A highly sensitive playlist
Ivy Griffin
It’s no surprise that HSPs are overrepresented among the ranks of musicians and other artists in our society. Tapping into the imagination and being open and receptive to inspiration require a great degree of sensitivity. Yet there is a paradox here for creative folks. Artists are people who, on one hand, devote their energies to sharing their innermost worlds with listeners, viewers, audiences. Onstage, they are brash, bold, daring. Yet many crave solitude, need the nourishment of reflection, or retreat at a distance from the roar of the crowd.
How are highly sensitive people to think of themselves? Are we introverts or extroverts? What are we working to create? And who are we protecting?
Here is a playlist of songs that attempts to address these questions. These artists celebrate the complexities and contradictions of a highly sensitive life. They address common mental health concerns like depression, anxiety and addiction. Perhaps more than most pop music, these songs speak to the emotional struggles HSPs confront, with music that is at turns weird and catchy, lyrics that are both frank and nuanced.
Parentheses by The Blow
One of the loveliest examples of earnestness in indie music. How often do we forget to rely on supportive, empathic family and friends, even when they’re right next to us? The duo of Khaela Maricich and Jona Bechtolt assemble an undeniably catchy, unabashedly quirky slice of alternative pop that invites us to lean on each other.
Doesn’t matter by Christine and the Queens
This song is simultaneously world-weary and celebratory, straddling the line between confusion and certainty, fear and empathy. Using a simple chord progression, an urgent and danceable beat, and layers of buzzing synths, Chris skillfully mixes the euphoria of the club and the desperation of an empty parking lot.
Sanctuary by Hiss Golden Messenger
The world can be an overwhelming place. Social media and current events can sometimes overload us with visions of hardship and despair. Maybe we are led to believe that things are just hopeless. Lead singer MC Taylor reminds us that sometimes the reaction that makes the most sense is to just sing about it.
Under The Table by Fiona Apple
Have you ever held your tongue when your heart is crying out? Fiona Apple can relate. Her acerbic wit is front and center in this fantastic song. The refrain is catchy but can double as a useful affirmation: “I won’t shut up!”
My Old Man by Mac DeMarco
Over a simple acoustic guitar and smooth synths, DeMarco sings about looking in the mirror and recognizing the face of a parent or caregiver – a surprising and perhaps unpleasant feeling! But there is a pause here, to reflect what we inherit across generations, what stays, but also what grows and changes, how we differentiate ourselves from who and what came before. As the song goes, “As a heart grows stronger, sometimes love is pushed away.”
Clay Pigeons by Blaze Foley
We bring things back home with Blaze Foley’s country-folk classic. The effects of depression are very clear in the song’s lyrics, but are paired with a sense of adventurousness, a need to keep moving. In spite of the ample time alone we need to recuperate, we still feel the need to sing a song with a friend.
Bunny Is A Rider by Caroline Polachek
Most HSPs have felt deeply the need to escape, to drop off the map and become anonymous – for a time. Despite our retreat, Caroline assures us that our hearts are strong, “unbreaking.” We find strength within ourselves to continue each day.
Province by TV on the Radio
Assisted by layers of washed out guitars and guest supporting vocals the late, great David Bowie, the band celebrates the courage we summon when giving ourselves the chance to love.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3vjJk6rdmTPVyx9ILUlu6g?si=16fca05437ac442f
Am I missing any songs that speak to HSPs? Maybe it will provide a fun and thought-provoking exercise to compile a highly sensitive playlist of your own! Please reach out to us if you are in need of support, or to share your own story of using music to heal.
Warmly,
Joe Boyle, APCC # #10514
Supervised by Alexandra Garton, LMFT #84263
916-287-3430
http://thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/joe-boyle