By Dairell Alvarico

Fresh leaves fall ever so slowly, perched on rooftops and uneven ground; they leave a lingering scent of soil and nostalgia as they dance around the scenery with orange, red, and brown; it gives the landscape before you a sad yet ludicrous tranquility.  

The breeze picks up, swaying leaves that were still clinging to the trees with all their strength; some do stay resilient, but only for a passing moment when another wave of wind shakes the trees to its submission.   

Autumn is blooming at its finest, with reasons that vary depending on the person. Whether it be the anticipation of Halloween and all its creepy concepts, savoring the creamy taste of some good pumpkin spice latte, or just the overall feeling and aesthetic of a season that is beautiful from top to bottom.   

Everything is the same but so different. A walk in the park, driving downtown, or sitting on the balcony. Normally, these probably wouldn’t be so out of the ordinary in the spring and summer, or even when the snow hits.

Then fall comes with its warm palettes gifted to us in a neat ribbon, there comes along the feeling of peace; the sense of centering ourselves in the middle of it all, taking it all in. A theme of self-meditation, the focus on one’s spiritual reason, and taking a trip down memory lane to simpler times.   

The urge to take your phone out and listen to the traditional “autumn” music on repeat is instinct: Roslyn by Bon Iver & St. Vincent or the famous Cardigan if you’re more of a Swiftie than a lover of Twilight.  

But have you ever stopped and wondered why these songs fit the vibe of this season? Why is the meaning of these songs and the feeling that comes along with it amplified so much?   

We can take it from a lyrical perspective or an instrumental one, possibly both. For example, Taylor Swift’s Cardigan is more focused on first love and heartbreak in which she portrays these emotions as bittersweet.

And quite frankly, you can listen to this song on any season, but the way she expresses it turns its tune melancholic. Her lyrics become a moment of reflection, a song that resonates more than usual while gazing at autumn leaves, feeling the cold wind nip your nose as you admire the world around you covered in golden. The mood and the song, like two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly.   

In hindsight, it would be a shame to have a meaningful depth of such a general overview of indie songs without harnessing the full potential of what you can discover with a few artists who deserve a little bit of love and appreciation towards their numbers.

Understanding the messages they have been illustrating, through their words and melody. To answer the question as to why it is a perfect listen for a season that is the epitome of reminiscing life. 

Obstacles by Syd Matters   

A song made by a French band who got their name by clashing two names of Pink Floyd members: Syd Barrett and Roger Waters. They debuted in 2005, consisting of six people: Jonathan Morali, Jean-Yves Lozac’h, Olivier Marguerit, Remi Alexandre, and Clement Carle. When it comes to composing music, they like to add slow melodies with a little flair of electronic pop to it, creating a unique tune that is somber but at the same time, something you can jam to.   

If you already knew Syd Matters, then you would agree that this song is what they’re most well-known for. Obstacles was featured in the award-winning game, Life is Strange and would be considered its signature song by the fans. The general opinion of this song is mostly, “nostalgic” and “mesmerizing,” this could have been influenced by the melody; it is memorable, repetitive, and mixes beautifully as the song progresses.  

“We played hide and seek in waterfalls 
We were younger, we were younger 

Someday, we will foresee obstacles 
Through the blizzard, through the blizzard” 

The lyrics are just as profound. The bittersweet flashbacks of childhood and all its ups and downs. Growing up, it was inevitable to make fast decisions and be unaware of the world’s reality. It may not have been a big deal back then, but as of this moment they come along with a sense of longing. 

That thought also comes with the awareness of maturity and growth. Being older now, going through obstacles is easier, smoother compared to what we knew as a kid. But now with much more wisdom under the belt, it isn’t as difficult to understand. 

Growing up and moving past the hardships of life while looking back on the times when we were younger, and more naïve compared to where we are now. Autumn has a theme of reflection along with reminiscing of the past. The raw sentimentality of “Obstacles” fits into that perspective with flying colors.   

Long Lost by Lord Huron   

This band probably rings a bell, it’s because Lord Huron is the same group who sang The Night We Met which was released back in 2015 and is a popular audio piece in media. Debuted in 2012, with four members (Mark Barry, Miguel Briseño, Tom Renaud, and Ben Schneider) they are an indie-folk-rock band that create songs using their strong point of harnessing the deeper meaning of life into lyrics people can contemplate on. With the sheer amount of attention they are getting from their popular songs, it has become easy to overlook their more underrated work in comparison.  

Long Lost fits the bill on this one. The song focuses on freedom and self-discovery, how one goes on their own path to find themselves in a journey only they can take.  

“Leave me where the light pours down  
Through the trees like rain  
Let it wash over me like a flood  
Let it ease my pain  
Let it drown me”  

It portrays the feeling of finally belonging somewhere where someone can keep to themselves, without the desperation of company. To be in a state of pure happiness, that being alone isn’t so gut wrenching as most instances are.   

The transient, fleeting vanity of fall can form a bubble around you, a safe haven enclosed with nature’s beauty from the crunch of leaves beneath your steps to the rays of warm sunlight peeking between branches and coating the top of the trees like the first strokes of a paintbrush.

To be grateful for seeing what this season can do to decorate the setting, making it all right to be by yourself and seeing this all with your own eyes, to have your own individual experience and for a moment, all your problems don’t exist.  

Willow Tree March by The Paper Kites  

The inevitability of death can be a heavy weight on our shoulders, but if there’s one thing we can leave behind, what would it be?  

Paper Kites is a band formed in 2009 by Sam Bentley, their lead singer along with Christina Lacey who plays the keyboard and guitar. The other members: Sam Rasmussen, David Powys and Josh Bentley were their close friends before they later joined the group.

They center their music with elements of folk and indie combined and for a while, made demo recordings before making their first hit, Bloom in 2010 with Willow Tree March only releasing a year later from their successful album, Woodland.  

The extensive opinion on folk songs were mostly about the joys of nature and partying in social events such as a feast. This song however, treads on angsty waters; it aims on the impending circumstance of dying, a contrast to the previous songs which focus more on the brighter side of life; this one provides a form of unease that comes from the lyrics along with intense instrumentals as the song gradually progresses.  

“And we all still die  
Yeah, we all still die  
What will you leave behind?  
Oh, we all still die” 

Death is bound to happen at some point, but it could still dampen one’s feelings. Yet shifting the perspective to something more insightful unravels a deeper meaning. The thought of it shouldn’t always be doom and gloom, even though the song focuses a lot on that concept.

Break it down a little, and you can see that they also implied the importance of worth and the choice to show yourself to the world before time runs out.  

Expressing how fragile life can be, feelings of the deeper meaning of humanity, and looking back to the choices that lead you to this point in life, a sentiment to the fall aesthetic. How the season can regain such deep emotions, but end in a moment of reflection.