Top 30 Chillout Songs of 2012

Chillout music (also referred to as chill out, chill wave or simply chill), always seems to transport me away from assiduous metropolis, into utopic suburbia, with ethereal instruments and soulful harmonies accompanying me. Personally, I believe chill out music isn’t synonymous with any genre or musical structure, it’s anything that relaxes you. Some people listen to the likes of Beethoven, others to the Sleep Party People; soul, jazz, rap or indie, it’s really all down to personal preference. So without further adieu, we present the top 25 chillout songs of 2012.

UPDATE: Best Chillout Songs of 2013 So Far…

30. Luvian – “My Life“

20 year old, Brighton-based producer Luvian, makes our first entry on our list of best chillout songs of 2012, with “My Life”; a post-garage electronic track. “My Life” is packed with dark synths, contorted vocal samples and quasi bells. “My Life” is featured on “Jams”, Luvian’s debut EP.

29. Shelter Point – “Braille”

WOW, what can I say about this track, literally the epitome of chillout. Two Nottingham guys (Liam and Robin) make up Shelter Point. I feel “Braille” speaks for itself, so – just listen.

28. How To Dress Well – “& It Was You”

How To Dress Well isn’t a mens fashion guide for sartorial gentleman but the stage name of experimental producer and singer Tom Krell. “Total Loss”, How To Dress Well’s sophomore album heavily regards the death and devastation which has run rife throughout his family. “& It Was You” is my best song of “Total Loss”.

27. Karma Kid – “Temptation”

Karma Kid is a 17 year old producer from Derbyshire who’s fighting among the likes of Disclosure and Kidnap Kid with his enthralling 808 electronic tracks. No. 27 is Karma Kid‘s enthralling “Temptation”.

26. FTSE – “SIRVYVIN”

We’ve been keeping tabs on UK producer FTSE for a while now, but it looks as though his music is finally starting to gain some proper recognition. Have a listen to “SIRVYVIN”.

25. Miguel – “Do You”

“Do You” is the second single of Miguel‘s 2012 album “Kaleidoscope Dream”, and what a second single it is.

24. Sepalcure – “Pencil Pimp”

“Pencil Pimp” which features on Sepalcure’s album “Sepalcure” is another heavy sampled track featured on our list of best chillout songs. “Pencil Pimp” is a bit more up tempo, but still manages to chill me out.

23. King Krule - “Rock Bottom”

Super young and super talented. There’s not much more King Krule can add to “Rock Bottom”.

22. Sharon Van Etten – “Give Out”

Sharon Van Etten’s “Warshaw” is extremely endearing. Etten’s album “Tramp” was one of the best albums of 2012. We hope she brings out some more music in 2013.

21. TROUMACA  – “Lady Colour”

Taken from the EP “Virgin Island”, TROUMACA‘s impalpable “Lady Colour”. We love it!

20. Jessie Ware – “110%”

Right in the thick of the sorority of women, which are thankfully gracing our electromagnetic radiative wavelengths, is Jessie Ware, a 28 year old singer-songwriter from South London. Currently on the cusp of mainstream fame, Ware’s Julio Bashmore-produced “110%” certainly puts me down a notch or two. I’m unsure of the sample, but I’ve been informed that it says “coughing my delicious on your forehead”… Though the sample is somewhat of an oddity, its folderol nature interlaced with Ware’s soulful harmonies is definitely worth a listen.

19. Rhye – “Open”

Another mysterious artist from California, Rhye has delivered one of the most intimate chill songs of the year. The confessional and tender vocals with the minimalist beat is a perfect mix for those special playlists.

18. Major Lazer – “Get Free”

As a lot of you will already know, Diplo & Switch are preparing themselves for a brand new Major Lazer album release, and so far they have dropped quite a few teasers, including this new free download called “Get Free” which features Amber Coffman (of The Dirty Projectors who also recently collaborated with Rusko).

17. Laura Mvula – “She”

“She”, a song from English singer-songwriter Laura Mvula is rather splendid.

16. Swindle – “Mischief”

Mala’s label Deep Medi dropped some fire in 2012, and none more so than Swindle’s EP, which in turn offered up the outstandingly jazzy “Mischief”. Having more in common with the Pink Panther theme tune than anything that dubstep’s old-schoolers could muster, this guy knocked it out the park recently when he proceeded to play an impromptu keyboard solo over one of his tracks during a set at Cable. Madman.

15. MMOTHS – “If Only”

Chill zone material indeed. MMOTHS‘s “If Only”.

14. Frank Ocean – “Thinkin’ Bout You”

This is one of my favourite tracks of Frank Ocean’s momentous album “Channel Orange“. The instrumental really compliments Frank Ocean’s superb vocals.

13. Kilo Kish – “Navy”

Kilo Kish’s “Navy” was literally on repeat throughout majority of 2012. OK, maybe that was a little bit of an exaggeration, but it’s still one of my favourite chillout songs. The Brooklyn-raised ‘rapper’ has really wooed me with this space-inspired song. It should definitely be played on a come down.

12. Zebra Katz – “Ima Read”

To be honest, I heard this track pretty late, but as soon as I did, I was hooked. One of the best tracks to play at a party if you ask me.

11. Sleep Party People – “A Dark God Heart”

No, Sleep Party People aren’t a community-based charity for individuals suffering with sleep deprivation, but the name of a Danish electronic band. Though the first single of their forthcoming album, “A Dark God Heart”, is as odd as their band name, their post-rock ambient music, are, well – just as odd. However, their music, which could be described by some as the total opposite of chill, is to me, an effulgence of pretty harmonies sang over explosive guitars, erratic stings and awkward noises.

10. Mikky Ekko – “Pull Me Down”

One of the smoothest songs of 2012. Born John Stephen Sudduth, Mikky Ekko‘s “Pull Me Down”, a collaboration with Clams Casino, is arguably one of the best R&B songs of 2012.

9. The Weeknd – “What You Need”

Before you say anything, we know that “What You Need” was released back in 2011, racking up over 7,000,000 views on YouTube since its inception a year ago… But since “What You Need” was re-released on “The Weeknd: Trilogy”, we thought it best to include it within the the best chillout songs of 2012.

8. Poliça – “Lay Your Cards Out”

Menacing and awkwardly beautiful. Whenever I listen to Poliça; one of Jay-Z’s favourite bands, I weirdly have a vision of Woodstock hippies, dancing around a camp fire, don’t ask.  Anyway chill out to Poliça’s “Lay Your Cards Out”.

7. Michael Kiwanuka – “Home Again”

“Home Again” is off Michael Kiwanuka’s debut album “Home Again”, which was released on New Year’s Day. The song peaked to number 29 on the UK Singles chart.

6. Jai Paul – “Jasmine”

Ever since Jai Paul dropped the fantastic “BTSTU” on us over a year ago, we have been craving new material, but nothing materialized – until “Jasmine” was released…

5. Sigur Rós – “Ekki Múkk”

To be frank, half of Sigur Rós’s album “Valtari”, should have featured on the best chillout songs of 2012 list – unfortunately it didn’t. However, we thought that Sigur Rós’s epitomizes chillout music so perfectly, so that two tracks have been featured. “Eg Anda” is doused in unfamiliarity and etherealness. Chill sounds.

4. XXYYXX – “About You”

At only 16, Marcel Everett (XXYYXX) is at the forefront of murky productions. The Florida native is certainly one to watch out for in the 2013. “About You” is rather epic.

3. Disclosure – “What’s In Your Head”

Disclosure seem to be producing hit after hit after hit. “What’s In Your Head” certainly puts me in that chill zone – the videos not too bad either.

2. Alt J – “Tessellate”

Personally, one of my favourite songs ever. Alt J’s “Tessellate” is off the Cambridge quartet’s debut album “An Awesome Wave”.  The dynamic grooves and synths coupled with lead singer Joe Newman’s vocals are all ironically reminiscent of tessellation – a pattern of shapes which fit perfectly together.

1. Bondax – “Baby I Got That” & “All Inside”

And so we have it. The best chillout songs of 2012. Bondax’s “Baby I Got That” and “All Inside” are the best form of medication for stress (not scientifically proven). The Lancaster-based teenage double act has topped the bill, so much so that we’ve featured two of their tracks. You can decide which is more chill.