Fall has a certain aesthetic about it that requires the perfect playlist. The perfect fall playlist can enhance anything you’re doing during the months of September, October, and November. Here are what I believe to be the necessary components for the perfect fall playlist.
The first component is some key/staple artists whose music simply exudes fall vibes. For me, there is a significant difference between bands and artists, so I break this category up into two parts. Some of my staple artists when it comes to crafting a fall playlist are Hozier, Noah Kahan, Clairo, Maggie Rogers, Girl in Red, and Fiona Apple.
The second section of this category is bands. I always tend to lean more towards indie or indie rock bands for fall, so my staples are The Backseat Lovers, Big Thief, and The Brazen Youth.
The next step in this playlist is to pick out some songs not by your chosen staple artists to include. Some I always find tie together with my fall playlists are Fade Into You by Mazzy Star, Sailor Song by Gigi Perez, Roslyn by Bon Iver, St. Vincent, and Alrighty Aphrodite by Peach Pit.
For some reason, fall always feels like a time of nostalgia to me. Due to that, some type of throwback really adds to the theme. Two of my “throwbacks” when it comes to a fall playlist are The Goo Goo Dolls and Jeff Buckley.
If I can emphasize anything, it is that The Cranberries is essential to a fall playlist. Between Linger and Zombie, their vibe has always been the leaves changing, the weather getting colder, and brisk walks outside. They have so many amazing songs that I always find in my fall playlist rotation, the notable ones listed above, but I also include You and Me, Sunday, and Dreaming My Dreams.
Yes, I’ve put an emphasis on indie artists and bands throughout this article. However, my final component of a perfect fall playlist is to mix genres. I always use indie rock as a foundation for these playlists, however jazz has always been a great transition throughout the playlist. An important thing to remember is that as much as one genre is amazing, there’s also great genres that may not be preferred, that serve as great transition songs throughout the work.
A playlist can really impact how you view and experience a season. Music is crucial to my daily routine, and to be able to encapsulate a feeling that a season gives you is a magical way to enhance the feeling of the seasons changing.
