Time and time again, music has shown it’s a stress reliever for students.
During this work-heavy time and the start of winter, a clear mood has been established: comfort in the sadness of this season. Calmer and more solemn songs tend to be a trend to encapsulate cold-like feelings.
Students are streaming melancholic comfort songs and artists with the idea that winter weather influences the consumption of solemn music. This is because winter can lower people’s moods, and in worse cases, people can develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
In previous years, bands and artists like The Neighborhood, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift and Ethel Cain have been go-tos in the winter. It’s time to find out what’s being played this year.
Social science teacher Ashley Taylor likes to boost spirits more with positive music, noting the impact music can have in depressing times.
“During the winter time I love listening to female rappers: Glorilla, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion,” Taylor said. “The winter time can be kind of depressing because it gets dark outside, but those rappers hype the spirits.”
Female rappers have had a clear impact in music by spreading the strong message of unapologetic empowerment in their work. It makes sense that some of these artists would be a winter pick.
Junior Shravya Kachibhotla listens to a mix of music.
“The vibes don’t really change with the seasons, but there’s definitely a lot more Christmas music on,” Kachibhotla said.“I’m kind of all over the place. Like, my favorite all-time band is Metallica, but lately I’ve been super into Tate McRae, and she’s actually my top artist this year. I think I’m more prone to listening to sadder music when it’s really cold and kind of dark and gloomy outside.”
Dark and gloomy music faces an increase in performance during the winter, this is because weather can impact mood.
While Taylor likes to lift spirits with female rappers, junior Myliah Roberts-Shaw finds comfort in the winter-vibes.
“For winter, I would say kind of like darker, colder,” Roberts-Shaw said. “And kind of like sadder too, a little bit. So like SZA and The Tortured Poets Department.”
