By Stella Joseph-Jarecki (Enquiries: stellamusicwriter.wordpress.com)
Music can cater to almost any mood. However, I sometimes struggle to find music which feels comforting when I am particular kind of anxious and restless. Personally, a lot of the time I prefer silence to ambient forest sounds and whale calls.
There are a handful of songs I listen to on chronic repeat whenever I want music with an active pulse or groove, but that is still ‘chilled-out’ enough to listen to while concentrating on other things. These are the songs that I still love dearly after listening sessions of an hour straight (of the same song). I thought it worthwhile to list them in case anyone else’s brain works like mine.
Most of these songs are a particular brand of head-bopping, slickly produced, relaxed pop music which will not be to everyone’s taste, and I make no apologies for that. Here they are in no particular order:
Lost in Japan- Shawn Mendes
An all-round excellent disco-esque pop song with hooks galore.
Dance to This- Troye Sivan feat. Ariana Grande
A beaut pop song with a unique atmospheric quality.
Wildest Dreams- Taylor Swift
I once listened to this over and over while editing an important document for work for the first time. I was pretty stressed and this song did the trick.
Delicate- Taylor Swift
I wasn’t a fan of this song at first. One day it suddenly clicked in my brain and I couldn’t get enough of it after that.
Hard Place- H.E.R.
Just stunning. I really want to check out more music from this singer-songwriter.
thank u, next- Ariana Grande
A masterpiece, that is all.
Achilles Come Down- Gang of Youths
Another masterpiece from one of my favourite bands. This entire album is incredibly well-crafted, containing a variety of meaty rock textures and evocative lyrics. This song has a hypnotic quality that pulls you in, and you don’t even notice it goes for seven minutes.
Fever Pitch Magazine 