What is the Song of the Summer? (2025 Summer Preview)

Summary

All of It: Summer 2025 Playlist Preview – Navigating the Soundscape of the Season

In the latest episode of All of It hosted by Alison Stewart on WNYC, the focus is set on the vibrant and dynamic world of summer 2025 music. Titled “What is the Song of the Summer? (2025 Summer Preview),” this episode delves deep into the anticipated hits, emerging artists, and the cultural currents shaping the music scene. With insights from musicologist and podcast host Nate Sloan, listeners are guided through a curated exploration of what could define the soundtrack of the summer.

Setting the Stage: Contenders for Song of the Summer

Alison Stewart kicks off the episode by engaging listeners in a lively discussion about potential candidates for the coveted "Song of the Summer." She muses on whether 2025 will see Drake reclaiming the title after Kendrick Lamar's triumph the previous year or if fresh talents like Sabrina Carpenter and Inuit représentant Little Sims will take the spotlight.

Notable Quotes:

• Alison Stewart [00:28]: “Maybe you think 25 is Drake's turn after last summer's Kendrick Lamar.”
• Alison Stewart [01:21]: “Maybe it'll be a repeat of last summer? Sabrina Carpenter was everywhere…”

Expert Insights: Nate Sloan’s Top Picks

Joining Alison is Nate Sloan, co-host of the Switched On Pop podcast, who brings his expertise to the table by highlighting three highly anticipated releases for the summer.

1. Sabrina Carpenter
   Nate praises Carpenter’s unique blend of humor and catchy melodies, making her a standout in the pop landscape.

   • Nate Sloan [03:37]: “I love listening to her music because it makes me laugh... the mix of humor and catchy melodies is what makes her sound so distinctive.”
   • Nate on Sabrina’s Vocal Talent [04:09]: “She can sell a song… make you bop your head. So I think that's a gift.”

2. Lorde
   Known for her experimental approach, Lorde’s upcoming album is anticipated to blend avant-garde elements with mainstream appeal.

   • Nate Sloan [02:48]: “She’s one of the most interesting singer-songwriters... able to marry experimental pop with mainstream success.”

3. Little Sims
   A UK-based rapper whose innovative music and visually stunning videos position her as a rising star.

   • Nate Sloan [02:48]: “Little Sims is the most exciting emcee around right now. Not only is her music amazing, but her music videos are pretty mind-blowing.”

Emerging Voices: Jensen McCrae and Emma Harner

Jensen McCrae’s Breakthrough

Jensen McCrae, an emerging singer-songwriter and former student of Nate Sloan, is highlighted for her unique sound that fuses folk with dance rhythms. Her track “Preying on Your Downfall” is showcased, illustrating her ability to blend intellectual lyricism with emotional vulnerability.

• Nate Sloan [04:45]: “She has a singular voice that sounds like nothing else. It's a little bit of folk, a little bit of propulsive dance rhythm. It's got something for everyone.”

Emma Harner’s Genre Innovation

Emma Harner introduces a fresh genre she calls “math folk,” combining the complexity of math rock with the acoustic simplicity of folk music. Her song “False Alarm” exemplifies this innovative blend, featuring intricate rhythms and harmonious melodies.

• Nate Sloan [13:15]: “Combining the rhythmic and melodic complexity of math rock with the stripped-down acoustic style of folk music... she uses odd time signatures and surprising harmonies.”

Listener Interactions: Shouts from the Community

Throughout the episode, listeners call in to share their favorite artists and concert plans, adding a communal feel to the discussion.

• John from Westfield [10:25]: Shouts out his son’s band, Sloth, comparing them to a Zeppelin-like trio with Monty Python-esque humor.
• Robert from Montclair [15:17]: Talks about Grupo Frontera and Fuesa Regada’s collaboration, highlighting their viral success with a cover of "Enter Sandman."
• Kevin from Manhattan [15:54]: Shares nostalgic plans to listen to the Go Go's and B52s, reminiscing about past concerts at Jones Beach and Meriwether Post Pavilion.

Notable Quotes:

• John [10:25]: “They mix kind of a Monty Python-esque Holy Grail humor to what they do... they're absolutely phenomenal.”
• Kevin [16:02]: “I saw the Go Go's three times and the B52s twice. So I'm really dating myself.”

Nostalgia and Modernity: The Role of Throwback Sounds

Nate Sloan delves into the significant role nostalgia plays in contemporary music, explaining how artists are revisiting and revitalizing sounds from past decades to resonate with today’s audiences.

• Nate Sloan [11:21]: “Music industry... composers, songwriters are constantly mining the musical past to find things that will resonate with people.”
• Nate on Retroism [16:19]: Discusses bands like the Go Go's and B52s making a comeback and how their sounds influence current music trends.

Fusion of Genres: Grupo Frontera and Fuesa Regada

A standout moment is the collaboration between Grupo Frontera and Fuesa Regada, merging Mexican regional styles with contemporary beats. Their track “Mejalo” exemplifies this fusion, seamlessly blending corridos tumbados with nortenio and cumbia rhythms.

• Nate Sloan [17:08]: “They are two of the biggest Mexican regional acts right now... their sounds and the singers blend so seamlessly.”
• Nate on Genre Blending [19:39]: “Mandating a sing blending...”

Legendary Influences: Jack White and Sly Stone

The episode also pays homage to music legends, featuring Jack White’s track “Archbishop Harold Holmes” and a tribute to Sly Stone, celebrating his enduring influence on funk and soul.

• Nate Sloan on Jack White [20:15]: “This is a barn burner… very funny, very hip, and frankly, it rocks.”
• Nate on Sly Stone [23:01]: “His blend… introduced funk and soul to mainstream audiences.”

Conclusion: Crafting the Ultimate Summer Playlist

Alison Stewart wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of community input in shaping the summer’s musical landscape. She encourages listeners to share their favorite tracks and concert experiences, fostering a collective celebration of the season’s diverse sounds.

• Alison Stewart [07:15]: “We are talking about a summer music preview… giving some shout outs to some singers that he's really excited about.”
• Final Call to Action [24:21]: Encourages ongoing listener engagement and participation in future episodes.

Final Thoughts

This episode of All of It brilliantly encapsulates the essence of summer 2025’s music scene by blending expert analysis, emerging artist highlights, and vibrant listener interactions. Nate Sloan’s deep dives into genre innovations and nostalgic influences provide a comprehensive guide for music enthusiasts eager to curate the perfect summer playlist. Whether you're a fan of pop, folk, rock, or regional genres, this episode offers something for everyone, reflecting the rich and diverse cultural tapestry that defines both New York City and the broader musical landscape.

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Note: All timestamps are indicative based on the provided transcript and correspond to key moments in the episode.

Transcript

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[Alison Stewart]

This is all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. All this week we're going to be looking at the sights and sounds of summer. Today we're going to be taking your calls for the songs that will be on your playlist for summer 2025 and possibly the song of the summer. Maybe you think 25 is Drake's turn after last summer's Kendrick Lamar. A thon could great. Could Drake come back with Nokia? Or maybe it'll be a heim so they just played Glastonbury Festival and people are responding to down to be wrong.

[Unknown Artist]

Down to be wrong don't need to be right I left you the key I left on the lights I locked myself out.

[Alison Stewart]

Or will we have a repeat of last summer? Sabrina Carpenter was everywhere with espresso. And maybe her hit manchild will be wafting out of cars headed to the Jersey Shore.

[Unknown Artist]

Man, why you always come running on me if my life won't you let an innocent woman be Never heard of care have your brain just ain't there.

[Alison Stewart]

Aside from these songs, there are plenty of potential new earworms and albums to look forward to this summer. Joining us to recommend some songs that should be on your radar is musicologist and switched on pop podcast host Nate Sloan. Hey, Nate, it's nice to see you, Alison.

[Nate Sloan]

It's great to be back.

[Alison Stewart]

Thank you listeners. We want to hear from you. What are you listening to this summer? Maybe it's a new release or a song that's been an earworm during these summer months. Our phone lines are open. 2124-3396-9221-2433. WNYC. You can call in, you can join us on the air or you can text us at that number or. Or reach out on social media. Llnyc. We know there are a ton of big releases this summer, Nate, could you pick three that you're just excited about? We'll get into your songs first, but I want to know three releases you're really excited for.

[Nate Sloan]

Three releases I'm really excited for. You mentioned her at the top. Sabrina Carpenter. Her new album, I think continues the success she had with her last album. Short and sweet. It's breezy, it's fun, I think it's going to be all over the airwaves. I also am looking forward to the new album from Lorde. I mean, I think she's one of the most interesting singer songwriters we have right now who's able to marry kind of experimental pop with mainstream success. And there's a rapper out of the UK named Little Sims who is I think the most exciting emcee around right now. And not only is her music amazing, but her music videos are pretty mind blowing. So those are three artists I'll be looking out for.

[Alison Stewart]

They all sound good. Let's circle back to Sabrina Carpenter. What is something you think is unique about her that she brings to the pop landscape?

[Nate Sloan]

In short, one word humor. I love listening to her music because it makes me laugh and so much pop music can be so serious or emotional or treacly. And she has a great sense of humor. She's got some one liners that you've never heard before. I think the mix of humor and catchy melodies is what makes her sound so distinctive.

[Alison Stewart]

Do you think she's a good singer?

[Nate Sloan]

I think she's a great singer. I mean, is she a Whitney Houston diva who can hit stratospheric high notes? No, but she can sell a song. Not a lot of singers could sing a line like why so sexy if so dumb on the second verse of her new song man Child and make you, you know, bop your head. So I think that's a gift.

[Alison Stewart]

Fair point. Another one of your picks this summer is Jensen McCrae's preying on your downfall from her most recent album I don't know how but they found me. Tell us a little more about Jensen McCray.

[Nate Sloan]

Jensen McCray is an up and coming singer songwriter who I would be a fan of regardless. But I have a personal connection to her because she was one of my students the very first year I started teaching at the USC Thornton School of Music. Jensen was in my class and she was brilliant and sometimes that doesn't correlate to musical success, but in her case she is has a burgeoning career, a sold out tour and her album is fantastic. She's got a singular voice that sounds like nothing else. It's a little bit of folk, it's a little bit of propulsive dance rhythm. It's got something for everyone. I think she's going to be huge.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen to Jensen McCray's preying on your downfall.

[Unknown Artist]

You still get stoned and make a phone call. You're still a bachelor with those blank walls. Keep telling People you're six feet tall I'm finished praying for your downfall can't go on thinking it wasn't my fault and pushing pins into a cursed doll Keep trading I'm blaming your mom I'm finished praying for your downfall so many hours putting words in your mouth to think I thought I almost figured you out I can make nice but I can make it make sense now don't need to see you fall down I don't need to see you fall down.

[Alison Stewart]

That was Jens McCray preying on your downfall in an LA Times piece. Jens McCray said when she first started singing, she was trying to intellectualize her feelings to get away from being vulnerable. And now she sees there's room for both. Nate, have you witnessed this in her music?

[Nate Sloan]

Yeah, I think even in that little snippet we just heard, you know, she has that wordless tag at the end of the chorus. I wonder if that's something she would have done earlier in her musical career. It's such a. It's a wordless hook. It doesn't have meaning, and yet it's so satisfying for a listener. So maybe that's reflective of that quote you just read, sort of leaning into the emotion of music in addition to the intellect of it.

[Alison Stewart]

My guest is Nate Sloan. He's the co host of Switched On Pop. We are talking about a summer music preview. Listeners, we want to hear from you or what are you listening to this summer? What is going on that playlist? Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc or perhaps you want to tell us about a concert you're going to go to this summer that you're a little excited about. You can call and text us that too. 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC. Next up on your list, Girl of youf Dreams by Eli Ones to Watch Music blog said a bubblegum pop renaissance is upon us and Eli is leading the charge. Do you agree with that assessment?

[Nate Sloan]

Yeah. If you're a fan of late 90s, early 2000s pop like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys, then you will be a fan of Eli's. This artist embraces that millennial sound while updating it for 2025.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take a listen to Eli's Girl of youf Dreams.

[Unknown Artist]

Can't track this butterfly can't take a rainbow out the sky. You're just another guy for the life of me I don't know why I was Willing to give it a try? Pack it up, pick it up It's a bu getting above if you got no trust you give a little too little? Just a little too much too much? You got me coming clean? It's dirty, then it's me? You're not done for me now I got maybe Cody. I forgot. At least he knows what it want. You must be losing sleep just thinking how I was the girl of your dreams. I was the girl of your dreams.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay, Nate, I can picture being in the car, rolling down the window, doing the thing with your hand like you're on a wave. What does a summer song need? What do you think it needs to have?

[Nate Sloan]

I think it needs to have that sense of escapism that you were just describing. It needs to make you feel like you're floating. It needs to make you feel like if someone else heard that song coming out of your car, Allison, it would smile and nod and wave right back at you. There's something communal about the summer song. It reaches out to everyone. A time when we're all out on the streets and in the, you know, the fields. I guess if you're a rural listener and you're out and about listening to music together. So I think it needs that. That sense of, like, kind of bringing people together.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk to John from Westfield, New Jersey. Hey, John, thanks for calling, all of it. What are you gonna listen to this summer?

[John]

Hey, how you doing? Thanks for taking me on the show.

[Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[John]

I'm listening to a band called Sloth S L O T H, which, I'll be honest, is my son's band. They're incredible. They're like a three piece, like Zeppelin band, but they also mix kind of a Monty Python esque Holy Grail humor to what they do. They were just playing in Brooklyn to Sold Out House. They're absolutely phenomenal. And they're on Instagram on Sloth Band. Awesome. And I am his dad, but they're also really, really good.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks for the shout out. This says this is interesting. Collective Soul and Live are touring this summer. And I can't wait. Brings me back to listening to the radio in elementary school. That's a throwback. And you know, it was interesting cause Eli was a little bit of a throwback to Nate. What do you make of nostalgia in this kind of music? Cause we're looking for a song of the summer.

[Nate Sloan]

Yes, nostalgia, throwback retroism. It is a sound of the moment. And I think partially this is just a facet of the music industry. People want to listen to things that are familiar to them. So composers, songwriters, they're constantly mining the musical past to find things that will resonate with people. And then perhaps there's a desire to escape the moment we're living in and reach back to different historical moments that, at least in the rear view, seem more peaceful and less fraught than intensity that we're undergoing right now. So I think there might be a bit of both that explains why we're gravitating towards sounds from the past.

[Alison Stewart]

Listeners, we want to hear from you what's going to be on your Summer 2025 playlist? Our phone number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc. Or maybe you're going to a summer concert this summer that you're really excited about. You can call in and tell us. 2124-3396-9221-2433-WNYC. We'll have more of our summer Music preview after a quick break. This is all of It. You are listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. My guest is Nate Sloan. He's the co host of the podcast Switched On Pop. He's a musicologist as well. He is helping us put together our summer music preview, giving some shout outs to some singers that he's really excited about. And Emma Harner. Tell me about Emma Harner.

[Nate Sloan]

Emma Harner is an artist I discovered recently who created this genre she calls.

[Alison Stewart]

Math Folk Math like M A T.

[Nate Sloan]

H. M A T H. Yes, exactly. Combining the rhythmic and melodic complexity of math rock with the stripped down acoustic style of folk music. She is originally from Nebraska, I believe, trained at the Berklee School of Music. She is a virtuoso guitar player, a brilliant singer. She uses odd time signatures and surprising harmonies to create these songs that are complex but also really easy to listen to.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, let's listen to Emma Harner. This is False Alarm.

[Unknown Artist]

I've been inside out I've been upside.

[Alison Stewart]

Down.

[Unknown Artist]

I've been better off I've been oh my God I've been leaving rooms in your old band shoes they don't fit me well who are you to tell? So it's a false alarm Can I stay anyway Lately I've been up in arms don't know what to say so I sit with it Take a walk to cope See a stranger take a hit and wait for the smoke but.

[Alison Stewart]

It'S that was Emma Harner with False Alarm. Let's go to a couple of callers. We've got Robert from Montclair. Hi, Robert. Who you listening to? Who are you going to see this summer?

[Robert]

I'm going to see a great power trio for Mexico, the Warning. And they're really becoming very, very big. They really had them a viral video of a cover of enter Sandman in 2014, over 25 million views. And they really wanted the hottest things in rock music now. It kind of brings back all the great rock music from prior decades, especially late 90s, early 2000s. And I think, you know, they're amazing.

[Alison Stewart]

Thanks for the call. Also, we've got Kevin, who's calling from Manhattan Online too. Hi, Kevin. Thanks for calling all of it.

[Kevin]

Hi, Alison. He was talking about retro. Well, this is really retro in nostalgia. I'm going to be listening to the Go Go's and the B52s.

[Alison Stewart]

Nice. Wow, that's exciting. Where are you going to go see them?

[Kevin]

I'm not. I don't have plans to see them. But in the summer of 1984, I saw the Go Go's three times and the B52s twice. So I'm really dating myself.

[Nate Sloan]

But.

[Kevin]

At Jones beach and Meriwether Post Pavilion, both outdoor spaces.

[Alison Stewart]

That's exciting. Thank you so much for calling in. That's going to add to the playlist, I have to say. Nate.

[Nate Sloan]

Oh, yeah. I believe the B52s just announced a tour, so.

[Alison Stewart]

Oh, exactly.

[Nate Sloan]

Maybe relive some of those memories. They're such a great band.

[Alison Stewart]

This text says, I heard the talented singer, songwriter Jason Isbell on an episode of Terry Groth a month ago and found out he was going to be playing at my local theater. I got tickets right away and can't wait to see him in person. Also, we got a text that says run the Jewels and Wu Tang at msg. Those both sound like good concerts. Let's get back to your list. Nate, you pick a group. I hope I say, excuse me, their names, right? Grupo Frontera and Fuerza Regada. Am I close enough?

[Nate Sloan]

Ragida.

[Alison Stewart]

Ragida. These are two big groups. One's from Texas and I think the other is from California. What's unique about them teaming up for this song?

[Nate Sloan]

Yeah, they are two of the biggest Mexican regional acts right now. And so they're combining forces, which is a big deal in itself. And then the song that they've created together, Mejalo, is a real interesting juxtaposition of their styles. It starts with Fuesa Regita and their corridos tumbados sound. And then in the chorus, we get this kind of beat flip and grupo frontera takes over with their blend of nortenio and cumbia rhythms. It's such a fun moment as a listener when you hear this transformation and yet at the same time, their sounds and the singers blend so seamlessly. It's a really great track.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's listen. And.

[Unknown Artist]

Mommy mankind.

[Alison Stewart]

I love that changeover. That sounded such a cool moment.

[Nate Sloan]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, we just did a whole week dedicated to country music on Switched on pop. Our podcast producer, Rihanna Cruz brought this song to us and said, this is part of country Music Today in 2025, Mexican regional music is country music. And I thought that was really interesting, so I wanted to share the song with everyone.

[Alison Stewart]

Well, thank you so much. Our guest is Nate Sloan. He's the co host of the switched on pop podcast. We're talking about songs of summer, Jack White. All right. People know Jack White traditionally. What do you think of the song that you've picked?

[Nate Sloan]

I love this track. I have obviously been a fan of the white stripes. I have to say I've been less familiar with Jack White's subsequent solo career, but hearing this song makes me want to explore his discography. This is a barn burner. It doesn't really feature any singing. It's more of this talking in the style of a revivalist preacher, but it's mocking the religiosity of so much of these kind of southern gospel types. It's very funny, it's very hip, and frankly, it rocks.

[Alison Stewart]

This is archbishop Harold Holmes from Jack White.

[Archbishop Harold Holmes]

Dear friend, if you want to feel better, don't let the devil make you toss this letter. If you've been crossed up by hoodoo, voodoo or wizard or the loser, you got family trouble, man trouble, woman trouble.

[Unknown Artist]

No life in the rubble.

[Archbishop Harold Holmes]

You're looking for a true friend or a true lover or if you've been living under trouble, well, I'm gonna lie to your town to break it all down and help you with all of this. I'm looking to help you find bliss one day, but one way can't miss. I'm here to tear all the walls down. Doesn't matter if it's a large town or a small town just like Joshua.

[Alison Stewart]

And the fabled walls of Jericho, that one could keep me going. Let's talk to Mary Jane, calling in from Baskin Ridge. Hi, Mary Jane. Hello.

[Mary Jane]

Hello. I have good ideas for summer.

[Alison Stewart]

Okay.

[Mary Jane]

And they're outdoor concerts by the chiclets. Now, I don't know if you know about singing the diva songs of the golden years of women singers. Now, I think it's tomorrow. I am not well prepared. But tomorrow, the third, they will. Oh, no, on the fourth, they're going to be up in Farmington.

[Alison Stewart]

Chicklets. Okay. The Chicklets. People should check them out. This says, I saw Valerie June at the Town hall about a month ago after hearing her perform on your show. Oh, that's so great. Her sound is unique. Thanks for turning me on to her. Nate. We have your last song, which came out in 1969.

[Nate Sloan]

Yes.

[Alison Stewart]

So tell me why you wanted to put Sly Stone on your lists of songs for summer.

[Nate Sloan]

Like so many music fans, I was devastated at the death of two American music icons this month, Brian Wilson and Sly Stone. Brian Wilson with the Beach Boys transformed the sound of American rock and pop. Sly with Sly and the Family Stone introduced funk and soul to mainstream audiences. Not to. I don't want to have to pick one of them, but I'm just going to share some music from Sly Stone because I think he's the best. His blend. Yeah, his blend.

[Alison Stewart]

He's the best. You know what? We're going to run out of time. You're about to speak on prophetically. I appreciate it. Nate Sloan, switch on Popco host. He's amazing. Nate, thank you so much.

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