Starting a new year at university can be pretty stressful whether you’re a fresher or a returner, even without the looming threat of another lockdown and being stuck in your bedroom for weeks. So here at Platform, we thought we’d put together a little playlist of songs you can use to unwind from all that university stress…
Taylor Swift – Epiphany
Now, most of Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album Folklore could’ve been put on this list. The whole album is a dream of subdued, emotive music and Epiphany is no exception. Laden with Selena Gomez level breathy vocals and simple piano, Swift has essentially written a dramatic and hymn-like song about a war, admitting it was inspired by her grandfather’s time in the military. It’s slow, it’s relaxed, and perfect background music for when you need some music to keep the mood of your study session light.
Wallows – 1980s Horror Film
Despite the title of the song, the only real horror in the song is the date being sung about. I won’t give the plot twist of the song away but let’s just the say, the date doesn’t go as well as hoped. The song feels like a little bit of a dream, with its use of strings and generally acoustic feel. The band themselves said they wanted to create an acoustic sound, and to just layer “a bunch of weird sounds throughout”. It is one of the cheerier songs on the playlist, so hopefully it’ll provide a slight reprieve from the emotional songs during the playlist.
Alanis Morissette – Hand in My Pocket
Now, not every song needs to be slow and meandering to be relaxing. This 90s classic by alt-rock singer Alanis Morissette is all about not worrying about all the facets of your personality, because even if you don’t have everything figured out, “everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine”. It’s feel-good music at its core and the carefree nature is the perfect way to forget all the stress you may be feeling.
Miel – Must Be Fine
I’ve written about the EP this song comes from before for Platform, but it really is a beautiful little EP from ex-vine star Miel, well known for her “Actually Megan, I can’t sit anywhere” Vine. Must Be Fine is a stellar example of what makes the EP so good. It’s break up storytelling to the Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers level. It’s a sad song but doesn’t leave you feeling broken. The whole EP is truly worth a listen.
Troye Sivan – Animal
Described in his own words as a “five-minute 80s stadium love song”, Troye Sivan’s Animal feels both massive and intimate at the same time. The song describes Sivan’s all-consuming love for someone that he wants to keep all to himself. It is pure, unadulterated desire written into a song that feels like an escape. It does feel like a song you can listen to in bed and just stare at the ceiling.
mxmtoon – ok on your own (ft. Carly Rae Jepsen)
Singer and social media star mxmtoon, well known for her viral song Prom Dress, joins forces with pop sensation Carly Rae Jepsen to detail the reasons their relationships went wrong. This song is like Hand In My Pocket in that it’s on this list because its core message is simply that you will be okay on your own, and nothing feels more relaxing to me that two singers emphasising the fact that everything’s going to be okay.
Arlo Parks – Eugene
Determined as a breakthrough act of 2020 in the BBC’s Sound of Music, London singer Arlo Parks explores the blurred lines between the platonic and romantic sides in a relationship, and having to watch a friend fall in love with someone else. The song itself mixes pop and R&B, and feels like listening to a private chat. Parks has the perfect voice to unwind to as well, with tender yet rich vocals throughout the song.
Ezra Furman – Care
This melancholic song of wanting nothing more than to be cared for, was written by American musician Ezra Furman for the soundtrack of Netflix’s Sex Education. It’s gloomy, has a pretty solid drum beat throughout, and some tasty bass strumming in the chorus. The song is used in Sex Education as the final episode of season two is winding down, we get to see all the characters in their final moments of the season. If it works to wind down our favourite characters, it should work for you too.
Julia Jacklin – Small Talk
Small Talk is a beautifully simple song that sees Australian singer Julia Jacklin call out celebrities for looking like people in her life. The song feels like a little wander around someone’s mind or like a bit of inane small talk with a friend. There’s nothing high stakes in the song or overtly emotional, so it does feel like a little bit of rest for your mind while you listen to it.
Lana Del Rey – Mariners Apartment Complex
Mariners Apartment Complex was the first single of Lana Del Rey’s critically acclaimed sixth studio Norman F**king Rockwell. It marked her first work with producer Jack Antonoff and featured her siren like vocals set over almost country sounding guitar. Any Lana Del Rey song screams relaxed times, but this song feels almost beach like in its relaxed atmosphere.
So, next time you’re feeling stressed about university, why not give this playlist a listen while you’re doing a particularly hard essay, or just need to chill out.
By Robbie Nichols