Although weâve yet to see what summer â19 will bring in terms of Portland-made tunes, hereâs some great summer-vibed songs that should already be on your sunny-day playlist.
Reptaliens, âVenetian Blindsâ
âEasy, breezy, beautifulâ is the slogan of a popular cosmetics brand, but also the vibe of Reptaliensâ new record, Valis. Standout track âVenetian Blindsâ is the right thing to blast when youâre driving back from the beach with all the windows down, warm wind blowing through your hair and golden light making everything look a little bit magical. When frontwoman Bambi Browning coos, âNothingâs gonna change/Nothingâs ever gonna change,â it feels like a spell to make summer last forever. CIARA DOLAN
 Cry Babe, âSoft Honkâ
Unfortunately, summer is prime time for creeps yelling out of windows, but at last thereâs a song to perfectly illustrate how street harassment can interrupt your day and make you feel like a roiling cauldron of rage. Cry Babeâs âSoft Honkâ starts off dreamy, but then the guitar comes in, and by the end theyâre singing the most gorgeous âfuck youâs youâll ever hear. CD
Y La Bamba, âBoca Llenaâ
There isnât a bad song on Mujeresâthe latest album from Y La Bamba, one of Portlandâs most consistently brilliant bands. But gently stirring rhythms and twangy, psychedelic guitar riffs make âBoca Llenaâ the recordâs clear standout, and the perfect soundtrack for sun-dazed summer days. CD
Amenta Abioto, âPlant Itâ
Although singer/songwriter/producer Amenta Abioto released this song in February, the theme and music video revolve around plant life, sunshine, lizards, and the natural world. Naturally, itâs also a treat sonically, with Abiotoâs hearty soul vocals leading you through the trees, a blowing breeze, and meadows in the sun. And its âI should say know my name/I should say you know meâ refrain will get stuck in your head on loop, making you want to go delicately twerk in a forest. JENNI MOORE
Blossom and Hot16, âSo Coolâ
This single, from neo-soul singer Blossomâs excellent debut album Tease, is a summer jam by definition. With lyrics like âTake a dip/Take a sip/Take a tripâ this song could soundtrack any cookout, road trip, or pool party. Its music video leans even deeper into the summer theme, with Blossom and her girls sneaking into someone elseâs pool. Also see âBlack Magic Woman,â and âLoves Comingâ for more euphonic nice-weather music. JM
Mic Capes feat. Aaron OâBryan Smith and Lauren Steele, âBlack Pearlsâ
On this standout track from Mic Capesâ debut full-length Concrete Dreams, the rapper celebrates the beauty and strength of Black women. The song isnât necessarily a summer song, but sonically it would fit in well with the rest of your summer playlist. The up-tempo, R&B-infused single is a crowd favorite, and the melanin-packed music video from 2018 is equally gorgeous. JM
AminĂ©, âCarolineâ
Itâs hard to think of a song by a Portland artist to soundtrack the summer better than AminĂ©âs âCaroline.â Maybe itâs the bouncy production (by AminĂ© and PasquĂ©), or maybe itâs his now-signature sunny yellow marketing, or maybe itâs the repeatability of his lyrical wordplay: âYou say Iâm a tall thug, guess Iâm a g-raffe/If you want safe-sex, baby, use the knee pads/Freaky with the sticky icky/Baby give me kitty kitty.â (And white people, I know you want to, but please donât sing along to âKilla, westside nigga!â if youâre invited to the cookout.) Regardless, this song is needed for your summer fun playlist. JM
âCasual,â Chanti Darling feat. the Last Artful, Dodgr
A lead single from Chanti Darlingâs debut album RNB Vol. 1, this track features a verse from the Last Artful, Dodgr, and embodies the mood of a casual-yet-magical summer fling. Now, I wouldnât know anything about that, but I do know that this songâlike the rest of the projectâis mesmerizing, catchy, and sultry AF. JM
âDonât Let Up,â Umii, feat. the Last Artful, Dodgr
Singer/producer duo UmiiâAKA Reva DeVito and B. Bravoâput out this remix of âDonât Let Up,â from their This Time (Remixed) album in 2017, and itâs a true gem. And since umii is Japanese for âocean,â the whole album is water- and ocean-themed. The entire project plays really well in the warmer months, thanks to a danceable beat, an exciting guest verse from Dodgr, and a gorgeous music video featuring choreography that evokes a lesbian romance. JM