For this month’s special one-off edition of Sensitive Tracks, we asked Ryan Hemsworth to tell us how sad each of the following songs made him – and as you can see from the above picture, they made him pretty sad. Here’s Hemsworth on why moms hate Dru Hill edits, and what he imagines music sounds like to Jaden Smith.

SHLOHMO – “BURIED”

Ryan Hemsworth: I think Shlohmo takes a good amount of pleasure from pushing people, and in a way I think that’s what great artists do. He pushes us to try and appreciate what’s next, or to hear songs we know and love in a new way, and sometimes it simply pushes people away. The new Shlohmo video could have been a girl smoking a cigarette in her underwear in a hotel bed, as that’s what the majority of YouTube uploaders seem to visually associate with his stuff anyway, but as always, he pushed to take a direction that is shocking, alienating, yet fully absorbing. With ‘Buried’, he continues to tread a new path, one that’s equal parts that 90s ‘slowcore’ sound and that of Harry Manfredini and many other film composers who understand a little kitsch can go a long way. 

EMILE HAYNIE – “COME FIND ME” (FT LYKKE LI & ROMY XX)

Ryan Hemsworth: Super-pumped by the thought of Emile Haynie purely dedicating his time to songs like this, and less to keeping Eminem and Linkin Park on support systems. Also hearing Lykke Li on a shimmering, lush production like this for the first time in ages is a treat. 

SIA – “ELASTIC HEART” (CLAMS CASINO REMIX)

Ryan Hemsworth: Clams seems to enjoy trying people’s patience. Surely he knows we love him at this point, and that it’s quite hard for him to misstep. Even when he chooses to work with Mac Miller. I think a lot of people have been waiting so long for some new Clams at this point that we could’ve done with it being anything besides a remix of an old Sia song. But here he is again, popping his head up, reminding us of his excellence. Soon to disappear for another six months, I’m sure. I’ll stay waiting. 

MR MITCH – “DRU” (PEACE EDIT)

Ryan Hemsworth: This is certainly the type of song that your mom would smack you upside the head for putting on in the car. Moms hate one-line vocal samples like that. But a Dru Hill flip is always welcome to our generation. I’m gonna go watch Rush Hour now. 

ALEX G – “CHANGE”

Ryan Hemsworth: Really can’t hide my love for Alex G and everything he does. Finding his music really helped get me out of this slump of the same old electronic and rap shit. “Change” isn’t the biggest track I’ve heard from him, but I’m definitely excited to have all this Alex remastered. 

JESSE JAMES – “Y.P.T.”

Ryan Hemsworth: This is great. Feel like this is how Jaden Smith hears his music in his head and that’s why he’s so convinced he’s the truth. 

SATURDAY, MONDAY – “MARBLE COAST” (FT BROLIN)

Ryan Hemsworth: Wonderful production. Vocals seem to kind of meander, but the instrumental and structuring choices are enough to keep it going, I think. 

INC. – “A TEARDROP FROM BELOW”

Ryan Hemsworth: I read an article where inc. said they wanted to “take the black out of R&B”, which makes me barf a lot but y’know, people get misquoted every day, so I’m really going to try and give them the benefit of the doubt. This track is wonderful, though, and the production value is pure butter. 

ROMARE – “MOTHERLESS CHILD”

Ryan Hemsworth: Super-cool with sleeping to this for a few hours. 

DRAKE – “KNOW YOURSELF”

Ryan Hemsworth: It’s just perfect. That’s all. I’m sorry! 

Ryan plays London’s XOYO tonight (February 25). More information here