Cottagecore Music Playlists for Every Mood

Music is the invisible thread that ties together the cottagecore experience. The right soundtrack transforms ordinary moments—baking bread, reading by the window, tending to houseplants—into something magical and intentional.

This guide curates the best cottagecore music across genres, moods, and activities, helping you build the perfect playlist for every moment of your pastoral daydream.

What Makes Music “Cottagecore”?

Cottagecore music isn’t a genre—it’s a feeling. It tends to share these qualities:

Acoustic instrumentation: Guitar, piano, violin, folk instruments
Nature imagery: Lyrics about forests, seasons, gardens, countryside
Nostalgic tone: Evokes simpler times, childhood, or timelessness
Gentle dynamics: Soft, unhurried, contemplative
Emotional authenticity: Vulnerable, introspective, sincere

Folk & Acoustic Artists

Folk music is the heart of the cottagecore sound—storytelling, acoustic instruments, and connection to tradition.

Essential Artists

Fleet Foxes
Harmony-rich, nature-drenched folk rock. Start with “White Winter Hymnal,” “Helplessness Blues,” and “Blue Ridge Mountains.”

Bon Iver
Emotional, atmospheric folk. “Skinny Love,” “Holocene,” and “re: Stacks” are essential.

Iron & Wine
Intimate, whispered folk. Try “Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” “Naked As We Came,” and “The Trapeze Swinger.”

The Lumineers
Storytelling folk rock with heart. “Ho Hey,” “Stubborn Love,” and “Sleep on the Floor.”

José González
Minimalist acoustic guitar and soft vocals. “Heartbeats,” “Crosses,” “Stay Alive.”

Nick Drake
Timeless, melancholy English folk. “Pink Moon,” “River Man,” “Northern Sky.”

Vashti Bunyan
Whimsical, pastoral folk from the 1970s. The entire “Just Another Diamond Day” album is perfect.

Adrianne Lenker (Big Thief)
Raw, intimate songwriting. Her solo albums “songs” and “instrumentals” are ideal.

More Folk Artists to Explore

The Staves
Laura Marling
Gregory Alan Isakov
The Paper Kites
Novo Amor
Hozier
Daughter
Sufjan Stevens
Elliott Smith
First Aid Kit

Classical & Instrumental

For reading, working, or quiet contemplation, instrumental music provides ambiance without distraction.

Classical Composers

Claude Debussy
Impressionist piano that sounds like watercolor paintings. “Clair de Lune,” “Rêverie,” “Arabesque No. 1.”

Frédéric Chopin
Romantic piano nocturnes perfect for evening. Start with the Nocturnes (Op. 9, No. 2 is iconic).

Erik Satie
Minimalist, meditative piano. “Gymnopédies” and “Gnossiennes” are essential.

Johann Sebastian Bach
Cello Suites for something warmer; Goldberg Variations for focused work.

Ralph Vaughan Williams
English pastoral classical music. “The Lark Ascending” is quintessentially cottagecore.

Contemporary Instrumental

Ludovico Einaudi
Accessible, emotional modern classical. “Nuvole Bianche,” “I Giorni,” “Experience.”

Ólafur Arnalds
Icelandic composer blending classical and electronic. “Near Light,” “Saman.”

Max Richter
Cinematic, sweeping compositions. “On the Nature of Daylight,” “Sleep” (the 8-hour album).

Nils Frahm
Minimalist piano and ambient textures. “Says,” “Ambre.”

Joep Beving
Contemporary piano with a contemplative mood. “Sleeping Lotus.”

Indie Folk Queens (& Kings)

Modern singer-songwriters carrying the cottagecore torch:

Taylor Swift (folklore & evermore)
Swift’s 2020 albums are a cottagecore masterpiece. “cardigan,” “august,” “willow,” “ivy,” and “the lakes” capture the aesthetic perfectly.

Phoebe Bridgers
Haunting, introspective indie folk. “Scott Street,” “Moon Song,” “Garden Song.”

Lucy Dacus
Thoughtful, narrative songwriting. “Night Shift,” “Thumbs.”

Big Thief
Earthy, raw folk rock. “Cattails,” “Mary,” “Masterpiece.”

Fiona Apple
Intense, poetic songwriting. “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” album for something wild and cathartic.

Angel Olsen
Versatile voice from folk to country to orchestral. “Chance,” “All Mirrors.”

Atmospheric & Ambient

For creating atmosphere without lyrics:

Sigur Rós
Icelandic post-rock that sounds like landscapes. “Hoppípolla,” “Glósóli,” “Svefn-g-englar.”

Explosions in the Sky
Emotional, cinematic post-rock. “Your Hand in Mine,” “First Breath After Coma.”

Hammock
Ambient soundscapes. “Words You Said Never Seemed to Matter After.”

This Will Destroy You
Building, cathartic instrumentals. “The Mighty Rio Grande.”

Tycho
Sunny ambient electronic. “A Walk,” “Awake.”

Traditional & World Folk

Music rooted in tradition from around the world:

Celtic/Irish: The Chieftains, Clannad, Loreena McKennitt
English Folk: Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Pentangle
Scandinavian: Wardruna, Heilung (more dramatic/dark cottagecore)
American Folk: Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, early Bob Dylan
Appalachian: Gillian Welch, Old Crow Medicine Show

Playlists by Activity

Baking & Cooking

Upbeat acoustic folk that keeps energy flowing:

The Lumineers
Of Monsters and Men
Vance Joy
The Head and the Heart
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Reading & Journaling

Instrumental or quiet vocals that don’t distract:

Debussy piano works
Chopin nocturnes
Einaudi albums
Bon Iver (softer tracks)
Acoustic covers (various)

Gardening & Outdoor Work

Lively folk that connects you to the earth:

Fleet Foxes
Hozier
The Tallest Man on Earth
Iron & Wine
Lord Huron

Rainy Days

Melancholy, contemplative tracks for grey afternoons:

Phoebe Bridgers
Nick Drake
Bon Iver
Daughter
The National

Evening Wind-Down

Peaceful tracks for candlelit evenings:

Vashti Bunyan
Satie piano
Iron & Wine (quiet tracks)
Norah Jones
José González

Cozy Mornings

Gentle wake-up music with warm energy:

The Paper Kites
Gregory Alan Isakov
Novo Amor
Sleeping at Last
City and Colour

Creating Your Cottagecore Playlist

Tips for building the perfect playlist:

Mix familiar favorites with new discoveries
Vary tempo—some upbeat, some slow
Include instrumental tracks to rest your ears
Create separate playlists for different moods/activities
Let playlists grow organically over time

Where to Listen

Spotify: Search “cottagecore” for community playlists
Apple Music: Similar search results available
YouTube: “Cottagecore playlist” videos, often with aesthetic visuals
Vinyl: For the most cottagecore experience, invest in a record player

FAQs

Is Taylor Swift really cottagecore?

“folklore” and “evermore” are widely considered cottagecore albums. The aesthetic, storytelling, and production align perfectly with the movement.

What’s the most essential cottagecore song?

If we had to choose one: “White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes captures the essence—harmonies, nature imagery, timeless quality.

Can I use this music for content creation?

For YouTube or social media, use royalty-free music or check licensing. Many artists’ music is copyrighted. Epidemic Sound and Artlist offer cottagecore-style royalty-free tracks.

Wren & Moss