Fantastical Fall Faves

BY LIAM NELSON '24

Take a look at your Spotify. What’s that? A washed up Drake attempt of making a tropical afro-beat song? Bleh! I’m here to save you from yourself; welcome to your future music taste, ranging from lush soundscapes to subdued instrumentals and even lyrical imagery. Presenting freshly curated autumnal playlists and detailed song summaries, you’ll find music for all your needs as you persevere through the cold months to come. 

Leaves Change Colors Outside of Your Window
Song Name: Afro Blue
Artist: Robert Glasper, Erykah Badu, Phonte, 9th Wonder
Warm headphones replace ear muffs as you walk underneath a vibrant array of trees, Afro Blue reverberating in your ears. Erykah Badu's tranquil voice caresses your ears with the essence of autumn while a sensuous jazz composition illustrates the story of a love anew. Through a joyous dance underneath the moon's gaze, these sounds welcome the changing leaves of fall. 

Leaves Fall From Trees
Song Name: When the Sun Hits
Artist: Slowdive
Sunshine. A summertime trademark and a must for every beach day. An old friend you long for when the sun starts setting closer to 4 PM than it did to summertime’s 8 PM. However, Slowdive twists society's perception of the bright, yellow sun through the lyrics, “You’re a sun / I watch you burn away.” By associating the sun with negatively connoted language, “When the Sun Hits” epitomizes the loss of light in life as we enter fall, losing daylight and no longer feeling the sun’s warm, familiar touch. 

Hoodie and Sweats
Song Name: At Your Best (You Are Love)
Artist: Aaliyah
There is nothing like a Massachusetts fall—one day it’s 70℉ it’s 30℉—but you can always rely on one thing to get you through it: a hoodie and sweatpants. Aaliyah's soothing voice remains lush over a beat reminiscent of a crisp New England morning, covering it like the warmth of a sweatshirt on a cold day.

Shutting Your Chromebook Off at 2AM After a Day of Procrastination
Song Name: You Wanna See Me Dead Cause My Hops
Artist: Viper
 Lucky you; yes you, who is still up studying past 12 AM. I have the perfect artist for you: Viper. A pioneer of a musical genre called cloud rap that creates a drugged atmosphere, Viper presents a monotonous voice over lo-fi synths that hypnotize you into an entranced state of mind, perfect for the remainder of your late-night grind session. 

Halloweencore
Song: Diary of a Madman
Artist: Gravediggaz
Horrorcore is a style of hip hop whose lyrical content and imagery focus on the macabre and morbid with production generally of a darker nature than what is typically found. “Diary of a Madman” subjects its listener to the trial of a maniac charged of murdering a baby; pleading insanity, the song prompts six different stages of madness within his mind. As the stages of mental insanity progress, the lunatic loses himself to the inherent maliciousness found within society. With the song becoming more and more gruesome, the listener is transported to a Halloween movie featuring a villain’s triumphant victory.

Now that you’ve read my recommendations for your newest seasonal music favorites, I hope that you’ll stop ruminating on the summer’s past and start living in the moment with the many playlists offered. Though beach days are past affairs, these songs will offer some sense of bliss until next summer.