Fall isnât just a season â itâs a mood. The crisp air, warm drinks and most importantly, the sweater weather. Music hits differently this time of year, and I swap my pop, upbeat âsummerâ songs for more moody (slightly depressing) songs.Â
Whether youâre walking under the falling leaves (that donât really fall here in Florida), studying with a pumpkin-scented candle burning low or driving late at night with the windows rolled down, this playlist is curated to capture those vibes.
âDark Redâ by Steve Lacy
This OG takes me back to fall 2021 (simpler times, to be honest). Moody and magnetic, the vulnerability in Lacyâs voice mirrors fallâs quiet, contemplative energy.
âKnockinâ on Heavenâs Doorâ by Bob Dylan
An eternal classic, Dylanâs aching ballad carries a weathered warmth. I love whipping this one out to prove Iâm an âold soul,â and it pairs perfectly with foggy mornings or late-night studying.Â
âGood Lookingâ by Suki Waterhouse
I was a Suki fan before she ever got with Edward Cullen. âGood Lookingâ has been on my playlist for years; itâs so dreamy yet melancholic, and I love listening to it during long drives.
âMe and Your Mamaâ by Childish Gambino
Here come flashbacks to Stranger Things Season Four edits in 2022. For some reason, this one makes me think of Halloween more than anything. Starting soft before breaking into chaos is my kind of song.
âNo. 1 Party Anthemâ by Arctic Monkeys
A bittersweet love letter to late-night parties, where the warmth of the room collides with the chill outside â a chill we have yet to get in Gainesville. Itâs both nostalgic and intoxicating, just like the fall season itself.
âDie for You (Remix)â by The Weeknd (ft. Ariana Grande)
Listening to the version with Ariana is nonnegotiable. This remix gives the original track new fire. Passionate, hypnotic and sleek, itâs the heat you crave when the air turns cold.
âFeels Like We Only Go Backwardsâ by Tame Impala
Probably one of my favorite Tame Impala songs; the swirling, psychedelic haze this puts me into makes me want to hang out the car window late at night and feel the fall air (cue that one scene from The Perks of Being a Wallflower).
âI Wanna Be Downâ by Brandy
I love me some Brandy (the singer, not the alcohol). Smooth and soulful, this â90s gem is cozy enough to feel like a blanket wrapped around you. Itâs also worth noting that I knew this song before the âget sendyâ trend on TikTok started with its remix.
âBack to Blackâ by Amy Winehouse
Is it really a fall playlist without Amy Winehouse? No.
This classic is pure autumn noir â itâs dark, sultry and unforgettable. It lingers like smoke in the air, and Iâll add it to my queue every time.
âFade Into Youâ by Mazzy Star
Iâm closing this track list with a song as soft as falling leaves. Itâs a slow descent into the quiet beauty of the season, where everything feels a little dreamy and bittersweet.
Fall may be fleeting, but music keeps its magic alive. With this playlist, I can bottle up the seasonâs vibes and replay them even in spring or summer (which, yes, I do).