A Soundtrack to Romanticise the Autumnal Days

I love autumn – a pretty basic statement I know. However, the minute the long September nights draw to a peaceful end, I begin to embody autumn. I drown myself in every possible essence of the season – painting my nails dark cherry red, digging out my chunky knit jumpers, and settling into the early nights with my yearly autumnal comfort watch, When Harry Met Sally. 

Whether you are going on a stroll in the woods, having a cosy day in baking or studying in a café – to further embody and welcome in the autumn months, a soundtrack is absolutely the perfect way to get you in the spirit. And if autumn had the ability to be encapsulated in music, the songs mentioned in this article are the perfect contenders. 

(photo credit: Annie Spratt, Unsplash)

To start off with – why not grab a pair of headphones, and go for an autumnal walk to help romanticise the colder days. The first two songs I have selected evoke the feeling of watching the first signs of the changing autumn landscape. Iron & Wine’s Autumn Town Leaves gentle folk nature aligns perfectly with taking a walk through the woods watching the crisp orange leaves drop from the towering trees. Most of Hozier’s music sounds like autumn to me, his beautiful lyricism is earthy, often singing about nature in his deep yet gentle tones. Released this year, Unknown / Nth feels like picking blackberries from a hedgerow – watching as the berries stain your fingertips in deep purple. 

 

With the sky often containing the same shade of grey this time of year, daily errands can often feel drab or mundane – so why not spice it up with some main character energy. As mentioned previously, I am an absolute sucker for When Harry Met Sally. The film’s soundtrack is dripping with Smooth Jazz from the likes of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Although not featured on the soundtrack, Stormy Weather by Etta James neatly continues the atmosphere of making you feel as if you’ve stepped straight out of a Nora Ephron romcom. The staple sapphic autumn anthem we fell in love in october by girl in red, will help be the soundtrack to your own individual indie Coming-of-Age film as you dart about town.

 

Autumn is the perfect time to dive into the Dark Academia aesthetic. Studying with piles of books in the library or with a black americano in a coffee shop window can be heightened with a fitting playlist. Florence Welch’s lyrical poetry is abundant with feelings of Dark Academia, which is particularly present in Florence + the Machine’s most recent 2022 album Dance Fever. Drawing upon mythology, the Gothic, Medieval history, and art –  Dance Fever was inspired by a 1518 plague which caused citizens in Strasbourg to erratically dance. The first single from the album, King, conjures up the much needed Gothic atmosphere for October.

 

Alongside the arrival of colder months, is the arrival of frequently rainy days – and what a perfect excuse for a cosy day in with scented candles or an autumnal baking session. Aptly named Apple Pie, Lizzie McAlpine’s song feels like drinking a warming cup of tea as you wait for something to slowly bake in the oven. Golden Brown by The Stranglers, embraces the mellow sentiments of autumn, which makes the perfect listening as you curl up by the window watching the rain pour. 

 

Whether you welcome October with open arms or a groan, romanticising your days with an autumnal playlist is a lovely way to ease into the season.