winter listening: a cozy playlist
tunes to take you through January.
As I write this, it is 7:30am and there is not yet a hint of sunrise out my window. It’s only 6° this morning and the yards outside are ringed with little piles of snow. While I have been making it outside for my daily walks, I am spending nearly all my time in January hunkered down indoors. That means cozying up with a winter read or cooking up something warming for dinner, both of which require a cozy winter playlist.
As I have added little doses of seasonality to my life in recent years, tuning my listening to the time of the year has been a delightful way to mark the changing of the seasons. While Fleet Foxes sounds oh so good in January, on a sweltering July afternoon I’d much prefer to listen to Wet Leg. I have slowly put together playlists for each season over the course of several years. Some songs relate directly to the season, like The Blizzard by Camera Obscura. Others simply feel winter-y, like Moon River by Frank Ocean.
When it comes to something like holiday music, we’re all well versed in seasonal listening. The moment you hear the lyrics “chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”, it just feels like December. By creating a winter playlist that I revisit and update year after year, I have created a similar feeling for the whole season.
Below I’m sharing the 16 songs that currently make up my winter playlist. It lasts just about 1 hour and sets a cozy, winter mood. I have done my best to stay away from anything distinctly Christmas-y (although I will admit “If We Make It Through December” errs into holiday territory, but I listen to it all winter long and you can too). I’m sharing all the tracks below, along with direct playlist links for Spotify and Apple Music at the bottom. I hope this gives you a little inspiration to create your own winter playlist that can bring you cozy joy this winter and next.
Rut & Nuzzle by Snowblink - This song is about antlers! The band is called Snowblink! It has winter written all over it!
Should Have Known Better by Sufjan Stevens - There is nothing overtly winter-y about this song, but Sufjan Stevens’ voice is just soothing, sort of like a winter snowfall.
White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes - If I had to come up with a band that embodied winter it would be Fleet Foxes. Every single song sounds like a cold winter morning. Mournful, sometimes hopeful, but always reflective.
U.F.O.F. by Big Thief - Another track that simply feels like winter. It is a sweet, quiet and lovely song.
“The Blizzard” by Camera Obscura - The album artwork! The title! Lyrics like this!
I’ll bet there’s hot biscuits in the pan
Lord my hands feel like they’re froze and there’s a numbness in my toes
00000 Million by Bon Iver - The band name (roughly) translates to good winter and to me, Bon Iver’s music fits firmly in the winter season. My evidence primarily consists of this beautiful music video filmed in the depths of winter at Gooseberry Falls. Watch it!
If We Make It Through December by Phoebe Bridgers - While I delight in winter, sometimes the idea of just making it through is needed. This tune was originally written and recorded by country singer Merle Haggard, but Phoebe Bridgers makes it her own. You can feel her belief in her “plans to be in a warmer town come summertime” and you also feel certain she won’t make it. It’s a sad song, but I absolutely love it.
Green Green Grass of Tunnel by múm - This song opens with a very slow and soft build, with gentle, beautiful vocals. It is a lovely tune.
The Right Thing Is Hard To Do by Lightning Bug - It’s highly likely that the album cover has wormed its way into my brain, but this song sounds like an early winter sunset to me. It’s hushed and slow and I can just picture light falling across a field of snow.
Can I Believe You by Fleet Foxes - Yes! A second song by Fleet Foxes. To be honest, limiting it to just two by this very wintery band was hard in and of itself!
Moon River by Frank Ocean - While technically moon river is in no way wintery, the imagery of both moons and rivers are associated with winter to me. Also, everything Frank Ocean makes is incredible. Add this to your winter playlist!
Catacombs by Fog Lake - Soft falsetto and a rambling piano line. Peak cozy.
Stay Alive by José González - This song focuses on the sun coming back, and just sticking with it until the sun rises again. It’s an apt message for winter.
Winter Song by Ingrid Michaelson & Sara Bareilles - I mean, I had to! This whole album is also lovely winter listening.
You’re Crossing A River by Daniel Rossen - This is from one of my all time favorite winter albums, Deerslayer. I have seen Daniel Rossen perform multiple times and I cannot emphasize enough - this man is an artist! If you enjoy this song, give the full album a listen.
Storm by José González - a new addition to the playlist this year. A repeated lyric is “as soon as the storm is over” and I think it’s a lovely tune to bridge us through these darker months.
You can save the playlist on your preferred streaming service right here:
Now tell me, what is on your winter playlist? Do you have a favorite winter album? Recommendations are welcome!
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Note: A version of this post was originally shared in March of 2024. It has been updated and revised.
I’ve been trying to track down the perfect winter playlist all month and this is IT! Thank you!