Workout anthems, indie favorites, surprise EP drops, Christmas icons, and the Sonic 3 soundtrack — here’s what’s been filling Boardroom’s speakers this month.
It’s the season for cozy music here at Boardroom.
I’ve been spending a lot of time with my Replay 2024 playlist on Apple Music because I’m already getting excited for my 2025 Replay to drop. All of the annual recap playlists across the major music apps should be dropping in the next couple of weeks, which means we’re officially knocking on 2026’s door — a wild thought. I’m always pleasantly surprised to see what ends up in my top songs. Every year, a big chunk of them aren’t my typical listens but the tracks I play in the morning to get myself amped up for workouts. And since I work out five days a week, it makes sense that those songs dominate my most-played list.
Outside of that, I’ve also been deep in a playlist I titled The Others, which houses all of my rock, punk, and indie picks. It’s 341 songs, about 20 hours of music, and I tend to disappear into a complete sunken-place spiral every time I hit shuffle. Some recent favorites include “Somebody Told Me” by The Killers, “Numb” by Roet, “Die for Me” by Chase Atlantic, and “Electric Pop” by Jupiter Rising — a song I recently rediscovered and haven’t been able to shake. I’m also really into “Prey” by The Neighbourhood, still attached to “I Like the Way You Kiss Me” by Artemas, and have “Settle” by Sinéad Harnett back in rotation.
I’m also looking forward to diving into a few audiobooks over the winter break, so my next roundup will probably look completely different. But first, let’s jump into what the rest of the team is listening to.
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Boardroom’s Picks
Abigale Smith, Vice President, Revenue and Brand Partnerships
Abigale is deep in holiday mode, cycling between Mariah Carey’s Christmas album, classic ’70s holiday tracks, and the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack — a rotation she officially kicked off on Nov. 1. She says the ’70s are her favorite musical era, and it’s the vibe she keeps coming back to right now.
Her listening took an unexpected turn this week thanks to her son, Ever, who requested the Sonic 3 soundtrack first thing in the morning. That’s how she discovered Lil Tecca, Lil Yachty, and even Druski appear on the album — a surprise that caught her off guard when their voices came through her speakers before sunrise.
Amanda Tirador, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Marketing
“I’m currently listening to the Brooke & Connor Make a Podcast by Brooke Averick and Connor Wood. It makes my morning incline walks better at the gym. I think it’s top-tier comedy for the Gen Z folks.
It’s not really about anything; it’s just about what’s going on in the world. I don’t know their full background. I think they’re definitely best friends now — I don’t know if they grew up together — but their dynamic is really funny. He’s a comedian; she’s an author with a book coming out in May, and the banter is just good. They talk about pop culture, and even something like the Louvre heist becomes hilarious when they cover it.
I need to look into it more, but it makes my mornings better.”
Bernadette Doykos, Senior Director, Partnership Marketing and Strategy
“For me, these last few weeks have been defined by the zeitgeist. A handful of new releases have not only landed on my monthly ephemeral playlist but have also dominated my favorite pop-culture podcasts.
Rosalía and Lily Allen have both dropped extremely unique albums and launched impeccable publicity tours. From the late-night circuit to the buzziest Instagram shows (looking at you, Subway Takes and Trackstar Show), the two are setting the narrative around their creative swings entirely on their own terms.
Speaking of Rosalía, Fred again.. took her haunting “Berghain” to the club as part of his 10 songs in 10 days tour, which continues to bring me massive joy — and has accidentally turned my IG algorithm into straight banger DJ sets. This never fails to make me laugh, as I tend to fall into the hole while fully horizontal, lying next to my dog — the anti-club, if you will.
Lastly, my local festival just announced its 2026 lineup and, like many others, The xx will be headlining. Their self-titled debut has been a balm to my nervous system for 10 years now and is fully back in rotation.”
Griffin Adams, Manager, Content Operations
“Alright, I’m about to be THAT GUY, but someone has to — holiday music has officially taken over my airwaves. And look, I waited this year. I didn’t even start being obnoxious about it until well into November — my personal rule is post-Halloween is free game to begin — so honestly, everyone should be thanking me. A few early favorites that have already taken over my rotation:
- Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” (the GOAT Christmas song, come see me if you have anything to say)
- NSYNC’s “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays”
- Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
- Lou Monte’s “Dominick the Donkey” (don’t knock it ’til you try it)
Judge me all you want, but all I know is that my drives to the gym and back in the mornings have been MUCH more enjoyable these last couple of weeks. Just give it a shot. Not only will you not be disappointed, but you might even snatch a PR.”
Matthew Strickland, Video Editor
“The opening credits sequence of Welcome to Derry has me going down a Patience and Prudence rabbit hole, and now my apartment is full of the echoey sounds of creepy children.
As the weather gets chillier, I’ve been super happy to discover Adam Finchler’s debut album, The Room. His surreal lyrics and art-pop melodies just make you feel cozy.”
Michelle Lukianovich, Art Director
Michelle has been in a Royel Otis phase lately, shuffling through their catalog for its warm, nostalgic feel — a mix of melancholy and pop that fits her mood right now. She’s also been spending time with Kevin Abstract’s latest release, Blush, drawn to the experimental edges and melodic shifts he’s been leaning into. And as soon as the weather turns colder, she goes back to her winter standby: The Walkmen, whose gritty, atmospheric indie rock has become a seasonal staple for her.
Jon Wiener, Senior Director, Audience Development
Jon has been deep in a J.J. Cale and Richard Thompson run lately, and he recently revisited The Pizza Tapes — the loose, warm ’90s session from David Grisman, Jerry Garcia, and Tony Rice that gives him classic Old & In the Way energy. On the podcast side, he’s been working through old WTF with Marc Maron episodes now that the show has ended, starting with the Obama interview. He also keeps The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, The Daily from The New York Times, and a steady mix of fantasy sports podcasts — especially The Fantasy Footballers and FantasyPros — in his rotation.
Rich Kleiman, Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Rich has had Wale’s new album, everything is a lot., in rotation lately, along with a recent discovery: Detroit artist Bruiser Wolf, who he says Kevin Durant put him onto. He’s also been spending time with his usual favorites — ’70s grooves and smooth soul — with Bobby Caldwell and George Benson leading the way.
Vinciane Ngomsi, Reporter and Digital Creator
“If it’s a day that ends in ‘y,’ I’m listening to Afrobeats. My latest obsession is Tems‘ new EP, Love is a Kingdom. Released as a surprise on Friday, the lyricism is heavy in self-discovery, love, and independence. Considering Tems produced, composed, and wrote Love Is a Kingdom almost entirely herself, what fitting thematic elements. Even if it’s your first time listening to her, you’ll likely relate to a lot of the storytelling in the project.
I’m also reconnecting with my love of old school Latin music, specifically Celia Cruz. The late Queen of Salsa had a voice that could command a room, with upbeat tunes guaranteed to get any party going. While running, I’m usually playing “Rie y Llora” and “La Negra Tiene Tumbao” at least three (or four) times in a row.
Finally, I’m tapping back into my catalog of ’90s grunge rock and ska punk bands. I hadn’t listened to Sublime, Nirvana, or Pearl Jam in a while, so this entire month has been me reminiscing on when I became a fan decades ago and why their music remains timeless today.”
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