Winter persists in Toronto, in spite of our (always futile) prayers for an uncharacteristically early spring. While we wait for the thaw, here are some chill, moody music picks to get you through studying, commuting, or relaxing—whatever you find yourself doing during these snowy months. 

Listen to Chill Out: The Winter Playlist on Spotify Here!

1. “Red Ribbon Foxes” — A Fine Frenzy

The holidays might technically be over, but they don’t have to be gone from our hearts. Alison Sudol, the driving creative force of A Fine Frenzy, combines holiday nostalgia and the aesthetics of a Mary Oliver poem in “Red Ribbon Foxes”, one of the greatest holiday songs (and sadly, one of the most unrecognized).

2. “Wasteland, Baby!” — Hozier

Toronto might not exactly be the wasteland Hozier’s talking about in this iconic track off his second album, but in the winter, I think it comes close enough. This eerie acoustic track is perfect for walks along snowy city streets.

3. “Keep Breathing” — Ingrid Michaelson

This is the ultimate winter study and/or decompression song, suitable for rain, snow, or shine. Things can get heavy this time of year; luckily, we have Ingrid Michaelson to remind us to just breathe and do what we can.

4. “Travelling Along” — Jason Isbell

Another sad one, “Travelling Alone” is perfect for those long winter commutes or pretending you’re a lonely trucker heading off into the mountains. Jason Isbell is one of the greatest active country singer-songwriters and he’s so versatile he makes it onto almost every one of my playlists, no matter the theme.

5. “Northern Wind” — City and Colour

If only our actual northern winds were half as pleasant as this song. Either way, City and Colour is the king of relaxing guitar tracks, and this one reminds me that spring is coming, no matter how long it takes.

6. “Spectre” — Radiohead

Pretty much every Radiohead song is bleak enough to put in a winter playlist, but “Spectre” gets a special mention for mixing that wintry melancholy with spy thriller goodness. The 007 song that never was!

7. “Promise” — Ben Howard

When we don’t have snow, we’re fortunate enough to have freezing rain and this is definitely a rain song. But it’s hopeful, too; about home and shelter above everything else, combined with the gorgeous strings and the sound of the rain in the background. “Promise” is the kind of track you listen to while curled up with a cup of hot chocolate to watch the weather.

8. “The Colder Months” — Liza Anne

Tired, slow, rueful—this track by Liza Anne accurately conveys all the negative emotions that crop up as the months turn colder and colder. It’s perfect for dreary winter days when you can’t imagine spring ever coming.

9. “Parallel Timeline With Alternate Outcome” — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

How could I not include the soundtrack of a movie with the tagline “What is hidden in the snow comes forth in the thaw”? Fincher’s Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is set in an uneasy Stockholm winter and you can practically hear the cold in Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s work. 

10. “Girl From the North Country” — Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash

A classic for the winter months when you want to escape to the snowy woods of the (even further) north. Any version of this mournful ballad is excellent, but Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash’s re-recorded duet is undeniably among the best.

11. “Glow” – UNKLE

British band UNKLE is known for its combination of hip hop and electronica. You can hear these influences in this track, which wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack of a cyberpunk film. Picture a wintry night in a retrofuturistic city and you’ll have “Glow”.

12. “Winterfell” – Ramin Djawdi

So the end of Game of Thrones was heart-crushingly disappointing. But Ramin Djawdi’s score never disappoints and the North does remember—after eight seasons of incredible work, “Winterfall” still ranks among his best. There’s no winter song quite like this one.