Stevie G: Which sounds will dominate parties for summer 2025? 

With Easter now over, thoughts turn to summertime and some of the sounds that will dominate the parties and festivals!

This week I’m gonna run through a list of songs that I feel will be in heavy rotation.

Obviously, there will be loads more that have yet to be released, but it’s interesting that in a music scene that moves quicker than ever, some songs take ages to brew and some end up sticking around for a long time too. Examples of such hits include Calm Down by Rema and Jerusalema by Master KG, which took about a year each to penetrate the mainstream. Not Like Us is still topping charts a year later too. Streaming and other factors have kept some tracks around for what seems like forever.

I’m gonna keep my own list to my own music preferences, such as hip-hop/r&b/afro and other styles. I play house and other electronic music too, but the dance tracks that will be big probably warrant another conversation. 

Let’s start with the more downtempo jams that are big right now and will continue to be heard all summer long

Molily ‘Shake it to the Max’

Big dancehall crossover jam that is everywhere right now. Like many of the tunes selected, Shake it to the Max is all over TikTok, and the remix featuring Shenseea and Skillibeng has given it even more authenticity and momentum. This is dancehall at its most catchy and accessible and it’s a big favourite of mine

Bad Bunny ‘Nuevayol’

This could have been any number of tracks from the massive Debí Tirar Más Fotos album. Bad Bunny is on his sixth studio album and remains unbelievably prolific. His music now comfortably crosses over into more English-speaking markets too. Sample heavy grooves and spirited lyrics make this one of his biggest hits yet, but it could quite easily have been DTMF, Baile Inolvidable or any number of other bangers on the album.

Kendrick Lamar and SZA‘Luther/30 for 30’

This unstoppable duo are obviously huge artists in their own right, but they have cleverly exchanged features many times in recent years. Luther is one of the biggest tracks of GNX and has been dominating radio and the charts stateside for months, while 30 for 30 was included on Sza’s deluxe edition of SOS (Lana).

Khakikid and Saint Demarcus ‘Date Nite’

We live in a wonderful time for music here, and Khakikid is one of the most exciting young stars breaking through in Ireland. An incredible live performer, his charisma shines through on this semi viral banger, which is huge in Ireland and which will probably be a hit abroad too if pushed properly. Similarly, we had huge crossovers with Moments by Moio and indeed the humongous Kehlani by Jordan Adetunji last year; Date Nite might be next.

‘Push 2 Start’

When you have an inescapable worldwide hit it can be tough to follow it up and despite her best efforts, none of Tyla’s tracks that followed Water managed to capture the mainstream imagination yet. That’s changed with Push 2 Start, an irresistible dancehall influenced summer sizzler by the affable young South African talent. Sean Paul has jumped on a remix, but it didn’t need it, the original is just fine and is wonderfully arranged with gospel call and response vibes adding to the groove.

Drake ‘Nokia’

One of the few tracks which hit off his recent PartynextDoor album, Nokia, like Drake, can get on the nerves, but it’s one of his better efforts. Musically it’s very good, the original producer Elkan supplying a great song. This and Gimme a Hug are the best tracks on the album. Drake has lost a lot of credibility but he should still be able to deliver the odd hit. I could have included Mutt by Leon Thomas here too. Another big hit.

Kunmie ‘Arike’

Understated Afro soul from a relative newcomer, this is one of my favourite tracks. I don’t know if it will hit the mainstream, but it’s got all the ingredients and, again, deserves to get backed.

WiztheMac with Bees & Honey ‘Show Me Love’

Capetown born MC who grew up in has delivered a track that’s already a hit globally, and one that has all the ingredients for sticking around all summer. It’s fairly catchy and has that chill out vibe that reminds me of the tropical house (horrible term) tracks that were everywhere around ten years ago, Lean on, Let me love you, All my friends etc. Inescapable.