Enlarge this picture

Janelle Monáe performs onstage on the Soul Prepare Awards.

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Photos for BET

cover caption

toggle caption

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Photos for BET

Janelle Monáe performs onstage on the Soul Prepare Awards.

Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Photos for BET

There are good songs, after which there are really feel good songs. Public radio music stations specialize within the latter, particularly new tracks by rising artists that make you cease what you are doing and smile. Almost everybody may use a potent dose of positivity after 2023, so we requested NPR Member stations to share the songs that made their DJs really feel good over the previous 12 months. For those who’re nonetheless shaking off the back-to-work cobwebs, this checklist is for you.

Artist: Janelle Monaé (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80)
Music Title: “Float”
Station: 90.9 The Bridge (Kansas Metropolis)

Artist: Jessie Ware
Music Title: “That! Feels Good!”
Station: WXPN (Philadelphia)

Artist: Say She She
Music Title: “Reeling”
Station: WFUV (New York)

Artist: Tyler Childers
Music Title: “In Your Love”
Station: WMOT (Nashville)

Artist: Allison Russell
Music Title: “Keep Proper Right here”
Station: WFUV (New York)

Artist: boygenius
Music Title: “Not Robust Sufficient”
Station: WNRN (Charlottesville)

Artist: Thundercat & Tame Impala
Music Title: “No Extra Lies”
Station: WUNC Music (Raleigh)

Artist: Peter Gabriel
Music Title: “Highway To Pleasure”
Station: WXPN (Philadelphia)

Artist: Devon Gilfillian
Music Title: “Love You Anyway”
Station: WMOT (Nashville)

Artist: The Shindellas
Music Title: “Final Night time Was Good For My Soul”
Station: 90.9 The Bridge (Kansas Metropolis)

Artist: Nabihah Iqbal
Music Title: “This World Could not See Us”
Station: KCRW (Los Angeles)

Artist: Obongjayar
Music Title: “Simply Cool”
Station: WUNC Music (Raleigh)

Artist: Jungle
Music Title: “I’ve Been In Love”
Station: 88Nine (Milwaukee)

Artist: Durand Jones
Music Title: “Lord Have Mercy”
Station: WTMD (Baltimore)

Artist: Haiku Arms
Music Title: “Nunchucka”
Station: KUTX (Austin)

Artist: Pachyman
Music Title: “Trago Coqueto”
Station: Jacksonville Music Expertise

Artist: Genesis Owusu
Music Title: “Leaving The Gentle”
Station: KUTX (Austin)

Artist: Rahill (feat. Beck)
Music Title: “Fables”
Station: Jacksonville Music Expertise

Artist: White Reaper
Music Title: “Pages”
Station: WTMD (Baltimore)

Artist: CARRTOONS (feat. Rae Khalil)
Music Title: “Grace”
Station: WNXP (Nashville)

Artist: Kiltro
Music Title: “All The Time In The World”
Station: KXT (Dallas/Fort Value)

Artist: Viv & Riley
Music Title: “Imaginary Individuals”
Station: WNRN (Charlottesville)

Artist: Liza Anne
Music Title: “Cheerleader”
Station: WNXP (Nashville)

Artist: Jaime Wyatt
Music Title: “World Value Maintaining”
Station: KXT (Dallas/Forth Value)