Sometimes when you’re feeling sad you want to get out of it. You want to dance it out, distract your brain, and break out of the feeling. I love doing that! It’s great. Sometimes it’s really best to take yourself out of that feeling.
But sometimes, we have to let ourselves feel what we’re feeling. Sometimes for a night it can be helpful to let the emotions exist and process through them. One of the best tools in that situation is music. If you’re having one of those nights, or you feel one coming on, here’s seven recent releases to add to your night of letting it all out.
1. The giver- sarah kinsley
The Giver by Sarah Kinsley began with a snippet on Tiktok. On August 14th, Sarah shared a snippet of lyrics she had written inspired by a poem she’d seen on the very same app. That video gained 1.1 million views, and she released the full version 2 months later. The song is an aching ode to giving your all to a partner who you think will one day return it back to you, but the reality is they won’t. It’s a testament to wanting so much more, to giving because it’s what you know how to do, and not being able to do either in the way that you want to. The lyrics are poignant and beautiful. The music is ethereal and melancholy. Both come to a head as the song descends into haunting harmonies, whistling, and guitar- voices echoing, “Are you hungry for me, baby? Are you hungry?” The build-up of this song is the perfect tune to simply close your eyes and let yourself feel what you need to with.
“I’m a giver
He says me too
He is hungry for someone
But doesn’t know who
I’m a giver
Or am I a fool
He forgets the words
So I teach him to say “I love you”
2. Deny me- Grace gardner
Deny me is another song with soaring harmonies underscored by soothing guitar. The guitar is accompanied by this orchestration that almost sounds like the instruments are yearning for something themselves. They seem to hold and swing in and out as if holding themselves back from their feelings too. They completely portray the words Grace sings as she describes the feeling of wanting something so badly that can’t, and in many ways shouldn’t, be yours. It’s the perfect song for that moment when your own expectations are what let you down. It’s the perfect song for the moment you realize all this love you have inside of you will have to stay there until you find something else to do with it.
“I hope you turn me down
Because my hopes are higher than they’ve ever been
There’s probably delirium in that
But I’m wearing your hat
That I’ve never seen you lend
I’m overthinking your every move
As usual, cracking your code
There’s really not that much to it
But I tried to go through it
And my window had already closed“
3. Ceilings- Lizzy Mcalpine
In truth, the entire ‘five seconds flat’ album is something to have on loop when you’re letting your feelings FLY, but I’ll choose one song for consistency. Surprise, surprise! Another song with the guitar at the forefront, (have you figured out my music taste yet?) Full disclosure, I had several days where this song was all I listened to almost all day. It’s just incredibly beautiful, and the strings slice right through the heart strings. Secretly, in the background, the bass and these almost bouncing piano notes foreshadow the build up you’ll be experiencing later. Then the bridge SOARS, entering a climax where Lizzy really shows us the truth behind this entire imaginary scenario. It’s the song for all of you out there who spend your time making up scenarios in your head that never seem to make it into real life. It’s the song for those who always seem to be waiting at the edge of something, and never find out what they’ve been waiting for.
“But it’s not real
And you don’t exist
And I can’t recall the last time I was kissed
It hits me in the car
And it feels like the end of a movie I’ve seen before
Before“
4. Adam’s Ribs- Jensen MCrae
So three things. First off, this is yet another situation in which the entirety of ‘Are You Happy Now?, but CONSISTENCY. Second, you may remember this album from my last article about music in which I was very excited for its release and rightly so. Third, technically Adam’s Ribs is not a completely new release. Mcrae also released the song in her EP ‘Who Hurt You?’ in 2021. However, she rereleased it for this album, and I would be completely wrong to not include it in this list. This song is just absolutely heart wrenching. Mcrae has a beautiful range to her voice and an incredible ability to build her intensity. The emotions in the song are raw, and Mcrae bears her heart completely. She truly shows the full extent of unrequited love from it’s soft vulnerability to its deep desperation to its hurtful confusion. Don’t even get me started on the amazing use of cello in this song, seriously. She’s an artist in every sense of the word.
“This heartbreak quietly rewired me
My world is ending now
Don’t tell me to calm down
This love letter begins
To Adam, from your ribs
So-called intelligent design
Without you, I would die
Without you, I would die
I can’t lose you yet
I refuse to let you go
Loving you is in my bones“
5. Not another rockstar- Maisie Peters
As you start to find yourself at the end of your lovesick night, you might find yourself wanting a song that gets a little.. angry? Angsty? One of those? Maisie Peters provides a song that gives you the most perfect opportunity for dancing around while simultaneously screaming lyrics. This song is dedicated to those of you who keep finding yourself attached to people who like the concept of being with you but not the action of it. It’s a dedication to those who are sick of always finding themselves going, “Oh not this again.”
“Talk about me, make it all about you
Caught you rippin’ your jeans, and that’s when I knew
You’d leave me dead if it’d set you apart
And I’m like, “Oh, goddamn, not another rockstar”
He’s been a player since the cradle
Aren’t I lucky ’cause he could have chosen any girl to f*ck with?
And he chose me, so I guess I should be grateful
No, no, no, no“
6. I’m not perfect (But I’m trying)- Rachel Chinouriri
This song is the perfect pop song for when you’re right at the end of that night. When it’s time to switch from feeling it to letting it fall away THIS is the song to turn to. It’s a certified indie pop, jump up and down, twirl around, swing your arms #1 tune. You can’t help but move around when you listen to this song. It literally sounds like a swirling rainbow if that makes any sense at all. Then the lyrics remind you of the top thing you need to hear when you’re feeling down- none of us are perfect, but we’re trying. All you can do is try!
“Water dive in
Even when times get difficult
Water dive in
Even when times..
I’m not perfect but I’m trying
Pick my moment then I’ll dive in
Had my fair share of mistakes so for now it’s far too late
I’ll wait until the tides in“
So when those melancholy nights hit you, and you really feel like you need to listen to some music to get those feelings out, I hope this helps you out! Remember that it’s always okay to let yourself feel those sad emotions for a bit. It’s okay to be sad for some time, and to let yourself process them! The important part is getting up again. So every now and then- yeah crank up those sad songs! Let it out!