[2025 Edition] A roundup of popular and classic Western songs to listen to in September

No One NoticedThe Marías

The Marías – No One Noticed (Visualizer)

September makes you want to sink into mellow music, as if to savor the fading bustle of summer.

Perfect for that season is a track by The Marías.

The Los Angeles–based indie pop band is known for their dreamy sound that blends jazz and psychedelic elements.

In this song, they delicately portray the loneliness and anxiety born from emotional distance with a lover, carried by María Zardoya’s gentle vocals.

The lyrics, which evoke the feeling that no one notices a heart aching to the point of madness, curiously harmonize with the wistfulness of early autumn.

Featured on their standout 2024 album Submarine, the track also drew attention when Billie Eilish highlighted it on social media, boosting its streams by more than 200%.

Put it on during a night spent reminiscing about summer, and let your thoughts wander.

blueyung kai

yung kai – blue (official music video)

Yun Kai is a Chinese-Canadian singer-songwriter who produces music from his own room.

With a DIY style rooted in indie pop, he’s gaining worldwide attention.

This signature track of his is marked by gentle acoustic guitar and emotionally rich vocals—perfect for the September air, when summer’s bustle fades and a touch of loneliness sets in.

The lyrics poetically overlay serene moments with a lover onto natural scenery, and the pure plea for eternal love is truly heart-wrenching.

Released in 2024, the song reached No.

39 on the Billboard Global 200 and was also featured in a teen drama.

How about giving it a listen on a night when you want to sink into a sentimental mood?

Love Me NotRavyn Lenae

Ravyn Lenae – Love Me Not (Official Music Video)

Ravin Lenae, a singer-songwriter from Chicago, has been gaining attention for her unique take on alternative R&B and soul.

Her slightly wistful voice fits perfectly with September—the time of year when the summer heat begins to fade and a quiet melancholy sets in.

Among her works, I’d like to highlight a track from her second album, Bird’s Eye, released in May 2024.

Its sound captivates with a blend of retro pop reminiscent of 1960s girl groups and contemporary R&B.

The song explores conflicting emotions: pushing a lover away while still longing to see them.

That instability and inner sway feels just right for September’s slightly sentimental mood, where the end of summer and the beginning of autumn overlap.

As you think back on the summer that’s passed, give this song a listen.

DaylightDavid Kushner

David Kushner – Daylight (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter David Kushner, known for his deep baritone voice and gothic aesthetic.

Released in April 2023, this song is perfect for the slightly melancholic air of September, when the summer clamor recedes.

The lyrics depict the contradictions within the human heart—light and darkness, desire and guilt—while the weighty piano and strings dramatize that inner conflict.

It’s also known as the song used in the Giorgio Armani Acqua di Giò commercial.

Its high level of craftsmanship is evident from winning the grand prize at an international songwriting competition.

As summer draws to a close, give it a listen when you want to sink into a sentimental mood and lose yourself in thought.

I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen)Post Malone

Post Malone – I Had Some Help (feat. Morgan Wallen) (Official Video)

Post Malone, who freely traverses not only hip-hop but also rock, pop, and more, enjoys worldwide popularity.

In 2024, he teamed up with hit country singer Morgan Wallen to create the lead single from his album F-1 Trillion.

The track became a massive hit, topping Billboard’s year-end Songs of the Summer chart.

Despite its upbeat, breezy country sound, the lyrics depict a push-and-pull between a man and a woman over who’s to blame for a broken relationship, with the narrator insisting, “It’s not all my fault,” subtly shifting responsibility.

As the bustle of summer fades and September invites quiet reflection, the song’s bittersweet undercurrent—hidden beneath its cheerful melody—feels like an uncanny companion to the sentimental mood of early autumn.

Another LifeSZA

SZA – Another Life (Official Audio)

As the clamor of summer fades and a tinge of melancholy settles into September nights, there’s nothing quite like listening to a classic by R&B singer SZA.

This track appears on Lana, the deluxe edition of her blockbuster album SOS—which topped the Billboard 200 for about two months in 2022—with additional songs released in December 2024.

The piece portrays a nostalgic yearning as she reflects on a love that has passed and wonders, “What if I’d lived a different life?” Warm, glowing synthesizers blend with her husky, emotive vocals, sinking deeply into the listener’s heart.

On long autumn nights spent quietly alone, while reminiscing about unforgettable summer memories, let this bittersweet and beautiful sound wash over you.

Stick SeasonNoah Kahan

Noah Kahan – Stick Season

Noah Kahan is a singer-songwriter drawing global attention with a pop sound infused with folk.

His music, which honestly portrays the landscapes of his hometown and his inner conflicts, resonates with many.

The work of his I recommend for September is the title track from his album “Stick Season,” released in October 2022.

The album centers on the somber season in New England after the leaves have fallen and before the snow arrives.

Riding on a wistful folk sound, it sings of lingering feelings for a past love and complicated emotions toward his hometown, evoking a gentle melancholy.

It’s a perfect number to listen to under the slightly sentimental September sky that hints at summer’s end, as you reflect on days gone by.