The Perfect Beach Holiday Playlist

As the days get shorter and the year settles into Winter, the hot, hot days of Summer seem a long way away. What do you do if you’re in the Winter woes? Kiwi travellers take advantage of Europe’s sunshine by heading over to Asia in June, July and August (think Thailand, Bali, Fiji and Vanuatu) and up to the Northern Hemisphere in September. If you’re dreaming of winter sun, check out Expedia’s Deals.

While there’s time to be spent picking out a new pair of swimmers, trying on the latest sunglasses and working out which body of water to jump into first (the hotel pool or the beach?), the most important preparation, at least for me, is putting together the perfect playlist.

So to help you get in the beach frame of mind, here’s a few tracks you might consider adding to your playlist this summer. Enjoy!

The Beautiful Girls – “Music”
“I’ve got music, and it makes me feel alright”. Mat McHugh’s lyrics sound like something to live by – as long as you have music in your ears, everything is going to be ok.

The Thrills – “Big Sur”
Who would have thought that this sunny, Beach-Boys-esque ode to California was the work of a group of lads from Dublin. Tell me this song doesn’t make you want to go to the beach right now…

Josh Pyke – “The Summer”
The Sydney singer-songwriter turns up the summer nostalgia for this classic Australian tune.

Kings of Convenience – “Boat Behind”
Norway may not be known for its beaches and water sports but that doesn’t stop us from wishing we were lazing on a boat somewhere listening to this song from the Scandinavian duo.

The Little Stevies – “Sunshower”
Another track in the nostalgia vein, this sister duo from Melbourne seem to have bottled summer.

John Butler – “Ocean”
As a thank you to his fans last year, John Butler released a brand new version of his instrumental classic. Play this one loud in your headphones and think of the sea.

Angus and Julia Stone – “Yellow Brick Road”
The Stones may be doing the solo thing at the moment but there’ll always be a special place in our hearts for their duo work. This song is pure California.

Xavier Rudd – “Follow The Sun”
As an environmental campaigner, Xavier Rudd has dedicated himself to helping preserve Australia’s beautiful, unspoiled natural places. His love for this country shines through his music.

The Jezabels – “Endless Summer”
For the rockiest track on our list, The Jezabels come crashing in like a wave onto the shore. I reckon this song will be on beach playlists for decades to come.

Ben Howard – “Only Love”
English singer-songwriter Ben Howard broke through with this laid back acoustic track and I think it’s the perfect way to round out our beach mix.

Image by YanLev