Callie is back with the background tunes for the ultimate meet-cute. For that cliché moment when your eyes meet from across the room and you have that inexplicable — but impossibly strong — feeling that this person is going to be important to you. It’s not always reasonable and it rarely works out the way you immediately imagine.

  1. “Breezeblocks” – alt-J. There’s a palpable hunger present in this song that feels both uncomfortable and fitting. It’s an honest account of emotional madness. It’s what we, as humans, would do for a selfish form of love — an infatuation that consumes us, but rarely has a mind for what’s healthy. I don’t think alt-J is romanticizing obsession (and I don’t want to do that either), but I do think “Breezeblocks” is a masterful look at humans’ tendency to romanticize.
  2. “Horchata” – Vampire Weekend. “Here comes the feeling you thought you’d forgotten” is a timeless lyric that captures the just-met-someone rush in such a simple, poignant way. It captures the promise and excitement wrapped up in every new relationship; any electric eye contact; those rare nights out that feel inexplicably packed with potential. “In December, drinking horchata” has such a charming specificity to it. This song deals with the details that stick out while we’re making memories — the details that make that specific moment feel like the end-all-be-all.
  3. “Honey Whiskey” – SATICA. “Honey whiskey conversations” is a phrase that describes, both literally and metaphorically, the warm and bubbly wave of emotion that floods our bodies when we meet someone cute and promising. Meet-cute drunkenness doesn’t care about reason or logic. It’s a rosy-cheeked, tongue-twisted, over-animated state of being that overtakes us without permission.
  4. “Some” – Steve Lacy. This song’s endearing lyrics — paired with Steve Lacy’s velvety, spellbinding voice — makes me think of the well-meaning man in a rom-com who falls in love at first sight (but probably has to wait for the bombshell woman to notice him). I mean that in the sweetest, least creepy way possible. “Some” has the ability to inspire a kind of sympathy, but not in a pathetic way. Steve just seems to really grasp that this woman, the object of his affection, has a lot to offer. That he would be lucky to simply throw his hat in the ring.
  5. “Heart It Races” – Dr. Dog. A racing heartbeat is just a perfectly literal way to encapsulate this playlist’s theme. Dr. Dog also managed to create one of those enduring, folksy, downright pleasant songs that you will listen to for the rest of your life. Trust me. The first time I heard this song was on a mix tape from my middle school boyfriend and — though it didn’t exactly work out — “Heart It Races” has never truly exited my romantic playlist rotation. It still makes me feel like a giggly, starry-eyed girl with the loftiest visions of “true love.”
  6. “Nothing But Our Love” – JR JR, Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. The breezy, summer-friendly, acoustic vibe of this track makes its humble premise all the more saccharine. It is, most simply, an invitation. It’s imagining yourself as the person who makes someone else happy. It’s everyone’s mental journal entry at the slightest hint of a new crush: “What I lack is nothing but your love / Don’t try so hard, my love is easy.” It may be a little idealistic — everyone believes that their own love is easy to give and receive — but that’s what makes it endearing.
  7. “Ceilings” – Local Natives. According to Genius, the title was inspired by a lack of sleep — staring up at your ceiling, immersed in your own inner whirring. It can be read as a breakup song, ripe with anxiety and longing, but I also find that those heavy feelings can be easily translated to pre-relationship pining. Think: your mind’s uncanny ability to convince your body that you’re missing someone, like you’ve suddenly become a puzzle with holes. Your subconscious fills in those blanks, even if you hardly know the person: “All my silver dreams bring me to you.”
  8. “Small Talk” – Malia. I doubt that anyone is particularly fond of small talk, but there’s something to be said for meeting someone and feeling an instant connection — a carnal, intimate connection that transcends any need for politeness or pleasantries. Malia vocalizes that connection in a soft, graceful tone. That juxtaposition makes this song truly come alive in a unique way.
  9. “Do U Wrong (feat. Syd)” – Leven Kali. This song teases out the tension of first dates, first meet-ups, first hangouts, whatever — when you think the other person feels the same connection, but you desperately wish you could know for sure (without having to ask). Of course, we all have to ask at some point. Communication is sexy, especially in a long-term commitment. Consent is even sexier. But the adrenaline of flirty eyelash-batting and subtle glances, the anticipation that comes with the right chemistry and body language, is one of the best things about a fresh romance.
  10. “Cute” – DRAM. This is your essential song about having a crush. It’s charming and relatable in its innocence and unfussiness. The whole thing is summed up by DRAM’s initial reaction to the beat: “I was just like, this shit is cute.” Sometimes it’s that simple.