Recently, I’ve been wanting to expand my music taste and listen to some new artists and songs. NGL, I usually just stick with whatever songs I’ve been listening to for the past two months. However, I figured I would follow the theme of ~new beginnings~ with the start of the new semester and explore some new music. These songs cover a wide variety of genres, so I’m sure you will find at least one song that you like and can add to your own playlist!
- “Tattoos Together” – Lauv
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I’ve listened to Lauv before, and I really like the vibe of his music. His song, “Tattoos Together,” is an upbeat song about getting tattoos with your S.O., that way you’ll always remember each other, no matter how the relationship turns out. His storytelling allows a specific scenario to turn into a universal feeling. We all know what it feels like to want to keep memories alive forever so that you can look back at them later. I also recommend listening to his other recent songs “Changes” and “Mean It.” Fun fact: Lauv actually lived in the suburbs of Philly when he was younger before going to college in NYC.
- “You should be sad” – Halsey
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On a sadder note is Halsey’s post-breakup single, “You should be sad.” This country-inspired track reminds me of someone writing in their diary about their ex because of how much truth and authenticity the lyrics hold. While Halsey is obviously upset with the way things ended, she also sings about how glad she is for ending the relationship because it wasn’t good for her anymore. She also isn’t afraid to call out her ex for mistreating her. She even laughs in his face at how sad he must be since she broke up with him. Some of Halsey’s other new releases, “Graveyard” and “Suga’s Interlude,” are on my current playlist, and I highly recommend taking a listen.
- “Black Swan” – BTS
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Ahead of releasing their new album, “Map of the Soul: 7,” the K-pop group, BTS, released their single, “Black Swan.” The song encompasses the fear of losing passion for something you once loved. They also accompanied the new release with an art film performed by MN Dance Company. The combination of the lyrics, music production, and dance performance will leave you wondering how you ever lived without this song. Following the theme of their “Map of The Soul” era, the group draws on Carl Jung’s concepts of the shadow and ego. This song and performance portray the interaction between a person’s shadows and ego. While the song comes across as sad, it’s more a feeling of acceptance and being at peace with oneself.
- “fever dream” – mxmtoon
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The lyrics, the music video made up of home videos and the album cover prove that “Fever Dream” is a very nostalgic song. For being so young, Maia (aka mxmtoon) has so much wisdom, which allows her to relate to and comfort so many other young people. I know I can personally relate to this feeling of being present and living in the moment. Similar to BTS’s “Black Swan,” this song draws on the fear of losing a part or all of oneself. As Maia wrote in the description of her video, “Life is merely a collection of moments, memories and feelings, and while days are fleeting, they are no less important because [of] it.” Basically, remember to feel all of your feelings and live life to the fullest.
- “LOVE IN THE DARK” – Jessie Reyez
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Finally, we have “LOVE IN THE DARK” by Jessie Reyez. While I have heard of Jessie Reyez before, I’ve never really taken the time to listen to her songs or watch any of her music videos. Not only is Jessie’s voice filled with raw emotion, but the addition of the cinematic music video and simple yet powerful instrumentals really helps immerse the listener in the universal feeling of unconditional love. My favorite part of the song, which gave me the chills, is towards the end where you can hear a group of people singing in unison with Jessie. Even though the song is about unconditional love with a significant other, it also reminds me of being able to heal yourself through unconditional self-love.
I hope this list inspires you to branch out of your comfort zone and listen to some new songs. I know at least for me, listening to new music can really help put me in a good mood…or at least put me in my feels for a solid three minutes.