Ian Hinksman
Seasonal music taste is real. If you’ve ever blasted afro house over the summer months, only to switch to heavy metal when the nights turn cold, we’re more alike than you think.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll jump through multiple different genres throughout the year to appease my ADHD mind. Adapting like most to what my current situation presents. For example, before sitting down to write this I was balls deep in melodic death metal sounds from Arch Enemy. With the need to focus, it’s time for a chillstep vibe, more specifically CMA.
My point here is that we adapt what we listen to based on what we’re doing. But it’s certain types of genres that we’re drawn to for extended periods depending on the season.
Seasonal music taste is real
We all have seasonal moods, and those moods deserve their own soundtrack. That’s where the idea to break down seasonal music taste comes in. What you listen to depends on the weather, daylight hours, temperature and the social energy around you.
Spring & summer: light, rhythm, movement
When it’s warm and the days are long, you want music that breathes, moves, and invites you to dance. Regardless if it’s just you in the car or at the beach. That’s why genres like afrohouse, reggae, or deep house feel so right in high summer. They match the heat and the bright sunlight. They match the looseness of barefoot festivals, open-air parties and sunset sessions.
The energy of sunshine and open spaces pushes us toward rhythm, groove and good vibes.
Autumn: the slow fade from brightness to moodiness
As soon as summer winds down, things naturally slow. Days shorten and nights creep back in. When the high of summer fades, so does the desire for feel good beats.
In autumn, many of us start veering toward deeper, more reflective sounds. Genres like downtempo electronica, indie house, or atmospheric experimental fit the bill. It’s as if the world is slowly dimming the lights, and the soundtrack follows.
It makes sense. Less sunlight and fewer outdoor plans lead to more introspection. Music becomes less about movement and more about being.
Winter: heavy moods, heavy sounds
When winter settles in, the winter jackets get dusted off. Days become darker accompanied with fewer social outings. You want something more hard hitting, more cathartic. That’s where darker styles like metal, hard techno or dense ambient step in.
Winter doesn’t ask you to dance under the sun, it asks you to sit with yourself. Maybe feel what’s underneath. Heavy riffs mix with distorted guitars, or intense drops reflect the heaviness many feel in colder months.
It’s more than just temperature: mood, biology, memory all factor into your seasonal music taste
According to research in the field of music psychology, our preferences do change with the seasons. People tend to gravitate toward more introspective, complex and slower music when the weather gets cold.
Why? Because as seasons shift, so do our internal rhythms, energy levels, hormones, even our emotional needs. Summer might evoke freedom and joy while winter calls for release, comfort, or even confrontation.
On top of this, our memories and associations play a role. Does that one liquid DnB track remind you of summer festivals? Or that grimy hip-hop beat remind you of dark winter nights? Over time, we build seasonal playlists based on these associations, ultimately reinforcing the pattern.
Scenes adapt to seasons too
It’s not just about personal taste, the broader music scene pays attention too. Summer sees festivals, boat parties, and rooftop events. Promoters push feel-good, high-energy genres. Winter brings indoor shows, underground club nights, illegals, or intimate venues and a setlist that matches the vibe.
This cycle influences what gets released. Lighter, infectious tracks in summer; darker, weightier ones toward the end of the year. The music ecosystem adapts with the seasons and so do we.
Embrace your seasonal music taste and the changing music identity
If you go from ass shaking afrohouse in July to blasting heavy metal in December — don’t fight it, lean into it. Seasonal music taste isn’t fickle. It’s honest. It’s human. And it reflects how you interact with the sun, the cold, your friends, your memories, and your own inner rhythm.
What’s going on during the different seasons in Malta?
Malta has something for every season. From amapiano pool parties in the heat to Zombie themed Halloween events as winter rolls in.
Don’t know where to find these events? We’ve got you covered.
If you’re visiting the island then grab yourself a copy of our alternative travel guide, Underground Guide Malta. The travel guide locals wish you didn’t have. You’ll thank us later.
