I’m not sure what’s been going on recently, but I’ve felt very overwhelmed by life and have needed to step back and just breathe. On days when it all becomes too much, it seems like the noise of life is just too loud and full of static. On those types of days, sometimes the best remedy is simply to lay down, turn on some soft music, and just breathe. The following tracks are some of my favorites to help calm a frantic mind.

“Eternal Sunshine” - Epik High

It wouldn’t be a comfort playlist without at least one Epik High track included. Tablo’s raw openness about his own mental struggles in his music may be one of the most comforting aspects of Epik High as a whole, because it’s known that these lyrics and beats come from a deep and introspective place. Maybe it’s because my ultimate bias SUGA was involved in the production of “Eternal Sunshine,” but I think it’s deeper than that. While the song does tackle the fact that anxiety and hardship are part of life and what you experience is real and difficult, it also is important to continue to move forward and see how far you've come to this point. While some of the lyrics may seem pessimistic, that reality does, and the ability to recognize the fear and still walk forward is an incredibly powerful thing.

“꺼내 먹어요” - Zion.T

A track I consider to be the most comforting song of all time, Zion.T’s “꺼내 먹어요” hits just about every mark for relaxation. If you’re overworked, constantly tired, and feel like the world is constantly moving at a pace that you can’t keep up with, “꺼내 먹어요” is a short, almost three-minute song where Zion.T understands your struggle and gives you a soft reminder to take time for yourself. With smooth jazz influences and a soft piano melody, this song was literally created to bring you the comfort you need when nothing else can.

“Walking” - Suran

Suran has a very indie type of voice, but there is a strange comfort in it. “Walking” is a surprisingly upbeat song that talks of moving forward into the future, even if the present causes hurt. It’s a song that looks to the light of the future and focuses on it, which can be helpful when the world seems overwhelming. Everything will be fine, just keep walking. 

“Cloth” - Crush

Crush’s entire album From Midnight To Sunrise has a lot of great calming tracks, but the lofi quality of “Cloth” makes the song extra comforting in difficult times. The traditional R&B melody leaves a lot of room for Crush’s smooth vocals to shine, and when mixed with the lofi elements, it elicits a feeling of calmness within the heart. 

“No Blueberries” - DPR Ian ft. DPR Live and CL

While this song isn’t a soft ballad or slow tempo R&B track, there is something about the bossa nova melody that mellows out the mind and the bluesy lyrics provide a certain level of comfort, as if the songwriter understands the mental struggle. CL’s smooth vocals in the chorus are a particular favorite point, as her tone adds a soothing element to the rest of the track that fits perfectly with DPR Ian. The song has a basic and retro beat, which is just a perfect comfort that is difficult to properly describe.