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

1 year ago

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.