Siren–like synthesizers. The heady pulse of house. Punchy 808s that strain my cheap and overworked bluetooth speaker. The bubblegum–lilt of a K–pop track. As the semester enters a lull after the frenzy of midterms, I’ve swapped out my instrumentals and brown noise playlists for my cache of music to get ready to. On the weekends, I hook up my ailing JBL portable to a charging port as one would prepare an IV for a sickly patient, open up Spotify, and sing along as I power through my makeup routine, always slightly behind schedule.
Some nights, I want mood and atmosphere: on goes the Rema and Amaarae, the sticky–sweet percussion of amapiano transitioning seamlessly into its faster–paced cousin, house. Other nights, it’s K–pop: bubbly, Y2K–inspired sounds redolent of glitter.
Getting ready before an event—be it a stuffy boiler, a crowded frat party, a nice dinner, or the club—is a universal experience, regardless of how we each like to spend our weekend nights. The music we choose to accompany these moments is so fixed and distinct that we’ll choose to get ready in different rooms, even among a group of friends, if our tastes clash. Typically, my choice of getting–ready music tends to scatter around, genre–hopping from one moment to the next: here’s my take on music to get ready to during the last weeks of the semester, for all moods and occasions.
“Baby, I got places to be!” (House)
“Dancing Elephants” – Rochelle Jordan
“Les Gout” – Rampa, chuala, and Keinemusic
House is always a people–pleaser. Except this time, you can venture away from playing Fred again.. and Peggy Gou for the 30th time this semester and try out something different: I say “Dancing Elephants” by Rochelle Jordan and “Les Gout” by Rampa, chuala, and Keinemusic.
The dreamy, deep house rhythm of Rochelle Jordan’s “Dancing Elephants” is an interesting contrast to the more light and vibrant afro–house kick of “Les Gout.”
For the girls: Sweet and Spicy Fourth–Gen (K–Pop)
“1–800–hot–n–fun” – LE SSERAFIM
Sometimes, all you need is a quick and charming pop rotation—something you don’t have to think too much about. These tracks go down like a cocktail: charming and upbeat, with just enough kick to power you through the last touches of your makeup routine when you’re running late. I always like to throw in a couple girl group songs when I get ready: They’re fast, cute, and don’t waste any time getting to the chorus. You’ll even be able to shoot your friends that apologetic “omw i’m almost there” text before you finish curling your hair.
If looks could kill (Rap and Rage)
“Fell in Luv (feat. Bryson Tiller)” – Playboi Carti and Bryson Tiller
It’s not really a getting–ready playlist without a bit of rap and hip–hop. It’s an art to balance out the more obvious crowd pleasers—Drake, Future, Travis Scott—with the likes of Playboi Carti and A$AP Rocky: loud, just a little obnoxious, and strangely melodic.
Better than house? (Amapiano & Afrobeats)
“No.1 (feat. Tems)” – Tyla and Tems
“Reckless & Sweet” – Amaarae
House gets all the attention, but if there’s anything I learned from my childhood in South Africa, it’s the versatility of amapiano and afrobeats. It’s atmospheric, spirited, and just a touch alluring—in short, the kind of energy you get ready. Tyla’s mentioned, of course, but on equal par is “Reckless & Sweet” by Amaarae, which blends afrobeats with pop and alternative R&B into a silky, rich siren song.
Getting–ready music is vast and varied: a quick search on Spotify brings up scores of “getting–ready” playlists, adorned with emoji hearts and ribbons and lipstick. The line–up ranges from Britney–style 2000s pop to contemporary R&B and hip hop, even (inexplicably) moody 2010s indie. Skimming through each playlist, I’m struck by the intimacy that is at the heart of every one of them.
These are the songs somebody will sing along to at 10 p.m. on a Friday night with their friends, songs that help them feel confident or beautiful. Likewise, the music we get ready to listen to is more than background noise, but a personal ritual of how we want to present ourselves. And therein lies the beauty of music to get ready to. It’s music that helps us celebrate the most confident versions of ourselves, small weekend exercises in self–affirmation.
