15 Songs to Help Deal with Coronavirus Anxiety

The great singer, actor, activist, and athlete Paul Robeson once said “Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization's radical voice.” Robeson’s message is as true during the Trump years as it was during the era of Civil Rights.

Artists, and musicians in particular, also have the unique power to calm and soothe the world. This week, millions of us around the globe are continuing to social distance ourselves to “flatten the curve” of the coronavirus pandemic. (If you aren’t already doing so, now is a great time to start.)

The good news is that — for those who are physically able to — listening to music is one activity that we can do on our own to cope with our anxiety. So kick back and relax wherever you’re social distancing with these 15 songs to soothe anxiety.

Willow — “Female Energy, Part 2“

Willow Smith has been super open about her own experience with anxiety. Released last July — eight months prior to putting out The Anxiety with her partner, Tyler Cole — Willow’s self-titled third album is a brisk 22 minutes of songs to soothe anxiety. On the second track, "Female Energy, Part 2," Willow contemplates her place in the world against dreamy guitar chords. Give it a listen and I guarantee you’ll feel like you’re floating in space. Looking for more female energy? Good news: the song is a continuation of a 2014 drop, “Female Energy.”

St. Beauty — “Going Nowhere”

Atlanta duo and members of Janelle Monae’s Wondaland crew, St. Beauty (Alex Belle and Isis Valentino), have several dreamy, nostalgia-tinged anthems to their name. My personal favorite is their first single, “Going Nowhere,” from Wondaland’s 2015 compilation album, The Eephus. The song is inspired by the ancient Chinese lore, “The Red String of Fate,” in which two people who are destined to meet are tied together with an invisible red thread. “In other words, it’s about love for eternity,” St. Beauty told The FADER. Despite the title, the song plays like a road trip to faraway places, which couldn’t be more important in a time of social isolation.

Petite Noir — “Chess”

Petite Noir (Yannick Ilunga) is “The King of Anxiety,” as his five-song 2015 EP is aptly titled. The entire project is a balm for the anxious, particularly lead single, “Chess.” The song was inspired by a Skype fight with his girlfriend. On it, Ilunga proclaims “See, I can live, it’s possible / That I can breathe, it’s possible / I can dance, it’s possible / And I can smile again, it’s possible” — a reminder we could all use right about now.

Kelsey Lu — “Shades of Blue”

Singer/songwriter and classically-trained cellist, Kelsey Lu, refers to her sound as “Luthereal.” On a 2018 single, Lu sounds hopeful and ready to overcome her “Shades of Blue.” As the story goes, Lu wrote the song when she was squatting in a leather factory in Hoboken, New Jersey, depressed, and going through a series of musical, financial, and romantic changes. Yet, she was writing more than she had been. “This song is a manifestation of that point in my life,” she said in a press release at the time. “For me, it was a glimpse of hopefulness and peace from within that depression and I can only hope it will bring a similar moment of peace to the listener.” Here’s to overcoming our collective shades of blue.

Jhene Aiko — “Spotless Mind”

From all her calming hits, it would seem like Jhene’s entire point of making music is to calm souls. Her 2014 song “Spotless Mind” is a meditative song about the inevitable existence of change.

Labrinth — “Forever”

If you’re a fan of Euphoria, you are likely familiar with the work of British singer-songwriter, Labrinth, who contributed the show’s outstanding score. Hypnotic and at times ethereal, “Forever” — the fourth track on the show’s soundtrack — makes an appearance several times over the course of Euphoria’s first season. I could listen to it — you guessed it — forever...

Moses Sumney — “Everlasting Sigh”

Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney first won his way to my heart in 2014 with his live performances of “Everlasting Sigh” (which he released a studio recording of in 2016). Six years later, it’s still easy to get lost inside of Sumney’s soulful loops and heavenly voice.

Frank Ocean — “Moon River”

Frank Ocean’s “Moon River” is a tear-jerking take on the 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany's classic originally sung by Audrey Hepburn. There’s something soothing about hearing Ocean sing of two drifters off to see the world.

Madison McFerrin — “No Time to Lose”

On “No Time to Lose,” Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Madison McFerrin’s handclaps and enchanting a capella soundtrack a workout for your soul. The song is a single off of her 2016 debut EP, Finding Foundations: Vol I. Give it a listen. I promise you’ll feel better.

Alessi Brothers — “Seabird”

You’ll fall in love with this breezy 1976 song from the pop duo, Alessi Brothers. On it, the twin brothers from Long Island sing of a “lonely seabird” who’s been away from land for too long. Relevant? Maybe. Soothing? Definitely.

Charlotte Day Wilson — “Work”

Canadian soloist Charlotte Day Wilson released “Work” in summer 2016, pre-Donald Trump’s presidency. Since then, this haunting yet hopeful ballad has taken on new meaning with each tribulation that comes our way, including this current moment.

Quadron — “Simili Life”

This upbeat song by Danish group, Quadron, is literally about changing one’s outlook on life. It’s pacing is repetitive and mentally soothing — a good song to stop, reflect, and calm down.

Samthing Soweto — “Kwamampela”

“Kwamampela” is an enchanting Zulu melody from South African falsetto singer, Samthing Soweto.

Bien — “Electric Dream”

Nashville indie trio Bien’s “Electric Dream” is a brief moment of sunny bliss. Not all of us can go outside right now, but we can press play and let Bien take us to cloud nine.

Kid Francescoli — “Moon”

“Moon” by the French electro-pop outfit Kid Francescoli is a hypnotic ride that will take you to the moon and back. The song builds up slowly and subtly until the midway point when a woman speaks the only words on the song: “and it went like...” Right then, the song kicks into high gear and away we go.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue