With the weather getting colder and the days getting shorter, it can be hard to keep ourselves in good spirits. 

Use this playlist as a reminder of the beauty the winter season has to offer:

“Beloved” by Mumford and Sons

From their new album, Delta, “Beloved” maintains the same English folk genre that Mumford and Sons is known for. With a tempo that builds up to the refrain and a central theme of being loved and accompanied, it’s hard to listen to this song and not be put in a better mood.

“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)” by The Byrds

This song is a product of the mid-’60s’ folk-rock band, The Byrds, who played an instrumental role in the development of the genre. Originally written by Pete Seeger, the song takes a majority of its lyrics from the third chapter of Ecclesiastes and uses an upbeat melody to put the listener in a happy and hopeful mood.

“The Fruitful Darkness” by Trevor Hall

This song has a unique perspective of darkness. Normally, darkness is depicted as barren, empty and well, dark. Instead, Trevor Hall’s central and closing lyrics of the song discuss darkness as being “in bloom.” The use of a single guitar keeps the focus on the words being sung. Even with the sun setting earlier and the trees growing bare, good things are coming this winter. Things outside might be dying, but the chill doesn’t mean we stop growing.

“Be Where You Are” by Birdtalker

It can be really easy to spend the whole season wishing it was another. Birdtalker, a band that mixes acoustic folk and indie rock sounds, uses this song to remind us to practice presence.

“Atlas Hands” by Benjamin Francis Leftwich

The smoothness of Leftwich’s voice and the story the song tells make this song perfect for days when the bitter coldness is getting the best of us. An added benefit to this song is it’s acoustic sound, with the guitar being the first thing you hear, and the rhythmic beat carrying you through the entirety of the song.

“Let it Be” by the Beatles

This song is well-known for a reason. The calmness in the repeated lyrics makes it perfect for days when winter stress is getting to us. The electric guitars and drums in many of the remastered versions add an upbeat and uplifting tone to keep the listener relaxed and hopeful.

“All I Can See” by Brendan James

The piano in this song is relaxing from the moment the music begins. James’ voice is full and carries the meaningful and heavy lyrics well. The message about wanting to learn new things and help those around him, all against the backdrop of the passing of time, helps to balance meaning and hopefulness of the song.

“Tree to Grow” by The Lone Bellow

The way this song tells the story throughout with the mixture of the male and female voice in the chorus makes it easy to listen to. It’s central messages of someone wanting to do something out of love and the timelessness of love makes you feel encouraged and reminded of those you love.

Follow this link to listen to the playlist on Spotify.