Some Artists Take Time. Some Songs Never Leave.
From a performance that changed everything to a song that feels like home, Kyle's picks reflect a listener who knows music hits differently the second time around.
Kyle (@coneyvinyls) moves through the March 30 to April 1 prompts like someone who lets music come to him. The picks don't stay on the surface: an artist he had to see live to understand, a song that means something different now than it used to, and an album he hasn't been able to put down.
The prompts pull in different directions but Kyle has a clear answer for each. One asks which artist is entering their prime, and for Kyle that's a recent conversion story. A Brit Awards performance that made him go back and listen again. Another goes somewhere more personal, the word home, and for Kyle that leads straight to a Katie Melua song he shared with his grandmother and has carried with him ever since. The last one asks which recent album has been on repeat, and the answer comes with a live show attached, a MIKA concert that made an already loved album impossible to put down.
What comes through across all three is someone who never forces it, music arrives, and when it does, it sticks. The emotional depth is real across all three, and so is the openness, someone who doesn't guard against what music does to him and is better for it.
Which artist do you think is entering their prime?
I think Olivia Dean is really entering her prime right now, and I think it’s completely deserved. When I first heard her music, I didn’t really connect with it, and at the time I didn’t fully understand the appeal. However, my opinion completely changed after I saw her at the Brit Awards in February. That night, she really stood out to me. Her performance was confident, emotional, and memorable, and you could tell she had a strong connection with the audience. Seeing her win multiple awards and receive that level of recognition made me curious to go back and listen to her music again with a different perspective.
When I revisited her songs, I started to appreciate her artistry much more. I noticed the quality of her vocals, the honesty in her lyrics, and the overall feeling in her music. It felt much more meaningful the second time around, and I found myself connecting with her songs in a way I hadn’t before.
Now, it really feels like she’s growing into a major artist. Even though it might seem like she’s suddenly become more popular, I think this moment is the result of her hard work and development over time. She has a unique style and a strong identity, and I think she’s only going to continue improving and reaching more people.
Which song do you think of with the word "home"?
When I think of the word “home,” I think of “I Will Be There” by Katie Melua. This song holds a really special place in my heart because it’s tied to some of my earliest and happiest memories with my grandmother. It was the first CD I ever owned with her, and we used to play it in her car whenever we went out together. We would sing along to all the songs on the album, and those moments are some of the ones I cherish the most.
Since my grandmother has passed away, the song has taken on an even deeper meaning for me. It’s no longer just a song—it feels like a connection to her and to those memories we shared. Whenever I hear it, it brings back that sense of comfort and reminds me of what “home” really means to me.
One moment that really stayed with me was just before I left Scotland to move to England. I was listening to the song through my earphones as I walked into a shopping centre, and at the exact same time, it started playing over the speakers. It felt like such a strange coincidence, but also really comforting, like everything was connected in that moment.
Because of all these memories, this song will always represent home to me—not just as a place, but as a feeling of love, safety, and connection.
Which recent album have you had on repeat?
The album I’ve recently had on repeat is Hyperlove by MIKA. When he announced he was releasing a new album, I was over the moon because I’ve loved all of his previous work so much. His music has always meant a lot to me, so it’s no surprise that this album has been constantly in my ears since it came out.
One thing I really admire about him as an artist is his willingness to experiment and move away from his usual sound, and this album feels very different compared to his earlier work. From the first listen, I was instantly blown away by how much I loved it.
Seeing him live in February made me appreciate the album even more. The way he brought the songs to life on stage completely elevated them, and I’ve had the album on repeat ever since. MIKA has always been one of the artists on my “must-see live” list, and after the concert, I was left wanting more—which just shows how special both he and this album are.
I can definitely see this album staying on repeat for a while longer, and I wouldn’t be surprised if “Science Fiction Lover” ends up being my most played song of 2026.
Kyle's picks sit somewhere between discovery and remembrance. Some took time to land, others arrived so early they feel like they've always been there. What ties them together is someone who lets music do its thing and trusts that it will.
A music lover, gamer, and baker who lets music find him at its own pace. Some artists take time. Good music, like good baking, can't really be rushed.
