As a hybrid (mostly remote) team, we don’t gather around a literal water cooler much these days. Instead, our “off-topic” moments live in our hobby Slack channels: pictures of our pets and plants, the results of culinary experiments, random hobbies, and travel photos. We share movies, tv, and games, but the best conversations and the spiciest takes are in our music channel.
So with the long Independence Day weekend ahead, we asked the Clevyr crew to share what they’ve been listening to lately—and true to form, the results cover everything.
🌊 Chill Vibes & International Sounds
Joe kicked things off with some classic French pop and Brazilian bossa nova:
"La Maritza" – Sylvie Vartan
"Agua de Beber" – Luisa Pereira
“I have no idea what they are saying, so I can enjoy the sounds without getting distracted by the lyrics.”
— Joe Barkil, philosopher of vibes
Ashley followed suit, sharing her love for Bebel Gilberto and a whole Bossa Nova Beats playlist (Spotify link). Bonus points to Joe for dropping Green Day’s “Basket Case” (YouTube link) reimagined as a bossa nova remix. (Yes, really.)
Anne chimed in with a French-language addition: "Fou de Toi" by Miel de Montagne, a breezy, indie track, and Chris threw Japanese city pop like Naomi Akimoto’s “Bewitched” into the mix - perfect for hot afternoons and cold drinks.
Asha kept the chill going from the urbane with Hozier’s Arsonist’s Lullabye to bluegrass like “Shake the Frost” by Tyler Childers. Adrian kept the bluegrass vibe going with “The Meadow” by Nickel Creek.
🖤 Synth, Sax, and Cinematic Feels
Peter tapped into modern lo-fi beats with a 90’s nostalgia twist. Covers like “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Lofi Fruits Music, “Welcome to the Black Parade” by LORDFI & Got You Covered, and “Black Hole Sun” by Drainers are familiar without being too distracting or overpowering.
Aaron brought the dark synthwave energy with:
"River of Darkness" – The Midnight (with bonus sax solo!)
"Diabolic" – Dance With the Dead
Matthew added some stadium-sized emotion to the mix:
"Under the Pressure" – The War on Drugs
"Pronoia" – Carly Pearl
"Between Two Points" – David & Romany Gilmour
🤘 Loud, Fast, & Unapologetic
Adrian says, “When I’m deep in work mode, I need my music turned up. Whether it’s through headphones or speakers doesn’t really matter. It helps me lock in and stay focused like nothing else.” He recommends Anberlin’s “Day Late Friend” and “The Way I Feel” by Keane - both are great for working with too many windows open or for driving with the windows down.
Grant is gearing up for a punk show in Colorado and threw in The Adicts' “Viva la Revolution” for good measure.
Asha brought the heat:
"Neon Grave" – Dayseeker
“Nina Cried Power” - Hozier ft. Mavis Staples
Jeremy closed things out with an alt-rock trifecta:
"Black Holes (Solid Ground)" – The Blue Stones
"Never Know (Acoustic)" – Bad Omens
"Boilermaker" – Royal Blood
🎌 Bonus Round: Japanese City Pop & Nostalgia Trips
Chris’s 1980s Japanese city pop listening started with tunes like Hitomi ‘Pretty Penny’ Tohyama’s “Tuxedo Connection” and sent him on a detour through YouTube’s algorithmic rabbit hole. He found himself swimming in AI-remixes of vintage gaming soundtracks (YouTube link), and the entirety of the Pokémon 2.B.A. Master album.
Honestly? It slaps.
🎧 The Playlist
We’ve compiled as much as we could find into a Spotify playlist and Apple Music playlist. It’s chaotic, eclectic, and uniquely us - perfect for a summer weekend, whether that’s a chill day at the lake, a hyped up evening grill session, or whatever version of rest you’re claiming.
Have a safe and happy Fourth, and remember: there’s no wrong way to vibe.
