Kitchen Feedback

These are the tunes soundtracking my month. Expect the playlist to grow and evolve as the weeks go by, with fresh additions and occasional surprises right up until month’s end. Keep checking back—the journey isn’t over yet.

Amy Shark: The Biggest Dick – This isn’t a new release in July, but it’s far too catchy to leave off the playlist. At its heart, it’s a song about trying to get over an ex, wrapped in an irresistible melody and brilliant chord progression. That’s the thing about Amy’s music—there’s always one track in every album that captures my heart. For The Biggest Dick, it’s the bassline.

Hillary Duff: We Don’t Talk – On the surface, We Don’t Talk is a catchy pop song. Underneath, it’s one of the most heartbreaking tracks Hilary Duff has ever recorded. Written about her estrangement from her sister Haylie, the song captures the confusion and sadness of drifting apart from someone who once knew you better than anyone else. What makes it so effective is the contrast between its infectious melody and its deeply personal lyrics. Rather than dwelling on blame, Duff focuses on the lingering question that accompanies so many broken relationships: how did we get here? It’s a song about distance, regret, and the hope that one day a conversation might still be possible.

Kygo, Dan Tyminski: Heaven On Your Mind – If nostalgia had a soundtrack, it might sound something like Heaven On Your Mind. Pairing Kygo’s sun-soaked production with Dan Tyminski’s unmistakable voice, the track feels like a loving nod to the folk-infused EDM that defined an earlier era. I truly miss Avicii whenever I listen to this track. There’s a warmth and sincerity to it that makes it instantly familiar, yet it never feels dated.

Brian Fallon: Better Before – Brian Fallon has always had a gift for making heartache sound anthemic, and Better Before is no exception. Beneath its driving guitars and soaring chorus lies a song about a relationship coming apart at the seams. What I love most is the contrast: the lyrics wrestle with loss and change, while the music surges forward with optimism and energy. With shades of Tom Petty, Springsteen, and ’80s heartland rock, it’s the kind of song that feels instantly familiar yet impossible to stop replaying.

Cayley Spivey: Nona Ryder – Nona Ryder feels like a Polaroid from another era. Inspired by ’90s icon Winona Ryder, Cayley Spivey turns nostalgia into something deeply personal, crafting a coming-of-age anthem about identity, ambition, and finding your place in the world before social media made connection effortless. The song is packed with longing and heart, but it’s the soaring chorus that keeps pulling me back.

Marshmello, : Another Drink – Another Drink isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel—and that’s exactly why it works. Pairing Kelsea Ballerini’s confident, post-breakup lyrics with Marshmello’s bright, nostalgic production, the song feels like the soundtrack to a carefree summer night out with friends. It’s catchy, unapologetically fun, and packed with the kind of chorus that stays in your head long after the song ends. Sometimes all you need is a good hook, a cold drink, and a reason to leave the past behind. Blast it out loud. This may be the song of the summer.

Letdown: Did it to You – Did It To You hits hard because it refuses to take the easy way out. Instead of pointing fingers, Letdown. turns the spotlight inward, delivering a song filled with regret, guilt, and the lingering questions that follow a failed relationship. Wrapped in soaring guitars and an explosive chorus, it’s the rare breakup song that feels both cathartic and painfully honest. Sometimes the hardest person to forgive isn’t your ex—it’s yourself.

John Paesano, Braden Kimball: Main Theme to Daredevil: Born Again – I finally caught up with the latest season of Daredevil: Born Again on Disney+, and hearing John Paesano and Braden Kimball’s theme again reminded me why Daredevil has been a childhood inspiration for my career today. Dark, brooding, and quietly heroic, the music perfectly captures Matt Murdock’s resilience and determination. Some themes are memorable (especially Jessica Jones); this one feels inseparable from the character.

Metric: Leave You On A High – Leave You On A High is the perfect album closer. Built around soaring melodies and Emily Haines’ unmistakable vocals, the song feels like a conscious rejection of cynicism in favour of hope. There’s a sense of reflection throughout, but also a determination to move forward and embrace what’s next. By the time the final notes fade out, Metric has achieved exactly what the title promises: they leave you on a high.

I Am the Avalanche: Laughing and Bleeding – Laughing and Bleeding is a powerful tribute to the friends who stand by us through life’s highest highs and lowest lows. Packed with driving guitars and a soaring chorus, the song celebrates the kind of friendships that survive hardship, loss, and everything in between. In a world full of songs about romance, I Am the Avalanche reminds us that some of the strongest bonds are forged between friends who have been through hell and back together. This is the anthem to a true friendship. Blast it loud with your pickleball friends.

MAMAMOO: 4 Flowers – Welcome back, ladies. 4 Flowers is a reminder of why MAMAMOO remains one of K-pop’s finest vocal groups. Revisiting the beloved Four Seasons, Four Colors era, the track showcases the group’s range through tracks like Wind Flower, Egotistic, and gogobebe. Even though I don’t understand Korean perfectly, what matters most is the effortless harmony between Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa. Much like a great pickleball doubles partnership, each member brings her own strengths, but it’s their chemistry and collective timing that make the magic happen.