About this Playlist
We can’t tangibly hold onto the deep feelings that live inside our hearts or the memories we possess that inform us of our experiences. The music we listen to can be a mirror to remind us who we are. It can be an index that helps categorize our life stories. Playlists can act as the soundtrack to those life stories, so what we compile is important in expressing who we are to the universe. Part of telling a good story is being a good editor and knowing what information should be revealed and what will keep a consistent narrative.
Most of these songs were selected for their melodic composition and dreamier production which amplify the emotion of the lyrical content. Even cheesier lyrics can be taken more seriously if the musical production is saturated with many layers and simple chord progressions that naturally stimulate our brains. Memories are like dreams to me in that they sometimes lack clarity with the passage of time. But we don’t forget the feelings associated with those memories. I was born in 1983 and have vivid memories of my younger years that compel me to be moved by music from that time as well as modern music that strives to emulate that time period. Interestingly, the emulative nature encapsulated by subgenres such as retrowave, synthwave, and synthpop, serve to amplify many of the stylistic sounds from that era.
In this spirit, it is why the influential and dreamy sound of the Cocteau Twins can appropriately be placed alongside younger artists, such as Anna of the North, who similarly strive for the listener to tap into a sound that is more grandiose than folk or acoustic music. Luscious keyboards, airy guitars, atmospheric production nuances, and passionate vocals combine in sonic fashion to deliver songs that exaggerate the deep emotions of the artists. Many on this list tap into rich vocal harmonies that fatten up the melodies that are generally simple in nature, but resonate intuitively with the listener. This playlist features an eclectic blend of independent, emerging, and mainstream artists with connective musical tissue so that it can attract a wider audience who lean into music that favors a more enriched production.
