Click here to listen to the playlist!
Music is an outlet for everyone. It’s one of life’s simple pleasures, and there’s such a broad expanse of genres that you can dive into and enjoy; the world of music is absolutely amazing. I’ve developed the oddest taste in music, and while my taste is predominately indie (and probably hipster in retrospect), I've finally managed to compile a playlist that would work for the summer-fall shift!
1. "Shaky Ground" - Freedom Fly
A catchy song to start off the playlist with, "Shaky Ground" is a carefree, light and melodic song that either makes you feel really relaxed or like you want to get up and dance around and sing along. It’s not heavy or overwhelmingly autotuned, and both singers’ voices blend well together.
2. "The Judge" - Twenty-one Pilots
Twenty-One Pilots: the group with that awesome rapper guy, the group with the killer music and relatable as ever lyrics. They’re absolutely incredible and they just started to gain traction this year with one of their other singles, "Tear in My Heart"—but their entire album is amazing (I had to resist the urge to put it all on this playlist). This is one of their lighter tunes, though still showing their absolutely amazing lyrics-work.
3. "Electric Love" - BØRNS
You might’ve already heard this everywhere (if that's the case, I’m sorry), but I'm absolutely obsessed with this song. It’s so fresh, so new—I can’t say that I’ve heard anything like it, and it’s just so addicting. I typically get sick of songs really fast, but not with this song—I’ve listened to it a million times (okay, maybe just one hundred) and it hasn’t gotten old yet.
4. "Moscow" - Autoheart
A super-sweet sounding song about falling in love, Autoheart’s "Moscow" is incredibly upbeat and infectious. The slowly sung lyrics and the faster paced chorus seamlessly blends together, and it resonates with you afterwards. It also has a deep meaning behind it: It’s actually a political protest song against the Russian law against “gay propaganda.” This is what they have to say about their song:
“'Moscow' is a song about the daft optimism of being in love, when you just want to run away with that person, dream about being together forever, the house, the dog, and nothing else matters. … Wouldn't it be amazing if one day everyone, all consenting adults, could be free to love who they want to without fear of persecution?”
5. "San Francisco" - The Mowgli’s
While it’s one of the heavier songs in this playlist, "San Francisco" continues with the idea of love. Its lyrics reflect the feeling of love’s connection and everything about it. It’s a very upbeat, positive and loud message that rings true with catchy lyrics and a contagious beat.
6. "Not Your Way" - Misterwives
A total girl power song, "Not Your Way" is just as the title says; the lyrics talk about having your own life and not listening to what other people say. It chastises society’s image of women being “objects” and being manipulated and pressured by the media to look and be a certain way. This song is a strong statement against today’s society and tells you to be yourself, dress however you want and that you’re the only one who has control over yourself—so act however you want and just be you.
7. "Sun Shy" - Dresses
A lovely little indie folk song, "Sun Shy" radiates sunbeams and positivity. Its lyrics whistle the tune of a perfect summer song (although it’s turning into fall now, there are still wisps of summer left!). It’s incredibly bubbly and gives off plenty of good vibrations, along with having a highly infectious chorus. The couple who sings (Timothy Heller and Jared Ryan Maldonado) perfectly harmonize, and it’s an all-around feel-good song.
8. "Paris" - Magic Man
It would be unthinkable not to include this on a playlist of mine— Magic Man’s "Paris" is one of my all-time favorite songs (and I’d even go as far to call it my anthem). I can’t get tired of this song, and I listen to it almost every day. The piano at the beginning is a beautiful way to begin a song, and it builds up into a perfect indie-pop-dance melody that unites in a sense that is impossible to not sing and dance to. It’s hard to not belt out the chorus, and the meaning of the song is so incredibly relatable: chanting the motto about moving on and moving forward. It’s about letting go of something that’s holding you back. The lead singer himself, Alex Caplow, brings up his own meaning of the song:
“It’s about readjusting to my life at home after living in Paris for six months, hanging on to the past. May have been a girl involved.”
So go check it out (and be instantly hooked-- don't say I didn’t warn you!).
10. "Barcelona" - George Ezra
You might recognize the singer’s name; the guy behind one of summer’s top hits, "Budapest," also wrote another city-titled song that is just as good. George Ezra continues the folky, guitar-strumming rhythm in this song, just as romantic and smooth as all of this others. Reminiscing about a holiday romance, the song is super sentimental and intimate, another sweet love song to add to your relationship playlist.
13. "Patient Hand" - Sara Kendall
A soothing and smooth tune, it’s the perfect balance between electronic and indie music that refrains from having too many overwhelming beats and instead is this tranquil and unique blend. Produced by an indie artist named Sara Kendall, it’s a masterpiece of a song that is tragically underrated. Give it a listen!
14. "Little Talks" - Of Monsters and Men
A catchy and gorgeous song of a dialogue between two lovers, the band itself says that the meaning of the song is up to the listener’s interpretation, stating, “We like for people to read their own meanings in the lyrics.” However, they mention that the song is about a widowed wife having a conversation with her dead husband, though that’s just an anecdote they connect to the song. Either way, it’s a beautiful and lively song, and a fantastic finish to this playlist!
