Alena Nicole

A look at the tracks that stopped me in my tracks and still make me wish I could hear them for the first time all over again.

Some songs hit so hard the first time that you literally have to pause and take it all in. That song that made your arm hairs stand on end, or brought a tear to your eye, maybe it brought back a memory you’d forgotten. They’re those songs that make you remember where you were, what you were doing, and why your brain said, “Oh wait… this is different.” These are the songs I wish I could wipe from my memory just to feel that first-listen shock all over again.

1. “Bad Blood” — NAO

My older cousin showed me “Bad Blood,” and the second it started, I was in awe of NAO’s voice. From the opening line — “You’re a holiday / A glass of ocean slipping down” — her tone hits you with something so delicate and distinct, almost like she’s painting the air with her voice. She has this effortless way of sliding between notes, bending her vocals around the synths that swell through the track like they’re made to follow her, not the other way around. There’s a softness and elasticity to her delivery that makes every line feel intentional but weightless. And once the instrumental breakdown comes in, the whole piece melts into a dreamy haze that forces you to just sit with it and listen, like the world slows down for a moment just to let the song breathe.

2. “To Zion” — Lauryn Hill

When I found out Lauryn Hill wrote “To Zion” for her son, it solidified the song for me in a new way. Her voice already has that raspy, emotional weight, but here it feels like you’re hearing her heart in real time — especially knowing she’s singing directly to her child, framing him as her Zion, a place of peace, purpose, and spiritual grounding. The chorus lifts in a way that literally feels like she’s taking you with her, like we’re all on our way to Zion. And once I understood the story behind it, the lyrics hit even harder — the whole song suddenly felt more intimate, almost sacred. We get to see Lauryn in her most organic form: as a mother, open and unguarded in a way she rarely lets the world witness.

3. “Fantasy” — Galimatias & Alina Baraz

“Fantasy” sounds like a fake location — like an exotic island that doesn’t actually exist. The lyrics even play into that feeling: “I could be your private island / On a different planet.” Alina’s vocals feel airy and light, and the production has this warm, underwater feel that makes the whole track float. The first time I heard it, it felt peaceful in a way I couldn’t explain. It gives summer, sunset, driving-with-your-hand-out-the-window energy, even in the dead of winter. Galimatias did an incredible job on the production, creating a mood that really does teleport you, no matter where you are — and Alina reinforces that escape with lines like, “Underneath the palm trees / You could leave your worries / Listen to the waves.” It’s a song that doesn’t just sound like a place — it transports you there.

4. “Land of Honey” — Flying Lotus ft. Solange

The first few seconds of “Land of Honey” had me thinking I clicked on one of those calming, meditation-jazz videos by accident. Flying Lotus created a production that has this dreamy, floaty atmosphere to it, with layers that sound like real instruments drifting in and out — soft percussion, gentle keys, little textures that feel organic. At first, it has you thinking the entire song will be an instrumental, until Solange comes in and her voice glides over it so gently that it feels like the track finally settles into its true shape. The whole piece is magical in a way that feels delicate but intentional, like every sound was placed exactly where it needed to be. It’s the kind of song that doesn’t demand your attention — it quietly pulls you in before you even realize it.

5. “After the Storm” — Kali Uchis ft. Tyler, The Creator

This one sits in the same universe as “Fantasy,” but it hits a different kind of dreamy. Kali’s vocals are smooth and calming, almost like she’s humming in warm sunlight, and the production has this soft bounce that feels uplifting without ever getting loud. There’s a little shimmer in the beat — watery, bubble-like synths paired with gentle percussion — that makes everything feel light but still anchored. Then Tyler comes in with that grounded, conversational energy only he can do, anchoring the track just enough to keep it from drifting off. It feels like a warm pep talk wrapped in a daydream — soothing, honest, and quietly motivating. From the first listen, it felt like golden hour by the water — everything calm, everything glowing, that peaceful kind of quiet that just hangs in the air.

☆ Special Mention: “In the Morning” — 03 Greedo

I have to include this one because it gives me such a specific, unbeatable feeling every time I hear it. I first heard it in college when a close friend from the West Coast put me on, and it instantly felt like I was in Los Angeles for two minutes and 56 seconds. It has that signature West Coast bounce, but the production is smoother and more melodic — synths weaving through a clean, steady beat, giving the whole song this polished, gliding feel. Greedo comes in rap-singing in that chanty, effortless way he does, talking his shit without ever sounding pressed. That contrast is what hooked me: the music feels light and fluid, but the attitude cuts through. It’s the kind of track that shifts your whole vibe and makes you stay in the car a little longer just to let the song finish. After that first listen, I immediately dove into the rest of his music, and he became one of my favorites.

You never really know when a song is going to transform you — when it’ll leave an imprint, shift your mood, or make you stop and think… or not think at all. That’s the magic of a first listen. These are a few of mine, and somewhere out there, your next unforgettable one is waiting.