“Holocene” by Bon Iver
An acoustic playlist without a Bon Iver track would just be appalling. This song, light in its sound, yet deep in its lyrics gives off the feeling of perfectly cold weather. Iver”s high-pitched voice pairs beautifully with the songs warm and mellow guitar notes.
“Promise” by Ben Howard
An entire minute of the intro to “Promise” is dedicated to the mixed sounds of fire crackling and soft raindrops falling on a tin roof, while leading into the haunting and raspy vocals of Ben Howard. The smooth lyrics alternate between isolated phrases and Howard”s classically long, drawn out voice. This track builds on its sultry acoustics, and develops into an alluringly upbeat sound.
Hailey Stewart
“Tracks In The Snow” by The Civil Wars
Before the bands gloomy breakup in 2014, The Civil Wars released this tranquil, wintery song in the prime of its career. Indie Rock meets the sound of Nashville country in this track. Light and wispy vocals of the duo”s female singer, blend seamlessly with her male counterpart. The guitar instrumentals sound clean, yet complex all throughout the song.
“Howling Light” by J. Tillman
This song, direct from one of J. Tillman”s best selling albums, Year In The Kingdom fuses the music of a Northwestern Indie track, with small, lively bursts of vibes from the 1960″s. The cadence of his vocals stands strong against the rhythmic clapping beat and crisp acoustic guitar.
“Winter Winds” by Mumford and Sons
The classic folk-rock sound of Mumford and Sons does not disappoint in this upbeat and alternative acoustic track. It is hard to pinpoint the entirety of the instruments used in this song, but the underlying acoustic guitar sound plays throughout. Along with the main vocals of the lead singer, Marcus Mumford, the sound of the group as a whole layers wonderfully.
“Snowy Atlas Mountains” by Fionn Regan
Wind filled sounds howl throughout this song flawlessly, as the lyrics tell a strong and compelling storyline. Swift acoustic guitar sounds, pair with solemn vocals to give off a dark and icy sensation.
“Winter Trees” by The Staves
“Winter Trees” begins as a soft and melodious acoustic tune then emerges into a mix of instrumental sounds and powerful, yet feathery vocals. Creating images of glimmering white snow, and cold puffs of breath, this song is a perfectly vivid winter tune.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @Hailey_ann97