There’s a reason this is Volume 1. Volume 2 is set. Volume 3 could benefit from suggestions. So send those through on the graaaammm @TheCityRoot and follow!

What classifies as a “radio song” is obviously a subjective game. One thing I want to mention is that this is NOT a list of recent singles from artists. Not everyone’s last single is best suited for breaking through on “popular radio,” whatever that means.

As always, thanks Philly artists for giving me some great music to enjoy and write about.

THE SONGS

Son little — “Stoned Love” / “6am”

Son Little’s latest album, Like Neptune is great start to finish, no skips. I only dove in to aloha this past summer, like two years after its release, and while I was still very much enjoying that, Like Neptune came out and I think it might be even better. I don’t think it’s just the album art but Like Neptune definitely feels like a vibey winter album and aloha a happy summer adventure. But yeah, these two songs rght here… try to listen more than once and not get one (or both) of them stuck in your head all damn day.

Dirty Soap — “Mother of All Bombs”

Heard this live before I heard it in my earphones and it totally rocked my socks both times.

Powerful is the word that comes to mind. Definitely a fitting title.

CJ Mills — “Focused”

If you think this song is powerful in your little earbuds, catch CJ live and feel it in 3D.

Easily one of my absolute favorites from the Philly area over the last few years.

Scarlet Fiorella — “Money Tree” / “Sideline” / “What I Did”

All three of these songs are catchy, memorable, and ear-perking. Her vocals cut through clutter and her melodies against the jazzy beats sway the hips.

Party Muscles — “She Goes to Juuliard”

I DON’T WANNA BE… YO SECRET…

BUT YOU DON’T WANNA BE ANYTHING MORE THAN THAT…

RegoThereSheGo — “Beg for It” / “Pray for You” / “Starlight”

“Pray for You” is getting up there in age, as far as singles breaking through go, but that’s the exact point of this article. The song still holds up and it’s so incredibly unique in comparison to about 99% of pop / anti-pop that gets on the radio. Just like her new EP, Clouded By The Chance of Heartbreak. The “Pray For You” chorus melody and message has incredible recall ability, as does “Beg for It”. The latter being more seductive than haunting, the way one might consider “Pray for You,” but what they both have is a conversation between artist and listener. Also, both these videos are fire. Par for the course for Rego.

Ryan Gilfillian — “Talk to Me” / “So Good”

“Talk to Me” not only offers a sing-along hook, it’s also got a sing-along verse, and a strong feature in Ryan’s brother, Devon Gilfillian. The whole Evergreen debut is special but this is definitely the standout as far as radio relativity goes.

“So Good” might be the catchiest soon on this list (dare you to listen to it more than once without singing it randomly 3 hours later) but it may be a touch too repetitive for a mass audience.

Dominy — “Leather jacket song”

I love a good song about something unimportant (even if that’s only the case at surface level). Very David Byrne-esque in that sense, just better dressed. A feel-good sing-along anthem. Western Rock n’ Roll with Philly flavor.

Joshua Mitchell & DJ Ben Arsenal — “Departed for the Evening”

A certified dancefloor smash with both choruses and verses that are catchy. Put this on your dance party playlist and thank me later. Not bad for gym cardio either.

KiD TRavis — “Playlist”

A successful “social media artist” who’s utilized instagram to get his music to a larger audience, Kid Travis is a Philly native with a true DIY spirit that embodies this city so well. He produces his own dope beats, sings his own cool ass melodies, writes his own heartbreakers, records his own videos, and engineers his own songs. “Playlist” is his latest hit and just so happens to be my personal favorite.

Saleka — “Clarity” / “Seanace”

“Clarity” is a very relatable sign to so many of us who ignored obvious red flags in relationships of any kind. The chorus is so simple but so “a little bit of clarity… a little bit of air to breathe,” it hits, especially if you’ve been there before.

“Seanace” starts a little slow but that initial latin guitar load up suggests there’s more to come, and Saleka delivers. Such a powerful voice, she carries the song through a structure that still isn’t clear to me after listening on repeat—which I think is further proof of talent. The pickup, more than halfway through the song, sells me on the radio hit ability of the song.