The Song of the Summer

Can there be just one?

People love to talk about the song of the summer as if there’s one that we can all universally agree upon. There’s not. But there’s usually a cluster of songs that make people’s lists. I’d like to offer three songs for your consideration this summer. Please feel free to reply with your thoughts.

“Selfish Soul” by Sudan Archives. I only recently stopped playing this song every day, and I’m still not sick of it. I find myself quietly mumbling the chorus even when it’s not playing.

“So Typically Now” by U.S. Girls. This is the first new music since U.S. Girls (aka Toronto’s Meg Remy) released her seventh album in 2020. She also published a book in 2021. I don’t dance, but this video makes me want to.

“Gonna Lose” by Built to Spill. Classic Built to Spill, classic rock, and one of their most straight to the point songs since 1994’s There’s Nothing Wrong with Love album… which I just realized is 28 years old.

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It’s been nice to be home for a bit, and I can’t wait to get back out there for more book tour events. California’s next, and there are more September events in the works, including Lawrence, Iowa City, Champaign, and New Orleans.

• Sun 8/14 - Oakland, CA @ Bandcamp Oakland in conversation with Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards) in person and live streamed event

• Thurs 8/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ the Artform Studio with James Spooner

• Fri 8/19 - San Diego, CA @ Vinyl Junkies Record Shack with James Spooner

• Thu 9/15 - Philadelphia, PA Harriett’s Bookshop presents at Milkcrate Cafe in conversation with Dyana Williams

• Weds 10/12 - Tacoma, WA @ University of Puget Sound

• Thurs 10/13 - Portland, OR @ LiveWire Radio (short segment / part of a ticketed radio broadcast)

• Fri 10/14 - Portland, OR @ Powell’s Books

I’m excited to soon announce a November event at one of my favorite places in all of NYC. All event details and updates can be found HERE.

I’ve done a lot of interviews and podcasts recently, including this one that just aired on England’s Jazz FM. Some of my other favorites include the KEXP podcast with Larry Mizell, Jr., CBC Q interview with Tom Power, and this segment with Ayana Contreras on Chicago’s Vocolo/WBEZ. There’s a 50-song book-themed playlist on Amazon Music. And my full CBS Saturday Morning segment from June 4, 2022 is now online:

My memoir My Life in the Sunshine is out now. I’d love it if you picked up a copy at your local independent bookstore. It’s also available at all the big places, and for your Kindle as well. There’s an audiobook that I spent 20 hours of my life reading (it’ll only take 7 hours to listen). 

I hope to see you this summer/fall. 

Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn

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