We couldn’t wrap up the year without a Playlist Refresh to keep you warm over the holidays. While 2025 has already brought countless bangers to the fold, consider this a final send-off before we take a beat.

Also Cool HQ’s gift to you: irresistible new tunes from the likes of SPELLLING & Weyes Blood, Say Now, Boyhood, BENEE, and Public Appeal. As always, if you like what you hear, you can browse the rest of our Playlist Refresh series by saving our playlist on Spotify.

Call it a little extra fuel for those long winter nights.

Weyes Blood and SPELLLING by Neelam Khan Vela

SPELLLING - “Destiny Arrives (feat. Weyes Blood)”

SPELLLING revisits the evocative Portrait of My Heart with a reimagined version of “Destiny Arrives,” this time featuring Weyes Blood. Their harmonic interplay offers a slow-burning elegance, heightening the song’s cinematic tension as it builds toward its final chorus. When the climax finally arrives, it erupts with an arresting orchestral gravity.

Say Now - “Supermarket”

Every once in a while, there’s nothing wrong with tipping the scales toward some sugary-sweet mid-aughts pop. Enter “Supermarket” by Say Now, a new three-piece pop group hailing from across the pond. Reminiscent of other UK girl groups like Sugababes and FLO, the trio still find ways to break the mould, pairing catchy hooks with playful choreography and impressive vocal control. They make it clear there’s more going on here than just another glossy pop song.

Boyhood - “A Grand Time”

Central Frontenac lo-fi vanguard Caylie Runciman, AKA Boyhood, reminisces on rebelliousness on her new single “A Grand Time.” A familiar highlight from her recent live sets, “A Grand Time” follows her 2024 EP Shells. Atop her signature pulpy bass and tight, resonant guitar licks, Runciman recounts simpler times of long walks home, staying up late and throwing around her flip phone with a laissez-faire yet affecting tone. The song sounds like how one might feel seeing their childhood home sit empty – perfectly captured in the accompanying video created by Runciman’s long-time collaborator Monika Kraska.

BENEE - “Cinnamon”

You likely first heard BENEE during the stay-at-home days of the Covid era, when her breakout hit “Supalonely” was everywhere. While she hasn’t chased another song of that same radio-repeat scale, she’s been steadily working in the studio, releasing two albums since. From her most recent record, “Cinnamon” stands out as a continuation of her familiar sound – still playful, but more mature and considered. It’s a fun, layered listen that rewards a close ear.

Public Appeal - “Bang”

Strap in and prepare for takeoff – Public Appeal is sitting in the cockpit, and it’s about to get bumpy. The Montreal electroclash darling leaves nothing to the imagination with “Bang,” a chopped-up, torrid banger that turns A-list travel into a no-rules fantasy. “I’m in first class, big glass of red wine / I’m classy, so on top, I’m so fine,” Public Appeal spits, confidently rattling off destinations and (bad) decisions. When she brazenly asks to go smoke in the bathroom, you get the sense she’s not really asking at all.