Picture this: You are standing in Sage Chapel as dust particles catch the light of the sun streaming through stained glass windows, feeling nothing less than ethereal. Yet, there is an unsettling, eerie aspect to a quiet church. The genre of dark academia seeks to capture this feeling. It is altogether magnificent and devastating, as if a resentful ghost is haunting the place they died. This playlist is reminiscent of classic literature, nostalgia and an indescribable sense that there is a powerful force at work.
- Cody Fry: “Eleanor Rigby”
The perfect mixture of Harry Potter and The Beatles, Cody Fry’s Grammy-nominated cover of “Eleanor Rigby” is cinematic. It catches your attention immediately with a bold orchestral accompaniment, keeping strict time like a ticking clock. The song is laced with a sorrowful solitude — quiet suffering amidst the full strength of a symphonic orchestra.
2. Gang of Youths: “Achilles Come Down”
What would dark academia be without references to Greek mythology? This song is a desperate plea for survival and a devastating depiction of the internal monologue of mourning with roots in the myth of Achilles and Patroclus, in which Achilles is consumed by grief following the death of his companion. Throughout the song, conflicting narratives tear at the listener's convictions, lamenting “how the most dangerous thing is to love” while promising “how you will heal and you’ll rise above.”
3. The Stranglers: “Golden Brown”
With a prominent harpsichord accompaniment, this song will catapult you into the early Renaissance while maintaining the band’s ’80s roots. The rhythm is waltz-like and has recently become a popular audio on social media to accompany videos that viewers label ‘medievalcore,’ expressing a longing for the vibrant atmosphere of the Elizabethan age. If you are someone who frequents the Renaissance Fair, then this song should appeal to you.
4. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds: “O Children”
This song builds so gradually that you almost don’t realize how much power has gathered until it erupts. Featured in Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it is a haunting anthem of indemnity for the world that the next generation will inherit. “Forgive us now for what we’ve done,” Nick Cave sings, crying out for the “children” to stay strong despite the struggles they are bound to face.
5. Kate Bush: “Running Up That Hill”
Of course, I couldn’t make a playlist about ghostly activities without mentioning Stranger Things. Although it was released in 1985, “Running Up That Hill” gained renewed popularity from its repeated use in the Duffer Brothers’ supernatural television hit. The reverberant qualities of this song match its unnatural tone, placing the listener in a distinctively celestial environment.
6. Gregory Alan Isakov with The Colorado Symphony: “Big Black Car”
Am I biased, being from Denver, to choose a song with two Colorado artists? Perhaps. However, that does not negate the breathtaking weight of every sweeping crescendo in this song. “Big Black Car” contrasts Cody Fry’s arrangement with a more gentle, contemplative orchestration, acknowledging the inevitability of heartbreak: “Hope was a letter I never could send / Well, love was a country we couldn’t defend.” Isakov’s voice layers perfectly over the intricate details in the strings and horns, making you stop in your tracks to feel the push and pull of every verse.
7. Lana Del Rey: “Young And Beautiful”
This song offers some respite from heartbreak with a powerfully suspenseful track. The lyrics alongside a strong string section and a strict, percussive rhythm creates a reverent environment, making you want to stand atop a mountain and scream the words into the wind. “Young and Beautiful” was released specifically for the 2013 film adaptation of The Great Gatsby, emphasizing Gatsby’s distinctive yearning and adhering perfectly to the ‘classic literature’ element of the dark academia genre.
8. Patrick Watson: “Je te laisserai des mots”
Translating to, “I will leave you words,” or rather, “I will leave you notes,” this song takes a turn from its vast predecessors in favor of introspective, heart-wrenching nostalgia. Perfect for a walk through West Campus or the Law School, “Je te laisserai des mots” is simple enough to leave on in the background yet just comforting enough to keep you company in the quiet moments.
9. Phoebe Bridgers: “Garden Song”
Phoebe Bridgers’ mournful vocals layer with a deep echo throughout this song, giving each chorus a muted, eerie quality. In addition, the dynamic of this song is consistent throughout, neither growing nor diminishing, contributing to a sense of derealization. A similar effect is achieved through Bridgers’ “I Know The End,” from the same 2020 album, Punisher.
10. Mother Mother: “Oh Ana”
With distinctly theological undertones, “Oh Ana” tells the story of someone trying desperately to break free from the undead influence of a vengeful — and considerably egotistical — spirit. The band’s aesthetic is creatively unhinged and goes all in on this narrative, emphasizing the embodied feeling of the song by beginning only with a series of audible and unsettling breaths. The abrupt switch in tone from Phoebe Bridgers’ “Garden Song” to this only amplifies the alarming nature of the narrative.
11. Paris Paloma: “the fruits”
This song harnesses the occult through a collection of biblical references and a haunting, rhythmic chant, putting the ‘dark’ in ‘dark academia.’ It embodies the souls of women accused of witchcraft, instilling the unnerving feeling of the presence of spirits. Paris Paloma was made popular with her hit 2023 single, “labour,” and this song offers a similarly rebellious tone, simmering with a powerful resentment disguised as a lilting tune.
12. Hozier: “Take Me to Church”
Rounding out the dozen is a song that can certainly speak for itself. Hozier’s breakthrough single worships a defiant gospel with a subtext scorning traditional theological values, one phrase from the chorus being “I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies.” Every aspect of the song is powerful, from Hozier’s velvet vocals to the chorus, filling space in one unified voice.
‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community. It runs every Monday.
Gia Lish is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. She can be reached at gml223@cornell.edu.
