For this month’s listening party, we decided to dive into the theme of Sadness…
We held two listening parties, and each one had some pretty incredible tracks! We found new gems and songs that would resonate with listeners when they’re down…or, what was noticeable too, lift up someone’s mood. The tracks took their own spin on the emotion and it was a great mix.
For Andie’s top 5 picks:
This month’s listening party sits in the space where life and sadness overlap, songs about loss, reflection, and the feelings that linger after something meaningful ends.
Gentle Baby by Lucie Frank captures that tender moment when a relationship still feels warm and real, even as you start to realize it may not last.
Used to Be by Curtis Lee sits in the aftermath of love lost, blending soul and vulnerability into a track that feels both intimate and reflective.
Deep Blue from HIGHTEENS dives into grief and longing, channeling the feeling of wanting one last chance to say goodbye.
She Said She Loved Me by Guzzi GU explores the quiet heartbreak of believing in a love that wasn’t real, while Almost Us by Naphtali closes things out with a late-night deep house atmosphere, perfect for those reflective moments when you’re thinking about the love that almost was.
Together, these tracks trace the many sides of sadness: grief, regret, hope, and the slow process of letting go.
Give these artists some love on their socials!
For Jenna’s top 5 picks:
I picked these songs because each one stood out in a different way and together they perfectly capture the theme of sadness. Starting with Sad Song by Scott Quinn, this track was actually sent to us back in 2022 and it still feels so relevant today. It reminds me of emotional ballads like Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi or i’m so tired… by Lauv and really captures the complex feelings of living with a broken heart.
Good Ones by CEDAR caught my attention right away with the lyrics and sharp vocals. It is so raw and real and unlike most pop songs it doesn’t just talk about happiness or perfect endings. It’s an empowering anthem about choosing yourself even in the hard times.
Anything for You is a song that stopped me in my tracks. I won’t lie I teared up the first time I heard it. The artist made it for his mom who is in rehab and you can feel that love in every note. It’s hard not to connect with it and be moved.
Sadness by Aleks doesn’t have any words but the chords and piano perfectly capture the feeling of sadness. It gives you space to sit with it and reflect and is a beautiful complement to the rest of the songs.
We close with Lost Moment, another piano-driven track. Like Aleks’ song it doesn’t need words to convey sadness. Its neo-classical, felt-piano style creates a quiet, lingering emotional impact. This is a great song to end with, when the strings come in it HITS hard. I’m transported to a completely different place in time.
Give these artists a follow on their social media!
Scott Quinn (@scottpquinn) • Instagram photos and videos
CEDER (@thisisceder) • Instagram photos and videos
Aleks Tunka (@alekstunka) • Instagram photos and videos
Murad Agha (@muradagha) • Instagram photos and videos
Like every other listening party, we heard some amazing tracks that truly captured the emotional theme for the month. Sad songs are powerful, emotions are powerful, crying while listening to music is a beautiful thing, andI was more than pleasantly surprised and can’t wait for the next listening party.
Check out the Hope Listening Party, Joy Listening Party, Fear Listening Party, and Love Listening Party here!
Track Listing
- Gentle Baby – Lucie Frank
- Used to Be – Curtis Lee
- Deep Blue – HIGHTEENS
- She Said She Loved Me – Guzzi GU
- Almost Us – Naphtali
- Sadness – Aleks Tunka
- Sad Song – Scott Quin
- Anything for You – Swift Youngin
- Good Ones – CEDAR
Playlist image by Lasse Moller on Unsplash
