Burn Your Hits: Dillon North

I started this year off with a hard reset and did an ayahuasca ceremony, something I’d been waiting to do for 16 years. Looking back on the previous years, I wasn’t in the best place, I had been hurt by a lot of people I trusted deeply and was trying to be a lot of things I just wasn’t. Upon letting a lot of this go (aka vomiting profusely for multiple days) I went about this year feeling more like myself than I have in years.

I spent SO much time in nature, in some of the most amazing landscapes on this planet with some of my oldest and best friends. Patagonia, Brazil, Canary Islands, Georgia, Northern Spain. At least 3 once-in-a-lifetime trips in one year; it's truly one for the books.

Most of these songs relate to those specific moments with my best people this year in those magical places.

After this year, I am 100% sure the best way to spend your time and money is doing epic things in magical places with the people that make your heart sing.

So here’s to all the old and new friends that made the head-banging, roadtrip sing-along memories to these songs this year. Thank you. I appreciate the fuck out of all you.

Here's to many more of these memories next year.

“Eneriga de Gotosa” - Ivete Sangalo

Started the year with two months in South America and ended with two weeks, so I had to start with the carnival anthem from this year. One of my favourite moments of the year was blasting this song while on a 4x4 road in the remote mountains of Georgia (country not the state) laughing my ass off at the randomness of the life I’ve created. Picture of road for reference.

“New Love” - Ziggy Alberts

I think this song summed up my whole year so well. And it was my most listened to. I think I might have been really trying to manifest with this one.

This whole year was about making space for new love and letting go of what wasn’t serving me any longer. The whole message of this song was how I was trying to live my year and I think it turned out quite well.

Got to see him live in Madrid as well which was the most white giris (white non Spaniards) I’ve ever seen in one place in Spain

“What Was That” - Lorde

A great little summer anthem and I can confirm, from personal experience, we should all be doing more MDMA in back gardens.

“Same Old Song” - The Lumineers

Will forever be one of my favourite bands. I feel like I’ve grown up with them a bit as they are from Colorado and I’ve seen them at small venues and now seeing them in Spain this year was a bit of a full circle moment. Their new album wasn’t a WOOOOW but it is still an essential back track to any road trip.

“JUMP” - Blackpink

I’m not normally a k pop girly but fell for this one very hard. It was a constant gym track and just a fantastic pump up song. It's almost impossible to sit still listening to this song.

“Montana” - Chance Peña

“There's something about the mountains that says it's good for your soul.

Home is not a place but where your heart feels the most whole.”

This song instills an odd sense of calm for me. I think the lyrics almost breathe the way I do when I’m alone in the mountains. It captures the way being in the mountains is essentially my therapy. This year I had the pleasure of exploring the mountains of Georgia (the country not the state) with 2 of my best friends, Patagonia and Ordesa (national park in Spain, if you don’t know it look it up) and this will forever be the back track to this year spent in the mountains around the world.

“DtMF” - Bad Bunny

I never thought I would agree with Musk, but this artist’s name is giving a bad name to bunnies everywhere. Another unbelievable tag line from 2025 but as the most streamed artist globally this year definitely earns a spot on this list.

“No Broke Boys” - Disco Lines, Tinashe

“I’m out here single. Tell me what's the deal. And know that I got standards.”

And let me tell you it's fucking exhausting.

This song however is not.

“Hi, Everyone Leave Please” - Fletcher

This was a very firm boundary setting year for me.

This song politely says get the fuck out and leave me the fuck alone.

“Man I Need” - Olivia Dean (Cover: Dallin Dance, Lilly Small)

The original of this song was on my list already but found this cover a month ago and have listened to it every day.

“Reliquia” - Rosalia

What a fucking album. And already have secured tickets to see her next year!

BTW pro tip, if you ever think it’s been a while since you’ve seen the curator of this list just mention live music that he might be remotely interested in that’s in your city and there is a roughly 95% chance he'll be there within 6 months.

“Dopamine” - Robyn

I think this was a great single by Robyn, looking forward to the rest of the album.

And a good reminder, I'm aware that it is just dopamine but I'm gonna keep doing it anyway. I worked on getting those natural dopamine hits this year but those instant dopamine hits are still very tempting.

“BIRDS” - Turnstile

When Aaron and Ilana told me this is who they were most excited to see at Primavera Sound besides Chappell Roan (my queen) I had my reservations.

I can confirm. They were correct. They are always correct.

Below is our new friend Jazz and me demonstrating the only way to listen to this song properly.

“Bluest Flame” - Selena Gomez, Benny Blanco

This was an early addition to my list but I think it holds up.

“Golden” - HUNTR/X - EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami

Song of the year. Fight me, I don’t care, the global sensation of this was truly a spectacle.

“WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” - Raye

I have been asking this exact question for 4 years now!?!

Guess I’ll go back to Brazil and keep looking.

Jokes aside, Raye is a powerhouse and continues to prove it.

“Be Yourself” - Fever/ Sky

This one is a little older than 2025 but had to be included. My lavender wife Mary and I have always communicated through music throughout our whole relationship. I still have burned CDs from 15 years ago from her. Her sister, Rita, who had passed away last year, left this song for her on a playlist. This song became a back track of all our crazy adventures this year and was like we were carrying a little bit of Rita with us. It’s not only a beautiful song but a reminder that you only have today to be yourself so what are you waiting for.

“Collapse” - Chance Peña

Breaking the one per artist rule for this one.

I think we as a society don’t put enough value in friendships. I think it is a special person you choose to grow with over the years, through whatever trauma, bad partners, stupid decisions (often made together), fights, make ups, oceans separating you, those are you really growing with. This year I was fortunate enough to spend a large portion of my year with some of my favorite people doing epic shit around the world in beautiful places and at the end of the day is there anything better than that?

This song to me is about that growth and beautiful sacrifice friendship is.

Wednesday, December 25, 2024

GL.24.12: Dillon North

100 Songs: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.24.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.24.02: Isabel Vermaak

GL.24.03: Megan Swidler

GL.24.04: Curt Trnka

GL.24.05: Erik Kristjanson

GL.24.06: Caseysimone Ballestas

GL.24.07: Nora Tang

GL.24.08: Tony Schoenberg

GL.24.09: Ben Evangelista

GL.24.10: Kevin Wyckoff

GL.24.11: Jem Stirling

GL.24.12: DILLON NORTH

GL.24.13: Marisa Plaice

GL.24.14: Desa Warner

GL.24.15: Mario Sanders

GL.24.16: Carl Anderson

***

Lo Mas 2024

The last few years have come at a rapid pace for me. Lots of changes, very intense, non-stop.

This year I finally started to allow myself to slow down a bit and ask if where I’m putting my energy is really where it should be going. This exercise is a work in progress but it is moving forward and I'm liking the direction it’s heading.

I feel like this playlist this year is a combination of all these energies that constantly try to find balance inside my head.

As always, the whitest boy (maybe tied with Aaron) in the group will try to add some (much needed) Latin flair to the list.

Chappell Roan - “Good Luck, Babe!”

Your favourite ginger’s favourite ginger. (Full credit to Ilana for this line)

I just want to be very clear about this. I have never in my entire life been more right about something. I remember FORCE feeding everyone “Pink Pony Club” during the summer of 2020. I sent videos of us performing it to Chappell, she loved them. And we talked pretty regularly when she had 10k instagram followers. Let's just say she doesn't respond to me anymore. If she doesn't win Best New Artist at the Grammys I think there will be a January 6th situation in the streets of LA. So you can all say “I knew her back in 2020 before she was anybody, thanks to my favorite ginger!” And you’re welcome.

Karol G - “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”

The delusion level is high but I’m here for it. I think we all at some point have locked eyes with a hot man at a bar and planned out our entire lives together on the spot and thought to ourselves, damn, “my name would sound good with his last name.” No? Just me and Karol G then.

Upshal - “Good Girl Era”

This came out in October 2023. But we’re gonna count it because it was my theme song for 2024. This song sums up my feelings through most of the year.

“I'm in my good girl era but still feel bad

I’m gonna kill this bitch and get the chaos back.”

Some nights the good girl won and others the chaos took over.

Dj Gigola - “La Batteria”

This was played at least once every night I went out in 2024. Consider this a backtrack to the night the chaos side came out.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats - “Cars in the Desert”

A great road trip song. Highly recommend listening with the windows down on a windy back road in rural Spain.

AgroPlay, Ana Castela, LUDMILLA - “Dia de Fluxo”

Wouldn’t be a Dillon list without at least one Brazilian dance song. This came out late December 2023 so we’ll count it. Will be shaking my ass off in Rio in a few months, in a stellar outfit at a bloco, surrounded by Brazilians, smiling from ear to ear.

Tophouse - “The Mountain Song”

Not from 2024 (from 2022 actually) and there’s no justification for including this but I'm an adult and I do what I want. I found it this year and I fucking love this song. It is the song that plays when I’m on any one of my outdoor adventures and it sounds EXTRA good on high volume alone in a car leaving a trail head.

Mirage Amuro - “She’s such a Bitch”

Iconic. The most listened to Ru talent show track ever at this point I think.

Petey - “Don't Tell The Boys”

Another one not released this year (Sorry Aaron, I never followed instructions well). One of my best friends from university played this for me when I was back home and it summarised my whole trip back home so well.

Benson Boone - “Beautiful Things”

When I first heard this song I was like ok I get it but it's not for me. After I put it on for the 50th time I accepted that sometimes I'm just a basic white boy and I'm gonna let myself enjoy it.

Charli xcx, Robyn, Yung Lean - “360 Featuring robyn & yung lean”

Maybe the most successful marketing campaign of a single album ever. Although I was very over hearing about Brat Summer, this song is a bop and she knew it.

Sabrina Carpenter - “Espresso”

I think it was this, “360” or “Good Luck, Babe!” that defined the summer. Gay, slut, or brat, you could really just pick the mood for the day.

Aitana - “4 to 23”

Had to have at least one teenage girl Spanish pop song in here. Are the lyrics inventive? No. Is the song just about getting naked and having a good time? Yes. Is this why I like it? Maybe.

Billie Eilish - “Birds of a Feather”

Billie does it again.

Cynthina Erivo, Ariana Grande - “Defying Gravity”

This movie will define 2024 for years to come. This probably would have been in my most listened to songs if it had come out a month earlier.

Fred again.., Angie Mcmahon - “Light Dark Light”

A late addition but I found this song beautiful and immediately fell in love with it. Perfect backtrack for walking around the sunny streets of Madrid in December.

Anitta, Ivete Sangalo - “Lugar Perfeito”

Another very late addition to the list as the album came out last week. But she was my most listened to artist this year and seeing her live in Madrid to kick off pride was one of the highlights of the year. If this song doesn’t make you want to get up and shake your ass, get your ears checked.

Thursday, January 4, 2024

GL.23.14: Dillon North

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

GL.23.10: Tony Schoenberg

GL.23.11: Gina Uriarte

GL.23.12: Ryan Joyce

GL.23.13: Desa Warner

GL.23.14: DILLON NORTH

GL.23.15: Ryan Joyce (DJ Set)

GL.23.16: Carl Anderson

***

I think growing older involves a lot of realising that your parents were right and you should have listened to them sooner. One expression my Mom always said to me is, “People come into your life for reasons, seasons, and lifetimes.” I always disagreed with her and thought I could carry friends with me regardless of where I went, what I was doing or who I became. But I hate to say it, she was right. You grow in a different direction, you move to a different country, you adapt to your situation and the burden of maintaining those connections is no longer worth the effort, especially when others have grown in different directions as well.

I hated this. I hated that you couldn't keep these instrumental people with you for your entire journey because, in the moment, you can’t ever imagine your life without them. But this year, I’ve grown to accept this, treasure the moments, and remember the good times.

Music for me is a time capsule, an opportunity to remember those good moments with a smile. When that song comes on and you are instantly transported back to an exact spot on a dance floor screaming at the top of your lungs, on the road windows down with the air rushing through your hair, watching a rooftop sunset that lit up the sky. It's a snapshot, a window to those moments that contributed to the person you are now and the direction you're going.

So for that I want to say thank you to Aaron for making this little time capsule for all of us, because even looking back on my playlist from last year now, the significance of some of those songs has changed dramatically and it’s pretty magical.

This year was the first year I’ve spent speaking Spanish (or Portuguese) everyday and it reflected in this year’s song output.

***

Karol G - “Mientras Me Curo Del Cora”

It’s giving “Three Little Birds.” Also probably the least Karol G song of her new album this year but just the right song to start your morning, have that rooftop cocktail, or try to convince yourself the world isn’t actively falling apart around you.

Jessie Ware - “Pearls”

I started making pearl necklaces for all of my friends' birthdays, which only added to my obsession with this song. I have had a few pearl necklaces break at clubs due to uh, let's say a little rough handling, only to explode all over the club floor with this song playing in my head as it was happening.

Sebastian Yatra - “Una Noche Sin Pensar”

Was this my most listened to song for the year? Yes? Did I expect that? Absolutely not. What can I say? I’m fully assimilated to Spain now.

Anitta, Kiaz - “Te Amo”

While I listened to a lot of Brazilian music this year I kept coming back to this beautiful duet. It’s not what you normally expect from Anitta but from the first little reference to Navi from Zelda I was hooked. For those that don’t speak Portuguese, it’s a super corny love song and would 100% make your eyes roll if it was in English but the beauty of it is you won’t know that unless I told you.

boygenius - “Not Strong Enough”

“Oh, I love this song.” The first thought that passed through my head every time it came on. And judging from everyone else's lists, it was a common thought this year.

Chris Lake - “In the Yuma” (feat. Aatig)

This came out late 2022 but I always feel like late November and December songs should be included in the next year anyway. One of my go-to dance tracks for the year.

Rosalía - “LLYM”

Is this her best work? No. Do I still love it? Yes. Let's hope for a better full album next year.

Troye Sivan - “Got Me Started”

A big album for our gay (non-power bottom) friend Troye Sivan. I think he slayed with this album and the popper music video was absolutely iconic.

Karmento - “Quiero y Duelo”

Runner up for Spain’s entry into Eurovision this year and I think it should have been the entry. Following in Rosalía’s footsteps of brightening up old school Spanish music with modern sounds.

Chappell Roan - “Red Wine Supernova”

1. Told you

2. In a shocking turn of events I didn’t love the album. I know, I feel like I’m betraying an old friend by saying this but at times it was a little too high school for me. Don’t get me wrong, I am still the original Chappell stan but hope for a little less homecoming in the next album

Jimmy Buffet - “Bubbles Up”

If I had to pick one artist that would be the backing track of the childhood segment of my biographical movie, it would have to be Jimmy Buffet. My father is a full-on Parrothead and I probably know the lyrics to the vast majority of Buffet’s musical catalogue.

For those who don’t know, Jimmy Buffett passed away in October this year from skin cancer (wear your sunscreen). He released a full pre-recorded album after his death and I think this song is beautiful, even more so if you’re a scuba diver. So have another margarita for Jimmy. Bubbles up.

Tom Rasmussen - “Look At Me”

Well, if a song was ever written for me this was probably it, easily making it my song of the year. I think this song embodies the energy of being yourself for you, and fuck other peoples’ opinion of you. Look all you want, I’m being myself and if you have a problem with it, hunny, this wasn’t for you in the first place anyway.