Busybee's Playlist

New artists added to the playlist, and some old artists who returned to stage.

In the year 2023, TikTok reigns supreme and Spotify streams set the rules.

We find ourselves over-saturated with singles coming left and right, the music market thriving on the fast pace and the endless content creation.

We need movement, we need trends, we need catchy.

And while I believe all music deserves to be listened to, and all artists merit our ear in honour of their hard work trying to break into a very tough market, one thing remains unchanged:

There is nothing better than a well-crafted album.

In a recent article published in Forbes, the importance of both singles and albums are highlighted. While singles cater to the fast paced industry and allow the artist to satisfy their audience more frequently, they are also brief ways of introducing a sound, and eventually will need to be followed up. Albums, on the other hand, allow both the musician and the listener a deeper dive into the music. Although costly and more time-consuming, it allows for sound perfection and for the artist to take longer to hone their craft and the message they wish to convey.

Albums also give listeners insight into an artist’s inner thoughts, creating an involuntary bond between the two entities.

Throughout the year, there were a few albums played over my headphones, but a few of them were on continuous repeat.

To begin with a new find, and a recent favourite new artist: Reneé Rapp, Snow Angel + Snow Angel (Deluxe).

There is no denying it; in the last three years, Reneé Rapp graduated from up-and-coming to full-fledged renowned artist. From taking on the role of Regina George in the Broadway production of Mean Girls in 2019, getting cast as Leighton Murray in the Sex Lives of College Girls in 2020, to releasing her debut EP Everything to Everyone in 2022 and later her debut album Snow Angel in August 2023, with a deluxe version in November of the same year – Rapp is dominating.

Most of Snow Angel was written, recorded and mixed over the course of six months in early 2023, in collaboration with producer Alexander Glantz, known professionally as Alexander 23, who joined Rapp on the Snowhard Feelings tour in 2023 on select dates.

The album is an explosion of emotions, from start to finish. From the starter track, “Talk Too Much” with a clear-as-day expression of social and relationship anxiety, and the ever-so raw bridge, Rapp is setting the stage to the listener, with an honest, expressive track, giving them full access to the wild thoughts going on in her head. The fifth track and also leading single, “Snow Angel,” is an intense piece of music, slowly building up as the minutes pass, catching the listener off-guard with the beat drop and the emotional lyrics expressed by the artist. And let’s not forget the fan favourite “Tummy Hurts,” with its catchy tune and popular catch phrase:

I just want some recognition for having good tits and a big heart.

“Tummy Hurts” is often performed on tour with up-and-coming indie rock artist, Towa Bird on guitar.

Reneé Rapp is a ball of charisma, talent, and raw emotions and the album is a very fitting homage to the artist, as well as the person she is.

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Album #2 on the Busybee 2023 wrapped: Inuktitut, Elisapie.

Released in September 2023, Inuktitut is a collection of classics sung in the artist’s mother tongue, Inuit.

The track list includes songs like Metallica’s “The Unforgiven,” Isumagijunnaitaungituq in Inuit, Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” (Sinnatuumait), “Hey That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” by Leonard Cohen (Taimaa Qimatsiniungimat) and many more.

The beauty of this album is the way it resonates with everyone, no matter the age or the musical background. The artist picked songs she grew up listening to, in the remote Inuk community of Salluit in Northern Quebec. Songs many of us can recognize from childhood as well.

The language barrier is not even an issue, given that the melody is instantly recognizable to many. The minute Elisapie begins to sing “Dreams” in that dreamy voice of hers, you know exactly which song she is covering. In addition to the change in language, the artist incorporates several instruments not present in the original tracks, like banjo in some instances, percussion, horn, Qilaut (traditional drum) and throat singing.

The overall feeling of the album is nostalgic and serene. The artist wanted to capture beauty in everything, from joy to sadness, to heartbreak – and she did so marvelously.