The heat is on

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As summer heats up, five musical acts give us their plans for the season – what they’ll be listening to and where we might find them.

1.
Hermanos Gutiérrez
The Ecuadorian-Swiss brothers Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez are back with a new album titled Sonido Cósmico – another set of lush beats and an ode to the cosmos.

Where will we see you this summer?
estevan: Newport Folk Festival, California and New Mexico.

Your ideal summer soundtrack?
estevan: Smooth salsa romántica from the 1990s.
alejandro: Phasor by Helado Negro.

Best album of the past 12 months?
estevan: A la Sala by Khruangbin.
alejandro: Killers of the Flower Moon by Robbie Robertson.

2.
Sam Ruffillo
The Italian DJ and producer’s music is featured regularly on Monocle Radio. His blend of Mediterranean disco and funky house continues on new EP “Robot Salsa”, released in late June in collaboration with Kapote. Expect his debut album to follow by the end of the year. We can’t wait.

Where will we see you this summer?
I have quite a busy summer schedule. I’ll be playing at more than 20 events until the end of August, some solo gigs and some jams with my crew, Toy Tonics. You’ll be able to find me at Sónar festival in Barcelona along with Kapote, as well as in Paris, Istanbul, Lisbon, Lausanne and Madrid, to name a few. I’ll be in Italy too, of course. 

Your ideal summer soundtrack?
Not sure about my ideal summer soundtrack – there are so many cool playlists I’m listening to these days. I like easy-listening stuff when I’m not at work. And when I’m travelling or just chilling, I’ll be listening to 1970s Brazilian funk and 1980s Brazilian synth. I love music from Brazil. It always sounds so vibey and fresh to me.

Best album of the past 12 months?
I’m really liking the new Four Tet album, Three, at the moment. And Godblesscomputers’ last album, Faded Views.

3.
Papooz
Armand Penicaut and Ulysse Cottin are a French duo who like to play it smooth. They combine infectious tropical pop beats with bossa nova, 1970s aor and French flair. For proof – if ever it was needed – check out their most recent album, Resonate. It’s an ideal summer listen.

Where will we see you this summer?
cottin: We’re on tour all summer in Europe. Otherwise we’ll be on the beaches of southwest France, playing soccer and trying to improve our surfing. 

Your ideal summer soundtrack?
penicaut: During summer, we like to listen to film soundtracks and Brazilian music. Ulysse made a cool Spotify playlist featuring a lot of chill, dreamy music, including the works of Piero Piccioni, Philippe Sarde and Piero Umiliani.

Best album of the past 12 months?
penicaut: Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker.
cottin: 424 by Mike Dean.

4.
Nina Lili J
Fresh from the release of her debut EP, “Amazone”, the French singer, known for her ethereal vocals, recently dropped her first full-length, You Have It All. Expect to hear a lot of her this season – she’s putting out the some of scene’s most electrifying electro pop right now.

Where will we see you this summer?
This summer I will be in the wildest mountains of France, living in a rustic hut among sheep and torrents. I have also planned a family trip to Iceland – it will be my first time there, a dream come true. 

Your ideal summer soundtrack?
If I had to choose one song that feels the most like summer, I’d say “Everybody’s Free” by Quindon Tarver and Josh Abrahams.

Best album of the past 12 months?
I must admit that I mostly listen to oldies, so I’m sure I’m missing out on a lot of great music that came out this year. But of the few recent albums that I have listened to, my favourite would be Paris-Hawaï by La Femme, one of the most authentic bands out there. The album has a poetic, heavenly feeling to it.

5.
Crystal
The Tokyo synth duo – made up of Ryota Miyake and Sunao Maruyama – returns with more slices of nostalgia-laced city pop. “One More Chance” and “Autumn Story” feature a warm, analogue feel and delicious Italo beats.

Where will we see you this summer?
miyake: Ohashi JCT in Tokyo. 

Your ideal summer soundtrack?
miyake: Heart Cocktail Vol 1 by Naoya Matsuoka.

Best album of the past 12 months?
miyake: Marzipan by Charif Megarbane.