With the beginning of fall comes the season of cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and colorful leaves. Fall also means acoustic songs help set the tone for studying and hanging out with friends on a nice chilly day.  Featuring coffeehouse artists like Oh Wonder and alternative groups like Tame Impala, these seven songs are perfect for fall enthusiasts who don’t like mainstream music.

“Young” by Frankie Cosmos

     From her 2015 album, “Fit Me In,” This song has indie vocals with electronic sounds in the background. It’s a great tune for studying and staying focused while doing homework and other quiet activities. Frankie Cosmos has many calm, acoustic songs perfect for a fall day of studying. She sets the fall tone with her description of a sunset: “The sky is a special orange streak/Between balloons, two moons.”

“The Only Exception” by Paramore

     Telling a story through the acoustic guitar and strong chorus, this song perfectly encapsulates all components of fall songs. Lead singer Hayley Williams tells a story from her childhood. She talks about her parents and builds to the chorus with a bridge comparing her childhood to her life now.

“Cigarette Daydreams” by Cage the Elephant

     It’s coffeehouse tone, indie rock vocals, and acoustic guitar, in the beginning, makes it a drastic change from Cage the Elephant’s other songs. In the chorus, lead singer Matt Shultz establishes the fall feel with the chorus, “You can drive all night. Looking for the answers in the pouring rain.”

“Lake Michigan” by Rogue Wave

     This song is a political commentary about the taxes paid to clean Lake Michigan. It has an old-fashioned sound and was released in 2007. The vocals are similar to “New Slang,” and the instruments establish a fall mood.

“Young Folks” by Peter Bjorn and John featuring Victoria Bergsman

     This indie pop song was featured in many TV shows, including How I Met Your Mother and Gossip Girl due to the mood it establishes. This song tells a story when both singers sing their own verses, and then come together during the chorus. This has a fall theme with the words, “And we don’t care about the young folks/Talkin ‘bout the young style.” The lines create the imagery that the singers are in their own world and are unaware of the events of the world around them.

“Livewire” by Oh Wonder

     This coffeehouse band has been rising in popularity lately since they opened for Halsey on her tour. This song has been called “hauntingly beautiful” by Atwood Magazine.

“Snaggletooth” by Vance Joy

     This acoustic coffeehouse song creates fall imagery with its calming vocals and rhythmic guitar. This song is about acceptance and appreciation of others’ flaws and sends a positive message.