☆ExComm’s 2025 Summer Playlist☆
A few of the newest members of KCSB’s Executive Committee bring you some wonderful tunes to spin while walking on the beach, gathered around a campfire, swimming in a pool, or any other activity suited for a hot summer’s day.
☆ EL’S RECOMMENDATIONS☆
“Window” by Coma Cinema
☆ Coma Cinema has been one of my favorites since high school, so this song is dripped in hazy nostalgia perfect for visiting hometowns and seeing old friends. Upbeat but still with a twinge of melancholy, “Window” is a great listen when ending a night out, especially driving with the windows down (trust me– I’ve tried it!).
“Fire” by LPG
☆ LPG is an indie pop group of the 2000s, perfectly encapsulating being 20-something and a little lost– but eager to have fun. “Fire” is Beach Boys-esque with their layered vocals and surf-rock sounding instrumentals, while being just a little grittier. This song is perfect for an energetic beach day or a night on the town.
“Hell” by Cheyenne Mars
☆ “Hell” is intimate, light, and airy– the complete opposite of its name. This song feels as though you’re on a floaty in the middle of a body of water, letting the waves gently rock you to sleep. I think this song is perfect for those lazy Santa Barbara summer moments when you want to relax. Play this the next time you’re sunbathing!
“Kara’s Song (Why Can’t I Tell You?)” by Unknown Mystery 60’s Group
☆ A little angsty and full of yearning, this song embodies that helpless-teenage-summer-crush feel. Filled with a 60s sound (apparent by the band’s name), it gives me a sense of familiarity while also returning me to the stomach butterflies and sweaty hands associated with a new relationship. If you are apprehensive about something (or someone) this summer, this song is perfect to relate to.
“Late August Blues” by Children of the Wave
☆ Sometimes summer is not all fun and games, and “Late August Blues” is a good backdrop for those moments of gloominess. Reminiscent of a video game soundtrack, this song makes you feel introspective and childlike, thinking about past summers of your life. This is a perfect ballad for the transition from summer to fall, so be sure to keep this in your arsenal for the near future!
☆ SARAH B.’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“Home Among the Swinging Stars” by Mapache
☆ Mapache is quintessential summer music with their hazy, laid back so-cal sound. This track is a lovely instrumental with breezy, reverberating guitar that creates a sun-soaked sound and feels like a never ending beach day.
“All the Feral Girls in the Universe” by Godcaster
☆ It’s been brat summer and hot girl summer but this summer is feral girl summer. This track is an upbeat explosion of sound. Its freaky, fast, and fun art punk energy scratches that musical mental itch for me. I could listen to this song a hundred times and have.
“Tropical Man” by Menahan Street Band, Rogê
☆ Bossa Nova and Samba just screams summer to me and this track by New York funk/soul collective Menahan Street Band in collaboration with Brazilian singer-songwriter Rogê puts a fun modern twist on the genre. The lush instrumentals and Portuguese vocals transport me to a lounge chair in the tropics; listening to this song is like a free vacation.
“WORTH THE TEARS” by Sheer Mag
☆ This power-pop anthem from Philly rock band Sheer Mag was made to be blasted on the highway with windows down. It is an upbeat and lighthearted take on distortion-lagged rock and their mix of classic rock and modern post punk influences makes for a unique sound I can’t get enough of. I saw them open for Amyl and the Sniffers and they are unreal live, one of the best new rock bands in my opinion.
“High Tide” by The Apples In Stereo
☆ Unfortunately all summers must come to an end 🙁 This endearing indie pop track encapsulates this feeling of mourning its impending close in a sentimental way reminiscent of The Beach Boys and The Beatles. This season rolls in and out faster than the tides, and if it were up to me it would be summer forever, but at least I will have this song to comfort me when it ends.
☆ AVERY M.’s RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“First it was a movie, then it was a book” by Florry
☆ I heard about Florry through Brooklyn Vegan’s video of Patterson Hood’s album recs. This 2025 release is full of alt-country tunes perfect for summer. At just under 7 minutes long, this song has some crazy instrumental stretches that I’ve been jamming to while barbecuing or lounging at the beach.
“Hurricane Waves” by Bomb the Music Industry
☆ This entire album (Vacation) is an on-the-nose summer album. This band was based in NYC, and a lot of their music rejoices the transition from extreme cold to finally sunny weather. In Santa Barbara, we’re a bit more fortunate, but its fun to pretend the current sunshine is rare with lines like “I know that today could be the end of summer and hey // I’ve been procrastinating anyway, so what’s one more day? // So what’s one more day?”. You gotta listen to this whole record front-to-back at least once this summer!
☆ AVERY K.’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“No Mas” by Slater
☆ A mix between experimental rock with Socal hyperpop flare, Slater and his new album are on repeat for me allllll summer long. This song specifically I’ve been bumping nonstop this as a Socal anthem wherever I’m constantly commuting – super dope guitar and electronic elements combo for a perfect vibe. Saw him open for George Clanton in May and seeing him solo in October #Blessed. He’s probably my fav artist right now no biggie.
“Sivolette” by Dudeo Perez
☆ A band very nostalgic to me straight out of Ventura, their surfpunk vibe is absolutely perfect for the summer. Their album Allons’y which this song is off of is the pinnacle of all my high school playlists (that I’ve randomly chosen to relive this summer), and I’ve loved replaying the fun of the countless times I’ve seen them live.
“Oontz” by MICHELLE
☆ A more recent band on my radar, I’ve been in love with Michelle’s R&B simultaneously mellow and upbeat sound – with this song in particular being my favorite. They have a very bedroom pop feel that I really appreciate and their album “Songs About You Specifically” has literally no skips. Sooooo worth a listen.
“Rhinestone” by Ryan Beatty
☆ This song so good for what, Ryan Beatty I love you. “Boy In Jeans” is so underappreciated and I think although he’s bordering the lines of mainstream, he still holds such a unique flair. I put this song on my drive to work and sing my little heart out so you should too…
“Check Up Your Head” by Mukhtar Ramadan Idii
☆ Throwing a little disco into the mix, this song is just awesome and works as both background noise and also dance music. Forget where I even found this, but I love it and tend to think of it as if Bill Withers took on 70’s disco music with a lit saxophonic additive. That’s just me though. I recommend checking this album out too, it’s a collaborative group album entitled “MOGADISCO”; so you know it’s a good time.
☆ ISABELLE’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“The Glass Is Half Empty” by The Lazarus Plot
☆ Brat summer be damned – 2025 is the year of emo girl summer. This song, newly released on streaming services (but recorded in 1996), comes from the most iconic emo/screamo band to ever come out of Elgin, Illinois: The Lazarus Plot. Combining spoken word with screamo vocals, this song encapsulates a very specific kind of summer ennui. (Fun fact, the lead singer of this band, Laura Laurent, has a Bright Eyes song written about her).
“Theme to 90210” by Cap’n Jazz
☆ This bubble-gum emo cover of the timeless Beverly Hills 90210 theme song comes from the even more timeless emo band: Cap’n Jazz. Most Cap’n Jazz songs sound like summer to me – clean guitar, silly wordplay (their only album is called Analphabetapolothology), and iconic vocals. This song encapsulates a very specific summer feeling: sitting on the couch in your muggy 85 degree house with your roommates and binge-watching a TV show.
“Words & Smiles” by Tiger Trap
☆ Twee-pop band Tiger Trap just screams summer to me. This band was together for just over a year, and their songs exude youth and sickly sweetness. “Words and Smiles,” was their first song ever released (off a split with iconic riot grrrl band Bratmobile), and was the beginning of their cult classic status.
☆ LILY’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“The Bulrushes” by The Bongos
☆ Nothing says good wholesome summer fun like 80s power pop from New Jersey. Have this on vinyl and it’s a summer staple for me.
“Bull Dawg” by Link Wray
☆ Classic old-school 50s rock ‘n’ roll instrumental anthem by the infamous Link Wray: OG punk and power chord king. Nasty riffs that were rather scandalous for the day. Goes well with instrumental surf stuff if you’re looking for a similar sound.
“Feast on My Heart” by Pylon
☆ 80s post-punk with a catchy synthy vibe. Fronted by the incredibly talented Vanessa Briscoe Hay. Great album all the way through!
“Pain of Pride” by Pink Industry
☆ Synthy dark-wave-esque post-punk from Liverpool with a decidedly summer vibe, in my opinion. Proto-EDM perhaps, and formed by Jayne Casey after her previous band Pink Military split up in 1981 (they are also very good!) Was listening to this album a lot at the start of the summer. Feels nostalgic even though I was not alive in the 1980s…
“Ice Cream to God” by Kitchen and the Plastic Spoons
☆ INCREDIBLY odd and strange-in-the-best-way Swedish post-punk band that existed briefly from 1980–1982. Fronted by the enigmatic and unique vocals of Anne Taivan, along with two synth players, a bassist, and a drummer. Decidedly dark and moody stuff, but since this one is totally about ice cream, it makes the summer playlist. 😉
☆ LOGAN’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“Lotus Blossom” by WAR
☆ A soulful, heartfelt tune from well celebrated soul and R&B act War. In their sprawling career since the 60s they’ve written plenty of hits, with this track sitting quietly on the same record as “Low Rider” and “Why Can’t We Be Friends”. It’s the perfect tune for a lazy summer afternoon, in my case floating along the water in the blistering Lake Havasu heat.
“Summer” by Helvetia
☆ A decidedly less optimistic song, with bouncy instrumentals and a perfectly fitting name for the season, side project of several ex-Duster members, Helvetia, came out with this track in 2008 as part of their record The Acrobats. I listened to this song a bunch last Summer, and I (perhaps mistakenly) read the initial line as “Spent the summer wasting the sun, inside,” which was very fitting for my final summer spent without any classes, work, or obligations of any sort.
“You Just Decided” by Shintaro Sakamoto
☆ Funky art pop virtuoso Shintaro Sakamoto blends groovy instrumentals with unexpectedly sad vocals in this track off his 2011 album How To Live With A Phantom. The song progresses with instrumentals in the pocket and Sakamoto riding that groove with playful singing that sounds like it belongs in a decade long past. This song is a new staple in my summer listening, and I treat it like a happy song even though I know I’d feel otherwise if I could understand the words.
☆ TATIANA’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“Dangerous Blues” by The Young Veins
☆ Feeling nostalgic? The Young Veins offer up a classic rock vibe reminiscent of The Beach Boys, with an unquestionably 1960s vibe. Their 2010 album, Take a Vacation!, is the perfect summer album for long drives along the coast, and soaking in the warm summer sun.
“Kiss a Girl in Black” by Fleeting Joys
☆ The ultimate track for somber yearning. Fleeting Joys craft a melancholic, heart-felt tune, blending instrumentals with the softness of the vocals to craft a transcendental listening experience. Soon to be your next staple shoegaze song.
“Heaven’s on Fire” by The Radio Dept.
☆ Currently bopping my head to this one. Sampling audio from the documentary “1991: The Year Punk Broke”, The Radio Dept. sets the narrative for the song–a commentary on youth and punk culture being watered down and countered by the capitalist process. Though the meaning is far deeper than the rhythmic instrumentals craft a head-bopping tune that is sure to get you moving along to the beat.
☆ SARAH N.’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“Dream About It” by Lipsticism
☆ An ambient pop/experimental dream. This has quickly become one of my favorite songs and is most effective when biking in the sun. It begins with a fast strumming pattern, incorporating elements of flamenco, including rasgueado rolling. Then, quickly progresses into an ethereal cacophony of pop psychedelia, entwining a more hyperpop beat with textured samples. I think this song can be best appreciated by the beach, in the sun, with your go-to beverage in hand—headphones on, of course! 😀
“their Love” by Tirzah
☆ A beautifully textured, downtempo alternative ballad. Tirzah’s soft and sultry vocals layered atop an untuned keyboard melody make this song so sentimental and tranquilizing. I love to have this playing in the background for any stationary activity, especially when I need a moment to simply sit still and be present.
“Today” by The Innocence Mission
☆ Such a sweet and warm indie folk classic. Karen Peris has the most mesmerizing of vocals, and compels you to lie on your stomach while kicking your feet back and forth. Every time I listen to this song, I find myself either rolling in the grass with a trusted friend or dancing in my bedroom while wearing a flowy dress. However, this song is not limited to just those two activities; driving to a nameless destination, or swaying on a swing at the park, as well as so many more to name, would altogether complement the puerile tone of this charmingly melancholic, somewhat, lullaby.
“YSL” by A Good Year, Horse Vision
☆ Based in Copenhagen, Good Year collaborates with Stockholm-based Horse Vision to create an ingenious, indie rock melody. I would argue that this song possesses some electronic pop sensibilities that make it a bit more interesting, and heavily favors Alex G. This song never fails me when I’m in need of a catchy, satiating tune!
“Snowboarding in Colorado” by Cicadahead
☆ A noise pop/bitpop, bedroom skramz masterpiece. Honestly, I recommend listening to this album in its entirety, as it has served me well for a couple of years now – a genuine, no-skip album, I would say. There is something so comforting and nostalgic about this song; whether it’s the childlike directness through the use of 8-bit sound chips or the raw vocals accompanied by bright jangles, it transports you to adolescence.
☆ MADDIE’S RECOMMENDATIONS ☆
“Suffer Never” by The Promise Ring
☆ I love love love The Promise Ring and this track in particular has been on repeat for me all summer. One of the more upbeat tracks from the 90s emo group, with exceedingly happy lyrics and attitude, it has been reminding me of all the good times I’ve been having with my friends over the summer before we all part ways when school starts.
“Honey Dew” by Jimmy Carter and Dallas County Green
☆ I’ve had my eye on Jimmy Carter and Dallas County Green for quite some time now and seeing them gain a bit of traction on a few of their songs has felt like a long time coming. This track comes from an 8 song long album which was originally recorded in 1977, yet only re-released by The Numero Group in 2016. I love Numero Group and every single one of their Cosmic American music compilations, as not only are they a Laurel Canyon classic but they all feel so quintessentially summer, so, I just knew I had to include at least one.
“Sunkissed” by Guitar Michael Lückner
☆ I couldn’t think of a better name for this song, as it simply feels as if you are sitting under the hot sun, probably a bit sunburnt, the ocean nearby, relaxing as you listen to the sound of the waves crash. Even elements of this song seem to mimic a sort of wave crashing sound, and it is just so sonically interesting.
“In The Summer” by The Pearly Gatecrashers
☆ I was immediately intrigued by the name of the artist when I first found this song, and was pleasantly surprised by the dreamy almost jangle-y sound. It is no surprise that this track was recorded in the 1980s, and it feels so so sweetly 80s dream pop, that I believe it is the perfect track for your soundtrack to the summer. Plus, of course, it has summer in the name.
“Beijing” by ee
☆ Another artist I’ve had on repeat the last few months, ee was formed after the group Korea Girl broke up, and member Tobin Mori started a new project, ultimately becoming ee. I’m not only obsessed with ee’s sound, but have also been obsessed with Korea Girl for quite some time, so, it was no surprise when I found out the two bands were connected, and it’s my little way of recommending both artists.