Radio LBB: Joey Wenceslao's Bittersweet Picks

Being in a band and making music full-time took me places I never expected. If you’d told 10-year-old me that art would carry me around the world, I wouldn’t have believed you.

My early 20s were spent in constant motion -- between Sydney, LA, and New York; eventually calling LA home for a while.

When you live like that, you fall in love often. With people. With cities. With fleeting moments that feel infinite while you’re in them. And inevitably, you learn how to let things go -- sometimes temporarily, sometimes forever.

This playlist is a small archive of that chapter of my life.

The Outfield - The Night Game

I was born in the 90s, but I’ve always loved the 80s. Although 'The Night Game' is the solo project of Martin Johnson (he was the lead singer of Boys Like Girls) technically this wasn’t a debut, but it still feels like one, and it’s a helluva first single. Chorused guitars will never get old for me.

If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know) - The 1975

As a musician, The 1975 was always my north star visually -- their branding and design language was always so strong, despite constantly reinventing themselves between albums. Also another appeal to my love for the 80s sound.

I love the way the saxophone bends during the chorus riff. I first heard this song from a leak on X (back when it was still Twitter). I was scrolling on the elliptical in my West Hollywood apartment complex gym, and I played that shitty phone-camera-video on repeat until I got off.

Camo - Ryan Beatty

There’s this off-beat percussion loop the whole way through that makes the song feel super bouncy. It’s addictive. For some reason, this song always came on when I was in the shower. So there’s that.

BOY - Charlie Puth

Charlie Puth was Karina’s (the lead singer of my band) favourite artist at the time, so this whole album was always on repeat wherever we went. I distinctly remember her singing into her hairbrush loudly in our Airbnb in the Hollywood Dell before we went to see him live at the Greek Theatre. That man’s got chops. Also another example of my love for 80’s inspired songs. Maybe I should retitle this playlist.

Coffee and Cigarettes - The Night Game

Another entry from 'The Night Game' -- I loved this album (still do) and distinctly remember this song really hitting at 11 am on a rainy Brooklyn morning.

Bags - Clairo

Is it ethical for me, as a straight man, to listen to this song? (I liked matcha before it became popular and performative, btw.) When I think of this song, I think of sitting in a Sprinter van, driving between cities across America, with Subway as the only semblance of healthy food.

If The World Was Ending - JP Saxe & Julia Michaels

I don’t get parasocial, but man, was I parasocial for these two. They were two of my favourite songwriters at a time for the way their lyrics had such raw emotion.

TV Blues - Dijon

I remember reading Frank Ocean’s 'Boys Don’t Cry' zine and came across the words 'TV Blues'. I couldn’t find anything online linking it to Frank Ocean, but what did come up was Dijon’s song. A divine gift, in my opinion -- from that moment on, Dijon became one of my favourite artists, and still is.

Break My Heart Right - James Bay

We were flying constantly. I’ve never been one to worry about flying, but I did have a ritual -- I’d listen to a playlist of sad, mellow, or jazz standards. This song was always on it, and I always found it comforting.

Cayendo (Side A) - Frank Ocean

This song is a lesson in the power of simplicity. And also makes me want to learn Spanish.

Come and See Me - PARTYNEXTDOOR ft. Drake

This is in here solely for the line, "Heard you been talkin' 'bout 'we' a lot" / Oh you speak French now?” 10/10.

You - Mk.gee

I came across Mk.gee because this song was on one of Frank Ocean’s playlist. Again, another divine gift (and proof of Frank Ocean’s taste, not that I ever questioned it) -- Mk.gee is still one of my favourite artists to this day. I love how the song plays with the tape speed in the intro.

Daphne Blue - The Band Camino

This riff is incredible, and the chorus feels so good to yell. This song was a staple on our photoshoot playlist.

Say My Name - Tove Styrke

'Say My Name' felt so unique. It was kind of a “thing” in the LA songwriting scene -- in almost every session, someone would mention it and how everyone was trying to reference it. But I never heard a convincing recreation. Truly a one-of-a-kind, lightning-strike song.

Strings That Tie To You - Jon Brion

While living in LA, I watched 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' and it changed my life. It’s my favourite movie of all time -- it hurts so good. To me, it asks the question: if a love is doomed, is it wasted?

oh, mexico - Jeremy Zucker

During COVID-19, when all (most) of America was locked down, I got really fit doing workouts on 'The Chris Hemsworth' app -- the fittest I’ve ever been. I think it was mostly because there wasn’t much else to do besides work out and cook.

I’d walk crazy distances just to get out of the house, anything for an excuse to move. I distinctly remember walking to a film lab one day to get a roll of Portra developed, and this song came on.

How to Break a Heart - Glades

I think this one speaks for itself.