By Silvana Smith
In honor of my upcoming trip to Nashville (my first proper vacation post-COVID gbless. Thank you, Pfizer) I’ve made a little softcore and vibey playlist for y’all. We got angst, groove, beachgoth, alt pop, folk, acoustic, dreamy, and everything in between for this rural car ride from Virginia to Tennessee. These tracks are perfect for driving past sunbathed and tree-lined paths with fields filled with cows and singing in a car filled with friends, all desperate to escape the mundanity of everyday life. So whether you are actually headed south this summer or Nashville is only in your dreams; crank up these tunes, put on some shades, and roll your windows down to these 15 songs.
good 4 you ;; Olivia Rodrigo
Starting with a high energy banger, Rodrigo’s newest single is the pop rock anthem of the new decade. Best listened to while screaming the lyrics with friends with the windows down, “good 4 you” is the cathartic release everyone needs. With influences of early Paramore, this pop rock break-up song is my number one choice to kick off this playlist.
Zombie! ;; Orla Gartland
“When all of your body's burning up
You live like a zombie
Turn it off, and push it down
And it comes back round again”
An indie artist from Ireland, Orla Gartland consistently delivers on each unique track she releases and “Zombie!” is no different. The song is about the downsides of keeping all your emotions bottled up, since they tend to rot your insides. There’s nothing like a good road trip with friends to release your troubles and let go of the stresses of your life before you turn into a zombie.
Harness Your Hopes ;; Pavement
“Far away from the beginning
The shroud is made of linen
The yearling took your purse
The goth kid has a hearse”
A groovy rock song with nonsensical lyrics, this Pavement song has had its fair share of TikTok fame and is easy to sing along to even if you don’t quite know what you’re saying.
Head Cheerleader ;; Pom Pom Squad
Punk rockers Pom Pom Squad have been one of my favorite up-and-coming acts since I saw them open for Soccer Mommy on my birthday in Brooklyn back in 2019, and they’ve only gotten bigger and better since then. The track features heavy guitars with an addicting chorus and will be out on their debut album Death of A Cheerleader on June 25th.
Cut Your Bangs ;; Radiator Hospital
“No, you say you'll cut your bangs, I'm calling your bluff.
Yeah when you lie to me it's in the small stuff.”
Anyone else feel like cutting bangs impulsively? Honestly, the compulsion comes every few weeks or so, or whenever someone with cool bangs pops up on my feed (which is every other day really), and it takes everything inside of me not to cut off all my hard-earned hair growth progress—because let’s face it, I really just don’t look good in bangs. Impulsive road trips > impulsive haircuts.
Redwood Reverie ;; Plas Teg
“God bless the springtime
The summoning of things”
A catchy and relaxing folk track from the talented Adam Perkins re-released on vinyl posthumously by his brother Patrick, Redwood Reverie’s intricate and beautiful acoustic melody immediately transports you to a peaceful and sun-kissed country road.
The Art of Starting Over ;; Demi Lovato
A groovy bop filled with easy harmonies and a sunny vibe, this song off of Demi’s newest album is a favorite for setting a care-free mood. The track is an ode to never being truly tied down by your past and forgiving mistakes in order to rebuild a better you.
The Same Tattoos ;; Fences
“And I was born in the same town as you
Hell I even think we have the same tattoos”
A pleasant and nostalgic track from indie act Fences back in 2011. This song is about feeling connected to someone you never really knew.
Going to Georgia ;; The Mountain Goats
“The most remarkable thing about coming home to you
Is the feeling of being in motion again
It's the most extraordinary thing in the world”
After over a year of feeling stuck and stagnant, being vaccinated has helped me feel free to explore our world again and take advantage of the time and space we have on Earth. Feeling the motion of the wheels underneath you as you travel to somewhere new is something that should never be understated.
Don’t Swerve ;; Annie DiRusso
“You drive me home/ You don't swerve
But you're stoned/ And I'll sit there quiet
Wondering why my love for you's unrequited”
Lol, please don’t drive stoned, kids, but it might be time to finally confess your love to that one person who's been haunting your thoughts. If we’ve learned anything in 2020, it’s that life is short. Shoot your shot.
Fucking Depressed ;; Bad Daughter
“Should I go back to Florida, my salty paradise”
“Make my way out to Denver, it’s so peaceful out west” “Wanna go to the desert and drink Ayahuasca”
“Off to Sierra Mountain, literally calling my name”
For the listener filled with wanderlust and feeling more than a little lost, Sierra Kay’s solo project Bad Daughter has got the perfect track for you. With a more relaxed and dreamy sound than her previous more punk leaning alt records, the track, “Fucking Depressed,” features a bit of country-sounding influences and musings about wanting to leave the cold-hearted city.
The Drive ;; The Cars
“You can't go on
Thinking nothing's wrong, oh no
Who's gonna drive you home tonight?”
An ‘80s track that fits the 2021 vibe, the aptly titled song “The Drive” reminds us that even the strongest people still need someone to rely on when times get tough. Although each of us might be eager to start our hot girl summer, we all definitely went through a hell of a lot of trauma to get here. So, remember that it’s okay to lean on your friends a little, allow your brave face to fade away, and let someone else steer for a while.
Sea of Love ;; Cat Power
“Come with me my love, To the sea
The sea of love, I want to tell you
How much I love you”
This is a sweet, soft acoustic ballad (that you might recognize from the indie flick Juno) that always has a way of making me cry happy tears. Be gracious that we all made it to 2021. Let the sunshine fill you with warmth and don't be afraid to tell your loved ones you love them.
Interlude: Holiday ;; Paramore
“Now I get a holiday
Wherever I go I might stay
I don't plan on coming back
Ever if I can help it”
Whether you’re finally ready for a holiday or making a jailbreak from a life you didn’t want, driving on the open road can be one of the most freeing feelings ever. A mere minute and ten seconds long of ukulele perfection, this is one of my favorite Paramore songs to sing along to and soon will be yours, too.
Motion Sickness ;; Phoebe Bridgers
And finally, we are ending this playlist with what I think is the perfect road trip song, “Motion Sickness” by the iconic sad girl herself, Phoebe Bridgers. Something about the guitars, casual upbeat drums, and emo lyrics feel warm and fuzzy to me. Nothing sounds as bittersweet as Phoebe’s trademark lyricism of “I hate you for what you did and miss you like a little kid.” Although I’ve never been one for being car sick, sometimes the best remedy for emotional motion sickness is a long drive and a good soundtrack.
Drive safe:)
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