songs to end the summer

After a heat wave that thrilled fans of formal shorts and almost killed my lemon tree, Los Angeles has finally, finally, had its first days of fall. Seems like a year ago I was jumping around excited for the frenetic laze of summer; now, the grey morning clouds and chance to wrap oneself in sweaters are a welcome change. There's kind of a moroseness to the fall; thank god for the sparkling endless summer whose oversaturation makes its ending a weird kind of relief.

A few songs really fit into this moment's happy little sadness corner (i.e. if I'm not listening to either one at any given time, I wish I were). Sweet-sad, light-dark, grimy-innocent, beginning-of-an-ending songs.

Solange Knowles made "Losing You" retro fun and sun-baked and sweet, but wistful, and it'll tear a little hole in your heart if you feel like it.

I loved Sky Ferreira's "Everything Is Embarassing" when I first heard it but only started playing it over.and.over. the other day. Turns out both of these songs are produced by Dev Hynes (Blood Orange) sooo it all makes sense. Little Sky is so baby-grunge and plaintive-voiced and serious, and all that plus the song's hyper-retro drum track and synths make you nostalgic for something you maybe never even had.

photos: thedayafteryoudie