September is the time for new routines, new friends and most importantly, new music. Over the next few busy weeks of reestablishing a routine, a back-to-school playlist is undoubtedly a necessity. Whether you’re just arriving in Edinburgh for the first time or returning after the summer break, I’ve put together a few songs that I think capture the mood of early autumn and can soundtrack this new season.
‘In the Air’ by the DMA’s
Whether you’re a fresher wandering the streets of Edinburgh for the first time or a returning student immersing yourself back into your uni routine, this track is the perfect opener for a transitional-season playlist. This Australian rock band has created a song that is hopeful and yet melancholic. Nostalgic and filled with anticipation. It captures that unmistakable September mood, full of excitement, while fondly remembering the summer left behind.
‘Iceblink Luck’ by the Cocteau Twins
An iconic Scottish band, the Cocteau Twins, delivers their signature dream-pop brilliance with this track. For any One Day superfans, this song might remind you of when Em says goodbye to Dex in episode three, as this song plays in the background, cementing its place on this playlist as the perfect return to Edinburgh song. The indecipherable lyrics also make it the perfect study companion, as it never distracts.
‘Pretty’ by New Dad
This band from Galway have had a breakout year, playing Coachella a few months ago with fellow Galwaygian Kettama, and releasing their new album Altar earlier this year. ‘Pretty’ embodies their signature sound: soft, hazy, and comforting. It’s the perfect antidote to the social overload of tutorials and lectures, offering a brief retreat into something warm and familiar. For those still adjusting to life away from home, NewDad might just be the musical comfort blanket you didn’t know you needed.
‘Changing’ by the Sway
Liverpool’s The Sway have yet to release an album, but their existing singles and EPs are more than promising. The scouse twang of this band shines through in this song, making it even more charming. Not to mention its name ‘Changing’, which makes it the perfect song for the start of the school season. If you’d like to introduce your friends to some new up-and-coming music, The Sway is the band for you. Their youthful, cheerful sound is perfect for improving your mood on those grey early mornings.
‘Conditions’ by Chalk
This experimental trio from Belfast have created a song more edgy than others on this playlist, but filled with all the angst of returning to routines and lecture halls. In curating the perfect September playlist, I asked my friends for their top songs of the month. ‘Condition’ was recommended to me by a friend who called it the ‘modern day Born Slippy’, an apt description. So if you’re ever walking down Princes Street and would like to feel like you’re in a modern-day Trainspotting, this might be the song to play.
Illustration by @luspaints