Spotify

The cover image for my Granola Girl playlist perfectly represents all that it makes me feel.

I was born a Troll—below the Mackinac bridge is where my home sits—but my mindset and blood type scream Yooper. 

The Upper Peninsula is the destination for annual camping trips, highly anticipated throughout the year, and my go-to shops, restaurants, and outdoor excursions sit burrowed within the northern forests, away from tourist life. My second home lives at the tip of the Keweenaw and is a place I know better than my hometown.

I spend my year awaiting the months of summer and autumn when I can put away my phone for weeks at a time, go to bed smelling like a campfire, and stare at the ever-changing sky until the sunset is painted in my memory. In the months when snow blankets the grass and dampens the music of the birds, I rely on my Spotify playlists to transport me back to my days spent outside.

For my fellow “granola girls,” I have compiled a playlist of only the most essential artists that make me feel like lying in the woods. 

Hozier – Though I’ve handled the wood, I still worship the flame.

I feel that Hozier is quite an evident pick for a playlist like this. His frequent acoustic melodies are constructed in a simple but profound way—and are often in different guitar tunings, which can be frustrating for musical fans of his—that melds uniquely with his lyrics and could be a standalone art form. He has a poetic genius that shines through in his lyrics, repeatedly relating things back to nature, so thick with layers of understanding that it takes brain power to fully comprehend the meaning behind them. But, it pays off when you do. Although he rose to popularity long before his recent releases, his newer album, Unreal, Unearth, has provided him a type of fame that is well deserved.

Lord Huron – Deep into the night / with the moonlight as my guide / I go wander through the pines / and make my way to nature’s shrine.

This is another folksy artist who makes his way onto many “granola girl” playlists, but I would say he leans less into the acoustic aspect of the genre and more into rock that leans heavily on electric guitar. His lyrics are just as deep-rooted as Hozier’s, but he takes the outdoorsy vibe from a different perspective; however, the album covers, specifically on Strange Trails and Lonesome Dreams, showcase the visual aspect of his music in a natural scene that perfectly flows with the corresponding tracks.

Angus & Julia Stone – Moving for tomorrow’s shore / ahead of what we’re looking for.

This Australian band, consisting of a spirited brother-sister duo, delves fully into the variety of narrative songwriting. They use their powerful and descriptive lyrics to tell a nonlinear story, usually tying back to the natural world, and paint a stunning mental visual that is compelling to those who dream of being outside.

Noah Kahan – Keep your time, keep your mind, keep humble / Start your life in the middle of the jungle.

Kahan’s recent explosion in popularity—mostly due to his latest album, Stick Season—is beyond fitting given his crystal-clear talent that has contributed so greatly to the music industry. Although I’ve only become a recent fan, all three of his albums are overflowing with unskippable songs; many put me in an emotional state that would personify a downpour outside my window. The background to his gloomy lyrics, though some songs lean more towards a heavier rock mix, creates an atmosphere of impactful, acoustic melodies. Despite the fact that they all use similar instruments, each song resonates uniquely with me. Personally, my “granola girl” playlist isn’t necessarily made to make me cry, but the majority of Kahan’s songs have a lot of innocent-sounding titles that protect the emotional value of the track.

Gregory Alan Isakov – Were we the belly of the beast or the sword that fell?

Although all folky, unplugged music artists have a special place in my heart, Isakov is arguably the most impactful to me. It’s not only his songs that have a forest-like ambiance, but his personal background is unique to that of a true outdoorsman. Being raised in South Africa influenced his outlook on nature, so in addition to touring and creating an extensive amount of music, he works full-time on his farm, as well. All of his albums—This Empty Northern Hemisphere, The Weatherman, and Evening Machines, just to name a few—display his passion for the environment in a composition of auditory art. 

The Lumineers – Because it’s a long road to wisdom / But it’s a short one to being ignored.

Possibly the most symbolic alternative folk band of the early 2010s was The Lumineers. It’s mostly the songs “Ophelia” and “Ho Hey” that send me back to the late nights in my neighborhood as a five-year-old; the lead singer, Wesley Schultz, puts something in his songs that makes them ooze an air of nostalgia. Most of my childhood was spent outdoors in the woods behind the cul-de-sac, which is probably why I make a connection between acoustic bands, such as this one, and nature. There’s no doubt that the more popular songs resonate with my inner child, but as I’ve matured, others like “Leader of the Landslide” and “Elouise” continue to strike something different in me.

José González – Dawn is coming / Open your eyes.

Surprisingly, a lot of the music I enjoy seems to come from films I watch. The soundtrack, along with other components of the production, are crucial aspects for my enjoyment. One of my favorites, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, contains everything a movie needs—including a flawless soundtrack. There are many artists I’ve discovered due to their presence in that film. Although I love Of Monsters and Men and Rogue Wave, and their featured songs have a spot in my “granola girl” as well, the pivotal player in my musical evolution is José González. There’s something unique about the way he handles his voice, along with the rhythmic, instrumental background. It’s almost as if he’s reading a poem through my headphones; I could fall asleep to the comforting cadence of his songs if they weren’t so emotional.

Caamp – In the night while my body slept in my bed / my mind was running through the woods instead.

On a more upbeat note, this trio of folk performers leans more into the more cheerful outlook on being in nature. Many songs are derived from a feeling of love for both people and the wilderness, as heard in “26” and “Vagabond.” This band is an essential addition to the perfect road trip playlist that is designed for the windows to be down and the lyrics to be screamed.

Fleetwood Mac – When the rain washes you clean, you’ll know.

Having Fleetwood Mac on a folky playlist is an arguable choice, but with my definition of the word and what “granola girl” feels like to me, something in the playlist would be missing if I excluded this band. With its guitar-heavy tracks, by reason of Lindsey Buckingham and his beyond-legendary talent with a six-string, and the fact that it sits comfortably in my personal hall of “one of the most classic and influential bands of all time,” many of their songs are required for a summer car ride. My love for them has everything to do with their passion, Stevie Nicks, and the historic 1997 live performance of “Silver Springs.”

Although my Spotify account holds an excessive number of playlists I won’t ever be able to get through, my “granola girl” playlist is something I’m always adding to and is a fundamental part of my music history.