Dear Reader,

The autumn season is all about change and transformation, the departure of summer, and the inevitable arrival of winter. It is rusted road signage and the well-trod path beneath worn boots. It is not a destination, but a journey. Sandwiched between two incredibly bold seasons is the ever-popular and toasty season of fall, wrapped in woolen scarves, heeled boots, and warmed by a cup of sweet apple cider — if the temperature drops below 70 degrees, that is…

Several AMP staff members have put together a playlist that represents their feelings about the fall season. The common themes within this playlist are the wonder of sweet memories, a remembrance of dreams past, love both found and forlorn, the joys and pains of growth, and all the crazy experiences on this road trip called life. These themes are embodied in high-energy musical experimentation, smooth and jazzy coffee shop tunes, raw, unadulterated lyrics, and breathy, keening arias of mourning and hope for the days to come. Listed in this playlist is an assortment of genres, instruments, and creators, coming together in a catalog chock full of unique flavors and treats! 

Try something new, you may be surprised at what it has to offer. Maybe your next new favorite is here. 

With love and warm spices,

The AMP Team

Agnes: When I think of fall, and more importantly ‘fall’ music, I tend to lean towards more mellow, sometimes cozy and melancholic music. So of course, I had to add songs that convey that vibe to the playlist! I think my favorite out of the songs that I contributed would have to be ‘homesick’ by the band Wave to Earth, who I actually got to see perform in Dallas this August (a 10/10 concert experience). They ended up performing ‘homesick’ as a surprise song in their setlist, which just makes the song all the more special, even if the song isn’t all that cheerful. I would probably put ‘The Stars of Track and Field’ by Belle and Sebastian as another favorite fall song of mine. I’ve realized that I tend to listen to a lot of Belle and Sebastian’s music during this time of year, and I feel like both them and Billie Marten are able to make music that encapsulates the vibes of fall so well. 

Brianne: To me, fall is all about coziness and nostalgia. One of the songs I chose for this playlist is ‘A Dance Round the Memory Tree’ from the Prince Caspian film. Chronicles of Narnia is such a bittersweet story to me, and this song encapsulates the longing and pride I feel when looking back on my younger self and realizing how much I’ve grown. The other songs I chose were ‘rises the moon’ by Liana Flores and ‘L4’ by Mooncake. It can get so hard to focus on the joys of the present and future when trudging through the slog of life’s challenges, but these songs say that even though things may be tough, hope is on the horizon and better things are yet to come. 

Victoria: Fall weather, specifically November, reminds me of going on a long car ride through an orange, warm-toned forest. If I were to greet Winnie the Pooh he would wait until all my songs are played because he understands, respects, and loves my tastes. But joke’s on him, I have a deep-seated vendetta against that pretentious bear. I’ll make him listen to all my songs and drive back home. After all, It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And the majority of my songs revolve around girls, because girl month is every month. You’re welcome.

Shreya: Autumn is the season of change. The darkening of the leaves, the weather, and even the skies signifies the end of spring and summer and prefaces the cold chill of winter. But we’re not quite there yet. I feel like a hibernating bear these days, wanting to slumber for months on end, feeling my heart beat slow and steady. So, I’ve added a few songs that fit that vibe. BTS’s Let Me Know is one of the more upbeat tracks on this playlist, though still slow and measured. It’s almost… melancholic, with just a tinge of desperation. Next up is I Found by Amber Run, which is another soft and somber track that reminds me of the falling rain. After this, Mr. Sandman by SYML. Of all the tracks I’ve added, this one is my favourite. It’s a bare-bones song, with stunning vocals and a light, lilting melody that still somehow manages to weigh heavy. Last but not least is Bon Iver’s Roslyn, which I first discovered in the Twilight soundtrack. This one speaks for itself — is there anything that says autumn more than Twilight? However, the song itself is beautiful, and most definitely worth a listen. With that, remember to take it slow this season, and to stop and watch the leaves fall. They’re turning colors just for you.

Gavin: Fall is such a fleeting season, especially in Texas, that it was a little hard for me to define it by sound at first. I eventually landed on chill, vintage, and indie sounds, and especially songs with melancholy themes. I added a fair amount of citypop for that nostalgic vintage vibe, because even though it’s a bit more upbeat it somehow still hits you in the feels. I also knew I had to include something by Jack Stauber, because his sound is so quirky and liminal; I tried to avoid his more overplayed songs and instead went for Two Time, a favorite of mine with odd lyrics and layered sounds that make you feel a little out of place. The other set of songs I’d like to call out are Don’t Go and Valerie by the band First of October, because they’re so creative and I really encourage everyone to go watch the making-of videos they release on YouTube every year. These two songs sound so deeply emotional and personal, but the truth is those lyrics were written as part of a challenge, and probably weren’t based on a real relationship at all. I love using my imagination to try and fill in the gaps left by the resultingly vague but somehow terribly sad songs.

Sneha: Though Texas has just barely decided to start to cool its air to autumnal temperatures, some of my favorite artists have been proactive in giving us stunning new music for the season. “Dreamer” by TXT and “Slow Dancing” by V are both recent releases by long-time beloved artists of mine, two sweet, soft pieces that also happen to be titled after some great ways to spend your fall (after midterms are over and done with, of course). October also brought us the highly anticipated debut album of Jay Chang — whom, if you’ve been in a room with me for more than five minutes, you have definitely heard of. “Up To You” is a more sensual, loving number that makes for a beautiful soundtrack for your chilly walks around campus — or your road trips through the parking lots, if you so prefer. Happy listening!