Looking for a playlist refresh? Here are 50 songs to perfectly fit your Manchester student vibe

Let Manchester’s resident music addict give you a few suggestions


Now something strange about me is I like to sit on buses. Weird, I know. But, I will (for fun) go to Piccadilly Gardens and choose a random Stagecoach to get on, only to ride it to the end of the line and come all the way back again. Before you judge me, I’ve paid my £300 for a bus pass and you’d best believe I’m going to use it to see as much of Manchester as possible. Even if ‘seeing Manchester’ just involves driving through housing estates and questioning why I can’t be a normal person like everyone else.

Now you might ask why is this weirdo bus story relevant? Well, whilst I am using my valuable lecture and seminar time to ride around on the 76 towards Oldham, I’m actually sitting at the front looking out the window and finding music that fits the exact vibe of my mood that day.

The result? Here are ten song suggestions from a self titled music GENIUS for some very specific Manchester student vibes. And, before you judge me, yes you might know these songs and yes you might think I’m stupid for suggesting them. I honestly do not care.

I’m a Londoner up north and feel very superior for it

This one goes out to all my Surrey, London and Home Counties gorls and guys, aka 90% of Manchester’s student population. Here are some of my favourite South tunes.

  • Redstripe Rhapsody by Lausse the Cat
  • Culture Club by Blue Room Mafia
  • Vinyl by BERWYN
  • Patience by Harry Crane, Emiko
  • The Night by Finn Foxell
  • Me and My Friends by Avelino feat Wretch 32
  • Glide by Jords
  • Boogz by Joe James
  • Deck of Cards by Monster Florence
  • Bebey by Keeya Keys

I’m off to Hidden tonight and I’m getting ready to get messy

For all my XLR, White Hotel and Hidden baddies. Extra points if you own a set of decks, Urban Outfitters cargos or you live in Oak House. Here’s some drum and bass for you. You may recognise a lot of these as most of them are the songs that originally got me into DnB.

  • Call Me by SHY FX feat Maverick Sabre
  • Dusk by K Motionz
  • Feeling High (Lenzman Remix) by The Mouse Outfit, Lenzman, IAMDDB, KinKai
  • On My Mind by Vibe Chemistry
  • Peas and Queues by DJ Gaw
  • Soulboy IZCO Remix by p-rallel, Greentea Peng, IZCO
  • The View by DRS, LSB, Tyler Daley
  • What You Need by Makoto and Vonne
  • Original Nuttah 25 (Feat. IRAH) by Uk Apache, SHY FX, IRAH and Chase & Status
  • The Night by Halogenix and SOLAH

I’m hosting pres and I want to play something cool

You’ve been given the job of music maestro and you want to show your new uni friends how cool you are with your house and groovy beats, but you know it’s not a DnB vibe. I gotchu.

  • Tate (how i feel) by Fred Again
  • No Eyes by Claptone and JAW
  • On Top by Flume and T-Shirt
  • Boasty (Feat. Idris Elba)- Kingdom 93 Remix by Wiley, Stefflon Don, Sean Paul, Idris Elba and Kingdom 93
  • Never Enough – Dylan C. Greene Remix by Disclosure and Dylan C. Greene
  • Fearless by Folamour
  • Jazzy Things by Bellaire
  • Ingrid is a Hybrid by Dusky
  • Holding On by Disclosure and Gregory Porter
  • FVR105- p-rallel remix by NiNE8, p-rallel, Lava La Rue, Bone Slim, Lorenzorsv and Biig Piig

Peace, Life and Love

You’re in love with life. Looking out of the 143 as the sun sets behind Rusholme feeling peaceful and grateful for everything.

  • Everything I Am Is Yours by Villagers
  • Linger by The Cranberries
  • Let’s Stay Together by Al Green
  • One Day by Paolo Nutini
  • First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes
  • Female Energy, Part Two by WILLOW
  • What’s The Use? By Greatfruit
  • Free by Deniece Williams
  • Wildfires by SAULT
  • Her Light by Cleo Sol

Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss

Maybe your friend’s just been dumped. Maybe you’re a group of girls gathered around the one mirror with your makeup getting ready. Maybe you just want a sing-along in the shower. Here are some groovy girlboss anthems.

  • Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
  • I Hate U by SZA
  • 212 by Azealia Banks and Lazy Jay
  • Love Like This by Faith Evans
  • Ex-Factor by Ms. Lauryn Hill
  • Disappear by Beyonce
  • Plain by BENEE, Lily Allen and Flo Milli
  • Know Myself by Justine Skye and Vory
  • Back Home by Trey Songz and Summer Walker
  • Nasty Girl by The Notorious B.I.G, Avery Storm, Diddy, Jagged Edge and Nelly

Hopefully, there is something for everybody in one of these lists. Given the size and scope of Manchester there are infinite vibes and songs to suggest but you are now well on your way to being the cool Fallow king or queen you have always wanted to be.

Related stories recommended by this writer:

• Nominations are officially open for Fallowfield’s Fittest 2023!

• Cost of loving: A Manc student’s guide to a cheap and cheerful Galentine’s Day

• Today I deduce definitively where the best lunch spot is on Manchester Uni’s campus