Music is an essential part of everyday life. From the chill and relaxing vibes brought by the indie world or the energizing and hardcore heavy metal scene, music has a way of reaching inside of our souls and evoking emotions that we didn’t even know we could feel. Music is a way for us to express ourselves when just a simple phrase just won’t do. The melodies and harmonies fill our minds and inspire us and motivate us. There are songs out there that we relate to, cry to, dance to, and even sing-scream to (those are my favorite types of songs).
Spotify is a spectacular place to discover new music. From its numerous amounts of playlists to its plethora of amazingly talented artists, Spotify has easily become one of my must-have apps, as well as one of my most-used. I can create as many playlists as I desire, and I can fill it with all of my favorite songs. I have playlists for studying, filled with instrumental music, calming jazz, and smooth R&B. I have a playlist for exercising, full of upbeat and energizing pop tunes, and throwback/not-so-throwback alternative rock songs.
Since it is summer, and everyone is relaxing and going on memorable adventures, here's my suggested playlist: RoadTrip Vibes currently on my Spotify. This playlist is full of songs that make me relaxed and at peace with the world around me. As I drive and put this playlist on, I find myself enjoying the world around me a little bit more than I usually do. These songs are from a variety of genres, but they all have a common ground: They are chill, upbeat songs that scream ROADTRIP. There are over 100 songs in the public playlist, and here are my Top 10 tunes!
1. Sedona - Houndmouth
This song is hands-down one of the best songs on my playlist. I actually discovered it as I was driving along the interstate one day, absent-mindedly listening to Sirius XM’s Alt Nation channel. It had been a long, rough day, and I had ten million things running through my mind that was stressing me out. I was in such a bad mood that even listening to the radio annoyed me. However, before I turned the radio off, “Sedona” came on. And after giving it a listen, I felt calm and at peace. The rhythm is upbeat and the words are reflective to a time when everything was changing and life was taking its inevitable shift into the fast lane. And not to mention how talented the group is, both musically and vocally.
2. Molecules - Atlas Genius
Also discovered while listening to Alt Nation, this song is not only catchy, but the message is quite interesting. According to the group, Atlas Genius, the song discusses the recycling and regeneration of life. We all our made of millions of molecules that came from the earth and will soon return back. Atlas Genius also sings about the inevitability of death. The life we have on this earth is limited, so we must make sure to live it up while we can. The upbeat tune of the song, as well as the thought-provoking lyrics makes this song a pretty damn good one, if I do say so myself.
3. T-Shirt Weather - Circa Waves
Another song that screams nostalgia. “T-Shirt Weather” follows the narrator while he reminisces on the good ol’ days when things were simpler and happier. We often get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we don’t take time to actually enjoy the present. We find ourselves reaching back in time wondering where did those good times go. And the answer is : they never left. They’re still going on. We just have to keep looking for the good in life and let all of the good memories of the past fuel us for the present and motivate us for the future. “T-Shirt Weather”’s cheerful and energetic melody makes this song irresistible to dance along to, especially during a drive out with your friends.
4. Ain’t It Fun - Paramore
Yes, I just did include a Paramore song. And yes, it is one of their most popular and most mainstream songs. And yes, it isn’t technically an alternative indie type song like the other songs listed. But it’s on this playlist for a good reason. “Ain’t it Fun” is chock-full of powerful chords and Hayley Williams’ vocal ability never ceases to amaze me (just take a listen to “All I Wanted”, and you will be absolutely stunned by the notes she can hit). This song takes a knock at all of the people in life that spend most of their time on top of their high horses. Life isn’t all about us, and we need to be reminded of that from time to time. This song is happy and energetic, and let’s face it, no one can resist sing-screaming along to “Don’t go crying/ To your momma/ Cause you’re all alone/ In the real world.”
5. Down South - Jeremy Loops ft. Motheo Moleko
A dear friend introduced me to this song after one of our adventures in the great Pisgah National Forest in western North Carolina. We were trying to find new songs to listen to, and so he began to play some songs from his collection. After a few songs, “Down South” came on. This song’s beat and catchy chorus made me instantly grab my phone so that I could buy it. We all began to tap our hands and toes and sang out loud. In this wonderful mixture of indie folk and hip-hop, Jeremy Loops sings about coming back to his home after going away and revisiting an old love. The lyrics, although repetitive, give us that feeling that we all get as soon as we return home after being away for a long amount of time.
6. Nightlight - Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups have recently made it into being favorite bands. I got the opportunity to see them at Hangout Fest, along with a handful of other talented artists, over the summer. After the first song, I knew that this band was going to go places. I began to listen to their albums on repeat and fell in love with their admirable skill with music and lyrics. However, “Nightlight” was the one song that my friends and I always went to when we went out seeking adventure. When we would pile into a car and drive around, “Nightlight” was always requested. This song has an optimistic beat with a deeper message. We find ourselves changing ourselves depending on the crowd that we’re around. We do things that other people do, even though we might not necessarily want to do them. We must decide who controls our lives. Us...or society?
7. Beware the Dog - The Griswolds
Oh, The Griswolds. One of my all-time favorite bands. I first discovered this outstandingly talented Australian group while I was at Hangout Fest over the summer. Due to changes in the schedule, they were bumped up to the main stage for their performance. Every song that they performed was catchy, lively, and fun! I was surprisingly taken aback from their ability to liven up the crowd and perform with such energy. I immediately went and bought their CD and began to listen to their entire album on repeat. However, out of all of the songs on their album, “Beware the Wolf” became my favorite. The chorus constantly ends up finding its way into my mind and never escapes.
8. Avalanche - WALK THE MOON
WALK THE MOON is such a good band, especially live. If you ever get a chance to see one of their performances, I strongly recommend you take it. They have such a strong energy on stage, and their music matches their charismatic personas perfectly. I personally have a LOT of favorite WTM songs, but there is one song that I just cannot help but listen to first. And that song is “Avalanche”. This song documents an everyday love story, but in an upbeat, cheery, and fun manner. Most of us have had that feeling of falling in love, especially at first sight. Your whole world has shifted, and you feel as though a flame is burning inside your heart. But what do you do when you fall in love with someone at first sight? Do you go for it instantly? Or do you wait? This is the main message of the song. If we love someone, we shouldn’t wait for the next life in order to let them know.
9. Fool for Love - Lord Huron
Another dear friend of mine introduced me to Lord Huron during one of our first adventures together. We went to college together, and we were both adventurous souls, which made us best friends instantly. When she discovered that I was unfamiliar with the area that we lived in, she told me to get in the car and drive. We ended up on the Blue Ridge Parkway (which is an unbelievable, undescribable paradise) and we began talking. She asked me if I had any love interests so far, and I told her of someone who caught my eye. And if you know me, this is rare. I usually stray from love and relationships, but this began to change once I started college. I panicked. I have never fell for anyone before, and I found myself changing. She just looked at me, laughed, then played this song. I found myself humming along with the tune and smiling. She asked me if I was okay, and I told her that I have never had a song speak to me like “Fool for Love” did. It made me feel happy, peaceful, and hopeful. I found myself listening to this chill indie folk melody at least once a day. If you need a peaceful vibe in your road trip playlist, add this song ASAP.
10. Good Life - OneRepublic
In my opinion, no road trip is complete without at least one song from OneRepublic. For me, OneRepublic is one of the few bands that can lift me up whenever I feel defeated or that the world is against me. And “Good Life” is one of the songs that makes me reflect on my life and show me how much I actually have to be thankful for. This life is too short to be worrying about little trifles, and this song helps me to remember that. We should take a moment and reflect on how much we have done in our lives, and how much we still have left to do. This life, though short, is good. We hold our lives in our hands so there is no need to fret about the issues that this world brings.
Hopefully these suggestions make their way into your own playlists. My taste in music may differ drastically from yours, but that is the great thing about music. Music has a power to unite, evoke, and encourage. It is alive. It is constantly changing, evolving, and adapting to the world around it. There are so many genres and subgenres and sub-subgenres that it is nearly impossible to wrap your brain around each and every one of them. And this is what makes music so beautifully unique and magical.
