Spend less time crafting that perfect Summer playlist and spend more time on what matters, like floating in a pool or eating way too many hot dogs. We’ve handpicked five tracks from musicians across Jacksonville’s diverse, dynamic music scene, to help make your personal collection of Summer jams the best it can be before your 4th of July BBQ this weekend!

Ebonique – “Satin Scarf”

A standout track from her 2021 EP, Edge Control, “Satin Scarf” is an immaculate R&B single, both a dreamy anthem perfect for poolside chilling and a love song with a practical message. For those looking for a slightly different vibe, Ebonique recently celebrated the one year anniversary of Edge Control by releasing a collaboration with Jacksonville producer 4thQuarterQuan: a chopped and screwed edition of the EP that is a  chilled-out, blissful take on an already wonderfully smooth collection of recordings. @billboarddreams

Dean Winter and the Heat – “Watch Another Burn”

Purveyors of alt-country and Americana Dean Winter and the Heat’s recent single “Watch Another Burn” dropped this spring, a warm, sun soaked piece of uncynical, classic country music. Winter’s heartfelt, expressive voice blends perfectly with the crystalline pedal steel leads and laid-back country groove. Crack open a cold one or two with your closest pals and soak up some sun, accompanied by Dean and his friends the Heat. deanwinterandtheheat.com // @deanwinterandtheheat

Sailor Goon – “Way Down in Decatur”

Kayla Le, the Jacksonville upstart singer/songwriter/producer who records under the name Sailor Goon, has released a handful of soulful, hazy bedroom pop singles over the last few years. One of our favorites is “Way Down in Decatur,” released last Spring but sounds as fresh as ever, with Le’s ethereal voice floating atop a jazzy loop and light bits of twitchy percussion. This timeless Summer jam is a perfect soundtrack to a relaxing late night car ride with all the windows down. soundcloud.com/alyakle // @sailorg00n

seagate – “Mason”

You can always rely on the kids to pick up the torch for lo-fi, beachy garage rock. Jacksonville Beach indie rockers seagate are the latest in a long line of youngsters to carry on the tradition of retro guitar pop, blending surf-inflected doo-wop with more sullen, eccentric influences like The Smiths and The Clean. Their latest single, “Mason” is a starry-eyed swooner of a track, a propulsive, charming bit of nostalgia. It’s easy to see yourself pining over your latest summertime fling with this track on repeat. @seagateband

Little Geronimo – “I Think It’s Time”Celebration by Little Geronimo

Jacksonville math pop band Little Geronimo combines intricate, complex song structures and instrumentation with no-nonsense pop punk sensibilities. “I Think It’s Time,” the opening track from their recently released debut full length, Celebration, feels both nostalgic and contemporary, with subtle hyperpop vocal effects and a classically emo anthemic songwriting approach. A perfect introduction to the band’s sonic world, also a great pick to keep the energy up on your 4th of July BBQ playlist. littlegeronimo.bandcamp.com // @littlegeronimo