February – the month of romance. With Valentine’s Day being the hallmark of the month, it’s no wonder that the top songs and new releases in the music world are about love, lust, crushes and everything in between. My finds and faves playlist for February serves as no exception.

This month, I’ve been listening to artists that are kicking off 2018 with high expectations, reinventing their sounds, finally delivering full bodies of work and, of course, giving us tunes to love.

Scroll down for the full playlist and some highlighted tracks.

Find: “Wild Love” – James Bay

For fans familiar with James Bay’s classic indie/folk rock sound heard on tracks like “Hold Back the River” and “Scars,” his new pop-soul vibe with its many electronic influences may come as quite the shock. I, however, am wildly in love. Released two years after his last single “Running,” “Wild Love” is “a great sort of reintroduction” to Bay the artist, as he described to Billboard. I look forward to hearing more new material from Bay and getting a better sense of what to expect from his forthcoming sophomore album.

Fave: “Use Me” – Dominique

I first discovered Dominique through an emerging-artists-to-watch listing on BuzzFeed. After a listening session on her Spotify page, I fell in love with “Use Me,” a single she released last summer. It’s a fun song about hopeless love and I like that the lyrics play on her production work (“I don’t care what day or time / Call me when you’re all alone / Baby, I’ll produce your song”). She self-produced this song as well, so it’s clear the girl has talent!

Find: “Music to My Ears” – Keys N Krates feat. Tory Lanez

Excuse the pun, but this song truly is music to my ears. The Canadian electronic group came through (as always) with psychedelic-like beats. Meanwhile, the Toronto-based singer-rapper delivered on-point vocals using musical metaphors to describe his love to a partner. I have been a fan of Keys N Krates for a few years, so it’s hard to believe that this track is off their debut album, released Feb. 2. The whole album is worth a listen (you’ll be grooving the whole way through!), but “Music to My Ears” is definitely my favourite.

Fave: “The Cure” – Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga put out this surprise track in 2017, the same night she debuted it with a live performance at Coachella. The song talks about unconditional love, although it’s not clear if that love is directed at a special someone, her fans, or her close friend, the late Sonja Durham, who was battling cancer at the time of the song’s release. Co-writer Paul Blair, a.k.a. DJ White Shadow, described it as a feel-good song amidst the “terrible stuff going on in the world right now,” and rediscovering it this month, I believe that message stands true one year later.

Find: “Love Lies” – Khalid and Normani Kordei

There is no better time to release a love song than on Valentine’s Day, as Khalid and Fifth Harmony member Normani Kordei proved with “Love Lies.” Recorded for the Love, Simon movie soundtrack, it tells the story of a couple trying to work out where they are in their relationship. This sultry collaboration highlights the incredible vocals of both singers and marks Normani’s first solo release outside of the group. I’m sure this song will only continue to rise, especially with the just-released music video shot in downtown LA.

Fave: “Day and Night” – Majid Jordan

This track is off the OVO Sound artists’ 2016 debut album and it sees singer Majid Al Maskati long for a love that’s both emotional and physical, or “day and night.” As with much of Majid Jordan’s music, this is the perfect late night, roll down the window, hop on the highway and drive song. On a personal note, my renewed obsession with this song and duo led me to purchase tickets to see them in Toronto in April and I can’t wait!

What are you listening to this month? I want to hear from you! Share your faves with me in the comments or over on Twitter @angelamcleanx.

(Playlist Cover: Angela McLean)