Photo by Melanie Pongratz on Unsplash

It's been a hot minute since I last spoke about music on this blog so I figured I would share some of my favourite playlists at the moment! These are the songs which I've had on loop for the past few weeks and which I tend to listen to at this time of year. I hope that you can pick out some new faves and I would love it if you shared what music you have been listening to lately! I am always on the lookout for a new favourite song!

Hydref

My main autumn playlist! This one is full of all those songs that make me feel good as the nights draw in early and the mornings are dark. I tend to sing along to these songs in the shower first thing in the morning and keep them playing as I get ready to start my day off.

• You're Right by Morning Bear
• Rhiannon by Fleetwood Mac
• Edge of Seventeen by Stevie Nicks
• Witchy Woman by Eagles
• House of the Rising Sun by Lauren O'Connell
• Spellbound by Siouxie and the Banshees
• Lavender Moon by Haroula Rose
• Born To Die by Lana Del Rey
• Ruins by First Aid Kit
• Kind of Woman by Stevie Nicks
• Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac
• Which Witch by Florence + The Machine
• Me And The Devil by Soap&Skin
• We're Alive! by Keith Johns
• 1000 by Brother
• Sisters of the Moon by Fleetwood Mac
• Dark Secret by Matthew Sweet
• People Are Strange by The Doors
• Lullaby by The Cure
• I See Fire by Ed Sheeran
• Cedar Lane by First Aid Kit
• Marz by John Grant

Orange Coloured Sky

I'm on an old-timey jazzy kick at the moment! It gives me calm and almost-Christmas vibes. Plus, all these songs are so fun to sing along to and I am sure I have been irritating my flatmate with my wailing along to this playlist! This is, in fact, probably the playlist I have been listening to the most this month!

• Orange Coloured Sky by Nat King Cole
• We'll Meet Again by The Ink Spots
• Someone To Watch Over Me by Ella Fitzgerald
• Dream A Little Dream of Me by Doris Day
• Way Back Home by Bob Crosby & The Bob Cats
• Maybe by The Ink Spots
• Blue Moon by Frank Sinatra
• Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow by Nat King Cole
• Come Fly With Me by Frank Sinatra
• A Kiss To Build A Dream On by Louis Armstrong
• Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall by Ella Fitzgerald & The Ink Spots
• La vie en rose by Louis Armstrong
• I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra
• Unforgettable by Nat King Cole
• Cheek To Cheek by Ella Fitzgerald
• Crazy He Calls Me by Billie Holiday
• Bidin' My Time by Julie London

Spook

This is the Halloween playlist I listen to every October! It's full of songs from films I watch every October and generally songs with a spooky theme! I dig this playlist out all year round but it just feels right listening to it in October!

• People Are Strange by The Doors
• Lullaby by The Cure
• Bang Bang - My Baby Shot Me Down by Nancy Sinatra
• Red Right Hand by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Cry Little Sister by G Tom Mac
• It Will Come Back by Hozier
• Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones
• Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
• I Put A Spell On You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins
• The Boogie Monster by Gnarls Barkley
• (Don't Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
• Over At The Frankenstein Place from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
• Black Magic Woman by Fleetwood Mac
• Superstition by Stevie Wonder
• (Ghost) Riders In The Sky by Johnny Cash
• I Never Told You What I Do For A Living by My Chemical Romance
• Crazy Train by Ozzy Osbourne
• The Killing Moon by Echo & the Bunnymen
• Thriller by Michael Jackson
• This Is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) by Marilyn Manson

Photo by Edu Grande on Unsplash

So music has always been a massive part of my life. Most of my memories are paired with songs or albums which I was listening to at the time. When I think about my childhood in Oxford, I think about Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, The Killers and Jamiroquai. When I think of high school, I think of Black Veil Brides, Slipknot, Avenged Sevenfold and Marilyn Manson. When I think of college, I think of The Front Bottoms and French jazz music.

I've always loved playing music too. I used to play the flute and take singing lessons in high school. When I was a toddler, I used to stand on a chair and play my grandad's keyboard. When I started to get into Metallica, I begged my parents for a guitar because Kirk Hammett made playing it look so easy!

These are the 10 albums I have picked out which have stuck with me up until now. Some, I found pretty recently and some have been strong favourites for years! Each means a lot to me! Let me know what your favourite albums are. I'm always looking for new music to listen to!

Adore - The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of my all-time favourite bands. My parents listen to them and I followed suit back when I purchased this album in high school, my first album of theirs. This album is so calm and almost eerie. I adore Billy Corgan's voice. I can't describe it, it's just so beautiful and different. I like to listen to this calming album when I'm reading. It blurs into the background so nicely.

Favourite track: Perfect

Ten - Pearl Jam

Another one I found through my mum. She has always been a fan of this album and I shocked her one day when Jeremy came on the radio and I sang along. I had heard it on Kerrang a few days before but didn't catch the band name. She proceeded to tell me about Pearl Jam and although I love their other music, their debut album will always be my favourite. When I moved to Manchester for university, I would listen to Pearl Jam Unplugged on my iPod on my walk to work. It is still played non-stop and I will never tire of the album, both normal and unplugged.

Favourite track: Black

Tapestry - Carole King

Just before I started uni for the first time, I started to watch Gilmore Girls. It helped me through freshers when I felt super homesick and alone. I would curl up on my bed in my student accommodation and binge watch Gilmore Girls every evening. It was my little comfort. While in this space of time, I found out who sang the theme song and decided to find more of her music. I listened to Tapestry by Carole King non-stop on Spotify for a week before buying the vinyl. To this day, it is my most played record and it's like a musical comfort blanket for me. I can't be sad when listening to this album.

Favourite track: So Far Away

Atlas: Space - Sleeping At Last

A few summers ago, I spent a lot of time listening to character-themed playlists on 8tracks. My favourite character to search for at the time was Grantaire from Les Miserables. On quite a few Les Miserables themed playlists, Sleeping At Last songs were included. Every time I came across one, I would be struck by how beautiful this music really is. Their entire Atlas collection of music is beautiful, but I have always felt drawn to the Atlas: Space collection. Each song is named after a planet and each is incredibly beautiful and emotional.

Favourite track: Earth

Controversy - Prince

Ah, Prince. My ultimate fave. My favourite album by Prince changes all the time and I am sure that if I were to write this post in about a month, I would choose another album. Perhaps Purple Rain or Parade. At the moment, Controversy is the Prince album which I listen to most. Either that or I just put on the This Is: Prince playlist by Spotify. I just generally love his music and I wish that I could have seen him perform live.

Favourite track: Controversy

Talon of the Hawk - The Front Bottoms

In college, I discovered one of my favourite bands through my friends. The Front Bottoms. I was so lucky to see them on tour just before my 19th birthday with a really good friend. To this day, it is still my favourite gig I have ever gone to. Their music just has a way to get me all happy and excited. I love all of their albums, but these days I just tend to really gravitate towards Talon of the Hawk.

Favourite track: Peach

Black Panther (Soundtrack) - Kendrick Lamar

Recently, I haven't been able to get enough of listening to the Black Panther soundtrack. Black Panther is my favourite Marvel film and I was lucky enough to see it three times in the cinema. The soundtrack really pulls it together and I love it so much! It's perfect to listen to on my walk to uni in the morning to really get me hyped up for the day ahead!

Favourite track: Opps

The Pale Emperor - Marilyn Manson

Marilyn Manson is another artist who I cannot get enough of. I tend to listen to all of the albums on shuffle, but when choosing which to put on this list, I felt drawn to The Pale Emperor. It's easier listening which is what I have needed recently. Background music when I need to focus on my work.

Favourite track: Third Day of a Seven Day Binge

Ride the Lightning - Metallica

Metallica has been my favourite band on-and-off for years and I always seem to come back to them. They bring energy and power when I need to get up and go and are great to listen to when exercising or walking somewhere. In high school, I bought Guitar Hero Metallica and ended up actually getting an actual guitar because I wanted to play like Kirk Hammett. Unfortunately, I'm not even close to being that good at guitar, and I still envy Hammett to this day.

Favourite track: For Whom the Bell Tolls

Bookends - Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel bring back so many memories. In my primary school choir, we used to sing Bridge Over Troubled Water. I would listen to it time and time again. Bookends was the first full album I listened to by them and I have worshipped it since. My dad loves Simon and Garfunkel, and while I sometimes prefer Paul Simon's solo work, they do hold a very special place in my heart.

Favourite track: America

Do you like any of the albums on this list? What are your favourite albums? I would love to know! x