Best Songs is a new feature wherein we ask artists about their favorite songs for very specific situations. For the debut, we reached out to Allyson Camitta of the New York City project Shallowhalo, whose first EP for the label Fool’s Gold, titled Connection, came out earlier in the year. In both her songs and DJ sets, Camitta presents an expert pan-generational blend of dance music, which made us want to pick her brain about some of the music she listens to as she moves through the city.

Best song for waiting for your meal at a fast food restaurant?

“Burger Baby” by Gravy Train!!!! 

A horny song about burgers will definitely get you in the mood for the real thing. This song perfectly encapsulates the anticipation of waiting for a mouth-watering burger, which is what I end up ordering at 2 a.m. after a night out.

Best song to do the laundry to?

“Look” By Doss

I need pep in my step to do laundry, because I hate it, so I usually blast my headphones and pretend I'm in a video game. This song would be playing and you would be bouncing through to the next level.

Best song from the 1990s?

“Little Fluffy Clouds” by The Orb 

This is what my brain feels like sometimes and this song has a calming effect. I love dance music from the 90s and this one feels like a dreamy acid trip in the desert.

Best really fast song?

 

“For All the Boys in the World” by Chicks On Speed 

I don't listen to a lot of really fast songs. This song is for when you're running late and feeling pissed off, but you're in the zone and also wearing dark sunglasses.

Best really slow song?

“Kangaroo” by This Mortal Coil 

The vocals are so bellowing and passionate, it vibrates to your core. It's a great song to cry to.

Best Italo disco song?

“Faces” by Clio, Roberto Ferrante 

The synth hook is really catchy. I like playing this song in my DJ sets, early on in the night.

Best song you’ve heard for the first time over the past month?

“Lio” by Le Banana Split 

My manager Matty sent this to me and I can't stop listening to it. I'm a sucker for sugary French synth-pop.

Best song to listen to on the subway?

“Let's Go” by Deux 

This song is what it feels like to be on the subway, with all of the chaotic sounds that flow in and out. It has this sneaky sound like you're going on a mission, and when I'm on the subway, I'm usually on a mission.

Best song that you don’t actually enjoy listening to?

“Creep” by Radiohead 

When I think about this song it brings back this memory of Halloween when I first moved to New York. I was locked out of my apartment and my neighbor invited me to hang out at his place and upon arrival, he immediately whipped out the acoustic guitar and started playing “Creep.” It kinda ruined it for me.

Best song to DJ at three in the morning?

“At Night” by Shakedown's Galactic Getaway 

This song takes people out of their 3 a.m. dance trance and gives them revitalization. I love the Peggy Gou remix of it too, I'll usually mix the two.