It's that time of the semester again. Sigh.

Considering how many of us will be slaving over various projects, I have curated a short list of some of my current go-to songs when I need some motivation or some help focusing and can’t bear to listen to silence anymore. I’ve included upbeat pop-ish songs, rap songs, and a bit of instrumental music.

1. Crystal Castles: Kept

This is from their new album, and it’s not even the same people anymore, but it reminds me of one of the songs from the original people. Anyhow, it’s pretty upbeat. Guaranteed to rescue you from the slumber that comes over the mind from studying for hours. At least a little bit.

2. Tame Impala: Let It Happen

Most of Tame Impala’s songs are pretty good for getting hyped up, but this is one of my favorites from them.

3. Phantogram: Running From the Cops

I have always thought that this song sounds like bees buzzing. This is a calmer one, I’d recommend if you’re in the beginning stages of paper-writing or studying.

4. Toro Y Moi: Say That

Again, chill music that gets you started. Well, it gets me started anyways. The video for it is also kind of weird-funny, so if you need a break, there’s that, too.

5. “Lofi Hip Hop Radio”

For my instrumental pick, I just have a Youtube video that is always live. This lets me get into focus mode for papers without having to break my concentration to pick a new song every few minutes, and usually has new stuff so I’m not listening to the same music over and over.

6. Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

So this is a whole album because there are so many from Kanye that are instant motivators, to put it mildly, and this album has many of my favorites. There’s a couple on Yeezus, too. But anyways, if you need confidence for a presentation, or motivation, you will find it here. I can’t pick a favorite. I think the two most over the top are Monster and Blood on the Leaves. There. I did it. Sorry, all those other great Yeezy songs.

7. Outkast: Funkin’ Around

This semester I got pretty in to Outkast. André 3000’s flow is unpredictable and fast which I enjoy. And a word about rap in general: I swear it gets my mind awake and moving, because you have to be awake to keep up with what people are saying sometimes. So I listen to it as a means to wake up, and as a means to get my thinking going, and perhaps subconsciously as a way to get exposure to poetic forms and utterances.

8. Nas: New York State of Mind

Nas is one of my favorites, because of his flow, but also because of the content of his music. He’s got so much more than just this song that is good, but this song is just so damn good. I’ve listened to it so many times. It’s got something about it that is inspiring and aggressive and determined, which is of course helpful when you’re needing that extra push.