Recommended Western Music for Autumn: Popular Autumn Songs and Hidden Gems [2025]

CardiganTaylor Swift

Taylor Swift – cardigan

Transcending the boundaries of country, Taylor Swift now dominates the pop scene.

Featured on the acclaimed 2020 July release Folklore, this song is a masterpiece that gently accompanies the sentimental mood of autumn.

Sparked by finding an old cardigan, memories of a young and innocent love are woven together over delicate piano melodies.

The lyrics, where the symbol of a warmly comforting memory intersects with bittersweet feelings, are truly remarkable.

Alongside the album, the track made history by debuting at No.

1 on the U.

S.

Billboard charts simultaneously, and the music video—directed by Swift herself—also drew widespread attention.

On a chilly night, why not listen to it when you want to be alone with your thoughts?

October Passed Me Bygirl in red

girl in red – October Passed Me By (Official Audio)

A bittersweet song that quietly traces the memories of a past romance along with the autumn wind.

It’s by the Norwegian singer-songwriter girl in red.

The track was created as an official sequel set several years after the love story told in her signature 2018 song.

The warm yet melancholy tone of the acoustic guitar makes it perfect for long autumn nights.

It feels like a song about gratitude for days gone by and sorting out one’s feelings in order to move forward.

Released in October 2022, it follows her debut album, “if i could make it go quiet.” Aaron Dessner of The National participated as a producer, and his delicate sound design enhances the track’s appeal.

Highly recommended for those solitary, sentimental moments when you want to be lost in thought.

Stick SeasonNoah Kahan

Noah Kahan – Stick Season

Noah Kahan is a singer-songwriter from Vermont and an artist known for folk-pop who rose to prominence after his posts on TikTok drew major attention.

This signature song of his, released in July 2022, was later included on the album Stick Season.

In the lyrics, set against the desolate season when all the leaves have fallen in his hometown, he expresses lingering feelings for a past love and complex nostalgia.

The sentimental melody and powerful vocals resonate deeply with listeners.

The song became a worldwide favorite, reaching number one on the UK charts.

On long autumn nights when the changing seasons bring a sense of loneliness, this track will quietly keep you company.

Loving SomeoneThe 1975

The 1975 – Loving Someone – (Vevo Presents: Live at The O2, London)

It’s a work distinguished by vocals that speak to you almost like spoken word.

This is a track by The 1975, the hugely popular pop-rock band from the UK.

It’s included on their acclaimed 2016 album, “I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful yet So Unaware of It.” The piece stands out for its serious tone that probes youth culture and the emptiness of fame while questioning the nature of love.

The music video was released in January 2017, and the band has continued to convey social messages, performing the song live with rainbow-hued staging.

Reading the lyrics makes it clear the setting is autumn, and the introspective, bittersweet electronic sound perfectly captures the image of a contemplative autumn night.

Harvest FairSummer Salt

Harvest Fair

Summer Salt is an indie-pop duo based in Texas, known for their soft, retro sound influenced by 1960s pop and bossa nova.

Among their works, this is the one I recommend for autumn listening.

Set against the backdrop of a harvest festival, it tells a romantic story about longing to reunite with a past lover.

The melody, tinged with a gentle sense of sadness yet warmed by hope, seems to tenderly accompany the sentimental mood unique to fall.

Released in November 2018, the track is included on the EP “Favorite Holiday, Vol.

1.” If you listen to it on a slightly chilly evening at dusk, lost in thought, you’ll be able to immerse yourself even more deeply in its world.

Autumn SweaterYo La Tengo

Yo la tengo – autumn sweater

Since their formation in 1984, Yo La Tengo have been an alternative rock band commanding immense support as a trio that epitomizes the American indie scene for over three decades.

While they haven’t necessarily achieved massive commercial success, every release is outstanding.

They never confine themselves to a single genre, nor do they chase trends; instead, they continue to work energetically into the 2020s and beyond with a unique stance.

The track introduced here appears on their masterpiece album from 1997, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One.

Among many songs on the album that feature explosive, noisy guitars, this one is a mellow track that strongly highlights the band’s quieter side.

Listening to the keyboard’s plaintive phrases, you can almost see a lonely autumn scene unfold.

AutumnCouch

Couch – Autumn (Official Lyric Video)

Couch is a band attracting attention for their pop sound infused with funk and soul.

They have a unique origin story: the members began writing songs remotely from different locations.

The work I’d recommend for the fall is this single released in October 2022.

The track seems to capture both the faint loneliness brought by the changing seasons and the joy found in the warmth of human touch.

Its comfortable groove and vibrant horn tones evoke the buoyant feeling of walking down a golden-lined avenue.

It’s not merely bittersweet—you can savor the gentle happiness of autumn.

Give it a listen as a companion for a leisurely weekend stroll.