Beyond the Bassline Presents: The Soundtrack of the Summer

You know that one song that just feels like July? The one that plays as the sun sets behind a freeway, or when you’re dancing barefoot at someone’s backyard party? Yeah. That’s what we’re talking about today. I’ll be sharing a few of my personal favorites, plus some incredible picks from the Beyond the Bassline community.

I've been making a "soundtrack of the summer" playlist every year since 2018. It started as a personal tradition, a way to scrapbook memories not through photos or videos (because I never remember to take those in the moment), but through music.

There's something about the right song hitting at the right time that locks a memory into place. Whether it's a solo drive, a sunset, or a first kiss with someone special, you don't always remember what you were wearing or who all was there, but you remember what was playing.

My Picks: Chill, Cinematic and Full of Feeling

I feel like my vibe this summer was a lot more chill compared to previous summers. It definitely had a lower BPM and was more about mood rather than momentum. So let's kick off with the first track that really captured that for me.

This song instantly makes me think of long summer car rides. Windows down, looking out like I'm in a 2015 indie film montage. It's cinematic, soulful, and the ultimate main character moment.

And just when you've settled into the softness of that scene, we switch the vibe...

Jupiter is the ultimate 2010s summer pop. Catchy enough to be on the Forever 21 (r.i.p.) playlist, but edgy enough to blast at the next pool party. This one takes me back to my middle school Tumblr era, when discovering a new band felt like discovering a new version of yourself.

But before we float too far into nostalgia, let's ground ourselves in something deeper.

This track has range. The vocals tug at you with emotional softness, while the beat brings something totally different, something you can move to. It's the kind of song that makes you want to cry, dance, and scream all at the same time.

Want to hear the full vibe?

You can check out my complete summer 25 playlist, featuring all the songs from this post (and more tracks I had on repeat this season), right here:

Now let's see what your summer looked like...

Your Picks: A Little Emo, A Lot of Heart

I opened the question up to the Beyond the Bassline community, and you came through with tracks that gave us everything: the yearning, the nostalgia, the summer love stories.

Together, your songs paint a picture of what this summer season felt like.

Submitted by Morgan

Morgan's pick is the epitome of what this playlist is about. Sometimes the song that defines your summer isn't the most upbeat or viral one, but the one that reflects where our heart is at.

"It's pop-y and fun, the lyrics give summer vibes. It also matches that feeling of yearning that I've been in," shared Morgan.

M2M has that contrast: shiny on the surface, but emotion underneath. It's giving "smiling through the chaos" and dancing alone in your room while trying to make sense of it all.

From longing to restless searching, this next one taps into a different kind of emotional motion...

Submitted by Nate

"I was doing a deep dive into the emo scene to reminisce about a better time, which summer usually is. This one really stuck out to me as a fun, storytelling song about someone mindlessly finding home," shared Nate.

This song captures that exact feeling: being in-between places, both literally and emotionally. Nate's description reminded me that summer can be both reflective and freeing. You don't have to know where you're headed; you just need the right soundtrack for the ride.

And from restless nights to dreamy heat, we drive right into the next submission.

Submitted by Roberto

This song feels like a hazy summer afternoon. Roberto's description is so specific that you can practically feel the warm air on your skin and the bass vibrating through your car speakers.

"It's a song about how his relationship with a girl is like a dream, and what's summer without a hot love interest?" shared Roberto. "The beat is hard and heavy, just like the Riverside heat, perfect for a drive to the beach."

It's romantic, a little sweaty, and the perfect way to describe a SoCal summer. The kind of song that makes your city feel like a Hollywood movie set.

Finally, we close out this sonic journey with a summer memory sealed by a kiss.

Submitted by David

If this song and David's story don't scream iconic summer memories to you, I'm not sure I'm in the right business.

"I got a new girlfriend in May, she introduced me to this band, and I'd listen to this song before we started dating and think of her," shared David. "Then this was the song that was playing the first time we kissed."

This is exactly why I started making these playlists. That kind of moment, the song linked to a shift in your life, is something you can always return to. Even years from now, David will hear that song and remember that feeling.

That's the power of music. It turns a song into a timestamp.

There's something about this season that makes music hit different. Maybe it's the slower pace, the longer days and warm nights. Maybe it's the way we're more present, noticing the way a breeze hits, or the way a song lines up perfectly with how we're feeling.

Whatever it is, the songs we play in the summer become bookmarks in our lives. Even when the days start to shorten and things speed up again, those tracks stay with us.

They remind us of who we were and who we want to be.

Start Your Own Soundtrack Scrapbook!

If you haven't already, I highly recommend starting your own summer playlist tradition. Even if it's just a handful of songs that got you through the season, creating a soundtrack to your life is such a personal and powerful way to capture memories.

Years from now, you'll press play and be right back in the moment.

Want a place to start? You can listen to the full Soundtrack of the

Summer 2025 playlist from the Beyond the Bassline community submissions here:

It's filled with everything from chill indie rides to emo throwbacks to late-night love songs. All curated by real people with real stories. You might even discover your next song of the summer!

And speaking of you...I want to hear from you.

Tag @beyondthebassline on Instagram or drop a comment:

👉 What song defined your summer?

👉 What moment is now forever tied to that track?

Thanks for being a part of my summer soundtrack. Until next time, keep the music loud, the vibes real, and go Beyond the Bassline!