September has come and gone, and with it went much of the green from the trees. Walking around a now golden campus, I was successful in achieving my goal of enjoying the sounds of campus and finding songs that bring light back into my life. Here is how a combination of new pop, ethereal wave, and Americana scored my September.
“SS26” • Charli xcx
In the wake of BRAT’s cultural impact, everyone was waiting to see what Charli xcx’s next move was. Working in the music industry for 18 years, it was no secret that whatever she was going to do, it was going to be what she was authentically interested in creating. Releasing Music, Fashion, Film in July, I was stunned by how different but entirely Charli the album was.
An acronym for spring summer 26, the song refers to a particular fashion season. Throughout her album, Charli uses the mediums of music, fashion, and film to raise questions about her position in the entertainment scene and the broader impact these mediums have, or in this case, don’t.
“Know Who You Are At Every Age” • Cocteau Twins
I love a song where I initially have no idea what the singer is saying. “Know Who You Are At Every Age” came up as a Spotify recommendation after I had finished a playlist and I found myself drawn to it. The instrumentals, particularly the drums, complement singer Elizabeth Fraser’s vocals beautifully. After reading about the lyrics, it appears that Fraser’s personal experiences potentially had a stake in them, and now, it sounds as though her emotions align with them.
“Templo Disko” • Max Styler
“Templo Disko” was my late-to-class or running on the treadmill song of September. After seeing Styler open for John Summit last year, I became a fan of his music. While I love listening to his tracks isolated on Spotify, hearing his live sets on SoundCloud are insane. Unsurprisingly, 1001Tracklists’ used real data and found that Styler’s songs were sampled the most by different DJs in 2025 awarding him the title of #1 top producer of 2025.
“Leave Me Behind” • Nickelback
If I had a nickel for every time Nickelback was asking a woman not to leave him behind, I would have a few nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s enough to feel that Chad Kroeger might have abandonment issues. Nickelback’s upcoming album Everything Under the Sun is set to be released at the end of October, and “Leave Me Behind” is my favorite single that’s been released ahead of the album.
What I love is that the band exists in the genre of rock, but experiments with country sounds, giving each album a different overall sound. Lyrically, “Leave Me Behind” is similar to their previous albums. However, with each single released ahead of the album seeming very different, I’m excited to hear what the rest of the project has to offer.
“Day One” • Bon Iver, Dijon, Flock of Dimes
Scrolling through music videos on Spotify, I came across “Day One”. What caught my eye was Jacob Elordi in a terrible fake beard and I was not disappointed. A band who is often delivering a gut punch through their lyrics and instruments, “Day One” stands out. The music video, including different actors singing the lyrics, parallels the dynamism in the collaborative track with Dijon and Flock of Dimes.
✧ “brand new chanel$” • Slayyyter ✧
This was my song of September. From start to finish this is one of the best songs I’ve ever listened to. I’m pretty sure I listened to “brand new chanel$” at least once a day. This is a song that off rip, you may not be able to understand what Slayyyter, Catherine Grace Garner, is singing. Especially the section, “Why’d you have to lie? Made me feel crazy/ Ah, in my apartment, my clothes in the corner/Why’d you let her stay the night?/Did you hide all of our pictures in the kitchen?” But once you know the lyrics, and even when you don’t, you can’t help but sing along.
“like i do” • Ariana Grande
Arian Grande’s new album petal was released in July, and it’s honestly a no-skip album. While “warning signs (interlude)” is my favorite track off the album, in my attempt to distract myself while running “like i do” was on repeat. The lyrics within this song and much of the album feels reminiscent of her earlier albums. “Keep my heels tall/ my ego small/ but I’m still grande” is one of the most clever lines I’ve heard from her, and appearing in the middle of the first verse, it launches you into the song.
“I Believe In Ghosts” • Kacey Musgraves
Released in May, “I Believe In Ghosts” is the fourth track off Middle of Nowhere and is about Musgraves’s experiences with men disappearing from her life. What makes this song special in her already incredible discography is the lyrics; “Turn on the light, it’s just an apparition/ Now I believe in ghosts/ I wish that you were dead to me/ You’re better off a memory.” This album is one of her best projects and this song puts her talent on full display.
“Ain’t in LA” • ADÉLA
I love being a fan and I love that Adéla is a fan of the women in her field. On both “Ain’t in LA” and “Nicole Kidman” Adéla drops references to notable women in the entertainment industry. She sings in “Ain’t in LA” that even though LA is viewed as a hub of talent, that it’s the people in overlooked areas that possess significant talent.
The message of the song is authentic to Adéla; born in Slovakia, she appeared on the scene in 2023 competing in The Debut: Dream Academy. Despite being eliminated early on, she has found her own footing in the music industry.
Beauty and brains, each of her songs are raw and what I love about the PRIMA album cover is it has the same rawness as her music. In her interview with Zane Lowe, she revealed that the portrait that made the cover was one of the last they took and she didn’t think anything of it at the time. Aligning with the message of you never know who could make it, she attests that we all should “Enjoy the ride, I know that you might wanna escape/It’s all a lie, the baddest bitches ain’t in L.A.“
“Louisiana 1927 – 2002 Remaster” • Randy Newman
As a Disney girl through and through, I was introduced to Randy Newman through his work on Toy Story. He’s worked on the projects of A Bug’s Life, Monsters Inc., Cars, and The Princess and the Frog. A successful musician in his own right, he released this song as part of a solo project. It has the southern twang that appears in The Princess and the Frog, and his voice for me is a nostalgic memory.
“Mother Big River” • Jessica Pratt
“Mother Big River” is a poetic song that flows like the rivers she describes. The gentle strumming of the guitar remains consistent while her vocals vary throughout the track.
“Let Go” • Frou Frou
Scrolling on Instagram one day, I came across a post by creator Serena Morris on her account shes_underrated. Serena has a series called “Albums for Girls on the Go” where she highlights albums for, well, girls on the go. She explains the genre and vibe of the albums, and plays a sample.
The snippet for Frou Frou’s album Details caught my attention and this girl on the go found a new favorite. “Let Go” is the first track of the album and feels like the start of a movie. Cinematic and powerful, it’s the perfect intro to the album and song to walk to class to.
“You Can Close Your Eyes – 2019 Remaster” • James Taylor
This song is the audification of emotions. Taylor’s comforting voice with the strumming of the guitar allows the lyrics to shine in this song. Working through homework or after an overwhelming moment, this song grounds me. Appearing on a Spotify recommended playlist, this song found its way to me.
“Me & Magdalena” • The Monkees
A 60s band and a place I’ve never been. I love when songs include geographic details, and in this song the singer is driving south through Monterey. I’ve never been to California, but this song feels so tangible because the singer grounds their story in a real place. It’s a love song, and the lyrics emphasize the beauty of Magdalena and the life they have.
“Carolina in My Mind” • James Taylor
James Taylor is not an artist I frequently listen to, but somehow two of his songs found their way into my September playlist. As he sings, he escapes whatever negative situation he’s in and returns to “Carolina in My Mind”.
With the end of September arrives the supernatural season of October. Just having bought new wired headphones, I cannot wait to walk around campus listening to spooky songs. While I’m prematurely listening to Christmas music, I hope my October listening reflects the spirit of Halloween.