Quiet Music That Stays With Me
There is something I have only realized recently: the way I listen to music has not changed much, even as I have grown older and my genres have kept shifting. Every year, I listen to dozens—sometimes hundreds—of songs. Yet there are always about ten that truly stay.
Not just passing through a playlist, but accompanying ordinary days, overcast weather, quiet nights, and moments when my mind does not want to be disturbed.
Interestingly, these songs almost never come from mainstream musicians. Or at least, they are no longer at the center of my attention the way they once were.
Not Bound by Genre, but by Feeling
I am not the kind of listener who is loyal to a single genre. In a single year, I can move from electronic to kawaii, indie, R&B/Soul, jazz, alternative rock, country, pop, shoegaze, etc. Still, if I draw a line through it all, one genre almost always returns to the top: electronic.
Not aggressive electronic music or excessive euphoria—although I used to enjoy more energetic tracks like “Stay A While” by Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, “There For You” by Martin Garrix feat. Troye Sivan, or “Lighter” by Nathan Dawe feat. KSI.
These days, my taste leans toward electronic music that is calm, atmospheric, and gives room to breathe. Music that does not force emotion, but allows it to surface on its own.
Songs like “Thinkin’ of u.” by Snail’s House are a perfect example: soft, relaxed, and warm. The same goes for “directions” by rxi feat. wintfye—minimal vocals, rooted in electronic R&B/Soul, calm, yet still offering a gentle push.
This kind of music does not invite you to jump. It invites you to walk slowly.
Sweet, Feminine, and Unapologetic
There is another side of my taste that may sound “strange” to some people: I enjoy songs that are sweet, or too sweet, kawaii, and even tend toward the feminine.
Works by z² such as “Shizumu,” which feels melancholic, and “2人で最強,” which is more cheerful than “Shizumu,” or “상상” by MUNZi, mitshu & kishin—despite one of the vocalists being male—carry a soft and emotional tone. Music like this is often dismissed as too sweet, too fragile, or “not strong enough.”
Yet that is precisely where its strength lies.
It is not ashamed of being gentle. It does not feel the need to harden itself just to sound “strong.” And perhaps that is why this music feels honest.
Nostalgia for an Era I Never Lived
There are moments when I listen to “In Your Room” by Airiel and suddenly feel as if I am being pulled into the 1990s—despite being born in the year 2000.
The same feeling appears when I listen to “Intrapersonal” by Turnover.
This is not personal nostalgia, but cultural nostalgia: a longing for an atmosphere I never truly experienced. Shoegaze and dream pop, with their layered guitars, heavy reverb, and distant-sounding vocals, create a world that is quiet yet warm.
This music does not tell stories through long explanations. It tells them through atmosphere.
Rock That Does Not Shout
Interestingly, I have not completely drifted away from rock or alt rock.
Songs like “All In Time” by Soul Blind and “do it all for me” by cloudyfield are examples of rock that is not hysterical. There is distortion, there is weight, but everything is restrained. Perfect for foggy days, gray skies, and feelings that are not fully sad, yet not bright either.
This is not music for big stages. It is music for private spaces.
“Sober” and the Point Where My Tastes Meet
Among all the songs I listened to this year, there is one I returned to more than any other: “Sober” by Mixed Matches and Kellbender.
The song was released six years ago and, to this day (Dec. 31, 2025), has gathered only around 29,000 views on YouTube through its official channel—an almost invisible number when placed beside mainstream releases.
Yet for me, “Sober” is the point where everything converges: calm electronic textures, a cold and restrained atmosphere, heavy but non-celebratory bass, and an emotional weight that never turns theatrical. The song does not chase attention or demand a reaction. It simply stays—quiet, steady, and present—especially when the day feels dim and the noise feels unnecessary.
About Mainstream Music and Numbers
I do not hate mainstream music. In fact, I used to listen to it far more often. Carly Rae Jepsen, Martin Garrix, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, The Chainsmokers, Daft Punk, Jonas Blue, Owl City, Green Day, Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, blink-182, NEFFEX, Eminem, antent, Øneheart, and many other big names have outstanding production quality.
Mainstream music, however, is designed to reach as many people as possible.
The songs I listen to now—those with only tens of thousands to around a million listeners—are often made for the right people, not everyone.
The number of listeners does not always align with emotional depth. Algorithms, promotion, and trends determine numbers. But emotional connection determines whether a song is played once… or hundreds of times.
Music That Accompanies, Not Dominates
If I had to summarize it, my taste in music is not about genre, popularity, or status. It is about atmosphere.
About music that accompanies, not dominates. About songs that are not loud, but stay.
And perhaps, in the end, that is all I seek from music: something that quietly stays with me, without needing much explanation.
