My College Soundtrack

As a music lover, I look forward to this time of the year when everyone posts their Spotify Wrapped and Apple Music Replay. I love looking at mine to see what songs, albums, and artists I had on replay for the year to reminisce on my life through a musical perspective.

So, I decided to create a pseudo “Spotify Wrapped,” showcasing my top albums from each full year I’ve been in college. Hardly any of the albums were created or released during the same year they represent in my life, but the messages and themes happen to correspond with the phase of my life I was in. 

Freshman year: Alvvays Self Titled Album 

This indie/dream pop album by Alvvays defined my first year of college. I used to listen to it while walking around my old campus or on the way to visit some friends in a nearby college town about an hour away from where I was living. 

The album has a coming of age theme weaved throughout the songs that I found particularly relatable at the time as an 18-year-old living away from family for the first time.

Songs like “One’s Who Love You” and “The Agency Group” were on repeat.

My favorite line is from the fifth track titled “Party Police.”

“Walking through the trees, I never really know what’s on your mind.

 Is it ever me or just someone you left behind?” 

Side Note: I saw them in concert in November and it was an amazing, full circle moment!

Sophomore Year: Paracosm by Washed Out

My sophomore year of college was mostly spent at home because of lockdown restrictions during the second half of 2020. There was a lot of time to listen to music and think about my life and the path that I was on, making this period of time a reflective one. 

It’s not so much the lyrics in the album that defined this era of my life, but rather the feeling it communicates. This album is described as “daytime psychedelia” by the creator of the album himself and that is exactly how I would describe my sophomore year.

I spent a lot of time outdoors, taking a lot of nature walks and spending a significant amount of time sitting outside at my favorite lakeside spot with a journal in hand. This album was on repeat. Its beautiful melodies gave me some of the greatest spiritual epiphanies I will never forget. 

My favorite line is from the track “Weightless” which speaks about transcending pain and hardship.

“Forget about the pain.

Leave it all and start again.”

Side Note: I also saw Washed Out in concert (for the second time) in January. It was a beautiful experience.

Junior Year: Atlantis by Dwn2earth

My junior year was a year of heartbreak and healing. This R&B album took me through a musical journey I had never experienced before. 

My favorite line from the song “Youwouldntunderstand” sums up this era perfectly. 

“I don’t want to lose you, 

but I will if I have to.”

Senior Year: TBD

I am still on the path to determining what the album of my senior year will be.

A lot has happened this semester, and I’m sure a lot will happen until my graduation in May. So, until then, I’ll be jamming out and paying extra attention to the songs and albums that resonate with me the most. 

• college
• entertainment
• music