It’s that time of year again, when your local T.J.Maxx is a confusing mix of hearts, pastels, cupids and leprechauns. Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays, you get the best mix of all the major holidays. You have gift giving, chocolates and spending time with your loved ones. What more could you ask for, besides maybe a day off?
If you’re anything like me, music is the way to your heart. I think I have a playlist for almost every emotion, feeling and even person. I believe one of the most heartfelt ways to tell someone you love them is through a song. Making a playlist for that special someone is the perfect low-pressure and sweet way to show you care. Thankfully, there are millions of songs about love, but luckily for you, I’ve picked my favorite eight that will totally make your partner, crush or disturbingly long situationship melt.
This song is perfect for the indie baddie or male manipulator in your life. It’s the perfect balance of underground and viral. If you like Bon Iver, Frank Ocean or Alex G, this song is for you. It’s a blurry, late-night confessional set to warped guitar. I believe whether you’re yearning in a good way or a bad way, this song is a must on your playlist.
Keeping with this dreamy sound, "Angel" by Alice Phoebe Lou is filled with warm, organic instrumentals and calmly intimate vocals. This song always reminds me of young love or the feeling of sunlight through a window you forgot was open. It’s a song that holds you gently instead of pulling you in. If you like Faye Webster, Adrianne Lenker or Clairo, you should definitely give it a listen.
Speaking of Clairo, I could not make a playlist without adding the queen of crushes. This song is tender and lush, blending R&B and jazz-pop, giving it a warm, sultry groove with a slight vintage feel. "Juna" is both romantic and reflective. The lyrics play with the butterflies of early attraction while also being subtly introspective about letting down emotional walls. This is the perfect song for new relationships as well as crushes. It gives the listener a little of everything. Listen if you like Beabadoobee, Ravyn Lenae or Men I Trust.
"Favorite Apple" is a playful love letter. The track has a bright pop vibe with a smooth melody and rhythm that’s easy to sing or dance to. The song is charming and bright; its indie pop distilled into pure crush energy. You have to listen if you like Shelly, The Marias or Japanese Breakfast.
"honey thighs" delivers a cozy indie-pop moment that feels both intimate and refreshingly real. With sun-washed production and playful lyrics that blur the line between self-love and romantic affection, the track captures the warmth of connection without forcing sentimentality. It’s the kind of song that fits just as perfectly on a candlelit date playlist as it does during a solo night of self-appreciation. It’s proof that love, in all its forms, doesn’t need to be loud to be meaningful.
"Sweet" by The Nancys shines with a quiet euphoria, capturing the rush of being fully absorbed in someone else. Gentle indie textures swell into something warm and enveloping, while the vocals feel light, almost airborne. It sounds like how love hits you all at once. There’s a blissful intensity to the song where tenderness and exhilaration blur together, turning small moments into something impassioned. Give it a listen if you enjoy Snail Mail, Claud or Alvvays.
"Don't Speak" by Wet Leg is a love song for people who know romance isn’t always roses and grand speeches. It’s prickly, awkward and weirdly tender. It is a love song for eye contact, inside jokes and unsent texts—when feelings are loud, but words would just ruin it. Add it to your playlist if you like Alice Wolf, The Beths or Momma.
De La Soul turns young love into a laid-back, jazz-soaked daydream where flirting comes with footnotes. It’s smooth and witty, with playful bars, a feel-good groove and a hook that practically grins. The song proves you can be romantic and clever, no tough-guy posturing required. When your crush is clever, your soundtrack should be too. If you like A Tribe Called Quest, Mac Miller or N.E.R.D., this track is for you.
Love is complicated, but a great playlist isn’t. I think these eight tracks capture every emotion, mood and moment, so hit play and let the music speak what words sometimes can’t.
Love,
DJ Rose