Like A Heartbeat

I don’t like silence.

Quiet tends to invite chaos, and it often feels too much like the calm before the storm. If possible, I like to saturate every moment of my day with music. Music is unique in that it can appeal to millions of people and still feel deeply personal, and its way of both inducing and relieving pain is fascinating in and of itself. It has a rare and magical quality that you won’t quite find anywhere else. If you’re anything like me, you go to sleep with your earbuds plugged in, leave your playlist on while you shower, and spend every car ride caught up in bopping melodies. In honor of those who feel the same way, and especially for those who need to de-stress, I’d like to present a playlist of mine that is dedicated to relaxing.

I won’t go into extensive detail on every song, but I have to mention my favorites. I can’t talk about a zen music selection without bringing up the star of my sleeping playlist, “ocean eyes” by Billie Eilish. It sounds like melted chocolate and feels like diamond dust; every pulse in the background hits like a heartbeat. Though Billie Eilish is a relatively young to the music scene, this debut song of hers is anything but juvenile. When I hear its angelic reverb, heartfelt lyrics, and dreamy vocals, I feel like I’m floating in a sea of constellations. “Lookalike” by Conan Gray and “Safe Places” by Cassidy King have this same mesmerizing quality, and hearing any of these songs back-to-back is like sinking into warm blankets with a mug of hot cocoa.

If you’re ever going for a late-night drive with the windows down, I highly suggest “In Your Eyes” by The Weeknd or “Pretty Face” by PUBLIC! These are two of my personal favorites, and they are the perfect tunes for hopeless romantics. Styled after chill late-80s/early-90s pop, these gems feel like prom nights with your high school sweetheart and passionate confessions.

For a song to be truly touch my heart, it has to remind me of something from my life. I’m a sucker for nostalgic music, and if reminiscing about childhood summers could be felt with the senses, it would taste like lemonade and sound like “Fool” by Cavetown. Listening to this track reminds me of grade school crushes, scraped knees, and afternoons in the park. Simple, cheerful chords combine with a raspy, youthful voice to make for a devastating and bittersweet work of art.

Sometimes the most painful thing is the absence of feeling. Joji’s “SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK” and The Weeknd’s “Save Your Tears” combine rich synth-pop beats with hazy passion and painful apathy. They are masterful tracks that exude resignation and anguish in the best possible way. If you enjoy the sensations of romantic apologies in the rain, echoing ballrooms, and swirling campfire smoke, these are wonderful choices.

The last two songs I’ll mention are the most uplifting tracks on this playlist, “Daydream” by The Aces and “Daze Inn” by Carlie Hanson. In their guitar riffs and thrumming baselines, I relive my first sip of alcohol, the nervous excitement of getting a tattoo for the first time, and car rides with some of the best friends I’ve ever had. Whenever I want to capture the feeling of teenage rebellion—whether that means sneaking out a bedroom window or having a sleepover—these are my go-to songs.

I genuinely hope you enjoy this playlist as much as I do. These are some of my all-time favorite songs for relaxation. This collection has touched my heart with the intimacy unique to music, and I’d love for anyone reading this to give it a chance.