Music has always been, as it has for many, a huge part of my life. I grew up listening to music all of the time; The Beatles, Luthor Vandross, and Paul Weller. When I think back on my childhood, there is a soundtrack to every sweet memory. Music is like the sense of smell, in that hearing just a few notes of a song will transport you to holidays with family, rainy Sunday mornings, and dancing as a child in the living room - if you could call my signature infantile 'stomping' truly dancing? It brings back memories and what better time for reminiscing than when faced with a change in the seasons.
So, I thought I would do a seasonal series on the music I am listening to, throughout the year. With the intermittent showers and colder evenings, we are doubtlessly approaching autumn, now. We start packing cardigans in case it's chilly in the afternoon, revel in the sound of amber leaves crushing under black boots, and warm our hands in pockets if they are not already being held. It's a time of adapting, a time of finding ways to keep your body and heart warm, and a time of hopefulness. I need a soundtrack for that.
NB: All click-throughs are links to the tracks on Spotify, but you can also find a link to the full playlist here.
My first choice is by the fantastic Hozier, who everyone remembers for the compelling 'Take Me To Church', but his discography deserves a lot of your time. He is a phenomenal live performer, with a rich and soulful voice. On his first album, tucked away at the very end, is this little gem. The song itself was released to raise awareness of domestic abuse, and many of the proceeds from the single went to charity. With lyrics like, "The blood is rare and sweet as cherry wine", this song is full of those intelligently thoughtful and vividly poetic lyrics we love from Hozier. The song itself is understated, with gentle folk guitar and Hozier's fantastic vocals. A mesmeric piece of music, well worth your time and your awareness of such an important issue.
I love Elbow, and picking just one track was such a challenge. This is an undisputed love song, but grounded in moments witnessed on a bus, including Stockport supporters and call girls. It is a gently passionate song with a down-to-earth heart, rhythmic and lyrical, that fits within the beautiful Gothic Romance style of the songs literary namesake. It feels authentically autumnal; you can imagine listening to this song on the bus with Guy Garvey, looking out of condensation-damp windows onto frosty mid-October streets, quietly falling in love with the season and your one true. This song also boasts one of my favourite lines of all-time; "You were the sun in my Sunday morning / Telling me never to go." Listen to this as you make your morning coffee, and I defy you not to feel warmed.
With two iconic vocalists and such warming jazz, what more could you want from a song? This song is full of romantic longing and glows with nostalgia like stars of the Seine. We've all heard a version of this song with over 60 versions being released since the original 1931 recording, but for me, this recording is like honey. It is sweet, smooth, and delicious. It is like dancing in the kitchen, it is looking out at the harvest moon full and glowing in the sky, and it is a feeling of hopefulness and affection even in worrying times. It is a song to turn to when you need to feel the embrace of a loved one and when you need warm affection on a cold, autumn evening.
This track is, for me, an auditory walk through the changing and mellowing of nature. It begins hazy and slow; the dimming down of a lazy late-summer evening. It feels reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac's Albatross, dreamlike and haunting. Towards the end, there is a witch's brew of different languages, words and nonsense which feels deeply transitional and transient; just like the changing and non-permanence of the season. You can practically feel the leaves turn from green to gold over the duration of this short song.
All the 2000s indie kids will come into the light as I mention this song, for it holds a dear space in our romantic little hearts. This song is, once again, an 'in-between' song - which perhaps is a key quality of that Autumnal vibe I am reaching for with this playlist. Somewhere between the first day and the last, the start and the end of a relationship, this song is an affirmation of there being beauty in change. Beauty in things coming to the natural end, and in new beginnings. It is a song about taking time to grow as a person, and that is the energy we should all be channelling in this time of leaves falling and the weather turning cold. It is introspection and letting go so that we can focus our energy on new growth later on.
Taylor Swift's new album 'Folklore' is, arguably, her best album yet. Folklore is like a scrapbook of a summer romance, of love triangles, and teenage angst and emotion - but importantly, it is about how easily and fast things can change. These songs are mellow with indie-folk inspiration, that always feel moving and tender. August, in particular, is a song about time passing by and the memories it leaves us with. The chorus, "But I can see us lost in the memory / August slipped away into a moment in time / 'Cause it was never mine / And I can see us twisted in bedsheets / August sipped away like a bottle of wine / 'Cause you were never mine " is so evocative and relatable. It feels vulnerable but with the golden Swift feel-good thread running throughout. Especially as we quietly meander into October, this song puts music to the realisation that all of a sudden the summer has slipped from our fingers, and it's time to cosy up and listen to this fantastic album with a pumpkin spice latte and knitted jumpers.
This song starts with the light of a match, crackling as it sparks. If that doesn't make you feel as cosy as a Yankee Candle, I don't know what will. This is such an honest song, about "late-night kisses divine" and quiet intimacies. The idea of a toothpaste kiss (yes, as in just after you've brushed your teeth for bed.) is so charming and domestic to me. It fills me with visions of fluffy socks, wintery pyjamas and pulling blankets up high. The song can be a little melancholic at times, with a slightly ambiguous final question "What else to do?", but for me, this is a call for lovers to have a lazy evening, to stay in bed where it's warm, and do nothing else with their day than hold each other. It's simply wonderful.
I was slightly loath to add this song to my list, as it is my secret treasure. This is such a down to earth, powerful, hopeful song about the seasons and honesty with yourself. Dineen sings of the spring and the "wind growing warm, the days growing long", how it changes to summer and finally as "we moved through our days, cold wind blowing through" as we reach autumn. Without sounding cliched, this song undergoes a beautiful physical and personal journey. The piano is stunning and melodic and Ali Dineen has such a rich voice, which sounds pure and comfortably confident. This song is so special, with such a gorgeous message and so very easy to enjoy. Give it a go, you won't regret it.
Long gone are the days of Harry asking what makes me beautiful (everything, Harry, everything.) and here is a grown-up Styles, with a new sound and look. Harry Styles self-titled 'pink' album is a journey through the many different aspects of rock. This is an acoustic ode to his sister, and I have often thought of this song about my own siblings - "When I run out of road, you bring me home" is such a poignant line about family, love, and trust. This has been a difficult time for so many, and being in contact with my family always makes me feel comfortable, encouraged and protected. Autumn is a time of staying warm, of feeling safe and cosy, and growth - and nothing embodies that more than my love for my family. This song is such a lovely reminder of that feeling and connection - even from a great distance.
This song is about comfort and inspiration. It is a ballad of sorts, with angelic piano and soulful singing which is so full of love and pain. This song is dedicated to Sampha's late mother, so is deeply touching with lines "An angel by her side, all of the times I knew we couldn't cope / They said that it's her time, no tears in sight, I kept the feelings close." Yet, this song is so full of love for her that the pain which is present only feels like a celebration of their relationship and everything she taught him. It is a simple but moving song, full of spirituality and comfort. (No One Knows Me) Like The Piano is so loving and genuine, and I am so pleased to be sharing it as the final song on my playlist.
Is there anything on this list that you also love? Or any songs you think I've missed out? Please let me know in the comments below, and keep an eye out for my upcoming posts for more.