Browning leaves: An autumn playlist

As the colder time of year rolls around once again, I find myself losing interest in the songs I overplayed all summer and instead start scrolling through my phone looking for the autumn playlist I created two years ago – and have been adding to ever since. Here is a selection of songs I would recommend for whenever you want to feel the cosy autumnal aesthetics and temporarily ignore the stresses of Term 1. 

‘Cold Way Home’ – Lamp         

As the title suggests, this song is perfect for sprucing up the chilly way home from wherever it is you have been. Despite the lyrics of this song discussing winter, I still firmly believe it suits the autumnal vibe just as much, as it creates imagery of a chilly evening, when you can see your breath in the air, your fingers are numb, but you’re spurred on by the thought of returning home to a warm house. 

‘All Falls Down’ – Lizzy McAlpine  

‘All Falls Down’ carries themes of growing up and the anxiety brought on by this. Most of us can relate to these themes, especially in autumn, when so many things are changing; not just the seasons, but a new year of university, a new house, a new city. The song’s chorus discusses how all this change can build up and then fall on you. Despite somewhat intense lyricism, the orchestral instrumental is playful and makes for a deceptively upbeat song. 

‘Room Temperature’ – Faye Webster  

‘Room Temperature’ contains melancholic lyricism about being alone – the line “I should get out more” is repeated 22 times within the song – combined with instruments that evoke the sounds of country music, while still sounding like Webster’s usual songs. This song encapsulates many of the thoughts I have during autumn, as with shorter days, it feels like there is less time to do things and see people. 

‘Terrapin’ – Clairo  

I could have included the entirety of Charm on this album, as I believe it is one of the most autumnal albums ever produced. However, I chose to include ‘Terrapin’, as even the opening of the song, where a drum is heard, followed by humming, makes me feel like I’m wearing a coat and scarf, walking through fallen leaves on a cold yet sunny morning in November. For me, ‘Terrapin’ brings warmth to the days before winter arrives.   

‘Metamorphosis’ – Infinity Song  

This song somewhat goes through its own metamorphosis as you listen to it. It begins with lyrics about wishing for change and ends with lyrics about achieving the change and success that were desired for so long. The wistful lyrics and acoustic guitar throughout are reminiscent of an early morning in November when you notice the first frost on the grass, the frozen spiderwebs, and the crunchy leaves beneath your feet. 

‘Angeles’ – Elliott Smith  

The minimalistic acoustics of ‘Angeles’, accompanied by Smith’s light vocals, create a softness perfect for the later months of the year. ‘Angeles’ is about the choices one is forced to make in the music industry, the risks one can take to gain success, and the consequences of these risks. However, the song itself is soothing to listen to, and therefore, the perfect song to have on your autumn playlist. 

‘1999’ – beabadoobee  

Beabadoobee’s older music has a certain nostalgia attached to it, and ‘1999’ is no exception. The song is grungy and, in beabadoobee’s own words, “like a movie soundtrack”, as its personal lyrics about the singer’s own love life evoke emotions many can relate to. With its comforting pace and synthy instrumental, ‘1999’ is the perfect song to listen to while the leaves go from green, to orange, and then to the ground.

‘Better in the Dark’ – Jordana, TV Girl  

The uncannily layered vocals, along with the guitar and TV Girl’s typical use of sampling, produce a sound perfect for an autumn evening. The song is calming to listen to, despite its somewhat gloomy lyrics about regret and insecurities. As the days end earlier, we will be in the dark far more often, and so ‘Better in the Dark’ will become more and more fitting for autumn as the season continues. 

Listen to the playlist here: