Words by Christopher Kevin Au
If you’re up to date on your social media avenues, you’ll have noticed that everybody has spent the past month reiterating how terrible 2016 has been.
These same people probably forgot that Rihanna dropped ANTI and that Drake is now apparently dating Jennifer Lopez. Huge. It’s been an absolutely phenomenal year for music at large, and that extends far beyond Lil Yachty’s red braids. Just in case you don’t know where to start when it comes to 2016 bangers, promising young selector Amber Akilla has just crafted an hour-long mix of highlights from the past 12 months.
Amber is just one of our favourite DJs from Perth’s bubbling scene, joining our pals like Aslan, Gravy and DAWS in ensuring that the West Coast is poppin’ around the clock. On her ‘Realizing Things’ mix she gives a nod to Kylie Jenner while taking us from heavy trap to silky smooth R&B, embarks on a brief visit to the UK with Skepta plus singles from 2016’s most impressive breakthrough artists, Kaytranada and Anderson.Paak. Speaking on the mix, she says:
“This is a mix of some of my favourite music from 2016. If I were going to include all the amazing music that’s been released this year, it would probably be a never-ending mix and some of my other favourites have featured in previous mixes. I’ve had a crazy year and I know I’m not alone in this and what reflects this better than Kylie Jenner’s well meme’d quote about 2016 being the year of “realizing things”? Here’s to bigger and better things in 2017!”
Have a listen to ‘Realizing Things’ below, where you’ll also find the full tracklist:
WHAT Y’ALL CAME FOR – YNFYNYT SCROLL
SPECTRUM (GEOTHEORY REMIX) – GOLDLINK
OUTTA SIGHT/DARK LAVENDAR INTERLUDE – D.R.A.M.
MAKE IT WORK – MAJID JORDAN
TOGETHER (FEAT. ALUNA GEORGE, GOLDLINK) – KAYTRANADA
AM I WRONG (FEAT. SCHOOLBOY Q) – ANDERSON. PAAK
CAROLINE – AMINE
BAD & BOUJEE (FEAT. LIL UZI VERT) – MIGOS
TOO MUCH SAUCE (FEAT. LIL UZI VERT, FUTURE) – DJ ESCO
FORMATION – BEYONCE
TRANQUILO SKR – YNFYNYT SCROLL
MY CIRCLE (FEAT. BIG TOBZ, BLITTZ) – DONAE’O
THE RUMBLE – MJ COLE & AJ TRACEY
WHIPPIN EXCURSION – GIGGS
MAN (GANG) – SKEPTA
WACHALA PUTA – HAPPY COLORS X 2 CHAINZ
CONNECTA – SWINDLE
HOUSE & POP FEAT. JME, SPLURGEBOYS – PRESIDENT T
SEVEN MILLION FEAT. FUTURE – LIL UZI VERT
TOMBOY FEAT. SAINT – PRINCESS NOKIA
OOOUUU – YOUNG M.A.
BEIBS IN THE TRAP – TRAVIS SCOTT
FATHER STRETCH MY HANDS PT. 1 – KANYE WEST
CRAZY BRAZY FEAT. A$AP ROCKT, A$AP TWELVYY & KEY! – A$AP MOB
DRIPPIN – YOUNG THUG
CHAMPION OF DEATH – $UICIDEBOY$
HOW DOES IT FEEL – KAMAIYAH
BROCCOLI (FEAT LIL YACHTY) – D.R.A.M.
PICK UP THE PHONE (FEAT. QUAVO) – YOUNG THUG & TRAVIS SCOTT
FAKE LOVE – DRAKE
SOLO – FRANK OCEAN
