PLAYLIST: THE LISTENING STATION #27 – JANUARY 2025
(songs also added to the EYP RADIO 2025 playlist)
Spotify – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter – Threads
20 Songs – 1 hour, 9 minutes
Genres: Indie, Pop, Rock, Alt, Folk, Soul, Indie Rock

THE LISTENING STATION RETURNS!

Written by Ed Gomez

The Listening Station playlists return to Expand Your Playlist as the monthly feature, introducing you to the latest music discoveries we have made to share with you.

In 2024, we used the “EYP” moniker each monthly playlist but now the name and playlist return, along with other genre-based playlists as “Eclectic Electric,” “No Paper. No Scissors. Rock Playlist!” and our new editions from last year “Oldies But Newies” and “Submitted For Your Approval.”

Each month, we will feature between 10 to 20 songs on the playlist. Some may be brand new to everyone and others may just be brand new to us. Some song may be just new to you as we tend to re-feature some songs that may have been released in previous years. Sometimes it takes us a while to fully appreciate a song or get a chance to finally listen to them. Either way, we take our time to give you a balanced and quality playlist for you to listen to and hopefully discover your new favorite song and/or band.

With that being said, we would like to say thank you so much for your constant support if you are a returning listener and reader of our content. If you are new, welcome! The support we have gotten in 2024 means a ton, giving this platform life and meaning as we enter a new year. We have tweaked and updated a few things here and there, but our mission will be the same, to help you, the music fan and listener, to open your eyes and ears to music that is not widely played and featured from various genres and walks of life that may not get the airplay and attention they deserve. And as always, our constant mission is to always be here to help you, Expand your Playlist!

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SCROLL DOWN FOR THE PLAYLIST BREAKDOWN

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We hope you not only enjoy the music we selected for this playlist but that you enjoy our new format in which we are presenting these songs to you as you scroll below. If you have any questions or if you would like to submit music to be on a future EYP playlist, message us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X) @eyplaylist or email us at expandyourplaylist@yahoo.com.

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Note: Gold box color denotes first time Bands / Artists on E.Y.P.

Note: Blue box color denotes artists who have been featured on EYP for more than 10 times. These are our “EYP Staple Artists & Bands”.

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PLAYLIST BREAKDOWN

FEELS RIGHT TO REPLAY
This song was featured on our December 2024 playlist, but because we felt it was lost in the shuffle as it was featured at the same time as our End of the Year recap and Christmas playlists, we are starting off the year with ViRG‘s latest release “Feels Right”. The song is an upbeat and catchy 80s style tune that blends elements of pop and electronic music, featuring a lively rhythm, infectious melody, and engaging vocals that create a feel-good vibe. It’s perfect for dancing and lifting your spirits!

Make sure you also catch their awesome music video posted below, as it shows you what MTV used to be and what it should be again!

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IT’S THE DAMAGE TALKING
“Damage” by Lights is a poignant and emotionally charged song that explores themes of self-reflection and personal struggle. The song exhibits a darkwave influence and highlights Lights’ powerful vocals and evocative lyrics. The lyrics delve into the internal conflict of confronting one’s own flaws, with lines such as “I swear this isn’t me, is the damage talking”.

Lights returns to EYP with her latest song since her last album “pEp”, and it’s alternate slower, and acoustic version of the album called “dEd”.

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SAY HER NAME
On a rainy morning this past December, I was listening to U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM and suddenly a metaphorical light busted through the clouds and shined on my radio with the song “Chaila” by Denise Chaila, who is an Irish Hip Hop artist. I am from Los Angeles, California who didn’t know there was such a thing as Irish Rap/Hip Hop, but there is. You learn something new every day. The song is from her album “GO Bravely” which was released in 2020. So, the song may not be new, but it is new to us. Immediately I liked it and wanted to share it with you all. I hope it makes it on to your playlist, and it teaches you to say her name.

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LEARNING ABOUT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
We have been going back on fourth on what song to feature on our playlist first from Candi Carpenter’s album “Demonology”, released in 2024. We started last year with her latest release, not on the album, “I Didn’t Die” featuring Kalie Shorr, which was transformed into an actual song from a viral video of Candi coming home from a long day. We decided to go with the very catchy and very scientifically informative track, “Nervous System”.

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COVERING BUZZCOCKS
It seemed that I have never heard this song before, yet when I listen to “Why Can’t I Touch It?” there is a part of me that finds it very familiar, as if have encountered it previously. After conducting some research investigation, I came to realize that it is a song by Buzzcocks, originally released in 1979. Although the sound and rhythm remain the same, Mo Lowda & The Humble have made this song their own, enhancing the original classic rock sound with heavier bass lines, a slower tempo, Mo Lowda’s vocals, and a grittier guitar sound, transforming it into a groovier rock version. This is one for your playlist!

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SMILING AS WE LISTEN
Putting her spin, style, and sound to a classic song from The Killers, Talker returns to EYP with her version of “Smile Like You Mean It”. If you like this song, check out her debut album “I’m Telling You The Truth”, released in 2024.

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NEW INDIE MUSIC IN OUR HEAD
As we highlight musicians from around the world, let us also take a moment to recognize our local musicians here in Los Angeles. One band that came to our attention, thanks to an Instagram algorithm feed, was Internet Sasha. From the first few guitar chords, the indie, folk, rock sound of “What’s In Your Head?” captivated us and remained top of mind as we curated this playlist. Take a listen for yourself. Expect more of Internet Sasha’s music to be on future EYP playlists.

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MEGA LOVE
Never since the combination of peanut butter and chocolate has two things gone so well together than the recent EP release “Mega Bad Disaster Party” combining two great New York Rock bands into one album, featuring Bad Mary and Mega Infinity! We start with the Mega Infinity side and their cover of “Let Me Drive My Van Into Your Heart”, a song featured on the “Steven Universe” animated series featuring Tom Scharpling.

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SOUNDS GOOD IN BLUE
Among other ways we come across new music is sometimes bands reach out to us via music submissions, and in 2024 we were contacted by the Chicago-based garage rock band Carrying Torches. We enjoyed their song “All For Nothing” which eventually made it into our “Submitted For your Approval” and out November 2024 playlists. In late December they released their latest track “Good In Blue”, which blend their “electric heartland garage rock” and indie rock sound with an upbeat tempo suitable for any playlist when an extra boost is need that only music can provide.

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THE NEXT GENERATION OF ROCK
Burn the Jukebox is an American teen rock band formed in Pennsylvania in 2020. The quartet have quickly gained popularity, amassing over 1 million followers and 250 million views across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Their music blends alternative/indie rock with pop influences, drawing inspiration from various iconic bands like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, The Strokes, and more.

Recently, among their covers of classic rock songs, they have released their own original music such as tracks like “Homesick”, “Sugarcoat”, “Reflection (In Your Eyes)”, and their latest release “Deviant”.

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RAISING THE ROCK BAR
Platinum Moon is a New York-based rock band known for their dynamic sound and energetic live performances. They blend the raw, gritty, classic rock ‘n’ roll sound with catchy, danceable hooks of modern popular rock. We have featured popular (to us) hits such as their cover of Bishop Briggs’ “River”, and their original song “We Need Therapy”, released in 2024.

They got us again in late 2024 with their latest release and banger of a rock song, “Hold The Gun”.

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OUR NEW STAPLE ARTIST FOR 2025: ARUM RAE
Since the first listen of her song “Heaven” in 2016, we have been in love with the music of Arum Rae. About every year we feature an Arum Rae song, and with the feature of her song “Let’s Shake”, it makes it the 10th time we feature from her music, which makes her and EYP Staple Artist.

Changing things a bit in 2025, “Let’s Shake” by Arum Rae makes it a rare add to our playlists because the song was released in 2014 off her EP “Waving Wild”. It may be an older song, and her style of music has changed throughout the years, it’s still a great song and a new song to us. No matter the year the music is released, we love to take a listen back to an artists’ discography and re-discover songs that may have passed by us the first time around.

What makes a band or artist an EYP Staple Band or Artist? It is musicians that have been featured on our playlists 10 or more times.

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CINEMATIC DRAMTIC POP
Another amazing pair of musicians that we have had the pleasure to listen to and enjoy their music is the “cinematic dramatic pop” sounds of 32AFTER. They contacted us directly, sharing their music with us, and impressing us with their unique blend of cinematic elements with pop and electronic influences that often tell a story through the emotional journey of their songs.

In late 2024, we debuted them on EYO with their song “Black & Gold” on our December 2024 playlist. In this month’s playlist, we are featuring their other release “Deeper”, which combines various electronic, orchestral, and dance-pop elements in this sexy electropop track with an even sexier video.

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EMERGING WITH LITTLE ACTS OF VIOLENCE
Ray Bull is a Brooklyn-based band comprising of Tucker Elkins, and Aaron Graham. They produce music that combines elements of 1980s and 2000s rock, drawing influences from bands such as Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, Tears for Fears, and Talking Heads. In 2024, they graced our playlists with their song “The New Things Dies” and “I Don’t Know Ya”. They return to EYP with their latest song “Little Acts of Violence”, from the EP of the same name.

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A LITTLE BIT OF SUN
Popular to most, but just now learning about his music, is the melodic music of Derik Fein.
He is known for his soulful and pop-infused tracks. He has gained popularity with songs like “Gaslight,” “Road to Nowhere,” and “Expensive,” which showcase his emotive vocal delivery and engaging melodies. His music often explores themes of love, loss, and personal growth, resonating with a wide audience. We welcome Derik Fein to Expand Your Playlist with his song “Sun”.

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THE EMERGENCE OF PEARL DIVER
Hailing from the emerging music scene in Bakersfield, California, is the soulful, dreamy, and melodic sounds of Pearl Diver. Evoking the deep dreamy pop vocals and the soulful, melodic tones reminiscent of Lana Del Rey and Patti Smith, we welcome Pearl Diver to Expand Your Playlist with her song, “Love Me”, off the EP “Love Me”. Expect more music from Pearl Diver in future playlists.

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RESURRECTING GRUNGE
Another band that caught our attention, via message and music submission, is the five-piece grunge-pop band from Brighton, Rottweiler. We welcome them to EYP with their latest song “Joyride”.

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NOT COMING DOWN FROM THIS CLOUD
Back again on EYP is the post-grunge and Alternative Rock brilliance of the Nashville-based band, The Nearly Deads. Lately they have been releasing powerful and inventive cover songs, such as the one selected for this playlist, a cover of Bush’s 90s rock hit, “Comedown”. It is off their EP “Echoes”.

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RE-INTRODUCING OLIVIA C. DACAL
Evoking the sound, feel, and melodic tones of XTC’s “Dear God”, is the beautiful and melodic ballad “Blue” off the debut album release in 2024 “I AM” by Olivia C. Dacal. She hit us last year, with her first single of the album “Como Tú”, a Spanish pop track from the Latin / Australian artist. Expect more music from Olivia in future EYP playlists.

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WRAPPING UP THE PLAYLIST WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK!
Last but not least and wrapping up this first edition of the Listening Station Playlist for January 2025, is a band predicted to be a future EYP Staple Artist, IMY2. They grace our playlist with their hauntingly melodic cover of the Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”.

IMY2 is a three-piece pop group based in Nashville, Tennessee. The band consists of Annalise Mahanes (lead vocals), Cal Tucker (guitar), and Michael Monahan (bass). They write and record pop music that emphasizes confidence, individuality, and self-love. Their music features nostalgic female vocals and a modern genre encompassing style, creating a fresh and unique sound to their music.

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EYP RADIO: THE SONGS OF 2024

EXPAND YOUR PLAYLIST – NOVEMBER 2024 PLAYLIST

EXPAND YOUR PLAYLIST – DECEMBER 2024 PLAYLIST

SUBMITTED FOR YOUR APPROVAL (2024 / 2025)

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If you are a musician or in a band, or you represent a band and would like us to feature their music on a future playlist of Expand Your Playlist, simply just send us a message on social media, we are on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, and Facebook under @eyplaylist, or E-Mail us at expandyourplaylist@yahoo.com. Please include a link to the music, preferably on Spotify. All other formats and links are also accepted.

Hello everyone! I’m Ed from Expand Your Playlist. Join me as I navigate the vast online world and music algorithms in search of fresh tunes. Nine years into this quest, I’m dedicated to discovering underplayed artists, independent talents, and new tracks that deserve airtime. My goal is to Expand My Playlist without charging for inclusion or excluding based on follower count. Our playlists are more than just a collection of songs for views, likes, or streams. They are thoughtfully compiled on Spotify and through our blog posts, offering you, the listener, an exceptional playlist experience to uncover new music and, in turn, Expand Your Playlist!

Thank You and Enjoy!
Ed Gomez
EYP Creator