The Best of 2025 (241)

This year was full of new music. I called discovering new music mining—like you mining for very valuable gems, because each and every song that I have discovered or forgotten and was reintroduced to was a true gem. I was mining for sounds from so, so many sources. I have introduced you, my loyal listeners, to over 50 new songs found in the most unlikely places. Some were gifted to me and curated at 88 FM in Israel, or the eclectic KCRW in Santa Monica, or the nostalgic airwaves of Nostalgie from Belgium. Other sources of mining came from unexpected places, such as a back of an Uber ride or a hotel lobby, or a movie or a TV series.

My ears were always tuned in to the background sound so I can bring you some more music. All of those places we visited this year—the most unique was the hauntingly beautiful Uzbekistan. Yeah, I played one song from that country, but I’ve played songs from over 35 different countries and certainly on six continents.

With me, you’ve heard music in many languages: English, French, Italian, German, Greek, Portuguese, Latin, Turkish, Arabic, Hebrew, Swahili, Creole, and more.

So tonight, I’m going to bring you the very best of my new discoveries for the past year. Not everything you’re going to hear tonight is new in the traditional sense; some of the music that you’re going to hear are old favorites that I have lost, only to find them to my surprise somewhere else in my travel or while I was listening to my favorite radio stations. Maybe some of those songs already have turned to some of your favorites. As you remember, East to West is known to deliver your new favorite song or music.

So tonight, sit back, relax—again, no seatbelt is required for this journey from East to West, where I take you to the best of last year music. Stay with me.

Tonight’s Playlist