Listen To R&B Futurist & UMPG Signee Ayelle’s #TBT Mixtape
Welcome to #TBT Mixtape, Billboard's series that showcases artists' very own throwback-themed playlists exclusive to Billboard's Spotify account.
Welcome to #TBT Mixtape, Billboard’s series that showcases artists’ very own throwback-themed playlists exclusive to Billboard’s Spotify account. The curated set features the artists’ favorite tracks from their youth and childhood. This week’s edition comes from Ayelle. The Swedish-Iranian signer-songwriter (real name Amanda Lundstedt) has amassed over 35 million streams just two years into her tenure. Tackling themes from self-worth to the status quo, her unique cocktail of minimalist R&B has earned support from Majestic Casual to BBC 1Xtra.
The early buzz helped her debut at SXSW, move to New York City via London, and ink a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group US all last year. She also committed to releasing a new single every month in 2019, including standouts like “NBDY,” “Mind and Body” “okay” and “Psychopaths,” which earned support from the U.K.’s PRS Momentum Fund.
This week, Ayelle curated Billboard’s #TBT Mixtape to spotlight the songs that inspired her latest material, including not-too-distant bops from BROCKHAMPTON, Sasha Sloan, Anna of the North and Kali Uchis.
“Every song on this playlist represent an emotion or specific moment of this past year. I love finding new music but they also have to find me at the right time in order for it to resonate with me,” says Ayelle. “When lyrics and the emotional pull of a song synchs up with personal experiences, there is nothing sweeter, nor anything more helpful to process what I’m feeling than finding that one perfect song to capture that moment. I re-live it over and over again whether it’s good or bad and that to me is the most beautiful thing about music.”
Check out the playlist plus some throwback pics of the artist growing up below.
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