[2025] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended masterpieces

SurviveLewis Capaldi

Lewis Capaldi – Survive (Official Video)

The soul-stirring ballad crafted by Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi is a powerful story of renewal, born from the depths of profound anguish and a vow to “keep living on” no matter what.

Knowing that he endured a crushing setback in June 2023 and released this piece exactly two years later makes his resolve all the more moving.

The lyrics—facing down the terror of nights when you feel you’re not enough, and pledging to rise again regardless—are nothing less than the cry of his heart.

Following the landmark album “Broken by Desire to Be Heavenly Sent,” this new work is sure to rouse the spirit of anyone confronting life’s walls.

Man I Used To BeDax

Dax – “Man I Used To Be” (Official Music Video)

This is a track released in August 2025 by Dax, a Canadian artist with the unique background of being a former basketball player.

Known for a style that centers on hip-hop while crossing into country and R&B, this work candidly portrays recovery from alcohol addiction and a dialogue with the self.

After six months of sobriety, the artist himself described it as “fifteen years in the making,” making this piece a true confession of the soul.

Over serene instrumentation, regret for the past and the act of forgiveness are woven together, resonating deeply with listeners.

It’s the perfect song for nights when you want to face yourself quietly, or when you’re ready to move beyond your past and take a new step forward.

Come As You Are (ft. Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours)Rhett Miller

Rhett Miller – Come As You Are ft. Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours

Rhett Miller, the Texas-born singer-songwriter also known as the face of the alt-country band Old 97’s.

His new song, created with Turnpike Troubadours’ Evan Felker, is an acoustic ballad about the ache of leaving a loved one behind to hit the road.

Miller’s resonant vocal layered with Felker’s warm harmonies captures the delicate interplay of bittersweet memories and loneliness.

The fact that it was recorded just before Miller underwent vocal cord surgery lends an added sense of raw, lived-in emotion.

The track appears on the album “A Lifetime of Riding by Night,” slated for release in October 2025.

Put it on during a night spent apart from someone dear, and you may find yourself getting a little sentimental.

MondayQuadeca

QUADECA – MONDAY

Quadeca, an American artist who took flight from YouTube into the music world and has been drawing attention with his unique talent.

His single released in April 2025 is a deeply moving track that, through the everyday theme of the start of the week, portrays emotional fragility and the path toward self-growth.

The orchestral sound woven by delicate strings and piano feels just like a scene from a movie! It earned a user score of 96 on a music review site and is reportedly receiving fervent support from fans as “one of his greatest works.” His album Vanisher, Horizon Scraper is also highly acclaimed—be sure to experience the talent of this new generation.

ChandelierSia

Sia – Chandelier (Official Video)

This song is said to have been written based on Sia’s experience battling drug addiction.

Above all, it’s Sia’s vocals.

Sia is also famous for never revealing her face, even in live performances, and in live footage of this song you can see her hiding her face with a wig.

Heavens SirensDavid Kushner

David Kushner – Heavens Sirens (Official Lyric Video)

This is a song by David Kushner, a singer-songwriter from Chicago, USA, whose intense emotional expression and gothic atmosphere stir the soul.

After going viral on TikTok, he gained worldwide attention, and in 2023 he won the Grand Prize at the International Songwriting Competition with his masterpiece “Daylight.” Released in July 2025 as a non-album single, this work, as the artist himself describes, strongly reflects his own psychological struggles and his lament over a chaotic world.

The heart-wrenching story, delivered in his deep baritone voice, feels imbued with a desperate prayer for salvation.

Listen to it on nights when you want to confront your inner self, or when you’re burdened by unspoken anxiety, and it will quietly stay by your side.

GOOD OLD DAYSMACKLEMORE FEAT KESHA

MACKLEMORE FEAT KESHA – GOOD OLD DAYS (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

A nostalgia-laden pop ballad that sinks into the heart at summer dusk.

This collaborative track by American rapper Macklemore and singer-songwriter Kesha is a classic, layering bittersweet longing for the past over a warm, piano-driven sound.

Now that success has been achieved, the youthful struggles and cherished moments of years gone by come into focus, beautifully conveyed through Macklemore’s introspective rap and Kesha’s soulful vocals.

Released in September 2017, it performed well on the U.

S.

charts as a single from the album Gemini.

It’s a recommended listen for those at a turning point in life or anyone who wants to spend unhurried time immersed in music.