Check out the playlist from Darius Melton, The Seahawk’s Opinions Editor and a senior majoring in creative writing! Since 2020, Melton has been creating multiple playlists for each month of the year.

“This was not only done to organize all of the new songs I’ve discovered that month,” Melton says, “but also to see if I could create a thematically appropriate soundtrack to that month’s mood. September was full of lonely songs for friendless folks; February was set to the tunes of hopeless romanticism. April is all about distraction—I can’t keep thinking about coronavirus,” said Melton.

Check out some of Melton’s favorite songs from his playlist below.

“Covid-19 Type Beat” by Matt Watson

“Of course, I  do genuinely have to keep thinking about coronavirus, but I have to do it on my terms. This song kicks off my playlist with a jokey rap song about staying home, washing your hands and popping Airborne. It makes me feel in control of the pandemic when I can laugh at it.”

“Aries (feat. Peter Hook and Georgia)” by Gorillaz

“Damon Albarn’s voice is so soothing. Whenever I hear this song, all I want to do is drive over the bridge in Wilmington with my windows down and blast, “High tide, high tide,” through the night. Of course, my car is parked indefinitely, but the fantasy’s a fun escape.”

“I Don’t Know What We’re Talking About” by Ninja Sex Party

“If you see me during any Zoom class, this is what’s playing through my head. I have been so checked out of school lately, but at least there’s an 80s-inspired rock ballad with a ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ rift to carry me through the days.”

“I’m a Believer” by Hot Dad

“I once went on record saying that ‘I’m a Believer’ no longer belonged to The Monkees and instead belonged to Eddie Murphy. A month later, Hot Dad comes out of nowhere with a synth-wave version of the “Shrek” ending hit, and I can’t stop singing it. ‘I thought love was only true in fairytales…’”

“After the Storm (feat. Tyler, the Creator & Bootsy Collins)” by Kali Uchis

“If I’m starting the playlist with a song joking about the current virus-ridden climate,” Melton says, “I have to end it with a sincere song about what happens after the bad times. The song’s not about coronavirus at all, but Kali’s voice puts me in a trance, Bootsy’s voice puts me to sleep and Tyler’s voice kind of haunts my nightmares, but that’s fine.”