Songs that sleigh: A winter playlist

As we dive into the winter months, a muted atmosphere tends to emerge of gloom as the world begins to slow down. Winter is a time of turbulent feelings in this moment of change, which can often feel isolating and suffocating. This playlist embraces the winter melancholy, creating a space for vulnerability in the more intimate songs about loneliness and longing. However, it also captures the comfort we seek indoors during this time in the warmth of the stripped back, guitar dominant tunes. Grab some headphones, a warm drink, and enjoy!

‘Older’ – 5 Seconds of Summer ft Sierra Deaton

5 Seconds of Summer’s ‘Older’ is a refreshing take on pop love songs, intended to be an ‘ode to 50s love songs.’ Written and sung by frontman Luke Hemmings and his wife, Sierra Deaton, the slow, sentimental ballad explores tenderness and commitment in relationships, breaking down feelings of isolation in the winter period. The delicate piano and soft snare makes this the perfect song to wind down to in the winter evenings, enjoying the company of loved ones.

‘Nothing’ – Bruno Major

On the days that we are hibernating in our homes, Bruno Major’s ‘Nothing’ encourages us to find the beauty in our idleness indoors. In the lush vocal harmonies, Major pleads that we ‘shut all the windows/ lock all the doors’ and embrace the little moments, no matter how insignificant they may seem. This tune invites us to take a step back from the world and enjoy our nothingness.

‘Human Heart’ – Coldplay, We Are KING, Jacob Collier

‘Human Heart’ by Coldplay produces a carol-like feel with its magical, dense a Capella harmony, echoing the festive season. Through the multitude of layered vocals, the song evokes a sense of togetherness and comfort in the isolating winter, almost as if all these voices were present. Though this can be a difficult period, the song emphasises grace and compassion in reminding us that we ‘Only got a human heart.’

‘MONAMI’ – Omesi

Omesi’s ‘MONAMI’, French for my friend, explores the longing for a person they consider more. The blend of French and English adds a romantic quality to Omesi’s melancholic reflection on the past, making his plea for ‘some loving in the winter’ cut deeper. Amidst the floating piano melody, there is something relatable in yearning for a missed moment in the stagnant winter, with the tune emphasising the delicate and invaluable nature of connection.

‘Nothing More Than That’ – The Paper Kites

If a song could emulate the feeling of being hugged by a loved one, The Paper Kites’ ‘Nothing More Than That’ would be it. There is warmth to be found in the intertwining guitar melodies and soft sounds from lead vocalist Sam Bentley, as he sings of a loved person being enough and all that is needed. In the winter and festive period, what we tend to long for the most is to share this moment with the people we love, and this song captures that both in its rich, warm sound, and sentimental lyrics. 

‘Chasing Cars’ – Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol portray a heartfelt, desperate pursuit for connection in their song ‘Chasing Cars’. Released in 2006, the opening guitar plucks are nostalgic for many and add to the song’s emotional rawness in its plea for escapism: ‘Would you lie with me and just forget the world?’. In the slow winter, we, too, often feel the desire to escape from the dark, cold nights, seasonal changes, and search for comfort in the familiarity of our relationships. ‘Chasing Cars’ provides a space for such comfort.

‘Heartbeats’ – José Gonzalez

José Gonzalez’s ‘Heartbeats’ takes The Knife’s upbeat, electronic tune and shapes it into an intimate, fingerstyle piece. With the melodic guitar lines paired with the soft vocals, the song captures a perfectly warm and cosy atmosphere to keep us from the cold, in this stripped-back version of the original. Gonzalez transforms the party vibe and delivers a mellow song with undertones of winter melancholy, fitting for late frosty evenings.

‘Emily’ – Racing Mount Pleasant

‘Emily’ by Racing Mount Pleasant blends a variety of instruments from guitar to brass, providing a new, exciting sound in alternative music. Opening with gentle guitar plucks, the song has a haunting, cool feel, resembling grey winter mornings. Lead vocalist Sam DuBose guides us through a consuming love to its passionate but painful eruption towards the end of the song, set in ‘the scorching cold of that November night’. The piece reflects on heartache, comparing it to the desolation of winter and establishes a pensive, mournful mood, a feeling we can relate to in this season.

‘On The Drive Home’ – NIKI

NIKI presents the paradoxical feeling of loneliness in times we are not alone, a familiar feeling of the winter period, in her stripped-back song, ‘On The Drive Home’. The singer speaks of taking ‘the long way home’ in a futile attempt to hold onto the past as she is pushed into a new chapter of isolation. Featuring warm guitar acoustics and echoing vocals, the song’s ghostly, lullaby-like feel gently eases us into the shift towards winter.