This is the official playlist for our Not Tonight shows! If you’ve been at any of the shows we’ve done thus far, you may have heard some of these songs playing before our set. For those of you who won’t get to see a show, I hope you’ll enjoy hearing some of the music that inspired me when I was in my early 20s.
My method for playlists always starts with selecting songs at random, allowing each choice to lead to the next spontaneously, and seeing where that journey takes my thoughts. Once the queue hits around 20 songs, I take a peek at Spotify's recommendations. I realize this may be a contentious opinion among artists, but I truly value Spotify for this particular feature. Music that I might never have discovered, or even remembered, surfaces within moments each time I refresh. This feels a little bit like cheating but is also ridiculously helpful and inspiring.
Does this feature justify the platform's low compensation model, which denies many artists their rightful earnings? Absolutely not.
This playlist has a unifying theme: these are bands I encountered in the early 2000s, which played a pivotal role in shaping my musical inspirations for years to follow. John Collins and David Carswell, the producers behind If It Was You and So Jealous, often introduced me to music I was unfamiliar with. I eagerly absorbed any recommendation or mention from them, desperate to understand the preferences of those I deemed older and cooler. It's a simplistic way to put it, but that approach has been a staple in my life (and continues to be). I remain so grateful to the older, wiser musicians we toured with at the time, who also inspired my musical tastes. At some point I became confident and critical enough to explore on my own what I liked and didn’t like.
At 22 I wasn’t just listening to music from the distant past, I was very much on top of (obsessive about) new music as well. I threw in a few examples (Radiohead, Beta Band, Avalanches) but I hear less of that in the music I was trying to make then.
Revisiting the songs from If It Was You has been a joyful journey. It’s easy to critique my vocals from that time—I was only 22—yet the lyrics, melodies, and unique structures feel both familiar and novel. It’s taken twenty years, but I now look back with pride at our younger selves and the messages we were eager to share with the world. It might not be obvious at first, but I can hear myself trying so hard to capture a bit of what made bands like Cocteau Twins, Stereolab, Teenage Fanclub etc, so exciting to me.
I can't wait to perform these songs for you this month! For those who can't make it to the shows, I hope you enjoy this playlist just as much as I do.
So that’s how it’s done. I wondered who was in charge of the music. Thanks for feeding my behind the scenes addiction. I really love how you and Tegan take us through your journeys.
I’m driving up to Oakville to see your show. Super stoked! See you two soon. 😊
This playlist will be part of my road trip music. Woohoo!!
Thanks for posting this! I was trying to Shazam a song before the show in Ottawa and the ambient crowd noise was too loud for Shazam to pick up the song. I'm excited to discover what that song was and hear the others again as well!
Thanks for posting! I understand you’re on tour and you can’t record an audio file for this, but please do record when you aren’t on tour, I much prefer having you and Tegan read to me and not Siri.
This post had great timing, I was actually in a bad place (for a variety of reasons), and was listening to some so jealous to get some perspective and needed something to do while I listened.
I just wanted to thank both you and Tegan for writing such excellent and amazing music that’s so relatable and raw. (I don’t just mean on so jealous, by the way).
I’ll have to give the playlist a listen later, once I’ve had some sleep and I’m in a better headspace.
Thanks for sharing! Hope the tours going well! It certainly looks and sounds awesome judging from the various videos I’ve seen on different YouTube channels I follow (which I won’t shout out, because I’m pretty sure they aren’t supposed to be recording), but if you are one of those people filming, thank you so much! I wish I could see T&S live!
This is great, loved the pre-show music. Thanks for the playlist and sharing your process. One of my goals this year is to get back into making playlists; now I’m inspired.
Obsessed. My buddy Keith got me into so many of these bands when we lived together almost 20 years ago! I fell in love with Stereolab the moment he played me Miss Modular off of the Dots and Loops album 😍
I can’t wait to listen to this playlist, I always love when artists create their own playlists for the speakers before the shows!! Thanks for posting this Sara! 😊❤️
Shoegaze is definitely getting a re boot at the moment,so many of these tunes are pretty timeless ,what a nostalgic trip I just went on,and also down a wormhole on Spotify 🙂.love it thanks Sara .
I probably won't be able to make it to any of these shows, but I will see you in June. Things have been very much a struggle especially the last year or so. I'm not going to go on and on, but due to extenuating circumstances, I ended up homeless, on the verge of relapse after 14 plus years of sobriety, and suicidal. Now, I'm happy to say that even though not all is well yet, I stayed sober and just celebrated my 15th anniversary, and I'm in a much better place right now. The reason I bring this up is that no matter what the circumstances, sometimes it's only music that saves us, inspires us, and keeps us going. I have a vast interest in various types of music, and I was taught from an early age that music, through the good and bad, is just as important as eating, breathing, and a roof over your head. It's food for the soul, and as I've said before and will continue to say, part of the reason I'm still here is because of your music and this late Bloomer queer woman is eternally grateful ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sara, thank you for sharing your 22 year old inspirational music. I will take a listen. At that time of my life I was working 3 jobs. I didn't really have time for listening to music. Now I have the time and will listen. I saw the concert in Chatham, it was so personal and so fantastic. I Loved every minute of it. Thank You for making every performance you do so memorable. I Love you guys so much. Thank You again.
I have a couple friends who know my music taste well and will always introduce me to a new band or artist I've never heard of. I like having friends like that because they've helped me expand my taste in music.
I've been living vicariously through fan videos of the Not Tonight tour on Youtube. Opening I Hear Noises with (🤔) Joy Division? 🔥 Keep that magic coming! The playlists and insights into musical influences are fantastic, especially when exploring song structures and discussing familiar sounds. It's intriguing when a song reminds me of another, yet I can't quite place it. So, regarding influences, I have 2 questions:
1- Was Dinosaur Jr an influence when crafting Falling Asleep?
2-Is it just me or does The Weekend's Blinding Lights sound like its channeling Hall & Oats Maneater?
So that’s how it’s done. I wondered who was in charge of the music. Thanks for feeding my behind the scenes addiction. I really love how you and Tegan take us through your journeys.
I’m driving up to Oakville to see your show. Super stoked! See you two soon. 😊
This playlist will be part of my road trip music. Woohoo!!
Thanks for posting this! I was trying to Shazam a song before the show in Ottawa and the ambient crowd noise was too loud for Shazam to pick up the song. I'm excited to discover what that song was and hear the others again as well!
Hey Sara,
Thanks for posting! I understand you’re on tour and you can’t record an audio file for this, but please do record when you aren’t on tour, I much prefer having you and Tegan read to me and not Siri.
This post had great timing, I was actually in a bad place (for a variety of reasons), and was listening to some so jealous to get some perspective and needed something to do while I listened.
I just wanted to thank both you and Tegan for writing such excellent and amazing music that’s so relatable and raw. (I don’t just mean on so jealous, by the way).
I’ll have to give the playlist a listen later, once I’ve had some sleep and I’m in a better headspace.
Thanks for sharing! Hope the tours going well! It certainly looks and sounds awesome judging from the various videos I’ve seen on different YouTube channels I follow (which I won’t shout out, because I’m pretty sure they aren’t supposed to be recording), but if you are one of those people filming, thank you so much! I wish I could see T&S live!
Thanks Sara!
Phoenix, he/they/it, 17, Australia
IF IT WAS YOU was such a staple of my adolescence. Love that that album brings joyful memories for you Sara. xx
This is great, loved the pre-show music. Thanks for the playlist and sharing your process. One of my goals this year is to get back into making playlists; now I’m inspired.
Obsessed. My buddy Keith got me into so many of these bands when we lived together almost 20 years ago! I fell in love with Stereolab the moment he played me Miss Modular off of the Dots and Loops album 😍
Thanks for sharing the playlist, I am going to teleport me mentally to those venues 😍
Fun I wondered if you all picked the music before a show for sure or the engineers or whomever else has a toe dipped in any of your decision making.
I wish I could be there to hear them. But I hope you have a great show.
I can’t wait to listen to this playlist, I always love when artists create their own playlists for the speakers before the shows!! Thanks for posting this Sara! 😊❤️
Especially as I can’t go to any of the shows
Shoegaze is definitely getting a re boot at the moment,so many of these tunes are pretty timeless ,what a nostalgic trip I just went on,and also down a wormhole on Spotify 🙂.love it thanks Sara .
Cool shoegaze songs in there 😍
I probably won't be able to make it to any of these shows, but I will see you in June. Things have been very much a struggle especially the last year or so. I'm not going to go on and on, but due to extenuating circumstances, I ended up homeless, on the verge of relapse after 14 plus years of sobriety, and suicidal. Now, I'm happy to say that even though not all is well yet, I stayed sober and just celebrated my 15th anniversary, and I'm in a much better place right now. The reason I bring this up is that no matter what the circumstances, sometimes it's only music that saves us, inspires us, and keeps us going. I have a vast interest in various types of music, and I was taught from an early age that music, through the good and bad, is just as important as eating, breathing, and a roof over your head. It's food for the soul, and as I've said before and will continue to say, part of the reason I'm still here is because of your music and this late Bloomer queer woman is eternally grateful ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for posting this
Sara, thank you for sharing your 22 year old inspirational music. I will take a listen. At that time of my life I was working 3 jobs. I didn't really have time for listening to music. Now I have the time and will listen. I saw the concert in Chatham, it was so personal and so fantastic. I Loved every minute of it. Thank You for making every performance you do so memorable. I Love you guys so much. Thank You again.
Feeling 22?
I have a couple friends who know my music taste well and will always introduce me to a new band or artist I've never heard of. I like having friends like that because they've helped me expand my taste in music.
Lush, Cocteau Twins, Pale Saints, and the Breeders- love the 4AD representation 👍
I've been living vicariously through fan videos of the Not Tonight tour on Youtube. Opening I Hear Noises with (🤔) Joy Division? 🔥 Keep that magic coming! The playlists and insights into musical influences are fantastic, especially when exploring song structures and discussing familiar sounds. It's intriguing when a song reminds me of another, yet I can't quite place it. So, regarding influences, I have 2 questions:
1- Was Dinosaur Jr an influence when crafting Falling Asleep?
2-Is it just me or does The Weekend's Blinding Lights sound like its channeling Hall & Oats Maneater?
Nice playlist! I love Slowdive and the Stone Roses, I grew up on these!
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/slowdive
https://liborsoural.substack.com/p/alpha-centaur-omega-cassiopeia