Music is so important when you travel, especially when traveling solo. I constantly have music playing and the headphones don’t stay home when I get on a plane for a new adventure. Nothing beats walking through the streets of a new city to a self-curated soundtrack to the movie that could be your life. In this post I won’t dive into the lyrical meanings of the songs so much, but rather the feeling the music incites. When music helps you remember a moment it’s all about the emotions you felt while hearing it. Here are some songs I connected with on my 2017 travels, I hope you like them as much as I do.

10. The Universe We Dreamt – Matt DiMona

The first song on this list is a throwback to my April trip to Yangshuo, China. This dreamy number by little known Los Angeles indie artist Matt DiMona feels simultaneously lonely and nostalgic, yet also hopeful and comforting. Picture listening to this one on the back of a motorbike with a cute boy, riding through lush, green mountains with no particular destination in mind.

Heard in: Yangshuo, China

Favorite Lyric:

But it’s true you know the story never ends.
We’ll stay forever in the summer.
I’ll hold you in the universe we dreamt.

Matt DiMona on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mattdimona

More info on Matt DiMona: http://nesthq.com/matt-dimona-up-all-night-ep

9. Television Romance – Pale Waves

I am utterly obsessed with The 1975, so when I came across this song I knew instantly that I would be playing it on repeat. At first I was struck by Pale Waves’ uncanny resemblance to the popular band, but upon later research I found that Matty Healy of The 1975 had actually discovered Pale Waves and declared that he must work with them. He ended up producing the band’s first few tracks and taking them on a U.S. tour with The 1975. I always like finding connections like this between artists.

If I like these first few tracks from Pale Waves this much, I can’t wait to hear what will come next. This song was the soundtrack to many of my morning walks to work in the fall, dodging traffic and scores of people on the busy, concrete jungle streets of Shanghai.

Heard in: Shanghai, China

Favorite Lyric:

You’re not so heavenly
You’re not much a euphony
But in the morning, it might just change

8. On + Off – Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers was a constant companion of mine throughout my travels in India. She draws her inspiration from roots in folk music, but takes that inspiration and applies it to pop beats and dreamy, unique musical accents. While this song doesn’t have any Indian musical influences, it still reminds me of exploring palace complexes in Delhi and watching the world go by through the window/door of a tuk tuk.

P.S. Pharrell is a huge fan and I respect that endorsement.

Heard in: Delhi, India

Favorite Lyric:

I’m coming up slowly
I’m high on emotion
With waves of this feeling
As light as the ocean

7. I Like Me Better – Lauv

I loved this simple, sweet song before coming to Thailand but it was on a particularly boozy night in Bangkok that this tune made its mark. Like most backpackers, we were on a budget, so that meant sneaking a bottle of vodka bought at the 7/11 around the corner into the hostel and having pre-drinks under a sign that explicitly states not to do that very thing. Strangers quickly became friends and drinking games were played, all to the lovely background sounds of Lauv.

Heard in: Bangkok, Thailand

Favorite Lyrics:

To be drunk and in love in New York City
Midnight into morning coffee
Burning through the hours talking

Note: I hadn’t seen this music video before I wrote this post, and upon viewing I promptly burst into tears. It is very cute.

6. Green Light – Lorde

Layovers can be a great thing. You have a few hours to explore a new city before reaching your final destination without the pressure of having to see everything. That being said, a 24-hour layover from 3 am to 3 am is not the most ideal timing. I had such a 24-hour layover en route from Shanghai, China to Amritsar, India, and wow, was I tired. Lorde’s anthemic track “Green Light” off of her newest album “Melodrama” helped to energize and push me through the streets of Singapore (definitely mentally fist-pumping through the strong piano bridge). Not only was I tired, but I was going through some personal anxiety and the lyrical content spoke to me on that level as well. One of the beauties of music is that one can always find something to fit their lives and make it feel like someone else out there might be feeling the same thing.

Heard in: Singapore

Favorite Lyrics:

I whisper things,

the city sings them back to you.

5. City of Stars – Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling

When I was in Mumbai, India, I made friends with a Danish-Somali girl who loved films. I went with her to see a famous Bollywood actor wave to his fans and to the movies to see La La Land. I fell in love with the film, taking my mom to see it again in Shanghai with me a month later. Say what you will, but the colors and cinematography and the overall feelings in the film are just incredible. The soundtrack followed me throughout my travels in early 2017 and though the movie’s setting is far from Asia I will always think of India when I hear it.

Heard in: Mumbai, India and Shanghai, China

Favorite Lyric:

Yes, all we’re looking for is love from someone else.

4. This Charming Man – The Smiths

In the early weeks of my return to Shanghai in September of 2017 I went through a massive obsession with The Smiths. While the lyrics of this song are sometimes deemed controversial, one can’t deny that it has an energy that will get it stuck in your head for days whether you can understand Morrissey’s unique vocal inflections or not. Another track that helped me on early morning walks to work, keeping me energized as I almost got ran over by a million motorbikes driving on the sidewalks.

Heard in: Shanghai, China

Favorite Lyrics:

I would go out tonight,

but I haven’t got a stitch to wear.

3. Paradise – Coasts

Everyone has a song or two that fills them to the brim with nostalgia for a moment or a certain time in their lives. The vocalist for this song isn’t particularly talented and the music isn’t particularly unique. But, as I’ve touched on in many of the entries in this post, a song can grow a new meaning depending on how you felt in your life at the time you heard it, and it’s the feeling that matters much more. Much like “The Universe We Dreamt” I was listening to this song around the time I went to Yangshuo to meet someone for only the second time. Though we hardly knew each other, this song always reminded me to trust my gut feeling and live in the moment, not worrying about if I would ever see them again (luckily the gut feeling was right and we have now been dating for almost six months). The song, to me, is a reminder to really experience life instead of always worrying about the future. That maybe wherever you are right now is paradise, not wherever you’re looking to a month, six months from now. A reminder that you shouldn’t let reality get in the way of your dreams.

Heard in: Yangshuo, China

Favorite Lyrics:

Give your imagination room to breathe,

don’t waste a second awake.

2. Waking Up Slow – Gabrielle Aplin

I don’t know why this girl isn’t a mega superstar yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if she were soon. I first heard this song in acoustic piano form and fell in love with her voice. I was blown away yet again when I heard this perfect pop song with clever lyrics and a great beat. I was a little sad returning to China, most of my family, friends and boyfriend all being thousands of miles away, but this song helped me to stay upbeat.

Heard in: Shanghai, China

Favorite Lyrics:

It’s a little bit clearer now
I love you like the sun came out.

Bonus piano version: 

1. Shape of You – Ed Sheeran

It’s no secret that Ed Sheeran is a mega-superstar worldwide, but to experience the effect of his popularity firsthand is fascinating. This song gets the number one spot on this list because I literally heard it in every country I visited in 2017. I heard its vaguely Caribbean beat pour out of beach bars in Goa, shopping malls in Singapore, and souvenir shops in Kuala Lumpur. I drunkenly danced to it on scorching summer nights in the clubs of the famed Khaosan Road in Bangkok. I performed it at KTV bars in Shanghai after a few beers for courage, accompanied by what I’m sure were killer dance moves. And when I finally headed home for a visit this summer, I heard the persuasive “come on, be my baby, come on” and rhythmic hand claps on Nebraska radio waves every five minutes. This song was literally EVERYWHERE. And guess what…I’m still not tired of it. It’s infectious and simple yet layered enough to keep your attention. It’s adaptable, it’s catchy, and it sticks in your head for ages. To me, everything about “Shape of You” is a picture perfect pop song, and judging by my firsthand experience of its mass appeal many people agree with me.

Heard in: Goa, India; Shanghai, China; Bangkok, Thailand; Osaka, Japan; Lincoln, USA; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Beijing, China; Singapore; Pokhara, Nepal

Favorite Lyric:

You and me are thrifty, so go all you can eat

Fill up your bag and I fill up a plate

We talk for hours and hours about the sweet and the sour

And how your family’s doing okay 

Note: At the time of writing this blog post this video had 3 BILLION views.

Honorable Mention Part One: Xiao Bao Bei

My boyfriend and I became obsessed with this song after he heard it every day, multiple times a day in the shops of Lijiang, China. We listened to it on all of our travels from China to Japan to India to Thailand. Xiao Bao Bei means “Little Baby” or “Baby” and even though I can only understand that phrase it doesn’t mean that this song won’t instantly get stuck in your head.

I have probably spent a total of an hour trying to figure out who sings this song over the past year and I still can’t find it. I’m lucky I could find it on YouTube! Warning: This will get stuck in your head for a week.

Honorable Mention Part Two: Rather Be –  Clean Bandit

I have a lot of memories attached to this song from various points in my life since it was released in 2014. My most recent memory is getting to listen to this song while walking in Kyoto as she sings about it! “With every step we take, Kyoto to the bay.” 

Plus, the video is set in Japan!

And last but not least…

A Spotify playlist you can follow if you want to make your own travel memories from any of these songs:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/sophloveless/playlist/5v298Vz5aa0Hp4X4sMAFHn

Follow me on Instagram! @sophloveless