Stripped of the stage lights, the noise, and the labels, what remains is the music that truly matters. The Lifeboat Playlist is a raw, deep dive into the sonic DNA of the artists we love—forcing them to choose the ten definitive tracks they’d save if everything else were cast adrift.
These ten selections aren't just influences; they are blueprints. They represent the standards we measure ourselves against and the raw songwriting spark that made us want to create music in the first place. From stadium-sized roars to vulnerable late-night confessions, each track captures a piece of essential truth—a survival kit built on pure, gut-level resonance.
And because no true musical portrait is complete without a bit of unfiltered honesty, we’re also pulling back the curtain on Two Guilty Pleasures: the shameless, late-night tracks loved in private that would absolutely destroy all street cred, but are simply too good to abandon.
Here is the sonic foundation—and secret guilty pleasure archive—of Strange DNA.
W: Karl Watson I: Jarek Duk
Nine Inch Nails – "Closer"
I’m going to be frank: this is my favourite song of all time. I still remember the first time I heard it—a story for another day—and I was absolutely bowled over. It sounded like nothing else on earth. The production is total perfection, the vocal delivery and lyrics are entirely consuming, and that unyielding beat is hypnotic. Its visceral depravity was uniquely groundbreaking, and it remains an absolute masterclass in songwriting.
Fever Ray – "The Lake"
Every single time I hear this track, it acts like a personal hype machine; no matter where I am or what I’m doing, it gives me life. The strange, skeletal percussion, Karin Dreijer’s unyielding vocals, and that deep synth undergrowth are absolutely brilliant.
Grimes – "Oblivion"
A track that is deeply groovy, otherworldly, and entirely charming. I’ve always obsessed over the juxtaposition between Grimes’ delicate, angelic vocals and that spooky, heavy synth-bass line.
Portishead – "Roads"
Pure emotional magic. It carries a cinematic weight that is profoundly beautiful and devastatingly sorrowful all at the same time.
Fiona Apple – "I Know"
I adore Fiona's entire discography, so picking just one was brutal. This track is so darkly romantic; the lyrics are devastating, and her vocal delivery is nothing short of brilliant.
Kavinsky – "Nightcall"
Pure, nocturnal dark brilliance. A masterclass in atmosphere.
The Cure – "Just Like Heaven"
A flawless piece of emotional radiance. It’s the ultimate blueprint for writing a song that feels like a euphoric gut-punch.
Shakespears Sister – "Stay"
The epitome of high-drama gothic romance. It’s theatrical, haunting, and completely unapologetic.
OMD – "Enola Gay"
Incredibly uplifting synth-pop. The synth writing on this is brilliant and timeless; it just forces a reaction out of you.
Cocteau Twins – "Cherry-coloured Funk"
I absolutely adore Elizabeth Fraser’s voice and the way her vocals effortlessly jump around the mix. The instrumentation underneath is just so lush and enveloping.
Guilty Pleasures:
Paramore – "Misery Business"
As a dark, avant-garde electronic artist, admitting this definitely threatens my street cred—but this track is an absolute weapon. It is an unmatched burst of mid-2000s nostalgic dopamine, and I challenge anyone not to scream that
chorus when they think no one is watching.
Irene Cara – "Flashdance... What a Feeling"
Pure, unadulterated '80s cinematic euphoria. It is structurally a perfect pop song, and honestly, because it was produced by synth pioneer Giorgio Moroder, I can technically justify it as "sonic research." But let’s be real—when that chorus hits, it's just pure, shameless bedroom dancing.