Nicole Centofanti: “Borders” — Amber Liu
“Borders” is about change and going through hard times which is extremely topical right now. It’s a song to let you know things are going to be okay even though it may seem like they aren’t. I listen to this song whenever I need to be reminded of that.
Kai Smith: “Chanel” — Frank Ocean
The vibe and message of this song resonated with me for the entire semester. This and the slowed-down TikTok version is what I studied and did work to. When I listened to this song, I felt calm, zeroed in and understood.
Sarah Heydinger: “Surrender” — Solomon Keal
This is a piano instrumental song that can be relaxing to listen to when you want to listen to music but you don’t want any lyrics.
Claire Myree: “Say Something” — Justin Timberlake ft Chris Stapleton
This is an energetic song with a lot of rhythm that lets me jam out and forget all my stress!
Patrick Spillman: “Leave a Light On” — Tom Walker
This song is laid back, but also has parts where it is upbeat and can get you pumped up to study. I think finding songs that you can still focus on your work distract you from what is happening around you is important.
Olivia Tennefoss: “Keep On” — Sasha Sloan
This song may be sad in parts, there still is true sense of hope offered even when times are hard—like studying for finals during a pandemic. It’s upbeat and makes me feel good while working on school work. Sometimes when I’m not in the mood for words, I also listen to brain forest white noise or instrumental Christmas music.
Olivia “Lou” Westcott: “We Are Young” — Fun.
This is a ‘feel-good’ song that you can jam to whenever. It is timeless and always puts me in a good mood and makes me feel happy and reminds me to enjoy life.
Marathana Prothro: “Wait for the Moment” — Vulfpeck featuring Antwaun Stanley
Even though I’m not technically on staff, I can’t resist an opportunity to contribute to a playlist. I was introduced to this song during the Designing Your Life studio last summer. It’s got a classic, soulful vibe that’s perfect for unwinding after a semester like no other.
