“Music communicates better than anything else, without having to say a word,” Reneé Rapp tells Apple Music. “It’s a feeling. If I listen to music, I’m not doing it passively. I’m listening intentionally. I don’t use it to relax; I listen to music to enjoy it.” But don’t just take her word for it—here is a playlist she’s curated herself, featuring some of the songs she turns to when she wants to feel at ease. Rather than choose relaxing tracks to soothe her, the confessional pop princess picks songs full of emotion. “Usually, I listen to older, bluesy music, but more recent pop/R&B-leaning records have made their way in,” she says. “A lot of these songs elicit an uncomfortable emotion, whether that be sadness, loss, confusion, yearning or anything like that. I don’t really call it relaxing at all. The soul and earnest lyricism in artists before my generation isn’t something that can be matched. Even the way music used to be tracked just inherently makes for a different genre and listening experience.” One thing the songs have in common, from Frank Ocean’s “Close to You” to Daryl Hall & John Oates’ “Sara Smile”, is that they keep Rapp centred. “They remind me that music is timeless. Nothing is ever that serious. Feelings are fleeting and so are moments. They keep me living in the moment.” Finally, she shares an excellent tip for a calm mind: “Get rid of people in your life that stress you out unnecessarily. Nothing is ever that deep.” Soothe yourself with Rapp’s handpicked playlist and read more about some of her choices below. Dusty Springfield, “The Windmills of Your Mind” “I gravitate to melodies that feel good in my brain. There’s no explanation—it’s just a feeling. Dusty Springfield’s voice has a tone that makes me sombre and also dreamy. It just feels right.” Mint Condition, “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” “This song reminds me of being in high school with my best friends Eliana, Justin and Trent. Any chance they got, this song was on. The chorus lifts in a way that you can’t deny is magic. Timeless classic.” Sade, “Soldier of Love” “Anytime I listen to Sade, I feel like I’m with my mom. The lyrics in this song are so fucking strong. Sade is also unmatched. The bass feels empowering but snakelike. It’s like a sneaky battle, and she’s winning. She’s resilient.” Labi Siffre, “Bless the Telephone” “Honorary mention! This is, perhaps, the most beautiful song ever written. It needs no explanation. I travel a lot. I’m always gone or working. Listening to this makes me feel closer to the people I’m far away from.”