If you’re in the market for a playlist that is equal parts mellow and motivating, you have come to the right place.
Hi, everyone! It’s been quite some time since we last spoke regarding musical things. I have returned armed with another playlist for your auditory pleasure, which is sure to push you through the post-midterm blues you may be experiencing at the moment. You’re probably in a desperate need for something to make you feel carefree and something to remind you of when you weren’t locked away in the bowels of O’Malley library. Luckily, this playlist is going to do exactly that.
Lay down, plug in your earbuds and listen away my friends. You’ve definitely earned this.
“Yesterday” by Youmi Zouma, off of their record, Yoncalla.
There’s something undeniably magical about “Yesterday” by Youmi Zouma. In fact, there is really something magical about their whole debut album, Yoncalla. I highly recommend that you check out the whole thing.
The soft vocals creep in your ear and are almost drowned out by the constant drumbeat. Come the chorus, you’ll forget entirely that there was a drumbeat in the first place. As the tempo increases, so does the desperation of the lead singer breathy, rhythmic style. Her voice spirals downwards in a way that is near melancholic, yet, despite it all, you’re left hanging onto the auditory brightness of “Yesterday.”
The instrumentals of this piece are fantastically warm — even though the voices that penetrate throughout the piece are absolutely cold. It makes for a wonderful listening sensation.
“Falls Away” by Childhood, off of their album, Lacuna.
You will soon learn that there is a reoccurring theme throughout this playlist and that theme is the musical drone. There is something really great about not having to mentally – and perhaps even emotionally – preparing yourself for an excessive bass drop or uncontrolled interludes between choruses and verses (I’m looking at you, “Closer”).
This whole song feels like you’re falling. There is a constant motion in this track that inspires a carefree attitude, but just enough motivation to get you through your work. You’ll easily be able to turn off the world with “Falls Away” and get through this final full month of school.
Go on, give it a try.
“Instantané” by Paradis, off of their record, Recto Verso.
I have nothing else to say about this song other than that you can never go wrong with a good French house track. Put your apprehensions about the French and House music aside and fall in love with this steady, effortlessly-cool track.
I mean, you don’t even have to focus on the lyrics (if you don’t know French). All you have is the music. Isn’t that wonderful?
“Evie” by Last Dinosaurs, off of their album, Wellness.
I fell in love with Last Dinosaurs with the very first song I heard by them. They were like uncovering a buried treasure that had been hidden for centuries. I truly and firmly believe that they’re doing indie pop music in a refreshing way that no other group is currently doing.
It’s something in that f*cking Australian water, my friends.
The guitar work is bright; the bass infinitely danceable. The lead singer has a youthful soul about it that is tinged slightly by something bitter. He isn’t afraid to sing sweet love songs right to you – as he does in “Evie” – but he isn’t afraid to cut you right out should the relationship turn south.
Much like Youmi Zouma, this is a band you should check out much more than just “Evie.” In fact, go and watch a couple of YouTube videos of theirs — they’re quite fun.
“Electric U” by Kid Bloom.
This song initially caught my attention simply because the smooth jazz influences were too great to ignore. If there is any musical way directly to my heart, it’s either be Franz Ferdinand or demonstrate some inspiration from the smooth jazz genre. Kid Bloom executed the latter.
This song takes the auditory sunshine that I have incessantly bombarded you with away. Just groove with your bad self and think about nothing else than how good that sultry voice paired with the silky guitar work sounds together. You’ll thank me later for your minor procrastination break from your homework.
I mean, how could you deny that descending scale played by the guitar in the pre-chorus? You can’t.
“Salt” by Golden Daze, off of their eponymous debut.
I have taken this track as my own personal anthem, simply because I have an undying love for a seasoning that will eventually kill me: Salt.
It’s no secret that I am a fan of lo-fi, sunshine-stained guitars. This song combines the murky of lo-fi guitars and blasts it with just enough brightness to keep you bobbing along with the lead singer’s carefree voice and the steady tempo.
This song does not seek to be anything more than what it is: a good song. Sometimes that kind of musical simplicity should be appreciated. Sit back, relax and lose yourself underneath the perpetual crashing of guitar chords against your ear drums.
“Everything’s Fine” by Minks, off of their record, Tides End.
This is, quite frankly, just a good motto to have. Even when everything is going chaotically and threatens to burst at the seams, no matter what: everything’s fine.
“Everything’s Fine” by Minks is a song that fits into the category of borderline shoegaze, so, yes, it is time for you to glue your eyes back to your shoes. Let the warm droning voice of the lead singer hypnotize you to believe that you don’t have to finish your senior seminar paper soon. It doesn’t matter: everything’s fine.
Between the round drum and bass and the lead singer’s bright, airy voice, there’s nothing about this song not to like. Don’t try to fight it; just embrace your inner filthy hipster. You’re close enough to Williamsburg.
“Parking Lots” by Plums, off of their album, Jen.
When I first discovered this song, it was late in the library. Within the first ten seconds, I loudly cursed and placed this song on repeat for the rest of my writing session.
Don’t think too hard about this song. Much like “Salt” by Golden Daze, “Parking Lots” by Plums is just trying to be a good song. It doesn’t seek to differentiate itself with a flashy name, it just exists. The lead singer’s voice swells with the guitar’s melody — and is very similar to the swell and crash of the ocean. It’s quite incredible what you can do with music if you just know how to orchestrate things well.
Not shockingly, you can consider this track “surf rock.” Remember the days that you could sit on the beach without a care? Yeah, neither do I.
“Some Time Alone, Alone” by Melody’s Echo Chamber, off of their eponymous debut.
This is the perfect song for losing yourself within your own dreamy head or if you’re looking to be alone romantically. Take your pick; music is all about interpretation.
I personally love how everything is so controlled in this song, yet the lead singer’s sweet, airy vocals floats without constraint. Basically, this song is effortlessly cool – and I attribute it all to Melody Prochet’s voice. Her saccharine voice is genuine and endearing, making you wish you could somehow provide her with this state of alone that she so desperately wants.
The guitar is a sparkling staple of “Some Time Alone, Alone.” Despite the fact that it fights with the lead singer’s voice throughout the piece – which could be frustrating at times because the lead singer has an incredible voice (have I said that enough?) – you’ll enjoy the clash.
“Aubrey Plaza” by Del Sur.
The opening guitar work of “Aubrey Plaza” should be making you think of diving into an ice cold ocean. Don’t be frightened if your mind went immediately to that — this instrumentation should make you think exactly that.
East Coasters, you’ll be pleased; apparently you don’t need to be from the West Coast in order to write fun, carefree surf rock.
Lose yourself in the drone of the voice of the lead singer. It’s balanced with the steady, bright guitar work that never hesitates throughout the piece.
Before you know it, this summery track by Del Sur is over before you know it. Surf rock is good that way — it always knows when to end before you get too lost within the melodies and your head.
All of these songs are available for streaming via Spotify.