As we slip farther into the cold winter weather, I have found myself curating a new playlist that makes me feel warm and cozy rather than frostbitten. I make a new playlist on Spotify (the superior music streaming service) almost every season, and I was recently flipping through my past most-listened-to playlists out of curiosity. Through listening to my old favorite songs, I found that most of them had striking similarities depending on the season I crafted my playlists together. I came to the conclusion that the changes in the weather not only affect my state of mind throughout the year, but they also change the type of music I wish to consume. It is important to curate lists of songs that move alongside the weather to parallel my feelings during the months I listen to said playlist. 

Winter:

In the winter months, while the cold is blistering outside, I want my music to comfort me in the other direction. My mood changes as the days get shorter and the darkness takes over, so I try to combat this darkness with happy songs and wishful lyrics. My all time favorite artist is Taylor Swift, so I constantly have her music playing all year round, but especially in the winter because of her fun lyrics and storytelling. Remi Wolf and The 1975 also make frequent appearances in many of my winter most-listened to songs. These two artists have fun and intriguing lyrics mixed with experimental instruments and production. 

Spring: 

In the springtime, my playlists become lighter and more exploratory. This is the time that many artists release new music or drop announcements for upcoming projects. I find my playlists during this time include artists I had never heard of before or brand new songs that recently came out. This is the time when everyone is gearing up for the summer, and the warmer weather trickles in, so on top of new music, happier and more vibrant songs suit my playlists well. Some of my favorite artists to listen to in the springtime include Quinn XCII, Chelsea Cutler, Berhana, and Alvvays. With a mix of happy pop songs and cool indie melodies, these artists have trickled into many of my spring playlists. 

Summer:

During the hot summer months, country music comes out for me and brings me back to my childhood. I grew up listening to country and 80s music, so I find myself feeling nostalgic and adding these genres to my summer playlists frequently. The warm weather and long days make me long for lighthearted, fun music. Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, and older Taylor Swift albums help me to feel happy and allow me to slow down. On the theme of nostalgia, Billy Joel and Bryan Adams are also relevant artists to my summer listening. 

Fall: 

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. The season is filled with colorful leaves and crisp air, so my music tends to mirror this and feel calm, cool, and comforting. I tend to listen to folk and indie artists during fall because they allow me to feel more connected to nature and to the incoming 50 degree weather. Some of my favorite artists to listen to in the fall include Noah Khan, Hozier, Vance Joy, and The Cranberries. These artists make me feel warm and allow me to sink into their lyrics throughout my day. 

It’s important to consume media that makes you feel good and feeds your soul. Music is no different. The weather affects how we act and how we feel, so we should choose to listen to music that caters to our emotions and comforts us throughout the seasons’ changes. Whether I choose to listen to happier music in the winter and country music in the summer, my music choices all serve a singular purpose: to help me feel content year-round while listening to artists and songs that I love. The multitude of playlists that I have on hand change throughout the years, but I cater each one of them to how I’m feeling and the energy I want to exude. As I emerge from the winter months now, I’m confident Spotify will help me get through the cold and push me through to the warmer months. 

March 2024