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Some of the most distinguished RGV songs to put in our 2022 vault. These are the singles that made us dance, reflect, brood, and get fired up. There are magical indie soundscapes, a wide range of singer-songwriter bliss, and a cumbia anthem that took the RGV by storm. Be sure to check out The 10 Best RGV Albums of 2022 as well!

20. CANA! – Summertime

Bright and leisurely synths, skittering dance grooves, and Danica Salazar’s sultry vocals deliver a dreamy retro-freestyle anthem for the summer.

19. ariadne mila – Maybe

Themes of one-sided love and shallow displays of affection are as resonant as the pop beat and heavy atmosphere of Ariadne’s bittersweet single.

18. Wallo2k & Valley Swerve – Era:Dosmil

Valley Swerve’s booming sci-fi beat and Wallo2k’s glossy raps made quite the entrance for one of the best collab albums of the year.

17. GOODPATH – Drive

“Turn up the car stereo. I’ll take the long way home.” Singer-songwriter GOODPATH’s debut single is a mesmerizing and woozy journey, evoking the emotion and nostalgia we take on the open road.

16. Strghtfwrd – Freak

Arousing house beats, rubbery effects, and seductive deadpan vocals that raised the Valley heat even higher.

15. Boiz – The End

Last we heard from Boiz was the youthful, honeyed synth-pop of “Everywhere I Go”. Their unexpected return kept their ear for breezy melodies, while dabbling in synthwave for a change. It’s dark and immersive, mirroring the doomsday of a relationship.

14. Cat Bully Club – Hollywood Beach (feat. Jacob Jenni)

Carlos Zamora is mostly known as the owner of the Sauce House venue, but don’t sleep on his music project. There’s a fun kind of angst in his jangly guitars and the signature indiscernible croon of guest singer Jacob Jenni.

13. J-Sea & Jhay Leon – COMO AYER

J-Sea establishes himself further as one of the best collaborators in town, joining Jhay Leon for the melodic vibes of this reggaeton/R&B paradise.

12. Jay Sol – Company

The always-reliable prowess of Jay Sol’s voice shines through in this smoothly minimal soul crooner.

11. Savant Fossa – Sandcastle

Savant Fossa laments about memories and better times washed away like a sandcastle, while he delivers his own massive wave of longing, mournful synths.

10. B11ce – Unisun

Caffeinated psychedelia builds to one of the strangest, yet catchiest, pop experiences this year as B11ce explores the expansiveness of the mind and the cosmos.

9. Mr. Q – Imposter Syndrome

Affable folk-pop group Mr. Q deliver their graceful, brutal, and slightly humorous experience with Imposter Syndrome, something most of us content creators know all too well.

8. Pillowsnake – All Valley Satriales

Dancey breakbeats lead to hardcore breakdowns in Pillowsnake’s dynamic comeback single.

7. Italia – No He Olvidado

Beauty meets tension in Italia’s corrido melancholy. The ghostly vocals, rich strums, and rapid clicks are a testament to her search for inspiration outside of her usual dreamy realms.

6. Toro Bravo – Taurobolium

Texture, tonality, and dynamics get a jolting shakeup in the grooving, psychedelic math-rock debut of Toro Bravo.

5. DudeRam & Jo Sue – Saturns Ring

Surreal boom-bap and stream-of-consciousness raps that’ll give you an intoxicating headspace.

4. HiMarcus, MAD96, and 5K – Nose Ring

HiMarcus clears any high bars set after last year’s magnum opus “Dirtbag”, with uplifting funk-rock and anthemic raps full of conviction.

3. Royal Angst – Hell & Back (Duet Version)

It’s the third iteration of this stunning post-grunge melodrama, burning brighter as a duet this time, as Anton Johansen adds intensity to Jackie Rose’s infectious brooding to make the best chorus of the year.

2. Lost In Limbo – Crush On You

Slick grooves dance underneath the aching vocals of this indie-R&B reverie, and with its euphoric finale, it’s a magical soundtrack to fall in love to.

1. Italia – Puro 956 (Kumbia 956)

Italia owned 2022. Performing on television, amazing crowds all across the Valley, and connecting with audiences through her inspiring online presence, but nothing compared to the music she dropped. The RGV has always been part of her project even when being a Kawaii queen and gamer pop star, but this year she doubled down on it, culminating into this cumbia anthem that took the Valley by storm. Producer 1000Ton’s aggressive instrumental came blazing through with blaring brass and powerful beats that made us get on our feet and get our 956 on. The usually shy voice of Italia became the voice of a commanding MC with charismatic raps and ad-libs, closing with ”we out here.” Indeed we are.

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