More music to get you spinning. This particular grouping of songs provides a rather energetic workout from start to finish. The list features music from eight different artists and four different countries, United States (2), United Kingdom (3), Slovenia (1), and South Africa (2), and from several genres including House (2), Dance (3), Electronic, Reggae, and, surprisingly enough, Pop. However, when you hear the sublime vocal from Cara Frew on the single “Falling,” you might become a “pop” fan!
The workout begins with the track “Equilibrium” from Slovenian producer Denis Jašarrević (1984), known by his stage name Gramatik, currently residing in New York City. His interest in music began at age three, when his mother would catch him listening to American funk, jazz, soul, and blues from his older sister’s cassette tapes. He started producing hip-hop music using an early PC when he was 13, followed by him sharing his tracks through the online music store, Beatport, which helped him gain a following in the United States and Europe. After relocating to New Your City and signing with a new agency, he released his debut studio album, Expedition 44, in July of 2008, as well as a second studio album, Street Bangerz Vol.1 that same year. The song, “Equilibrium,” is from that debut album. To date, he has released 18 albums, the most recent, Aequoreus (2025). Needless to say, his music pops up on my spin lists on a regular basis.
The lone reggae track on the list belongs to SOJA, the acronym of Soldiers of Jah Army), an American band based in Arlington, Virginia. They formed in 1997, and the eight-member band has released 12 albums since their first release in 2000, the self-titled Soldiers of Jah Army. Their latest release was Beauty in the Acoustic (2024) and the playlist song, “Tried my Best,” is from 2017’s Poetry in Motion. While the amount of reggae tracks I use to spin to is sparse, every once in a while, there is the odd song, like the one on this list, that speaks to me. The current line-up for SOJA are: Jacob Hemphill (lead vocals/guitar, 1997-present), Bobby “Lee” Jefferson (bass guitar/vocals, 1997-present), Ryan “Bird” Berty (drums, 1997-present), Ken Brownell (percussion, 1997-present), Pastrick O’Shea (keyboards, 2002-present), Hellman Escoria (saxophone, 2012-present), Rafael Rodriguez (trumpet, 2012-present), and Trevor Young (lead guitar, guest lead vocals, 2014-present).
There are two tracks on this list from South African artists, the aforementioned Cara Frew and an electronic duo from Cape Town, Dominic Peters (production, keyboards, upright bass, bass guitar) and David Poole (production, saxophone, flute, vocals), otherwise known as Goldfish. They now reside in San Diego, California, creating dance music containing elements of house, pop, jazz, and African music. Thery have released eight albums to date, their debut in 2006, Caught in the Loop and their latest, If Summer was a Sound in 2023. The featured song, “Get Busy Living,” is from their 2010 release of the same name and features vocals from Emily Bruce, who is featured on two other tracks from this album. Goldfish are another group that I use frequently for my spin lists. When you listen to the song from this playlist, you will know why.
Cara Frew’s artistic journey began as a singer/songwriter and recording artist when she signed with Sony Music to release her debut album, Flame, in 2017. The featured song on this playlist, “Falling,” was released as a single in 2015. Besides her music career, she is also an actress, which has been occupying her time these days, although she did release a second album, Candy Coloured Nightmare, in 2025. She studied at Berklee College of Music, earning a Master Certificate in vocal performance, piano, production, song writing, and music theory from the Malie Kelly Vocal Academy. Frew has headlined the live stage at the Ultra Music Festival in Singapore, resonated with audiences throughout Toronto at Canadian Music Week, and sold out shows in Los Angeles, including an unforgettable performance at Johnny Depp’s iconic Viper Room in West Hollywood. Although her debut album was classified as “pop,” her latest release is labelled as singer/songwriter, just another example of what I like to call “genre roulette.”
Enough talk, enjoy the music!
Los Angeles 2025
Great playlist! “Falling” by Cara Frew is intoxicating, and I also especially like “Equilibrium”, “Tried My Best”, “Ritual” and “Thank You (Doruk Ozlen Vocal Mix)”.
Thanks! I agree with you about Cara Frew’s “Falling,” intoxicating is a very apt descriptor.
There’s a great term right there North. I have not heard it before but “genre roulette” just might get repeated in my blog some day.
Somehow I knew you would pick up on that!
Ha!