Waxahatchee - "Right Back to It" (feat. MJ Lenderman)

This was an easy pick for my 2024 song of the year. From my album of the year as well, Tigers Blood, but that was a lot harder to pick. "Right Back to It" can be said to be indie rock and country in equal measure. Katie Crutchfield, who performs under the Waxahatchee name, had the traditional country duet in mind while writing the song and MJ Lenderman was the perfect pick for the male part. In fact, he plays a big part on the whole album, particularly on guitar. Now, don't expext Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, this is way too unconventional - but I suppose it was her take on that genre in her unique way, and at the same time, it does have that country feel about it. She explained more in a press release here.... "I'm really interested in writing love songs that are gritty and unromantic. I wanted to make a song about the ebb and flow of a longtime love story. I thought it might feel untraditional but a little more in alignment with my experience to write about feeling insecure or foiled in some way internally, but always finding your way back to a newness or an intimacy with the same person. " All said and done - it really is a modern classic.

beabadoobee covers Bic Runga’s ‘Sway’ for Like A Version

Beabadoobee is a Filipino/British singer songwriter. She released her brilliant third album 'This is how tomorrow moves' in 2024, which was produced by Rick Rubin. While in Australia, she stopped in at Triple J to record a song or two for their 'Like a version' series, as with many touring artists. She chose to cover Bic Runga's 'Sway' - a big hit here in New Zealand from Bic's debut album 'Drive' in 1997. Baebadoobee said she grew up with the Bic Runga album due to her mother's love of the album. Baebadoobee's version is an indie rock makeover.