Clockwise from top left: Brooks Was Here, Paula Cole, Free Free Dom Dom, Kyan Palmer and Nicopop, Day6 and Le Big Zero.

Vacation time is here, there or right around the corner—and if you’re in San Francisco, Karl the Fog is back! It’s time to get out of dodge and find the sunshine, so who has time to sit at home and check out new music?

That summer playlist won’t make itself, so we have done the compiling while you’re hitting the beach. We’re happy to bring you the latest, greatest new songs in this weekly segment.

Here’s to some good listening to start your week off right.

Free Free Dom Dom, “Swimming Pool” — Berlin electronica duo Free Free Dom Dom dropped the most dance-friendly, sassiest number I’ve heard all year. Frontwoman Little Voice is the vocalist star of the behind the scenes video for “Swimming Pool.” The dance-punk song begins with a punch and continues to build on its four-to-the-floor beat. The song will fill clubs in no time, with everyone singing “homeless in a castle!”

“Its about the never-ending beauty obsession of our Western society,” Little Voice says of the video. “The set is a Barbie world where two dimensions coexist; a pop, colorful one and a darker one inspired by Jeff Koons and David La Chapelle. The idea was to expose a duality between the dream of a supposedly perfect life and the reality which is darker, tougher and unexpected.”

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Paula Cole, “Hope Is Everywhere” — Paula Cole released her album bonus track in support of the LGBTQ+ community. “Hope Is Everywhere” starts out as a slow jam, but becomes a call to arms. As the song swells with beautiful keyboards, the message sinks in. Five minutes into the 10-minute cut, its tone changes to a funky disco anthem. It’s impossible to not respond to the infectious activism as Cole sings, “You can’t stop a hurricane of justice.” “Lyrically it is a message to those who are experiencing undue discrimination, intimidation and legal abuse in our current political climate,” Cole said in a news release.

Brooks Was Here, “The Fog and the Noise” — Oakland band Brooks Was Here (Shawshank Redemption, anyone?), has celebrated the completion of its album, Lost Colony, by releasing this gorgeous song. Even the name “The Fog and the Noise” captures the feeling of the Bay Area. The opening guitar swells lead to crashing drums and finally Geoff Garnett’s soothing vocals. He blends seamlessly into the mix. Reminiscent of My Morning Jacket, this indie rock band packs beautiful harmonies into an anthemic chorus. The emotion is clear as Garnett sings, “I don’t want to take center stage of your life.” With plenty of reverb and crescendo on the riffs, the song builds to the breaking point. The riffs take hold of you and don’t let go.

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Le Big Zero, “Dryer Lint Trap” — Perhaps it’s that I’m a sucker for this song’s ’90s indie rock vibe, in line with Superchunk and Versus. Perhaps it’s singer Michael Pasuit’s story. Regardless, I was drawn to this song immediately. The back and forth male/female vocals and frenzied guitar playing make for 73 seconds of energy. The Brooklyn quartet does off-kilter, angular punk rock to perfection. And Pasuit’s story is the icing on the cake. His rediscovery of artistic potential after many discouraging failures has given his songs a believably inspiring undercurrent.

Day6, “Time of Our Life” —  Some of the hottest music these days is K-pop. South Korea’s Day 6 isn’t a traditional K-pop boy band, per se, but its riding that wave gracefully. Day6 has dropped one of this summer’s most memorable pop tunes. “Time of Our Life” features some catchy keys and a propulsive break-beat, before the rest of the band enters. It’s over before it seems to have begun, but it certainly leaves an impression.

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Kyan Palmer and Nicopop, “Coo Coo Juice” — “I lose my mind/ Lose my mind, and it comes right back,” opens the catchy pop tune “Coo Coo Juice.” The tropical synths keep the song moving over the tongue-in-cheek lyrics. It’s one of those songs, love it or hate it, that will become an earworm—making it a perfect addition for any Top-40 playlist this summer. “Coo Coo Juice” screams fun and contagiousness. This is the sixth single from the collaboration of rising Persian-American pop singer Kyan Palmer and producer Nicopop. The duo is set to release a full-length album later this year.

Rachel’s Pick: There are times that it’s almost impossible to make a choice. The first time I heard “The Fog and the Noise” and the guitars hit me, I could not get the song out of my head. Even so, Paula Cole’s “Hope is Everywhere” is everything a feel-good resistance anthem needs. This song exudes hopefulness and empowerment and yes, hope is everywhere. It’s a dance anthem, it’s pure joy and pure love. Most importantly, it brings happiness!

Follow writer Rachel Goodman at Twitter.com/xneverwherex and Instagram.com/xneverwherex.