On a road trip
A great song to kick off a road trip. This one’s a shoulder shrugger.
This is my number one road trip song. There’s something about the melody that makes it impossible not to finger-tap that steering wheel.
Less of a song, more of a musical journey. It’s like having an entire soft rock-style orchestra play for you from inside your car stereo.
Something about the chorus of this song makes me feel like I’m floating. I always imagine myself driving down a highway when I hear this one.
This song truly is soulful. The jazzy instrumental feels like the musical version of a summer breeze.
At the beach
The acoustic guitar in this song is like a massage for your brain. Ideal for relaxing in the sun.
Now this is a beach song. I picture myself on a secluded beach with the sun setting, when the song ends, it fades into the ambient sound of crashing waves. Pure bliss.
There’s something so comforting about this one. The melody is both soothing and uplifting.
An absolute beach banger. Very relevant.
Made by a Dunedin band, this song gives off chill, beachy, classic Kiwi band vibes.
Going through a break up
This song hits especially hard while gazing out a car window at night, taking in the city lights and holding back tears as you imagine yourself in a music video or in the climax of a movie.
If you’re really wanting to bask in sorrow, listen to Hozier sing his heart out to an ex who he continues to be infatuated with. For an intensified experience, think about the fact you are not this so-called Francesca and allow that deep sense of jealousy to bury you further into your pit of despair.
This song is quite literal — from strangers to friends, friends into lovers, and strangers again. A hard pill to swallow right after a breakup, but a touching song nonetheless.
I’ll admit it, this song is originally from the movie Twilight New Moon, but don’t let that put you off! I dare you to try to listen to this song without dramatically reminiscing about the good times.
This song is for when you’re done crying, you’ve packed up the pity party and you’re ready to feel like a boss again. (Happy for you!)
