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[2025 Edition] Stylish Western Music to Listen to While Driving – Latest Popular Songs
Back in the day it was a homemade cassette tape, and nowadays it’s a playlist you put together on a streaming service… If you love both music and driving, you’ve probably enjoyed the ritual of picking BGM for a drive at least once.
Maybe you usually listen to your favorite albums or playlists you’ve made yourself, but you’re starting to feel a little bored.
So in this article, even with the classic theme of “Western songs recommended for driving,” we’re deliberately focusing on the latest tracks and curating a lineup with an emphasis on style.
Along with hit songs, we’ve also picked artists that only early-bird music fans might know, so if you like discovering talent early, this is a must-check!
[2025 Edition] Stylish Western Music for Your Drive – Latest Popular Songs (1–10)
YougotmefeelingNEW!Parcels
Parcels are an electropop band from Byron Bay, Australia, now based in Berlin.
They drew attention in 2017 for their collaboration with Daft Punk, and the track they released in May 2025 from their third album, “LOVED,” is a gem that masterfully fuses retro disco and funk elements.
A groovy piano loop, slightly shuffling drum beats, and harmonies woven by all five members resonate beautifully.
While the lyrics depict the end of a relationship and feelings of alienation, the sound is filled with a forward-looking sense of release—introspective yet irresistibly body-moving.
The fact that it was produced at their seaside home in Australia lends a cool, breezy impression.
Give it a spin at dinnertime when you want a calm atmosphere with a touch of vibrancy.
Pon PónNEW!Khruangbin
This track, included on Khruangbin’s album “A LA SALA,” released in April 2024, comes from the Houston, Texas trio whose sonic journey spans the globe.
It features a tropical dance groove influenced by Thai funk and highlife.
Over the rhythm woven by bass and drums, a psychedelic guitar floats and shimmers, while whispers in Spanish and other languages add an exotic touch.
There’s also a charming anecdote that bassist Laura Lee drew inspiration from a game she played as a child in Mexico, which may contribute to the warm, nostalgic feel.
Though primarily instrumental, the piece’s comfortable groove invites you to sink in, making it perfect as gentle BGM for an Asian-inspired dinner.
Why not let their uniquely global soundscape accompany your evening meal?
Fast CarSyd
Many people might think of Tracy Chapman’s smash hit because of the shared title, but this is a completely different original song! Released by Syd—vocalist of The Internet, a leading figure alongside artists like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean in shaping post-2010s R&B and soul—on July 2021, it was later included on her second solo album, Broken Hearts Club, released in 2022.
While retaining her one-of-a-kind voice and uniquely languid vibe, Syd emphasizes melody more than ever, incorporating accessible, ’80s-style pop elements, and even unleashing a melodious guitar solo in the latter half—a sound that feels truly fresh.
As the album title suggests, many tracks revolve around heartbreak and have a reflective tone, but Fast Car, lyrics included, strikes a chic yet catchy balance that’s perfect for a romantic drive.
Save it for that special moment and try it as your BGM!
Out of TimeThe Weeknd
Whether it’s The Weeknd’s early, mysterious and introspective style that spearheaded alternative R&B, or his modern, 80s-influenced synth-pop and electropop sheen, he has plenty of tracks that are perfect for nighttime drives.
His new album Dawn FM, released in January 2022 and currently a hit, is full of songs that are ideal for cruising.
This time, I highly recommend Out of Time, a track whose urbane mellow groove feels incredibly smooth.
Symbolizing the overseas popularity of Japanese city pop, it samples the core phrase from Midnight Pretenders—composed by Tetsuro Oda and included on Tomoko Aran’s 1983 classic album Fuyu Kukan.
Paired with The Weeknd’s sensual vocals and melody, the refined, stylish production creates an unbeatable mood.
make up sex ft. blackbearMachine Gun Kelly
Machine Gun Kelly is arguably the most important figure holding the key to the 2000s pop-punk revival.
His second album since pivoting to a pop-punk sound, 2022’s March release Mainstream Sellout, earned him a second consecutive No.
1 on the U.
S.
charts, and he’s riding that momentum more than ever.
While his current sound is upbeat and perfect for driving, since our theme today is “stylish,” I recommend choosing the album track make up sex.
Featuring superstar producer Blackbear, it’s a track defined by a wistful melody with a stronger emo flavor than straight pop-punk, and it would add just the right accent even mixed into a chic R&B playlist.
The lyrics—expressing a sensitive male perspective—are quintessential Kelly, making it a great pick for a solo drive with no set destination.
viscusNEW!Oklou & FKA twigs
Ocloo, a French producer and singer-songwriter at the forefront of experimental electronic pop.
She has earned international acclaim for her unique sonic world that blends classical music training with internet-born sound culture, and in October 2025 she dropped a new track featuring the cutting-edge British artist FKA twigs.
Included on the deluxe edition of her debut album “Choke Enough,” released in February 2025, the song captivates with a dreamy sound where glitchy synths intertwine with floating vocals.
The lyrics cleverly layer physical and inner anxieties, delivering a message that is delicate yet powerful.
A must-listen for anyone exploring experimental pop music.
MysteryRaveena
If you’re looking for soothing R&B or soul music as background tunes for a drive—and preferably by a rising young artist—then I recommend the singer-songwriter Ravynna, a New York–based artist with roots in India.
In today’s scene crowded with talented young R&B singer-songwriters, Ravynna stands out for her organically mellow grooves infused with shades of soul and jazz, and her sound, sprinkled with distinctly South Asian nuances, is effortlessly stylish and comforting.
That sound is on full display in her second album, Asha’s Awakening, released in February 2022, but today I’d like to spotlight Mystery, a track whose irresistibly catchy melody especially shines.
While it keeps Ravynna’s signature touch of mystic mellowness, its straightforward, 80s pop-style 8-beat rhythm feels refreshingly new for her and is sure to put listeners in a happy mood at any time of day on the road.