Parsons Playlists: “Mocha Mousse”

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features songs inspired by Pantone’s 2025 color of the year.

Mocha Mousse

Mocha Mousse - Pantone Color of the Year 2025

I have finally reached my fourth annual Pantone playlist, just in time for my last semester as a student employee at the Parsons Music Library. 2025’s color of the year is Mocha Mousse—a warm, inviting hue that captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. Pantone describes Mocha Mousse as a velvety, gentle mocha tone that enriches mind, body, and soul with its comforting sophistication. Pantone collaborated with Spoonflower, Pura, and Libratone to celebrate this trend. Spoonflower introduced a collection of fabrics in Mocha Mousse, Pura created a line of artisanal candles based on mocha mousse, and Libratone launched earbuds in mocha mousse. Here are 18 songs I believe are a mix of mellow and cozy warmth.

Field Medic – “mood ring baby”

SZA – “Crybaby”

First Aid Kit – “Emmylou”

Lana Del Rey – “Say Yes To Heaven”

Norah Jones – “Don’t Know Why”

Adele – “All Night Parking (with Erroll Garner) Interlude”

Thee Sacred Souls – “Will I See You Again?”

Faye Webster – “In A Good Way”

SZA – “Kitchen”

Laufey – “Dreamer”

Clairo – “Add Up My Love”

Bon Iver – “For Emma”

Big Thief – “Paul”

Gregory Alan Isakov – “Big Black Car”

Lizzy McAlpine – “Spring Into Summer”

Kacey Musgraves – “Deeper Well”

Alice Phoebe Lou – “Open My Door”

Faye Webster – “I Know You”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwgk29zVCiZI-F4kc76ROd5y&si=V2cHYzrU-PhA-2FM

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Afrofuturism

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library Associate Melanie and features some music with an Afrofuturism aesthetic.

Afrofuturism

Afrofuturism is a genre that centers Black history and culture and incorporates science-fiction, technology, and futuristic elements into literature, music, and the visual arts. Often using current social movements or popular culture as a backdrop, Afrofuturism focuses on works that examine the past, question the present, or imagine an (often) optimistic future, and are meant to inspire a sense of pride in their audience.

From Sun Ra‘s cosmic jazz to Beyoncé‘s homage to her roots in “Black Parade” to Janelle Monáe‘s sci fi themes of identity and liberation and beyond, afrofuturistic music highlights Black imagination, storytelling, and resilience. So enjoy some out of this world grooves by Black artists!

Parliament – “Mothership Connection (Star Child)”

Sun Ra – “Plutonian Nights”

Alice Coltrane – “The Sun”

Pharoah Sanders – “Astral Traveling”

Labelle – “Space Children”

Herbie Hancock – “Rockit”

Public Enemy – “Welcome to the Terrordome”

Janelle Monáe (feat. Erykah Badu) – “Q.U.E.E.N.”

Stevie Wonder – “Higher Ground”

Earth Wind and Fire – “Getaway”

Janelle Monáe (feat. Big Boi) – “Tightrope”

Kendrick Lamar – “Black Panther”

Beyoncé – “Black Parade”

Betty Davis – “They Say I’m Different”

Afrika Bambaataa and The Sonic Force – “Planet Rock”

Erykah Badu – “The Healer”

Funkadelic – “Cosmic Slop”

Grace Jones – “Slave to the Rhythm”

A Tribe Called Quest – “Electric Relaxation”

Sun Ra – “Space is the Place”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexgVaxF7DIz4bnYkKqf04go&si=PBZ_AkQFoPRYipiy

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Bring It Back Now, Y’all

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Jillian (class of 2027) and features some songs for when you need to dance.

Bring It Back Now, Y’all

A fun throwback playlist for when you need a little dance 🙂

Diana Ross – “I’m Coming Out”

Natalie Cole – “This Will Be (An Everlasting Love)”

Big Mountain – “Baby I Love Your Way”

Thurston Harris and the Sharps – “Little Bitty Pretty One”

Bee Gees – “You Should Be Dancing”

Earth Wind & Fire – “Boogie Wonderland”

James Brown – “I Got You (I Feel Good)”

The Jackson 5 – “I Want You Back”

Stevie Wonder – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)”

Cass Elliot – “Make Your Own Kind Of Music”

James Brown – “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag”

Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell – “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewBj17QP-3Ll_Enhf0Ee-Ki&si=eUe_wtzUV83dYSIK