The days are longer, the sun’s hotter, and there’s a soundtrack to go with every kind of mood this time of year. Whether you’re motoring down coastlines, sweating through an al fresco hang or just in search of a soundtrack for your stillest moments, these five tracks nail something true about summer 2025. Some are happy, some are wistful, and they all deserve to be played on repeat and added to your summer playlist.
The Beach Boys - ‘Good Vibrations’
Few songs summon the feel of a California summer better than “Good Vibrations.” With its psychedelic ornamentation, multilayered harmonies and Brian Wilson’s prophetic production, it’s sunshine in aural form. This month, in the wake of Wilson’s death, the track carries with it all the more resonance and poignancy. In a heavy year for many, we can always use the good vibes.
Randy Newman - “I Love L.A.” “I Love L.A.” feels very different this summer. Coming as it does amid recent protests and real frustration in the city, it’s ironic and also weirdly unifying. A complicated love letter to a place that’s never simple but is always alive.
Turnstile - “Never Enough” Turnstile has a way of making hardcore feel wide open and euphoric — and “Never Enough” might be their most summer-ready track yet. Post up on the curb, get pitted in the mosh pit, or simply crank it out the car window, because this one’s made to release. And with Never Enough newly arrived, it’s Turnstile Summer around here, officially.
Pachyman - “SJU” The Puerto Rican producer Pachyman remains a conduit for sun-baked dubs, per his latest dispatch. “SJU” is like a postcard from the tropics: rhythmic, relaxed and cool in every sense of the word. It’s the kind of song that makes the world stop in its tracks, if only for a moment, so you can sip a cold drink and feel a warm breeze.
Ruby Ibarra - “Bakunawa” Hot on the heels of her win at NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest, Ruby Ibarra is getting her due. “Bakunawa” fuses an urgent narrative with a propulsive beat, rooted in her Filipino heritage and delivered with unbridled infectiousness. It’s a reminder that summer is for more than escapism, it’s also a time to amplify powerful voices.
Here’s the link to Resident Vinyl’s evolving and growing Summer Playlist:
About the Author:
Owen Ela is a record store owner, photographer and longtime music industry professional. He runs Resident Vinyl in Orange, CA. When he’s not behind the counter or in the photo pit, he’s usually hanging out at home with his wife and two pugs. Favorite Filipino food: Lechon
It’s turnstile summer!!