As the weather gets colder, so does the mood of my playlists. There is a specific, sacred kind of comfort that I find in watching the leaves turn while losing myself in music that refuses to rush. Maybe it’s akin to the effect of listening to podcasts to sleep, but there is something deeply hypnotic about hitting play on a long track and letting twenty minutes melt away while your thoughts settle into the background. These songs help me tune out the static of everyday life and create a private bubble where time moves slower.
Whether you are walking across Grounds wrapped in an oversized sweater or staring at a gray November sky, here are some of my favorite songs over ten minutes that turn any chilly day into a cinematic experience.
“For Sure” by Ethel Cain (9:53)
OK, so technically not ten minutes, but basically ten minutes. Ethel Cain is one of my favorite artists of all time, and her voice does heavenly justice to this midwest emo anthem. What was born as a rendition of an iconic American Football song has, in my opinion, evolved into its own masterpiece. I listened to this song the most during long train rides coming back from visiting my long-distance boyfriend, when I was feeling the saddest. I recommend tuning in when you have ample time to get lost in your own head during a long ride.
“White Ceiling” by Parannoul (10:00)
I suggest listening to this entire album to any shoegaze fans, as this is an integral part of the scene, especially the Korean one. Parannoul’s story is a mysterious one, but I think it makes the craft of his songs feel all the more intimate. This track in particular is more talk-y than the others in this album, and even if you don’t understand Korean, I think you will be able to feel the numbness and anxiety that Parannoul is singing about. This is great for when you don’t want to hear anything else, and just want to drown your ears in noise and words.
“Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” by Kendrick Lamar (12:04)
Kendrick Lamar has already been established as a phenomenal storyteller in recent years, and I think that this song is one of the most profound testaments to his talent. Spanning over 12 minutes, it acts as a multi-act play on mortality, grief, and survival that demands your full attention from start to finish. The first half breaks your heart through the perspectives of characters tied to the streets, while the second shifts towards a spiritual cleansing. It’s an absolute masterpiece of empathy and witnessing, and I think it’s best listening to on a late-night walk when your town goes quiet and you want to make sense of the world.
“My sputnik sweetheart” by Weatherday (13:44)
This song holds a dear place in my heart, as I discovered it during a hard time in middle school. Its explosion of emotion captures that overwhelming turbulence that you can only experience at 13, making it an essential companion for moody fall walks. Built out of distorted guitar fuzz and intimacy, it feels less like a traditional song and more like reading a diary written in a panicked frenzy. The way the song oscillates between quiet, fragile confessionals and walls of blinding sound reminds me of the feeling of my mind racing through countless thoughts. Put your headphones on and let the sheer catharsis of this track wash over you!
“Duk Koo Kim” by Sun Kil Moon (14:33)
With the longest duration on this list, “Duk Koo Kim,” is a haunting, meditative tribute to the late Korean boxer, whose death holds several layers of tragedy. After 14 rounds of hurling punches with Ray Mancini, Kim Duk-koo suffered a fatal blow, went into a coma, and died. Kim was only 26, leaving behind a pregnant girlfriend and his mother, who, along with the referee who oversaw his last match, ended up committing suicide. Thankfully, some good came from Kim’s death, as it prompted major safety reforms in professional boxing. Sun Kil Moon’s voice is perfectly suited for quiet nights when the sun sets early and you just want to get lost in a narrative.
