A Playlist for when you need to Regulate

Life can be overwhelming and our emotions don’t always follow a neat schedule. One of the simplest, most accessible tools to support emotional regulation is music. Whether you need to calm down, lift your mood, stop spiralling or process complex feelings, the right music can make a real difference.

As a music therapist, I often see how intentional listening can help people tune into their emotions safely and feel more grounded. You don’t need to be a musician—just pick something that resonates with you.

Here are some music ideas across different genres to get you started - you’ll find the full Spotify playlist at the bottom of this post.

If you like male singers: Jacob Collier, ‘Something Heavy’

If you like female singers: Billie Eilish, ‘What was I Made for?”

If you like folk music: Mark O’Connor, Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, ‘Appalachia Waltz’

If you like calming classical: Arvo Pärt, ‘Spiegel im Spiegel’

If you like piano music: Mozart, Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K310 II: Andante Cantabile

If you like orchestral music: Mahler, Symphony No. 5:IV. Adagietto

If you like orchestral AND piano music: Ravel, Piano Concerto in G Major, M.83:II. Adagio Assai

If you like choral music: Rachmaninoff, All-Night Vigil, Op.37:VI. Rejoice

If you like jazz: Chet Baker, ‘My Funny Valentine’

If you like chilled rock: Foo Fighters, ‘Razor’

If you like acoustic: Ray LaMontagne, ‘Forever my Friend’

If you like lo-fi: Soulflu, ‘Escape’

If you like pop: Olivia Rodrigo, ‘lacy’

If you like gaelic music: Ishbel MacAskill, Gràdh geal mo chridh’

If you like gaelic violin: Nicola Benedetti, ‘Ae Fond Kiss’

If you feel you need more support from a qualified therapist, music therapy can offer a safe space for you to process difficult emotions, using music. Find out more here and get in touch to arrange a free consultation.