GL.25.02: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 Songs: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.25.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.25.02: ISABEL VERMAAK

GL.25.03: Jem Stirling

GL.25.04: Nora Tang

GL.25.05: Tony Schoenberg

GL.25.06: Mario Sanders

GL.25.07: Darrin Shillair

GL.25.08: Scott Lawson

GL.25.09: Erik Kristjanson

GL.25.10: Curt Trnka

***

Isabel’s 2025 Playlist

This year was crazy, both in the sense of the amount of things that happened, and the speed at which it all happened. A lot of travel ‘firsts’ this year; first time in Asia, first time using a plane to commute on a bi-weekly basis (AMS-Berlin), first time flying private, first time getting to the gate without checking-in and having to rebook through EasyJet 3 hours later. First time in Hollywood too, and now I’m spending the majority of my life there, in between the palm trees and emotionally unstable entertainment executives. 

One thing that hasn’t changed; my stress levels. It feels like summer never ended, because it's still 85 degrees in Studio City in mid-November, which almost tricks my mind into thinking that I’ll be heading back to my ‘normal-life’ in Rotterdam/Amsterdam soon. 

Like the last 3 months have just been some fever dream after a few too many marg’s and an edible. And as you start to sober up, you start thinking about that big meeting you have tomorrow, so even though you’re fucked up and feeling good, you’re like still a little paranoid you’re not going to deliver tomorrow?  That kind of fever dream. 

Either way, it’s been a wild ride and I’m excited to see what 2026 has in store. I hope it involves less travel. I’m willing to hand in my priority boarding group status for a chance to stop and eat another delicious Mexican street taco (or smell the flowers).

I hope everyone is hangin’ in there. Thanks to Aaron for letting us share music with each other, I’m looking forward to reading some bangin’ EOY reflections! 

- Isabel 

Oh yeah! Criteria is the same as my previous submissions; all music that is listed has been released in 2025, and I usually do 1 honorable mention (i.e. it missed the 2025 cut-off, or just wasn’t good enough to actually make the list).

Honorable Mention: HUMAN ERROR - “ÜBERHOLSPUR”

This doesn’t make the cut because it was released in 2024, but honestly, nothing described my 10+ work-trips to Berlin better this year than this song. This is a metaphorical representation of my poor, poor body clock and consistently elevated heart rate.

(1) Harry T, BBYx - “Kiss Me”

Definitely the banger of this summer. A good song to drive to, and even better song to get fucked up to. Perfect combo (?) 

(2) Amine - “Vacay”

It felt pretty great to listen to this song during a nice beach vacation this spring. Takes me on a little vacation every time I listen to it now :) 

(3) jigitz, INJI - “Tell you straight (INJI’S Version)”

INJI is great, and this mashup makes me feel like I too, am cool and nonchalant.  

(4) John Summit, Alok, CLOVES - “Focus” (feat. CLOVES) [Alok remix]

Okay, I know I said that ‘Kiss Me’ was the banger of the summer, but this one is giving it a run for its money. It goes unreasonably hard. The build up is chef’s kiss, and the drop delivers.

(5) Trobi, ADF Samski, Milolaathetlukken - “Haver Cappu” (feat. Milolaathetlukken & ADF Samski)

My boy Kevin didn’t make the list this year, this is his placeholder for ‘25

(6) SIDEPIECE, Bobby Shmurda - “Cash Out”

Trap house tune, the list wouldn’t be complete without one.

(7) Big Z - “Designer & Champagne”

This is an accurate statement of things I like. But I like the beat of this even more than both of those things. Also, this is my sleeper hit, you heard it here first. This is defo going to be popular soon.

(8) Nappy Roots, GRIP - “Life Happens Quickly”

Nappy Roots came back just to dunk on us and GRIP makes a feature?! GRIP and Nappy Roots are friends?!! So cool.

(9) Central Cee, 21 Savage - “GBP” (feat. 21 Savage)

Yes, the price does go up if it’s USD. I had to move to LA to find that one out. Shit’s expensive. 

(10) Knox - “Pick Your Poison”

I know I was miserable during high school, but this song is how I imagine how ‘cool’ feels like in high school, and it’s cute. Sometimes you just need a little pop punk to bring you back down to earth, ya know?

(11) Big Sean, Eladio Carrion - “Branzino”

This song magically made me understand Spanish, it’s like, all of a sudden so easy..? Idk man this song is poetry in motion and I fucking love it. 

(12) LYVIA - “Trippin”

Breezy AF, great airpod city-stroll vibe.

(13) Gravagerz, kiki wera - “Pool” - Gravagerz Version

“I just wanna vibe. Sometimes, but not all the time.” YES finally! A song that captures it. I’m pretty sure this song was internet famous too.

(14) Connor Price - “Too Easy”

If AOL Messenger was still a thing, I would copy and paste this into my profile. 

(15) Lupe Fiasco - “SOS”

Good god, where does this man get his energy from? The flow is just like, really smooth. Take me away, Lupe. Whipped out the sax for this too? sheeeeesh.

(16) d00mscrvll, Diplo, Juicy J, Project Pat - “Flashlight” (ft. Project Pat & Juicy J)

Fun fact: I face-timed with Project Pat once. But he’s right, and it’s true; “the game ain’t the same, man, these streets ain’t got no rules now.”

GL.24.02: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 Songs: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.24.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.24.02: ISABEL VERMAAK

GL.24.03: Megan Swidler

Isabel’s Top 17 Songs of 2024

In no importance of order, here are my top 17 songs of 2024.

My criteria are as follows; only songs released in 2024 & have to be in heavy rotation in my playlists. There are some familiar names in here from last year (shout out to Kevin), and some newer names (I have high hopes for Kybba), but I am very much looking forward to discovering some new artists through other folks’ lists. 

Last year’s list focused on high BPM dance/techno and was all about speed and intensity. This year is similar but with a chiller vibe. A quick debrief under each title - happy listening! 

1. “Ter Zake” - Kevin

“Als ik ga dan is het bovenaan de trap daar net als Tony

Waar zij mee bezig zijn, ze doen maar wat, ik snap het ook niet

Ik kan niet al die mannen coachen net als Trapattoni”

A Tony Soprano AND Giovanni Trapattoni reference in one verse?! Kevin, you’ve outdone yourself.

2. “i like the way you kiss me” - Artemas

I only had the opportunity to spend 1 year in the 80’s and had basically no consciousness at that point, so it was cool to feel like there was a mini revival of the vibe from that decade with some distorted vocals and raunchy lyrics.

3. “Samurai” - Lupe Fiasco

The Cool by Lupe Fiasco is one of my favorite albums ever and I really feel like there’s a lack of ‘conscious’ hip hop that speaks to my taste specifically, so I was thrilled when Lupe dropped a new album this year that had the same feel from Food & Liquor II (2012). Overall this song is super smooth and a great listen. 

4. “Too Sweet” - Hozier

I know this song has been played to death already, but it’s really good! I knew when I heard it play at the grocery store in Tampa this summer, that it had hit its max plays for me, but I’ll pick it up again in a year or two and probably enjoy it just as much. 

5. “I Want You” - Versatile Verse, WESTSIDE BOOGIE

For some reason the beat reminds of a low-key version of “Blueberry Yum Yum” by Ludacris. WESTSIDE BOOGIE just has a great voice. It’s weird and I love it. 

6. “Addicted - Zerb Acid VIP” - Zerb, The Chainsmokers, Ink

The perfect pool party song, or getting ready in the bathroom for a wild night out when you have a new mascara that you are dying to test out. 

7. “GLIMMER.” - Snakehips, Earthgang

Snakehips + Earthgang = SNAKEGANG. Cool house-y beat with great lyrical interjections. 

8. “NOD YA HEAD!” - Terror Reid

If Cypress Hill and Eminem had a baby and then made it work at a gas station for its formative years. 

9. “Birds of a feather x I Remember” - Lewis Hanton

I listened to this on repeat for multiple 60km bike rides through the French Pyrenees mountains, so I’m not sure if this is the best song ever created or that so many chemicals were released in my brain while listening to this, that I tricked myself into thinking that. 

10. “I Only Smoke When I Drink” - nimino

So when I added this song to this list and copied and pasted the Spotify link, I saw the lyrics for the song and thought, god is this actually a good song…? And yes, it is. 

11. “Nasty” - Tinashe

Tinashe has been hitting the two-step since 2014, and then to come out 10 years later with a very very sexy, culturally resonating song, is motivating. Way to go, girl. 

12. “Wervelwind” - Kevin

I felt so cool when Kevin gave a shout out to Giraffe Coffee in this song, the only coffee worth drinking and so Rotterdam coded. Kevin, he’s just like us.

13. “Ba Ba Bad” - Kybba, Sean Paul, Busy Signal

Kybba (Amsterdam based DJ - of course) has really taken over the Dancehall scene in 2024. And this one really makes me want to drop it and slap the floor. 

14. “Kickdown” - DODO

I know I’m just a white girl from Connecticut, but when I’m bumping this track going 130 kmph in my ‘instap-model’ BMW 1-series on the A4, I feel like a motherfucking G. 

15. “Did i tell u that i miss u” - adore

Okay, so imagine if you were transported into the Pokemon Gameboy game (yellow edition) and got to skip through the Cerulean gardens catching lil Weedles, this would be the soundtrack. 

16. “Younger Me” - CJ.

What would younger me tell me right now? Probably something along the lines of “you never ended up getting that belly-button piercing we so desperately wanted?!”

17. “Like a Freak” - Megan Thee Stallion

When I was a sophomore in college, “Like a G6” was the anthem to get shitfaced to, and 4Loko was the drink of choice. So when Megan The Stallion used the beat to spit some hot girl shit, I fucking lost it. Just a great song to round out the list. 

GL.23.04: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom
GL.23.01: Ilana Bergstrom
GL.23.02: Curt Trnka
GL.23.03: Marisa Plaice
GL.23.04: ISABEL VERMAAK
GL.23.05: Raffa Pantaleo
GL.23.06: Erik Kristjanson
GL.23.07: Lukas Brooks
GL.23.08: Jem Stirling
GL.23.09: Max Einstein

***

Guest DJ: Isabel Vermaak

This year has been fast-paced, intense, and all about hard work. Whether it was behind the computer, on the road bike, or on the A4 highway (~30.000KM), I used up every ounce of fuel and spent most of 2023 in 6th gear. If you’re looking for 100+ BPM tunes, a manifestation of repressed anger from slow drivers in the left lane, hardstyle, hip hop, house, or perhaps just a splash of f(dr)unk, then here you go. 

(1) Diorange, A.R. Rahman, Nooran Sisters - “Ali Ali”

(2) Yung Felix - “I Need You”

(3) Boef - “Discman”

(4) Natte Visstick - “In De Tram”

(5) Cordae - “Two Ten” (Ft. Anderson .Paak)

(6) Lyrical Lemonade - “Doomsday” (with Juice WRLD & Cordae)

(7) BUNT. - “Renaissance”

(8) Martial Simon - “Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano”

(9) Dave, Central Cee - “Sprinter”

(10) Swimming Paul - “Fading”

(11) Tove Lo - “I like u”

(12) Jungle - “Dominoes”

GL.22.02: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.22.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.22.02: ISABEL VERMAAK

GL.22.03: Dionicio Solano

GL.22.04: Tony Schoenberg

GL.22.05: Curt Trnka

GL.22.06: Scott Lawson

GL.22.07: Remko Van Knippenberg

GL.22.08: Megan Swidler

GL.22.09: Jem Stirling

GL.22.10: Russell Abdo

GL.22.11: Erik Kristjanson

GL.22.12: Marisa Plaice

***

Iz Tha Bizz Brings You The ‘Toppers’ of 2022

Ranked in order of importance, all released in 2022

(1) Yhung T.O. - “Sport Mode” (feat. YG)

Yhung T.O. asks the important questions right from the jump:

Is that ass fat? Do you fuck good? Do you cook clean? Do it smell like it should?

And then consequently asks from time out of his partner’s schedule. A modern love song at its finest.

 

(2) Mozzy - “In My Face” (with 2 Chainz, Saweetie feat YG.)

A catchy hook and a fire verse from 2 Chainz, aka tityboi, puts this banger close to the top of the list. Raunchy and upbeat, a hit at any house party or a pick-me up after a 2 hour works council meeting.

 

(3) Noah Kahan - “Homesick”

A gentle departure from the previous songs, Noah Kahan almost makes me feel homesick for New England until he clearly outlines why ‘home’ makes you ‘sick’. Masochistic weather, people from high school who never left, and all the streets being named after someone’s grandfather. Clever and nostalgic, a good listen if you want that cozy wook-y Vermont feel. Guaranteed this dude wears a drug rug.

 

(4) Armani White - “BILLIE EILISH”

It’s been close to a decade since I’ve heard a beat this solid. It’s giving early 2000’s Timbaland (prior to his Justin Timberlake sell-out era).

 

(5) Antoon, Big2 - “Tantoe Lekker”

The ‘Anne-Fleur’ in me goes hard for this. Is that a twerk beat? Did a hairclip magically appear in my hair? Does Antoon have a Van Moof? The answer is yes to all of the above. This song is Tantoe Lekker.

 

(6) Megan Thee Stallion - “Plan B”

If she became the President of the United States, world peace would be a fact. Anthem worthy when you’ve had a bit too much of the Geert-Jan’s and/or Chad’s.

 

(7) EARTHGANG - “ALL EYES ON ME”

I usually expect a more gritty and grungy delivery from EARTHGANG, but this one is smooth, heartfelt, and reflective. Pair with whiskey on the rocks in front of the fireplace. Plus-points if there’s a rainy window to gaze out of.

 

(8) Kevin - “Airmax BW”

I never met a Kevin I liked until I moved to Rotterdam. An ode to Airmax’s and the ‘grind’. Slow flow.

 

(9) Day Sulan - “Teach U How to Play”

Da Brat walked so Day Sulan could run. Clear cut instructions; “And if you evеr trying to escape him, just say you fucking with a Laker”. I’ll make sure to keep that one in my back pocket. Thanks, Day.

(Pro-tip; the music video was sponsored by 7/11, Rolls Royce, and made possible by the ghost of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes)

 

(10) FISHER, Shermanology - “It’s a Killa”

This one hits the spot. Glad FISHER can still deliver after knocking it out of the park with ‘Losin’ It’ a few years back.

 

(11) The FaNaTiX, Idris Elba, Lil Tjay, Davido, Koffee, Moelogo - “Vroom”

This song is just as extra as the slew of artists who made the track. Probably not surprising that it’s the soundtrack for PS5’s Gran Turismo 7. It sounds just like you’d expect it to. Pair with BANG! Energy drink and nun-chucks.

 

(12) YG - “Run” (feat. Tyga, 21 Savage & BIA)

Yes, I really like YG. Especially when he doesn’t just show up as a feature. You guys can skip this one if you want. I’ll be hanging out here if you need me.

 

(13) Khruangbin, Leon Bridges - “B-Side”

Hand me my ochre-yellow bell bottoms, green crocodile cowboy boots, and a quaalude. This one is far-out, dude.

 

(14) Hayden James - “Lights Go Down” (with SIDEPIECE)

We’re ending 2022 on the dancefloor. Sultry, funky, and seductive.

 

Honorable Mention:

GRIP - “Dirty Work”

You were good, I’m waiting for you to be great. Let’s circle back in 2023?