LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — As summer rolls out and fall comes back around, students at Los Alamitos High School need their new seasonal playlist! Whether it’s through Apple Music or Spotify, students tend to change their playlists to enhance their feelings around the seasonal change to fall.

Music connects students to different pathways like making new friends or simply allowing homework to go by faster. Everyone has different tastes in music, which, for some, changes throughout the seasons of the year.

The most saved playlists on Apple Music and Spotify during fall consist of slow and calming songs. These playlists include artists like Taylor Swift, Laufey, Steve Lacy, Lana Del Rey, TV Girl, girl in red, The Neighborhood, etc. What’s different about fall that makes students change their playlists, and what makes these artists so relevant during this season?

“Students have come back to school after a long time of rest in the summer,” said LAHS freshman Sarah Nowell. “To help them gain back the motivation they need for their studies, students change their music into something that keeps them energetic for what they need.”

It’s very possible that students change their playlists and selected artists to get through their work, but it could also have to do with the effects of what specialists call Seasonal Affective Disorder, when people’s moods change with the seasons.

“A lot of people are aware of the fact that (in the months nearing winter), people can feel depressed and lose motivation,” said Jessica Spissinger, an instructor and psychiatric physician assistant for the Mass General Brigham Institute. “I think it’s important to recognize that if it’s more of that seasonal component, it’s not just coming out of nowhere and it will get better.”

Many refer to these mood changes as “winter blues,” and although it’s not winter quite yet, the effects are starting to take place on students. However, students shouldn’t worry about any serious depression because of seasonal changes, as it’s reported by many professionals that something like SAD is only temporary.

Music is something that all students love, and changing it seasonally is no exception. Matching music with emotions can help students enhance their feelings, or even channel it into their school work and productivity. Fall music is always a treat, so let’s wait and see if it carries on through the chillier months of winter ahead!