Sad Girl Autumn Returns

As another hot girl summer comes to a close, it’s time to wash off last night's makeup and turn our attention inward. A new season is upon us.

Supergroup Boygenius promoting their album, “The Record”. Photographed by Shervin Lainez via npr.org

You're walking home from work, headphones on and ready to listen to your summer playlist, but something stops you. All of a sudden, you don't know what to play. It’s September, technically still summer, but the slight chill in the air says otherwise. In fact, Charli XCX herself says otherwise too. “Brat Summer is over!”, she declared on X just a few weeks ago. You look around and realize: the temperature is dropping, the leaves are turning, and the urge to bundle up is upon you. Sad girl autumn is back.

Fall and winter can't seem to come any faster this year. As the Pinterest girls fawn over fur coats and knee high boots, the internet has started to long for the days of acoustic guitars and piano ballads. As September nears its end, it's safe to say that fall is coming, if not already here, and it's time to update our playlists to accompany the changing of the seasons. 

It’s more than just a genre; it's a mood, a feeling, and a visual aesthetic. At its core, it's characterized by a melancholic and introspective sound that contrasts with the bass-heavy beats of our beloved summer hits. Raw, emotional lyrics take center stage here, and paired with stripped-back production, they make for a match made in heaven. Thematically, “Sad Girl Autumn” delves into heartbreak, nostalgia, and self-reflection. Artists get to bare their souls, inviting us to journey through their most vulnerable moments. 

Gone is the glittering, tropical feel of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism and the infamous, shocking pops of Brat green everywhere. Visually, the aesthetic now embraces warm, muted color palettes. Wipe off the glitter and go for a blurred toasty brown lip instead. Album artwork and music videos often feature cozy, indoorsy imagery - think oversized sweaters, steaming mugs of tea, and rain-streaked windows. Yes, it’s already time to rewatch the All Too Well (10 minute version) Short Film.

Several artists have become synonymous with the Sad Girl Autumn sound, consistently delivering albums and singles that capture the essence of the season. So let's take a look to see who we’re listening to this fall.

The Tried and Trues

Phoebe Bridgers: Possibly the poster child for the genre, Phoebe is the epitome of sad girl music and, frankly, we wouldn’t have it any other way. Not only will she be at the top of our playlists, but her band Boygenius along with Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker will be as well. A bonus addition to your playlist is her feature on Taylor Swift’s ”Nothing New” from the Red (Taylor’s Version) album.

Lana del Rey: Hard hitting lyrics? Check. Haunting vocals? Check. Another staple, Lana del Rey will always deliver when it comes to atmospheric production and dreamy feelings. 

Mitski: It's definitely okay to cry while listening to Mitski. Her raw, emotionally charged indie rock perfectly encapsulates the complex feelings associated with Sad Girl Autumn. Songs like "Your Best American Girl" and "Nobody" showcase her vulnerability in her writing, mirroring the tumultuous emotions often associated with the season's changes.

Don’t forget our newer sad girls like Gracie Abrams, Lizzy Mcalpine, Clairo, and Holly Humberstone, too, all proving themselves to be frontrunners of the genre. 

Of course it's not only the girls who can be sad girls, where would the genre be without “Roslyn” by Bon Iver and St. Vincent, made even more popular by its moody feature in Twilight’s sequel, New Moon. Our playlists would be nowhere without the melodic sounds of Hozier, The Smiths, The National, Radiohead, and Sufjan Stevens. 

So, as we transition from the exuberant anthems of “Brat Summer” to the melancholic tunes of “Sad Girl Autumn”, it's clear that this musical shift is more than just a passing trend. It reflects our collective desire for emotional connection and introspection as the year winds down. The enduring appeal lies in its ability to provide comfort and catharsis. As we wrap ourselves in cozy sweaters and watch the leaves fall, these songs become the soundtrack to our own personal reflections and growth. The seasons may change, but one thing is certain: as long as there are chilly days and cozy nights, there will be “Sad Girl Autumn” music to accompany us through them.