The Perfect Indie Winter Playlist

As I look out of my bedroom window in Michigan, the leftover snow from our last snowfall is slowly seeping into the dull green grass as squirrels reappear due to the warmth (a whopping 41 degrees). It almost feels like spring is just around the corner, but alas, the official start date for spring isn’t until March 20, and the groundhog won’t even give us false hope until Feb. 2.

With only a matter of time before the next snowstorm, I figured I would put the rest of the season to good use, listening to all of the songs that feel like the essence of winter.

The season of winter is quintessential to the world of indie music. Just as my writing of articles is influenced by seasons and life experiences, the same holds for indie music writers. Indie winter music has intense themes of isolation, dormancy, heartbreak and sadness. Through the cold emerge deep stories sung by powerful artists.

“Flowers in December” by Mazzy Star

It may not be December anymore, but Mazzy Star screams winter. I was inspired to write this article while listening to a Mazzy Star song from “Among My Swan.” The cover art particularly caught my eye. The white swan against the navy blue background, its simplicity and texture made the album feel very personal and handmade.

Winter can often be a time for reflection. The indie song “Flowers in December” by Mazzy Star explores feelings of yearning and regret. The mellow guitar is actually quite soothing, and the tambourine upbeat, yet the lyrics and harmonica by Hope Sandoval are a sad tale of fragile and lost love. A flower in December, on the other hand, is a symbol of hope through the cold and darkness, matching the optimistic instrumentals. This complex song is perfect for winter reflection.

“God Turn Me Into a Flower” by Weyes Blood

The New Yorker describes Weyes Blood as giving soft rock an “apocalyptic edge,” which I have to agree with. Her music feels otherworldly but also personal. Weyes Blood is able to create a feeling of transcendence while addressing real issues with themes of isolation and image.

The song “God Turn Me Into a Flower,” released in 2022 on the album “An In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow,” retells the Greek myth of Narcissus according to an interview with the artist by NME. The story of Narcissus is that he fell in love with his own reflection and, in the end is turned into a narcissus flower, a daffodil. The song calls out modern society’s obsession with looks, pursuing the perfect reflection. This song continues the floral theme from “Flowers in December” by Mazzy Star.

Winter and the holiday season can uproot self-confidence and create new pressures for what the perfect body looks like, what clothes are “in,” what food you should be eating and so on. This song is a reminder to stay true to oneself and try to break out of societal traps, especially in the age of social media.

“All Mirrors” by Angel Olsen

The next song is “All Mirrors” by Angel Olsen, which perfectly follows the last two on the playlist. It is a journey of self-discovery, beginning with themes of regret, broken relationships and inner demons. As the song continues, it switches to acceptance and new beginnings. The song symbolizes moving on from the past, which is a perfect way to transition from “Flowers in December” by Mazzy Star and “God Turn Me Into a Flower” by Weyes Blood. This song was named best new track by Pitchfork in 2019.

“The Frost” by Mitski

I find myself returning to Mitski’s music each winter since I first discovered her. Her music is some of the most heartwrenching I can think of, only suitable for cold, dark days. “The Frost” by Mitski has themes of isolation, loneliness and coldness. The frost in the song represents short-lived connections that soon disappear. Mitski is a genius when it comes to lyrical storytelling and “The Frost” is no exception.

“To Be Alone With You” by Sufjan Stevens

“To Be Alone With You” by Sufjan Stevens is a deeply intimate and spiritually charged piece, filled with religious motifs. Winter can be a time of self-discovery and introspection, with questions that resonate deeply with the lyrics of the song. This song has created debate about the meaning, like much of Stevens’ music. There is a discussion over whether it is about prayer and divine love, or a deeply intimate queer relationship. Winter is the perfect time to debunk this on your own.

I have to admit that I heavily judge albums by their covers, and this one is so beautiful. This album, titled “Seven Swans” features a prominent swan on the cover, similar to “Among My Swan” by Mazzy Star. Swans, which represent grace, wisdom and transformation, seem to hold an important role in indie winter music.

“So Much Wine” by Phoebe Bridgers

Phoebe Bridgers falls into the same category as Mitski for me when it comes to indie winter music. I rediscover her music each time it gets cold. Sadly, Bridgers has been on hiatus, forcing us to listen to her current discography on repeat. Unlike most of the songs in this article, which I personally associate with winter, Bridgers has the EP “So Much Wine” which is all winter and Christmas songs including “So Much Wine,” “Day After Tomorrow,” “If We Make It Through December,” “7 O’Clock News / Silent Night,” “Christmas Song” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” There is a lack of indie Christmas songs that Bridgers fulfills.

The album cover for the EP is beautifully done. The cover has a wintery mountain scene, featuring an old red car with two ghosts inside. A similar ghost is depicted on the “Stranger in the Alps” album cover, which was released five years prior, but features a warm, summery scene. The covers perfectly capture the seasons in which they are best enjoyed.

“Angel in the Snow” by Elliott Smith

“Angel in the Snow” from Elliott Smith’s “New Moon” album is next on the playlist. This heart-wrenching song goes well with the dreary weather. These mellow acoustics and his soft voice make this song ideal for staring out of the train window after a devastating breakup.

Songs about heartbreak are a staple of indie winter playlists, and “Angel in the Snow” is no exception. Winter tends to be a time of reflection, change and transition.

“I Know It’s Over” by Jeff Buckley

What’s sadder than The Smiths or Jeff Buckley? A cover of The Smiths by Buckley. Don’t get me wrong, The Smiths version of “I Know It’s Over” is sad and perfect as is, but there is something about the way Buckley sings it. There is a niche sub-genre of really sad songs that mention mothers, and this song is right up there with “Class of 2013” by Mitski.

While other songs on the playlist remind me of the snow and cold, “I Know It’s Over” reminds me of the rain. Walking through the cold rain to the Chicago “L” train late at night.

The playlist and other notable winter artists

I sadly couldn’t fit every great indie winter song into this playlist, and there are some other artists worth mentioning, including Beach House, The Strokes, Lord Huron, Clairo, Sharon Van Etten, Slow Pulp, Cocteau Twins, Adrianne Lenker and Big Thief. I hope you enjoy the rest of your winter listening to these fine indie tunes.