Fall… the season of change. School has started back up and everyone is experiencing the annual reinvention of identity. Your music taste is no exception.

What is the first thing you think of when you think of autumn? Is it the changing leaves, warm sweaters, or Halloween festivities? Whatever it may be, you’ll need music to cover it and there is no better time for exploration than the time of year for self-discovery. With many people getting back into the routine of assignment deadlines and preparation for the upcoming holidays, music should be about the fun in it all.

Aesthetic plays a big role in the music we listen to. We need just the right song to fit our mood or to get us into a specific mindset. My recommendation is to curate playlists with these images and feelings in mind. Ask yourself what a song makes you feel as you’re listening and don’t be afraid of mixing and matching sounds, genres, and artists into one playlist!

Let’s start with a given: the study playlist. Find the rhythm that gets your brain into the groove of reading pages upon pages and typing up responses. Personally, I need some quiet and soothing music to relax me while I work. Not to mention, imagine myself in my favorite fictional worlds getting myself ready for the big test. Billie Marten, Rosemary & Garlic, and instrumentals are the key to any successful study session. If there is one thing classes have taught me, it’s that whatever I’m listening to has a huge impact on my work and motivation.

Imagine yourself walking down cobblestone streets, the colorful leaves falling and crunching beneath your feet, and the breeze chilling your cheeks. What song are you listening to? Something unexpected that just so happens to match in time with your steps or something a little more fitting to your surroundings? I know lately I’ve been drawn to the same songs and artists when I’m finding myself going from place to place. I can’t help it. “Doing the Best That I Can” by Stevie Nicks is the perfect commute song and Mazzy Star is an autumn rite of passage to me. Find the songs that make your walk time fly by or mellow you out.

And what of the Halloween lovers? Or those really into the spirit of fall? Well, you can stick to the nostalgic classics. Of course, we all love “Monster Mash”, “Thriller”, and “Ghost Busters” all courtesy of your typical Halloween party. My festive favorite is Donovan’s “Season of the Witch”. So, put on your costumes and hit the town with the unmistakable sound of terrifying tunes. Then again, there’s another feel to Halloween, too. If you have a craving for some fun at the pumpkin patch or are in need for some music to decorate to, I’ve got the picks for you. “Pumpkin” by the Regrettes and “1980s Horror Film II” by Wallows give you that subtle dose of Halloween you’ve been needing.

Most importantly, remember to have an open mind and indulge in the cliché as well as the discovery. It’s the time of year for fun and trying new things. Whether you want to play Halloween movie soundtracks, throwbacks, or feel-good songs, listen to what will get you into the spirit. Autumn is the season of change and memories, your music should reflect all that makes you, well, you!

The post Autumn: The Season of Music appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Written by Clove Morgan

Who wouldn’t want to be the main character of a story? In a generation of daydreamers, it’s only fitting that we find ourselves consuming all forms of media and imagining ourselves recreating scenarios to mimic the content. Whether you’d like to put yourself in a period piece, an action film, or a corny teen drama, you need an immersive playlist to truly get into the moment. Between professing your love to Mr. Darcy in the rain to fighting alongside the Avengers or discovering your crush is a vampire, music is the key to getting there.

Allow me to guide you through the process of devising your soundtrack, but let’s try to model it based on something small-scale and familiar: your daily routine. Of course, depending on your genre of movie the type of music varies; let’s set a ground rule that you cannot immediately align your taste in tunes with your taste in films. No one would play Tupac over a ballroom scene.

First of all, determine the genre you would like to partake in. Ask yourself how fantastical you’d like to go. Do you want to lean into the exaggerated dramatics of cinema? Or pretend your life is a beloved coming-of-age piece? Whatever the answer may be, let it serve as the foundation for your playlist. Then, you can get into the juicy plotlines that will dictate your song choice.

When you wake up, is it slow and tranquil, or abrupt and disturbing? Depending on your answer, open peacefully or with a bang. Consider the pace of your daily events, and you can greatly advance your search for the perfect song. If you’d like to imagine yourself waking up to the sound of birds chirping, I suggest Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals: Aviary”. On the opposite end of things, waking up to “Gangster” by Labrinth, courtesy of the HBO series Euphoria, can provide a kick to the start of your day.

As you go about reviewing your routine, whether it’s occupied by work or class schedules, don’t be afraid of selecting songs based on the feeling they give you. A soundtrack needs to have a cohesive flow, but that should not heed you from picking something to diversify your listening experience.

A good story has a range of accompanying emotions. If you see your arch nemesis, include a song that makes you feel powerful or even one that brings a sense of going into battle. Don’t shy away from love songs when you have a run-in with the object of your affections. In the car or walking, emulate the feeling of an exhaustive journey toward greatness. A well-rounded, engaging character can make or break a story. You’re a compelling individual, express it in your soundtrack!

As your day is coming to a close, decide the ending you think your story deserves. The audience, even if it only consists of yourself, needs a dénouement or a wrap-up of sorts. No matter how inclined to mystery you are, a film needs a finale. If you didn’t have the best day, maybe a melancholic song like “In Safe Hands” by Badly Drawn Boy can become your memorable moment of sorrow. A joyous, heart-warming ending scene may need a touch of Hozier’s “Almost (Sweet Music)”. You put time into this, don’t let it go unfinished.

The experience of creating your main character soundtrack is a reflective one, but it can be fun as well. Listen to new music. Go down rabbit holes and find new artists. Take your imagination to a whole new level. Happy daydreaming!

The post How to Make Your Perfect Main Character Soundtrack appeared first on SCAD Radio.

Here’s your horror-scope in honor of All Hallows’ Eve. May you avoid the draft for the Skeleton War.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

You’re feeling uneasy for a reason, just ask the man behind you!

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) 

The dark clouds are leading you to an even darker destination.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Are you sure you want to drink that?

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Whatever you do, don’t look up.

Leo (July 22 – August 22)

Keeping your friends close is good, but it’s getting hard to breathe.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Revenge might be sweet, but you’re even sweeter.

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

If you think YOUR costume’s great, you should see the guy dressed as you!

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

This will only hurt a bit.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

RUN!

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

You do the mash, you do the monster mash. (It’ll be a graveyard smash.)

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

One of the masks you wear will fall today.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

You’ll find out soon enough.

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