Picture this, I’m in my flat on the other side of the world. No less than a month into my exchange semester in the UK. I’m making lunch and decide to play some music. Something chill, singable, slower paced, that’s what I’m needing right now.
My legendary flat mate, Ava, (I miss you, Ava) walks in with the most baffled smile on her face and tells me “I cannot believe you’re listening to this song so casually.” I think about what’s playing for a second and realise that, yeah, maybe “Promise” by Laufey isn’t the most normal choice for a sandwich-making soundtrack. Now I’m worried at this point that Ava thinks she’s living with a psycho, but it’s just a pretty song, isn’t it? Sure, it’s sad and I most definitely have cried to it before, but it’s also wonderfully relaxing if you’re not thinking about the lyrics too hard…
In recent weeks I’ve been seeing a recurring trend of people saying “This is the type of music I listen to at 8am before even giving the day a chance” accompanied by songs like “Less” by Olivia Rodrigo or “Matilda” by Harry Styles. And honestly? Me too. But it suddenly made me wonder if it’s weird that sad music doesn’t ruin my mood? In fact, often it puts me in a better or more relaxed mood.
Noah Kahan is one of my favorite Artists of all time, and he’s well known for writing some sad fuckin music. His recent album “The Great Divide” has been playing on repeat for me since its release in April. Every song is stunning. Kahan’s lyricism astounds me for how grounded yet truly universal it is. Noah Kahan appears to be the king of delivering the most resonant stories and then twisting the knife until you say, “thank you”. And still, I will listen to those heart wrenching songs as I hype myself up for a retail shift. I will blast “Porch Light” in the car when things are going wonderfully. Because that actually only enhances my enjoyment of the day. Kahan himself spoke about it on Mythical Kitchen’s “Last Meals”, saying “Sad music doesn’t make me feel sad, it makes me feel connected. Like someone else is feeling it too and that makes me feel happy. I’m not happy that the writer went through that or that I went through that, but I’m happy that we’re both right here.” I couldn’t say it better myself. Even when I am specifically listening to the lyrics, often times I’m just stunned by how brilliant the writing is more than devastated by the metaphorical and musical blade through the chest.
I think there’s a beauty in music like this. It can be deeply relaxing, cathartic, energetic, all at the same time. I say let’s be zero waste about music. Why should I only listen to “Doomsday” by Lizzy McAlpine exclusively when I’m mid crashout? What a waste of a beautiful song. So, you can pry “California and me” by Laufey, or “23” by Noah Kahan, or “Who We Are” by Hozier from my cold dead hands. So go on, crash out on a good day, just as a treat.
Playlist:
Winter Yearning Edition
- House in Nebraska – Ethel Cain
- Emily I’m Sorry – Boygenius
- Everything Reminds Me Of Her – Elliott Smith
- Come Down Soon – Lizzy McAlpine
- Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – Jeff Buckley
- High and Dry – Radiohead
- midnight love – girl in red
- Linger – The Cranberries
- Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinéad O’Connor
- Careless Whisper – George Micheal
- Don’t Delete the Kisses – Wolf Alice
- Be My Mistake – The 1975
