Maybe you’re a student and you’ve got a major test coming up. Or you’re a 9-to-5er prepping for an uber-important presentation at work. Or perhaps your significant other is meeting your parents for the first time. Whatever it is that’s making you feel stressed, it’s time to chill out. Billboard has you covered with 30 relaxing tracks from established headliners and up-and-comers alike.
Including hits from the biggest names in EDM (like deadmau5 and Kaskade’s classic collaboration “I Remember”), essential TikTok montage tracks (like Petit Biscuit’s “Sunset Lover”) and songs that make it feel like summer even when it’s not (like Calvin Harris’ tropical banger “Slide” with Frank Ocean and Migos), these tracks are here to help soothe your soul and exhale your worries — even if it’s just for a little while. After all, that’s what music helps us do — feel better about life. Sometimes, that means getting us pumped to take on the world. Other times, it means sitting with our #feels and letting a little bit of bittersweet melancholy into our lives. Or maybe it’s about helping us through a particularly difficult time.
But when you’re feeling stressed out — and let’s be honest, we’ve all been there, and we’ll all be there again at some point — what better than chill, soothing songs to help you relax a bit and get through it. Nothing against a scented candle, of course, but pungent wax can’t hold a, well, candle to a good song.
Check out Billboard’s roundup of calming music favorites below.
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SYRE, “Next to Me” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Canadian singer-songwriter and producer SYRE offers up chill beats about longing and loneliness in “Next to Me.” Listen here.
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Surf Mesa ft. Emilee, “ily (i love you baby)” (2020)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Emilee’s rendition of Frankie Valli’s 1967 classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” leads Surf Mesa’s dreamy viral hit “ily (i love you baby).” Listen here.
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Kidswaste, “Alone” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Finger-picking and soft percussion drives French producer Kidswaste’s track “Alone.” Listen here.
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Kiso & Loé, “Circles” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo EDM meets an alt-pop love song in Kiso and Loé’s upbeat 2017 collaboration “Circles.” Listen here.
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Medasin (feat. Joba), “Daydream” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Medasin and founding BROCKHAMPTON member Joba set out to put listeners in a “Daydream” in their 2016 track of the same name. Listen here.
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ATTLAS, “I Need You More” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo The four titular words in ATTLAS’ “I Need You More” tell the whole story in the Canadian DJ’s keyboard-driven chillwave track. Listen here.
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Chet Porter (feat. Chelsea Cutler), “Stay” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Chelsea Cutler sings soft vocals on Chet Porter “Stay” — a track that acts as the perfect wrap-up to an epic night. Listen here.
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Shallou (feat. Wales), “Begin” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Soft percussion, synth beats and sirens come together in “Begin,” Shallou’s 2017 collaboration artist and producer Wales. Listen here.
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Lonely in the Rain & Madeline, “Feels Like Paradise” (2021)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo French producer Lonely in the Rain spins up an electric love song with vocals by Madeline in his 2021 track “Feels Like Paradise.” Listen here.
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Petit Biscuit, “Sunset Lover” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo With unique melodies and vocal chops, French producer Petit Biscuit creates a quintessential TikTok montage track in “Sunset Lover.” Listen here.
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Autograf, “Dream” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Musical group Autograf give listeners a glimpse of the tropics in their 2015 track “Dream.” Listen here.
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Sasha, “Linepulse” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo The slow build in Sasha’s six-minute-plus track “Linepulse” is enough to put listeners in a trance. Listen here.
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Amtrac, “Piano Boy” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo An addictive piano riff drives Amtrac’s groovy track “Piano Boy” off his 1987 EP. Listen here.
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Jai Wolf, “Indian Summer” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Jai Wolf’s debut single “Indian Summer” continues as a crowd favorite, even years after its release in 2015. Listen here.
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Klingande, “Jubel” (2014)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo French DJ Klingade marries synth beats and a saxophone solo in his 2014 track “Jubel.” Listen here.
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NLSN, “Here With You” (2018)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo German producer NLSN spins up delicate yet groovy electronic beats in his 2018 love song “Here With You.” Listen here.
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Bonobo feat. Rhye, “Break Apart” (2016)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Rhye softly sings thoughtful lyrics on Bonobo’s “Break Apart” off his album Migration. Listen here.
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Skrux, “You & Me” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Only a few words are needed and repeated to tell the love story in Skrux’s uplifting 2015 track “You & Me.” Listen here.
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NONONO, “Pumpin Blood” (Franne Remix) (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Wanderlust best describes Franne’s remix of NONONO’s signature track “Pumpin Blood.” Listen here.
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James Hersey, “Coming Over” (filous Remix) (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Austrian producer filous creates the perfect chill beachside track in his remix of James Jersey’s “Coming Over.” Listen here.
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Lost Frequencies feat. Janieck Devy, “Reality” (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Janieck Devy offers up his soulful vocals on Lost Frequencies’ summer tune “Reality.” Listen here.
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Porter Robinson, “Sea of Voices” (2014)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Windchimes and dissonance open Porter Robinson’s celestial 2014 track “Sea of Voices.” Listen here.
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Seven Lions, SLANDER & Dabin feat. Dylan Matthew, “First Time”(2018)
Image Credit: Courtesy Ophelia Dylan Matthew provides vocals on Seven Lions, Slander and Dabin’s emotive 2018 collaboration “First Time.” Listen here.
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Tycho, “Awake” (2014)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Tycho spins up a dreamy chillwave track in “Awake” off his 2014 album of the same name. Listen here.
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Seinabo Sey, “Younger” (Kygo Remix) (2015)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Kygo incorporates his tropical sound into his remix of Seinabo Sey’s “Younger.” Listen here.
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Calvin Harris feat. Frank Ocean & Migos, “Slide” (2017)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Calvin Harris creates a quintessentially summertime track with Frank Ocean and Migos in “Slide.” Listen here.
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ODESZA feat. Madelyn Grant, “Sun Models” (2014)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo ODESZA incorporates tropical melodies and heavy electronic beats in their feel good track “Sun Models” with Madelyn Grant. Listen here.
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Glass Animals, “Heat Waves” (2020)
Image Credit: Courtesy of Republic Records Glass Animals get vulnerable while maintaining high energy and addictive electronic beats in their global breakout hit “Heat Waves.” Listen here.
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Pretty Lights, “Finally Moving” (2006)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Pretty Lights sample Etta James’ “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” for “Pretty Lights” off their first album, Taking Up Your Precious Time. Listen here.
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deadmau5 & Kaskade feat. Ha, “I Remember” (2008)
Image Credit: Courtesy Photo Two of the biggest names in EDM, deadmau5 and Kaskade, come together for their hypnotic 2008 track “I Remember.” Listen here.