There’s a playlist for every situation.
D.C. Night Vibes (89 songs and counting) is for moving through and observing D.C. at night, in a laid back, decompressed-before-bed, non-aggressive way. These aren’t party songs, they’re for late night hangin', and for me, mostly driving late at night, because I do this a lot.
With splashes of atmospheric electronica, adult alternative and easy listening electric guitars, these songs together capture the feeling of driving down Massachusetts Avenue just as the lights of the embassies, local restaurants and street lamps trade roles with the tired sun. Lyrics on dreams, nightlife, and cruising through the dark and cool, and bright synths and guitars flood these tracks.
I grew up here in D.C., so I associate a lot of this music with growing up here, driving through the city and its surrounding area.
You don’t have to live in D.C. to appreciate these night owl, dreamy tunes. But as a city dweller, the relaxing lullaby-like melody of Vampire Weekend’s "Step" and The Postal Service's "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" bring me to the Georgetown Memorial Parkway, sharing the road with a high school couple in a navy Jeep Grand Cherokee headed to a scenic parking spot and a grumpy retail worker, who just finished sorting the endless shelves of aisle 17 at Walgreen's.
Broods' "Bridges" runs fast enough to keep me going as I drive down Canal Road on a late Tuesday night, but slow enough to keep me in the relaxed state I need to fall asleep in time for work the next day. She understands my eyelids are heavy, and I don’t necessarily want to jam, as her cool, layered synths accompany my ride.
Todd Terje’s "Johnny and Mary" feels like a slow club night in 1974 urban America. The smooth snaps, and electronic waves make me feel like I’m on some sort of cloud in the night sky looking over a '70s disco while the dude on the album’s cover serenades my friends.
Panda Bear’s "Ponytail" actually feels like a dream. It’s super loopy, repetitive and starts and ends with the same, unbelievably catchy hook about a growing soul.
Tycho’s "See" may be his strongest hook. The claps in the intro get me going, and his underwater-sounding synths perfectly match my groggy late-night cognitive state as I look over at the glistening Potomac River with the Washington Monument staring down at it and me. I look back onto the road, and I still like the song.
The War on Drug's "Lost in a Dream" captures the feeling of a cool night breeze on Canal Road. The lyrics on memories, the moment, and waves, and echoey guitar riffs do not necessarily demand your musical attention as an upbeat pop hit, but they massage your eardrums, with a balance and richness that feels like Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen all in one, perfect song.
man running in forestPhoto by 
