Songs to Shut Out the World : Quarantine Playlists

Music has always been my best solace. In college I built myself a perfect little listening hideaway just to get lost in my music. Mountains of blankets and pillows, kaleidoscopic ceiling lights, lava lamps and tie dye posters made it a stoner's dream. And - of course - it came equipped with an epic stereo system.

This playlist is meant to encapsulate the energy of my cozy little hideaway.

The modern barrage of news headlines, rising death tolls and universal uncertainties can be tough. By no means am I recommending we all stick our heads in the sand and avoid the public tragedies at hand. But what use are we to others if we're stuck in our own cycles of panic and disease?

If you feel yourself weary from fear, maybe it's time to tune out for a bit. This playlist is a mix of luscious dreampop, classic shoegaze and anything that makes you want to close your eyes and drop in. For absolute best results, I recommend listening with your favorite pair of headphones.

Care to do a bit of musically nerding out with me? Read a bit about each track and why I picked it below.

"Untitled" by Interpol

The opening track from Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights is as simple as it is effective. The delicate intro slowly swells until you find yourself in a kaleidoscope of fuzzed out guitars. Welcome to your musial underworld.

"Empire Ants" by Gorillaz (feat. Little Dragon)

Perhaps the king of musical escapism, this won't be the last time we hear from Gorillaz on this playlist. On the whole, 2010's Plastic Beach was a bit of a disappointment to fans. But this track came as a standout. It takes its time to build, but once you hit the two minute mark it's worth the wait. Shimmering synths ride on the wings of a bopping bass line. Add in the vocals of Little Dragon's Yukimi Nagano and you've got a masterpiece.

"The Moment" by Tame Impala

Tame Impala iconized neo-psychedelia for the masses. If it had to be summed up, Kevin Parker makes music that is vibey. "The Moment" is a standout track from his 2015 epic Currents. Parker's production style centers around musical layers. This song is a perfect menagerie for when you need to shut out the world. The spaced-out guitar solo from mid-track hits like a dagger. Close your eyes and succumb to the need to groove.

"Heaven or Las Vegas" by Cocteau Twins

If we had to throw all these songs in to one category, they're all influenced by a genre called shoegaze, which Cocteau Twins are a pioneer of. Their 1990 hit album Heaven or Las Vegas brought the ethereal, luscious wall of sound to popular airwaves, and inspired artists to follow suit.

"when the party's over" by Billie Eilish

Billie's hit album WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? is basically made for headphones. Her producer and brother Finneas weaves depth and hidden audio eggs throughout the album. There's definitely some shoegaze influence, as well as a dash of ASMR. "when the party's over" is one of the album's tamer tracks, and Billie's vocals take the lead over more subdued piano tracks and one hefty bass addition. Even if you're a super-fan of this track, listening to it with headphones is truly a unique experience.

"Tearing Me Up" by Bob Moses

Bob Moses immediately draws you in with their hit single "Tearing Me Up." A smokey bass line is energized by a classic house beat. It's somehow soothing but dance-y at the same time. It's a blend that the electro-indie duo has nearly perfected over their last three albums. It goes to show that just because we're shutting out the world, doesn't mean we can't throw a solo dance party.

"Every Planet We Reach is Dead" by Gorillaz

We bring Gorillaz back but with a bit more punch. "Every Planet We Reach is Dead" grabs you by the ear from the very beginning. A gooey guitar riff and stomping beat carry you forward before dropping out to reveal gentle harmonies. The entire song is audio tug of war, leading you up to a dismantling crescendo with crazy piano solos and synthed out madness. It's chaotically perfect.

"Notion" by Tash Sultana

Tash Sultana recently burst on to the indie music scene after years of busking in the streets of Australia and at-home solo jams shot her to stardom. "Notion" is one of her tracks that first caught my ear. Tash is similar to Parker from Tame Impala in that almost all their music is made entirely on their own. Tash's loop pedal and insane guitar skills make this track a dreamscape just begging to get lost in.

"Porcelain" by Moby

Alright, let's start to wind down shall we? "Porcelain" is a track that you probably know, even if you didn't know you knew it. Moby's Play became a commercial phenomenon in the late 90's and brought electronica to the masses. His signature downtempo beats make this a perfect "chill out" track to slowly ease us back to real life.

"PPP" by Beach House

If Cocteau Twins were our pioneers of shoegaze, then Beach House is the modern reinventor of the genre. Since debuting in 2006, they've become one of the finest indie groups of modern music. "PPP" is a dreamy waltz encased in a glass bubble. If you start to nod off, you'll certainly be awaked by the song's crescendoing outro - a repetition of layered guitar solos and delicate vocals that build and build. It's like being lifted up to the tops of the clouds before gently lowering back down with your feet on the ground.

But hey, if you wanna stay with your head in the clouds for a bit, I certainly wouldn't blame you.

I hope you enjoyed getting lost in the music with me. If you dig our "shut out the world" vibe, I encourage you to follow the Spotify playlist! I'll be adding more tracks throughout the month.

And please share this post with your music-loving friends. Stay safe, stay loving, and happy listening.

Xx Sierra