite albums, and I have barely gone a day without listening to it at least once. With 10 songs featuring different and amazing artists like Tablo, Anderson Paak, and Erykah Badu, RM did not just deliver a masterpiece, but he also introduced me to more music and artists. From the very first line he sings at the start of the album to the very last, everything in between is a surprise. You don’t know what you’ll hear next. Listening to this album for the very first time was a delight, and the most fun I’d had in a while amidst all the deadlines and finals that were coming up. Now, even though I’ve listened to it no less than a hundred times, it still feels like the very first time every time. My favourite songs fluctuate, but “All Day” and “Wildflower” are currently holding the top spots. I recommend listening to it, even if you don’t like k-pop!
HELP EVER HURT NEVER by Fujii Kaze
Fujii Kaze is a Japanese R&B singer who’s popular enough in Japan but rose to fame internationally once his single, “Shinunoga E-Wa” from his 2020 debut album HELP EVER HURT NEVER became popular on TikTok. The song is heard in the background of a lot of romantic and heartfelt edits, especially since the lyrics translate to I choose you over three meals a day / If I had to keep being separated from you like this / I’d rather die. The heartfelt way Kaze sings the song coupled with the beat itself results in a phenomenal experience. The whole album is a masterpiece, really. HELP EVER HURT NEVER was my go-to album to listen to on my morning commute until Indigo was released, but I still come back to this album. Bonus points if you read the English translation of the lyrics because it adds to the experience. This is another album that I hope you take the time to listen to because it’s nothing short of amazing. There are only 11 songs on here, and it doesn’t take long to get through it.
My music lately has just been alternating between these two albums, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. If you’re like me and love to listen to albums from top to bottom, these two albums can give you an incredible listening experience. I love discovering new music that’s different from my usual music, and I hope these recommendations inspire you to do the same!