Some musical artists are meant for each other — so perfectly complementing each other on playlists that you know they just belong together. As in any good relationship, the members of a pair of musical soulmates will generally have some crucial factors in common while also each bringing some unique aspects to the table. (Click on a musical soulmate pair for a Spotify playlist of their music!)

1. The National & Regina Spektor

Common Ground: These artists both create music that is highly emotional and spins compelling tales ranging in theme from heartbreak to recovery.

Variety Factors: Regina Spektor’s music has unmistakably feminine vocals and provides a sense of female strength not seen in The National’s music, while Matt Berninger’s profound baritone vocals provide an aural texture to the music of The National not seen in Regina Spektor’s music.

2. Nirvana & Amy Winehouse

Common Ground: I recommend going to either of these artists separately for a dose of angsty depression, but it’s even more effective when they are both taken in one place. Additionally, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Amy Winehouse both committed suicide, which means that both artists’s music have a similar strain of moroseness.

Variety Factors: Nirvana’s and Amy Winehouse’s music are completely different genres. Nirvana’s music is loud, aggressive grunge rock, while Amy Winehouse’s music is soft, soulful soul.

3. Stars & Peter Bjorn and John

Common Ground: The music of both these bands is notable for its storytelling aplomb.

Variety Factors: Stars’ songs tend to have two lead singers, so their songs tend to move the narrative along through dialog, describing a relationship, while Peter Bjorn and John’s songs tell the stories of an individual.

4. Beirut & Julian Casablancas (suggested by LillySu)

Common Ground: These artists both make fairly eclectic music.

Variety Factors: Beirut’s music primarily draws influence from folk music while Julian Casablancas’s music primarily draws influence from new wave.

5. Depeche Mode & The Growlers (suggested by Annie)

Common Ground: Other than the fact that these artists are both classified under the genre of rock, they don’t have much in common. Sometimes attraction just can’t be explained…

Variety Factors: Depeche Mode’s high-energy synthpop is an interesting complement to The Growlers’ low-key garage rock.

6. Cherry Glazerr & Fuzz (suggested by Ana)

Common Ground: Both bands make dark, punk-influenced music with a nighttime asthetic

Variety Factors: The primary notable difference between these two is that Cherry Glazerr has female vocals, while Fuzz has male vocals. Otherwise, the two are fairly comparable in style.

7. Yazoo & Rey Pila (suggested by LillySu)

Common Ground: Both these groups pen fast-paced, high energy tunes.

Variety Factors: Yazoo lives in the electronic world while Rey Pila is largely guitar driven, an effect that causes “No Longer Fun” to sound like the alternate universe version of “Only You” (lyrically and instrumentally).

8. Bright Eyes & The Smiths

Common Ground: Both of these bands get sadness and have brilliant lyricists to their names.

Variety Factors: The Smiths’ music comes from the ‘80s post-punk movement, while Bright Eyes’s music is of a more recent indie folk variety.

9. No Doubt & Grimes (suggested by Annie)

Common Ground: These two are both pop artists with female vocalists.

Variety Factors: No Doubt has a ‘90s angst thing going on, while Grimes’s music is more unusual and futuristic.

10. Weezer & The Beatles (suggested by Rahma)

Common Ground: Both Weezer and early Beatles music have a certain lonely-boy aesthetic.

Variety Factors: Weezer channels the romantic frustration into angst and drugs while The Beatles channel theirs into innocent '60s pop tunes.