It’s officially fall, so I’m breaking out my big sweaters, mugs of hot chocolate, and of course, my favorite fall tunes. My favorite season is upon us, so I thought I would provide you with a list of my favorite autumn anthems to listen to when the leaves are turning and the air is becoming chilly.

Whether they’re cute love songs or dismal tracks that will make your seasonal depression worse, here’s a list of my fall song recommendations.

“Northern Attitude” – Noah Kahan

“Forgive my northern attitude. Oh, I was raised out in the cold.”

Noah Kahan has become a recent obsession of mine. As someone who has struggled to get into most country music, his indie twang is an accessible way for me to listen to banjos and acoustic guitar without clawing my eyes out from hearing the same old songs about trucks, blue jeans, and a nice cold beer.

 His entire album, “Stick Season” is really the perfect east coast, dreary Monday, fall album, but this song is a highlight. Throughout the album, Kahan details the fall/winter experience of living on the east coast, exploring themes of seasonal depression and the often melancholy side of the fall. 

evermore – Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)

“Gray November, I’ve been down since July.”

Taylor Swift’s alternative albums, Folklore and Evermore, become my anthems during the fall season. Honestly, every single song on those albums could fit on this list, but this is one of my favorites. Swift’s lyricism shines bright in this devastating track, especially in the bridge where she sings simultaneously with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver.

If you enjoy songs like this, I also highly recommend watching the “folklore: the long pond studio sessions” movie on Disney+ where Swift plays the Folklore album in full in a remote cabin in upstate New York. It’s a perfect fall vibes concert-ish movie to put on while studying.

We Fell in Love in October – girl in red

“We fell in love in October. That’s why I love fall.”

I know this is a basic fall playlist song, but I can’t help but add it to the list. As simple as the lyrics to this song are, there is a beauty to the understanded profession of love it encases. This song feels like sitting on the roof at sunset and laughing with the people you love as leaves of red trickle down around you, or frolicing in a cornfield in a long flowy skirt.

Unknown/Nth – Hozier

“Do you know I could break beneath the weight of the goodness, love, I still carry for you?”

Nothing beats Hozier’s lyricism and this song is no exception. I love all Hozier songs, but this one’s instrumental really stands out to me. The guitar lines are light and bouncy, hilariously contrasting the heart wrenchingly beautiful lyrics Hozier belts out. 

The choral-like harmonies that Hozier is so well known for shine so brightly in the bridge. It’s time that Hozier is recognized for songs that aren’t “Too Sweet” or “Take Me to Church” and this song is a perfect place to begin.

Juna – Clairo

“With you, there’s no pretending. You know me, you know me.”

Clairo’s voice feels like floating on a cloud and basking in sunlight. The airiness and lightness she delicately plays with is so refreshing in a time of harsh and ingenuine music. This song blew up on TikTok, which is usually a huge turnoff for me in whether or not I like a song. However, this song is just so romantic and ethereal sounding I can’t help but love it.

Similar to girl in red, Clairo plays with a beautiful simplicity in her lyrics. Her sound is so unique in a world of artists who all sound like copies of one another. This song was my gateway to Clairo and I am so grateful for what it introduced me to. Hopefully this song is a nice break from my other pretty depressing additions to this list.

I Know The End – Phoebe Bridgers

“The end is near.”

Ending on a devastating note, here’s a highlight from Phoebe Bridgers, the queen of quirky but melancholy lyrics. This song is perfect for those nights at 2 a.m. where you lay wide awake on your bed in the pitch black and ponder on every decision you’ve ever made — this may or may not be from personal experience.

This song may not pull you out of seasonal depression, but it will leave you obsessed with the mournful and pessimistic vibe that is Phoebe Bridgers.

Whether you’re dancing on the clouds with Clairo or having an existential crisis with Phoebe Bridgers, I hope you enjoy these recommendations. Let’s all bundle up with a blanket and cup of hot tea and enjoy this amazing season.