Rosh Hashanah: Songs for a Fresh Start

This week marks the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. I have always put innate emphasis on chances to start fresh—almost to a fault. My notes at the beginning of the school year are particularly neat, my resolutions lofty on January first, and my journal entries most consistent on single-digit days of the month. As a Jewish person, I particularly appreciate the second start that Rosh Hashanah provides, placed perfectly at the time of year when I feel my resolve waver and my poorer routines start to set in. This year, Rosh Hashanah falls conveniently at the beginning of the week, but to me, the holiday is a reminder that we can start over whenever we want. We can decide that we want the next minute to be better than the last and give ourselves another chance with each moment that passes. Fresh starts do not have to come with calendar significance.

Even if you aren’t Jewish, I encourage you to use this time to embrace a fresh start in any capacity. When something feels stagnant, start again. There are no rules; no requirements. You do not have to upend your entire routine. You just have to commit to supplanting what doesn’t serve you best. Decide that you want tomorrow to be better than today, and act on it.

Starting fresh can look different for every person, every time, and so I created this playlist to reflect that. Some of these songs are upbeat and invigorating, cheering on the change we wish to welcome into our lives, like the triumphant joy of “Float On” by Modest Mouse, which urges us to remember that goodness is still possible “even if things end up a bit too heavy.” Others are quieter acts of encouragement—gentle reminders that you are capable of correction even if you feel stuck, never truly as alone as you might feel, as Michelle Zauner softly coos in Japanese Breakfast’s “Here is Someone.” Perhaps none are more apt than “Long Year” by Audrey Nuna, murmuring “It’s been a long year” over a foggy, ambient beat, acknowledging hardship and hope for the future all in one breath. Above all, this playlist is a celebration of fresh starts: opportunities to bring ourselves satisfaction, take accountability for our feelings and our undertakings, and feel better just because we can.

With that, I wish not just a happy new year to those who celebrate, but a fulfilling fresh start to all—no matter when that may take place for you.