I always get excited when fall comes around and the leaves change and the air gets crisper because, among other things, the colder months are the perfect time to get lost in some of my favorite moody, (mostly) sad, acoustic music. If you’re looking for some atmospheric music for these months, look no further. Here are some of artists, albums, and songs to add to your autumn/winter playlist this year.

Firstly, I compiled a handy Spotify playlist that covers a lot of what’s in this post but also includes many other songs that aren’t mentioned, in case you don’t want to read my whole list. Some songs were suggestions from some of you — and they’ll also be specifically mentioned in the last section of this post — and some are select songs from the artists and albums otherwise mentioned here, though I’d recommend you listen beyond the ones on the playlist. (If you’d like a less curated but still mostly fall-like playlist, you can also check out my very long current playlist.) Enjoy!

*Disclaimer: I know my music tastes are pretty white, and I apologize in advance for that in regards to this list. I’m working on it, but please comment if you have suggestions based on what you see!

folklore (Taylor Swift)

I can’t make this list without including folklore by Taylor Swift, and I might as well start with the most obvious ones. This whole album was meant to savored in the fall and winter, although I will gladly continue to listen to it all year ’round, in any season. I’m still not over the fact that we got this album. Some personal stand-outs (though I really love all of them except epiphany):

• exile (feat. bon iver)
• hoax
• cardigan
• illicit affairs

Red (Taylor Swift)

Might as well get all my Taylor Swift out of the way. Red is such a strange album in my opinion because I didn’t like her biggest hits from the album, but it was definitely the best album pre-folklore. I doubt any of these are a surprise, but I would specifically call out these songs on the album:

• All Too Well
• Treacherous
• I Almost Do
• The Last Time
• Sad Beautiful Tragic
• Begin Again

Fever Dream (Of Monsters and Men)

This one might be a bit controversial, but this album really grew on me after I listened to it a couple of times. Although a few songs don’t fit the vibes and I do think it takes a few listens to understand what I’m saying, the album as a whole just screams cold, Icelandic winter to me. It’s something about the underlying beats and the new sound that create that atmosphere for me. A few particular songs that capture it:

• Róróró
• Waiting for the Snow
• Under a Dome
• Stuck in Gravity
• Wild Roses – okay, admittedly less so, but I love this song

Beneath the Skin (Of Monsters and Men)

This one is also more winter than autumn to me, but Beneath the Skin has heavier tones and beats than Fever Dream, so it has less of the “snow falling” feel and more of a “buried under the snow” vibe. I hope that makes sense… Some suggestions to get you started, although this is one of my favorite albums of all time so it’s hard to select only a few:

• Hunger
• Thousand Eyes
• Organs
• I Of the Storm
• Backyard

About U (MUNA)

The album is more electronic than I would usually listen to or suggest, but it makes this list for Winterbreak alone. I found the song at a time when it hit a little too close to home, and it makes me think of a certain winter memory, so.

• Winterbreak
• I Know a Place
• After
• If U Love Me Now
• Everything

Oh My Messy Mind (James Bay)

I love everything about this EP, which doesn’t even necessarily contain sad songs but which includes songs that sound sad. There are only 4 songs, so I recommend giving them all a listen (and then listen to James’s first album, which is also very fall vibes-y).

• Bad
• Rescue
• Break My Heart Right

Leif Vollebekk

Moving on to artists in general now, Leif Vollebekk is definitely the first that comes to mind. I think you’ll find that most of my artist selections fall within a certain genre or two, but anyway. I first found out about Vollebekk’s music through George Ezra’s podcast George Ezra & Friends and pretty quickly fell in love. A few songs to get you started:

• Transatlantic Flight
• Into the Ether
• Rest
• Elegy
• The Way That You Feel
• Hot Tears

Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus

I was going to include these three artists separately, but they just work together so well while also having their own sound. Plus they released a joint EP under the band name boygenius in 2018. If you like one of them but haven’t checked out the others, you should. It’s difficult to select only a few recommendations, but:

• Night Shift (Dacus)
• Historians (Dacus)
• Fool’s Gold (Dacus)
• Garden Song (Bridgers)
• Friday I’m In Love (Bridgers)
• Turn Out the Lights (Baker)
• Sour Breath (Baker)
• Souvenir (boygenius)

The Civil Wars

Another obvious one and another group where I would suggest checking out both associated artists – John Paul White and Joy Williams. I’m still gutted the duo broke up (as music partners). Of their solo work, I particularly enjoy White’s, but both are great.

• To Whom It May Concern
• Poison & Wine
• The Violet Hour
• Falling
• Dust to Dust
• Disarm

Alara

Formerly known as Moushumi, the singer now performs under the stage name Alara. I’m still eagerly awaiting her full EP, but I love her music and sound. I even used one of her songs for a dance competition piece I choreographed.

• A Blackened Rose
• Demons

ANAVITÓRIA

I don’t remember how I discovered this Brazilian duo (Spotify, probably), but there was a time when I couldn’t listen to anything else when I was working on my honors thesis. Their music isn’t necessarily autumnal, but I think it works, and I really wanted to work them into this list.

• Ai, Amor
• Calendário
• Se Tudo Acabo

Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan has opened for both George Ezra and James Bay, so of course I love his music. He so perfectly captures what it’s like to live as an anxious and/or depressed person.

• Young Blood
• Sink
• Tidal
• Close Behind
• Anyway
• Please

Vancouver Sleep Clinic

I honestly don’t listen to them much, but they have music that sounds both airy and grounded at the same time. I guess it’s in the same vein, in terms of atmosphere, as the aforementioned Fever Dream by Of Monsters and Men.

• Unworthy
• Flaws
• Utopia
• Killing Me to Love You

Aisha Badru

Her voice and music are just so beautiful. Her latest EP Transcendence seems to really be based in nature as well. Her voice is haunting but full bodied and is unlike anyone else’s. Perfect for this time of year.

• Waiting Around
• Mind on Fire
• Forest Green
• Soil’s Daughter
• Splintered

Savior (George Ezra, feat. First Aid Kit)

I almost included both George Ezra and First Aid Kit separately on this list, but I thought this song collaboration fit best. As much as I love Ezra’s music and wanted to include him elsewhere, most of it doesn’t scream autumn/winter vibes to me. This one just barely makes the cut though. 😉

Change Is Coming (Winter Woods)

I don’t think I’ve ever actually listened to any of their other music, but this has come across my Spotify playlists before. And well, with that artist name…of course I had to include it.

5AM (Amber Run)

I also haven’t really listened to this artist, but the song is somewhat instrumentally sparse, and there’s a lot of “space” in the song, which gives it the cold weather vibes.

The Good Side (Troye Sivan)

This song is just so sad, so good at cutting right to your heart, that I had to include it.

Heartbeats (José González)

According to Spotify, González became nationally renowned in Sweden for his mix of autumnal indie pop and intimate acoustics. So, I guess it’s not surprising that he’s on the list.

Even If It’s a Lie (Matt Maltese)

I can’t listen to this one anymore because I choreographed a dance to it, and it brings back bittersweet memories. But I do think it’s perfect for this list.

Warwick Avenue (Duffy)

Now I get to the exciting part of this list, which is songs that some of you have suggested! First up is Warwick Avenue, courtesy of Mary at Books In Her Head.

Falling Autumn (alayna, feat. Astronomyy)

And this one is from Steph at Her Ink Heart.

Valleys (My Love) (Whitney)

to Perth, before the border closes (Julia Jacklin)

These two from Julia at Julia Does.

Honorable Mentions:

There are so many that didn’t make the above list but are on the playlist, and there are many others that didn’t make either. Many of these aren’t included above because I haven’t listened to them enough to be able to write about them or select a particular song. Others aren’t included because they’re quite obvious, and I don’t want to include all the obvious popular ones. 😉 And others just would have made my list way too long.

As of writing, the playlist already has 78 songs, but I’ll keep adding to it. Feel free to share your favorites so that I can add them too!

• Father John Misty
• Lewis Capaldi
• Maggie Rogers
• Bon Iver
• Birdy
• Snow Patrol
• Sleeping at Last
• Mitski
• Nina Nesbitt
• Hozier
• Haley Heynderickx