Let’s stop pretending our music — the daily rotation, the stuff we have on repeat — doesn’t change with the seasons. As a Midwest girly myself, there’s a specific vibe my music takes on to match the chilly, gray, sometimes snowy days and black early nights. Sometimes you just have to sit back and let the feelings overtake you. Listening to music is a big part of my life, so I’ve become some of a curated expert on my music choices for dreary winter days. Here are five of my favorites to help you wallow. While I love these emotional albums, if you experience these persistent negative feelings, therapy and taking care of your mental health is top priority!
- “Evermore” by taylor swift
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Starting off with a classic! I mean, doesn’t everyone recommend “Evermore”? It’s just so perfect for winter. You’re walking to class all bundled up, hot apple cider or maybe hot chocolate from the campus cafe in hand, and “tis the damn season” is playing in your earbuds. It just matches the vibe, you know?
- “stick season (We’ll all be here forever)” by Noah kahan
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Okay, this is definitely more late fall, but stick with me here. The themes of nostalgia and coping with mental health struggles are perfect for those of us with seasonal depression. My top two are probably “Northern Attitude” (and the version with Hozier) and “Paul Revere.”
- “boygenius” by Boygenius
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Proud to say I was a Boygenius stan before “The Record” came out. This EP fundamentally changed my brain chemistry. If you like “The Record,” I’d start with “Bite The Hand” and “Me & My Dog” (which is actually a prequel to “Letter To An Old Poet”).
- “Everybody else is doing it, so why can’t we?” by the cranberries
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Yup, it’s time to let it linger. Anyone who grew up with their dad playing the indie station cannot overstate the power of “Dreams” and “Linger” to make you feel nostalgic. Late fall and early winter will always remind me of this album.
- “home video” by lucy dacus
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I don’t even know how to put into words the emotions this album makes me feel. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Lucy Dacus, and her beautiful songwriting makes this feel incredibly personal and confessional. It’s like the conversations you’d have at sleepovers when you were twelve. I cannot recommend enough for the SSRI girlies and anyone who’s had a homoerotic friendship at a formative age.